Solomon's Seal (album)
Encyclopedia
Solomon's Seal was an album recorded in 1972 by folk-rock band Pentangle
: Terry Cox
, Bert Jansch
, Jacqui McShee
, John Renbourn
and Danny Thompson
. It was the last album recorded by the original Pentangle line-up, before the band split in 1973. Jacqui McShee has stated that it is her favourite Pentangle album. The album title refers to the Seal of Solomon
— a mythical signet ring with magical powers, sometimes associated with the pentagram
symbol adopted by Pentangle.
Solomon's Seal was recorded at Sound Techniques studio, London, between February and March 1972. Pentangle's contract with Transatlantic had expired and, amid a dispute with Transatlantic over royalties, the band had switched allegiance to Warner/Reprise, who had been their U.S. distributor. The album was released in September 1972, to coincide with the start of new tour. However, by the start of 1973, the band had split and sales of the album were disappointing, leaving the band members still paying off their debts, against the album's advance royalties, into the early 1980s.
The album opens with their version of Cyril Tawney
's song of a sailor's lost love: "Sally Free and Easy". Unlike its usual rendition as a sea shanty, Pentangle treat this to a slow bluesy rhythm. The remainder of the album is divided between traditional songs and the band's own compositions.
It includes some thoughtful arrangements (the use of sitar and recorders in "The Snows", for example) and displays production values of ensuring that every instrument is audible but balanced in the whole sound. However, it lacks some of the riskier features of early Pentangle albums: there are no improvised jazz duets between the two guitarists and no double bass solos, for example. As such, it could be praised for being a very "polished" sound or criticised for lacking the exciting creative edge of earlier Pentangle work. Colin Harper wrote "Solomon's Seal is a record of people's weariness, but also the product of a unit whose members were still among the best players, writers and musical interpreters of their day."
Note that "The Snows" is listed as a Pentangle composition but is actually a traditional song, previously recorded by both Archie Fisher
and Anne Briggs
.
A digitally remastered version was released on CD in 2003, as Castle CMQCD555. This was produced from a tape owned by John Renbourn as the original masters were believed to be lost. However, the original master tapes have since been found in the U.S.A.
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...
. It was the last album recorded by the original Pentangle line-up, before the band split in 1973. Jacqui McShee has stated that it is her favourite Pentangle album. The album title refers to the Seal of Solomon
Seal of Solomon
In Medieval Jewish, Christian and Islamic legends, the Seal of Solomon was a magical signet ring said to have been possessed by King Solomon, which variously gave him the power to command demons, genies , or to speak with animals.-In legend :...
— a mythical signet ring with magical powers, sometimes associated with the pentagram
Pentagram
A pentagram is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes...
symbol adopted by Pentangle.
Solomon's Seal was recorded at Sound Techniques studio, London, between February and March 1972. Pentangle's contract with Transatlantic had expired and, amid a dispute with Transatlantic over royalties, the band had switched allegiance to Warner/Reprise, who had been their U.S. distributor. The album was released in September 1972, to coincide with the start of new tour. However, by the start of 1973, the band had split and sales of the album were disappointing, leaving the band members still paying off their debts, against the album's advance royalties, into the early 1980s.
The album opens with their version of Cyril Tawney
Cyril Tawney
Cyril Tawney was an English singer-songwriter, proponent of the traditional songs of the West of England and traditional and modern maritime songs.- Biography :...
's song of a sailor's lost love: "Sally Free and Easy". Unlike its usual rendition as a sea shanty, Pentangle treat this to a slow bluesy rhythm. The remainder of the album is divided between traditional songs and the band's own compositions.
It includes some thoughtful arrangements (the use of sitar and recorders in "The Snows", for example) and displays production values of ensuring that every instrument is audible but balanced in the whole sound. However, it lacks some of the riskier features of early Pentangle albums: there are no improvised jazz duets between the two guitarists and no double bass solos, for example. As such, it could be praised for being a very "polished" sound or criticised for lacking the exciting creative edge of earlier Pentangle work. Colin Harper wrote "Solomon's Seal is a record of people's weariness, but also the product of a unit whose members were still among the best players, writers and musical interpreters of their day."
Track listing
- "Sally Free And Easy" (Cyril TawneyCyril TawneyCyril Tawney was an English singer-songwriter, proponent of the traditional songs of the West of England and traditional and modern maritime songs.- Biography :...
) – 3:55 - "The Cherry Tree Carol" (Traditional. Arranged Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 2:57
- "The SnowsThe Snows They Melt the Soonest"The Snows They Melt the Soonest" is a British folk song dating back at least as far as 1821. It was mentioned, along with the lyrics, in Blackwood's Magazine of that year.-History:...
" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 3:43 - "High GermanyHigh GermanyHigh Germany is a geographical term referring to the mountainous southern part of Germany. The term is first found in medieval Latin as Germania Superior, for example in chapter 23 of the Imago mundi of Honorius Augustodunensis: Ab Danubio usque ad Alpes est Germania Superior, "From the Danube to...
" (Traditional arr. Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 3:15 - "People On The Highway" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 4:46
- "Willy O' WinsburyWillie o WinsburyWillie O Winsbury is Child Ballad #100, existing in several variants. It is a traditional Scottish ballad that dates from at least 1775, and is known under a number of different names, including Lord Thomas of Winesberry.-Synopsis:...
" (Traditional arr. Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 6:50 - "No Love Is Sorrow" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 2:41
- "Jump Baby Jump" (Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 3:10
- "Lady Of Carlisle" (Traditional arr. Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson, Cox, McShee) – 4:41
Note that "The Snows" is listed as a Pentangle composition but is actually a traditional song, previously recorded by both Archie Fisher
Archie Fisher
Archie Fisher MBE is a Scottish folk singer and song writer.-The early years:Archie Fisher was born in Glasgow on 23 October 1939 into a large singing family. His sister Cilla Fisher is also a professional singer, as was his late sister Ray. In 1960 he moved to Edinburgh and appeared regularly at...
and Anne Briggs
Anne Briggs
Anne Briggs is an English folk singer. Although she traveled widely in the 1960s and early 1970s, appearing at folk clubs and venues in England and Ireland, she never aspired to commercial success or to achieve widespread public acknowledgment of her music...
.
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, finger cymbals, 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, dulcimer, harmonica, 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, sitar, banjo, recorder, vocals - Danny ThompsonDanny ThompsonDaniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
– double bass
Release history
Solomon's Seal was released in 1972 in the UK as Reprise K44197 and in the USA as Reprise 2100.A digitally remastered version was released on CD in 2003, as Castle CMQCD555. This was produced from a tape owned by John Renbourn as the original masters were believed to be lost. However, the original master tapes have since been found in the U.S.A.