John Renbourn & John Renbourn Group
Country of origin:
England
Type of music generally:
Traditional and neotraditional folk, blues, and medieval music, often instrumental
Status:
Sadly, John Renbourn died in 2015. Final release, Palermo Snow (2011)
See also:
John Renbourn's siteWikipedia's entry for John Renbourn
The Ectophiles' Guide entries for Pentangle, a group Renbourn played with between 1967 and 1973
Comparisons:
Martin Carthy, though far more blues-oriented; his English folk work is rather like his work with Pentangle, and sometimes like a lighter Steeleye Span or the traditional work of Fairport Convention, but overall his combination of blues and folk feels highly individual
Covers/own material:
Own, arrangements of traditional material, covers of blues classics
General comments:
John Renbourn has long been a favourite of mine. I love his takes on traditional blues, folk, and medieval songs and tunes. Though he's English, much of the music he played early in his career comes from traditional American blues. He's one of the greatest acoustic guitarists around (and has done a series of instructional materials) and has a rather rough voice that is wonderful with the kind of material he chooses. He also has a knack for finding other excellent vocalists to work with.
He has a long career, encompassing solo work, group work, work with Pentangle, duos with Dorris Henderson, Stefan Grossman, Robin Williamson, and Bert Jansch. (Neile)
Comments about live performance:
I've seen John Renbourn live several times in several different configurations and every time he puts on a lively and captivating show. Not to be missed, especially has he doesn't tour as much as he once did. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
There are all kinds of compilations available nowadays, and I'd recommend any one of them for getting your first taste of his music. My favourites are Vol 1—The Soho Years for his early work, Faro Annie, and Ship of Fools. Sadly I think only Ship of Fools is readily available—but it's one of my all-time favourites, so go for it. (Neile)
Recordings include:
(full discography available at http://www.john-renbourn.com/discography.html)
- John Renbourn (1965)
- Another Monday (1966)
- Sir John Alot Of Merrie England... (1968)
- The Lady And The Unicorn (1970)
- Faro Annie (1972)
- A Maid in Bedlam (1977)
- The Enchanted Garden (1980)
- Live in America (1982)
- The Nine Maidens (1985)
- Vol 1—The Soho Years (collection, 1986)
- John Renbourn's Ship of Fools (1988)
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken (compilation, 1995)
- So Clear (compilation, 1997)
- Traveller's Prayer (1998)
- Live in Italy (live, 2006)
- Palermo Snow (2011)
John Renbourn/Another Monday
Release info:
Both albums originally released separately by Transatlantic in 1966; re-released on 1 cd in 1996—Castle Communications—ESM CD 408, GAS 00003408ESM ACO
Availability:
U.K. or in U.S. as import
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for blues & folk fans
Group members:
John Renbourn—vocals, guitar
Guest artists:
Bert Jansch—guitar
Jacqui McShee—vocals
Jennifer de Montforte-Jones—oboe
Produced by:
6 of these tracks were produced by Nathan Joseph; no producer listed for the rest
Comments:
From the beginning John Renbourn's guitar work is extraordinary and captivating. His voice is evocative, wonderful for these blues and traditional songs. These are mostly solo, but Bert Jansch joins him for two instrumentals, and Jacqui McShee sings on 3 of the songs from the second album (both later join him in the band, Pentangle). This is a wonderful, long, collection of songs and tunes. (Neile)
Sir John Alot Of Merrie England...
Release info:
1968; re-released 1992—Shanachie Records—97021
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
John Renbourn—guitar
Guest artists:
Terry Cox—finger cymbals, African drums, glockenspiel
Ray Warleigh—flute
Produced by:
Nathan Joseph
Comments:
This is an instrumental album of blues, folk, and medieval tunes, featuring John Renbourn's gorgeous fingerpicking guitar style. His skill is such that even vocal-focused me loves this disc. It's really lovely. (Neile)
The Lady And The Unicorn
Release info:
1970; re-released c. 1992—Shanachie Records
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Comments:
This is rather like Sir John Alot... part II, an instrumental collection of blues, folk, and medieval tunes. Really lovely. (Neile)
Faro Annie
Release info:
1972—Reprise/Warner—MS 2082; re-released 2002—Castle Music—CMRCD534
Availability:
Re-released in the UK
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for folk lovers
Group members:
John Renbourn—vocals, guitars, harmonica, sitar
Guest artists:
Pete Dyer—harmonica on 2 tracks
Dorris Henderson—vocals on 3 tracks
Terry Cox—drums on 2 tracks
Sue Draheim—fiddle on 3 tracks
Danny Thompson—bass on 2 tracks
Produced by:
Bill Leader
Comments:
This is widely considered to be a classic album, and is one of my favourite John Renbourn albums. It's a collection of mostly bluesy-sounding traditional American tunes, and the arrangements are simple but effective. John is the singer here (with some gorgeous backup by Dorris Henderson)—and his rough voice is wonderfully evocative for these songs. This is one of those albums I could play forever. I love it—it's inspired. (Neile)
A Maid in Bedlam
The John Renbourn Group
Release info:
1977; re-released 1987—Shanachie Records—79004
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
John Renbourn—guitars, vocals
Tony Roberts—vocals, flute, recorders, oboe, piccolo
Jacqui McShee—vocals
Sue Draheim—fiddle, vocals
Keshav Sathe—tabla, finger cymbals
Comments:
This is a stunning collection of medieval and folk songs and some tunes, and the vocals are lovely with the mix of John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee's pure tones, and Sue Draheim, and the instrumentation is lovely, too—inclusion of the tabla gives these a remarkable energy. A great collection of material that really comes to life. I've loved this album and played it often in the years since we first got it. A classic. (Neile)
The Enchanted Garden
The John Renbourn Group
Release info:
1980; re-released 1990—Shanachie Records—79074
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Jacqui McShee—vocals
John Renbourn—vocals, guitar, swalamandala
Tony Roberts—vocals, flute, recorders, sopranino, descant, tenor, whistle, conesmuse, cymbal, bass clarinet, glockenspiel, swalamandala
John Molineux—vocals, 4- & 5-string dulcimers, mandolin, whistle, fiddle, bowed psaltery, spoons
Keshav Sathe—tabla, finger cymbals
Glen Tommy—snare drum
Produced by:
John Renbourn
Comments:
This one leans even more toward the medieval than A Maid in Bedlam, but it another wonderful collection of folk and medieval tunes and songs. The tunes and songs are lively and mournful by turns and the collection as a whole is truly delightful. (Neile)
Live in America
The John Renbourn Group
Release info:
1982—Flying Fish Records—FF70103
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
John Renbourn—guitar, vocal
Jacqui McShee—vocal
Tony Roberts—flute, krumhorn, Northumbrian small pipes, harmony vocal
John Molineux—dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle, harmony vocal, lead vocal on 2 tracks
Keshav Sathe—tabla
Produced by:
Mitch Greenhill
Comments:
This is as clearly recorded as any studio recording, with the added verve of it being a live performance. Highly recommended, and probably a good introduction to the John Renbourn Group's work, as it is a long selection, originally a two-record set. (Neile)
The Nine Maidens
Release info:
1985—Flying Fish—FF70378
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for guitar lovers
Group members:
John Renbourn—guitars, drum, cittern, recorder
Guest artists:
Remi Froissart—high-strung guitar on 1 track
Toby Pedley—recorders on 2 tracks
Tony Roberts—Northumbrian small pipes and sopranino recorder on 1 track
Jeff Merrell—fiddle on 1 track
Joe Trancock—bodhran on 1 track
Ben Burrow—congas on 1 track
Jules Diggle—tambourine on 1 track, congas on 1 track
Produced by:
John Renbourn
Comments:
An exquisite, evocative instrumental album mostly of John Renbourn's recordings. Highly recommended for anyone who likes to listen to the guitar. (Neile)
Vol 1—The Soho Years
Release info:
1986—Transatlantic—TRACD 603
Availability:
Out of print; now there is a similar compilation called The Transatlantic Years
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
John Renbourn—vocals, guitar
Produced by:
"Lord Franklin" produced by Bill Leader; no producer listed for other tracks
Comments:
This is a great collection of John Renbourn's early solo material, and includes some of my favourite songs of his from Faro Annie, like "Kokomo Blues", "Buffalo Skinners" and "White House Blues". It also has his classic version of "Lord Franklin". A great collection. Since this is out of print, I recommend the quite similar collection, The Transatlantic Years which is still available. (Neile)
John Renbourn's Ship of Fools
Release info:
1988—Flying Fish Records—FF70466
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
John Renbourn—guitar, vocals, cittern
Maggie Boyle—vocal, whistle, bodhran, flute, bodhran
Tony Roberts—flute, alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, Northumbrian pipes, recorders, racket, soprano saxophone
Steve Tilson—guitar, mandolin, vocal, arpeggione, Spanish guitar, rhythm guitar
Guest artists:
Mitch Greenhill—percussion, cabasa
Produced by:
Mitch Greenhill
Comments:
This is one of my favourite traditional folk albums ever—I've played it to death ever since I first got it in 1988. It's just a really lovely collections of songs and tunes, played by skillful players and vocalists whose voices can sound yearning or full of verve. A true delight. I can't say enough good things about this one. (Neile)
Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Release info:
1995—Castle Communications (England)—CCS CD 429
Availability:
U.K.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended for anyone interested in a taste of early John Renbourn
Group members:
John Renbourn—guitars, vocals
Guest artists:
Bert Jansch on 2 tracks Pentangle on 4 tracks
Produced by:
Comments:
This is a collection of material from John Renbourn's early recordings, c. 1966-1972. Some wonderful songs here, most of which are duplicated on other collections, but this has some that aren't on any others that I could find and that was enough to me to buy this one. (Neile)
So Clear
Release info:
1997—Snapper Music—SMD CD 152
Availability:
U.K.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Comments:
This is a collection that takes samples from John Renbourn's various early albums and projects with other people, including some of his work with Pentangle. A great way to get so much good music in one place. (Neile)
Traveller's Prayer
Release info:
1998—Shanachie Records—78018
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
John Renbourn—guitar
Guest artists:
Connor Byrne—flute
Maire Breathnach—fiddle
Joe McKenna—uilleann pies, whistle
Dick Lee—clarinets, recorder
Bill Kemp—percussion
The Voice Squad: (Gerry Cullen, Phil Callery, Fran McPhail)—vocals
Mariead Ni Dhomhnaill—vocals
Produced by:
John Renbourn
Comments:
John Renbourn is an amazing guitarist, and I love his take on traditional songs and tunes. This isn't my favourite of his more recent recordings, but any John Renbourn is welcome to my ears. This is mostly instrumental, but has some songs. (Neile)
