Cruel Sister

Along with Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Pentangle form the trinity of the British folk rock revival, a very important movement in the late 60s and one that helped bring rise to progressive folk in the 70s. At the front of the band were two guitarists, John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, a Londoner and a Scot, respectively. Renbourn studied classical guitar in his youth, but also had an interest in R&B. Jansch made his way to London by the early 60s, recording his first self-titled album for Transatlantic in 1965. The two furthered their so-called “folk baroque” style of duet guitar, evidenced on their album Bert And John, in 1966. Singer Jacqui McShee began playing with Renbourn at Les Cousins club; and adding drummer Terry Cox and bassist Danny Thompson (both from Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated), they formed Pentangle with Jansch. A debut performance at the Royal Albert Hall was a sellout, and their first three albums for Transatlantic were well-received, with Basket Of Light reaching the UK No. 5. Released in November 1970, Cruel Sister didn’t fare as well, but it did contain the epic album-side cover of “Jack Orion” (which originally appeared on Jansch’s 1966 album of the same name). Jansch and McShee relate the traditional Child ballad of Glasgerion. The band’s performance is phenomenal throughout the song’s 18 minutes, shifting tempo with mood, and adding a positively sublime instrumental section highlighted by a striking dulcitone solo from Cox. Pentangle would continue for a couple more years before breaking up; but their mark is firmly on British music, folk, progressive or otherwise, and all enjoyed prolific careers thereafter.