Reflection (album)
Encyclopedia
Reflection was an album recorded in 1971 by folk-rock band Pentangle
: Terry Cox
, Bert Jansch
, Jacqui McShee
, John Renbourn
and Danny Thompson
. The folk numbers on this album are more Appalachian than British—in both the selection of songs and the arrangements, with notable use of banjos. The songs include "Wedding dress", "Omie Wise", "Rain and snow" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". This song includes some delicate wah-wah electric guitar and blues harmonica.
Amongst their own compositions, "When I Get Home" is a Jansch song, accompanied by his folk guitar plus a jazz lead guitar line by Renbourn. The song depicts a man getting drunk at a party, whilst his woman waits for him at home—sung with feeling by Jansch. "So Clear" (a rare John Renbourn composition for the band) is a number in which the whole band work together as a team, reminiscent of some of their earliest work. "Reflection", the title song of the album is an atmospheric piece, beginning with triple-tracked bowed and plucked double bass and ending with an improvisational jazzy section.
The album was recorded over a three-week period in March 1971, at a time when the tensions between the band members were high. Different band members were continually threatening to leave and attendance by Jansch and Renbourn at the recording sessions was dependent on their state of sobriety. Nevertheless, Reflection is highly regarded for its recording quality (the only Pentangle album to make full use of a 16-track studio) and was creatively successful.
Pentangle (band)
Pentangle are a British folk rock band with some folk jazz influences. The original band were active in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a later version has been active since the early 1980s...
: Terry Cox
Terry Cox
Terence William Harvey 'Terry' Cox played drums in the British folk rock bands The Pentangle, Duffy's Nucleus and Humblebums....
, Bert Jansch
Bert Jansch
Herbert "Bert" Jansch was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s, as an acoustic guitarist, as well as a singer-songwriter...
, Jacqui McShee
Jacqui McShee
thumb|300px|right|Jacqui McShee performing with [[Pentangle]] at the 2007 [[BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards]]Jacqueline 'Jacqui' McShee is an English singer. Since 1966 she has performed with Pentangle, a jazz influenced folk rock band.-Biography:McShee's musical career began as a soloist in British folk...
, John Renbourn
John Renbourn
John Renbourn is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence .While most commonly labelled a...
and Danny Thompson
Danny Thompson
Daniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
. The folk numbers on this album are more Appalachian than British—in both the selection of songs and the arrangements, with notable use of banjos. The songs include "Wedding dress", "Omie Wise", "Rain and snow" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". This song includes some delicate wah-wah electric guitar and blues harmonica.
Amongst their own compositions, "When I Get Home" is a Jansch song, accompanied by his folk guitar plus a jazz lead guitar line by Renbourn. The song depicts a man getting drunk at a party, whilst his woman waits for him at home—sung with feeling by Jansch. "So Clear" (a rare John Renbourn composition for the band) is a number in which the whole band work together as a team, reminiscent of some of their earliest work. "Reflection", the title song of the album is an atmospheric piece, beginning with triple-tracked bowed and plucked double bass and ending with an improvisational jazzy section.
The album was recorded over a three-week period in March 1971, at a time when the tensions between the band members were high. Different band members were continually threatening to leave and attendance by Jansch and Renbourn at the recording sessions was dependent on their state of sobriety. Nevertheless, Reflection is highly regarded for its recording quality (the only Pentangle album to make full use of a 16-track studio) and was creatively successful.
Track listing
- "Wedding Dress" (Traditional) – 2:51
- "Omie Wise" (Traditional) – 4:23
- "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)"Can the Circle Be Unbroken " is the title of a country/folk song reworked by A. P. Carter from the hymn "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel. The song's lyrics concern the death, funeral, and mourning of the narrator's mother.The song first gained attention due...
" (Traditional) – 4:06 - "When I Get Home" (Pentangle) – 4:55
- "Rain and Snow" (Traditional) – 3:49
- "Helping Hand" (Pentangle) – 3:27
- "So Clear" (Pentangle) – 4:49
- "Reflection" (Pentangle) – 11:14
Release history
Reflection was released in 1971 in the UK as Transatlantic TRA24O. The U.S. release, also in 1971, was Reprise R56463.Personnel
- Terry CoxTerry CoxTerence William Harvey 'Terry' Cox played drums in the British folk rock bands The Pentangle, Duffy's Nucleus and Humblebums....
– drums, percussion, vocals - Bert JanschBert JanschHerbert "Bert" Jansch was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s, as an acoustic guitarist, as well as a singer-songwriter...
– acoustic guitar, banjo, vocals - Jacqui McSheeJacqui McSheethumb|300px|right|Jacqui McShee performing with [[Pentangle]] at the 2007 [[BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards]]Jacqueline 'Jacqui' McShee is an English singer. Since 1966 she has performed with Pentangle, a jazz influenced folk rock band.-Biography:McShee's musical career began as a soloist in British folk...
– vocals - John RenbournJohn RenbournJohn Renbourn is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence .While most commonly labelled a...
– acoustic guitar, electric guitar, vocals - Danny ThompsonDanny ThompsonDaniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
– double bass