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3.47 | 10 ratings | 2 reviews | 20% 5 stars Write a review Buy JOHN RENBOURN Music

Studio Album, released in 1968 Songs / Tracks Listing 1. The Earle of Salisbury (1:20) 2. The Trees They Do Grow High (3:33) 3. Lady Goes to Church (2:54) 4. Morgana (7:25) 5. Transfusion (1:58) 6. Forty Eight (2:52) 7. My Dear Boy (1:16) 8. White Fishes (2:38) 9. Sweet Potato (3:18) 10. Seven Up (3:45) Total Time 30:59 Bonus tracks on 2002 remaster: 11. The Earle of Salisbury (alternative take 4) (1:18) 12. Transfusion (alternative take 2) (1:55) 13. Forty Eight (alternative take 1) (2:41) Line-up / Musicians - John Renbourn / acoustic guitar With: - Ray Warleigh / flute - Terry Cox / glockenspiel, African drums, finger cymbals Releases information Artwork: Osiris Visions LP Transatlantic Records ‎- TRA 167 (1968, UK) CD Shanachie ‎- 97021 (1992, US) CD Castle Music ‎- CMRCD 597 (2002, UK) Remastered by Sean Cotter and Andy Pearce with 3 previously unreleased bonus tracks Thanks to SteveG for the addition and to Quinino for the last updates Edit this entry

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JOHN RENBOURN Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thynge and Ye Grene Knighte ratings distribution

Essential: a masterpiece of rock music (20%)

Excellent addition to any rock music collection (50%)

Good, but non-essential (30%)

Collectors/fans only (0%)

Poor. Only for completionists (0%)

JOHN RENBOURN Sir John Alot of Merrie Englandes Musyk Thynge and Ye Grene Knighte reviews

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by kenethlevine
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog-Folk Team

While the absurd pre Monty Python title, the jolly good cover, and first few tracks of pre JAN AKKERMAN early music imply that RENBOURN is all in to Olde Englande by now, it turns out that, in the back 40, he confesses that he is still a jazz blues lover. And this all in the space of barely 30 minutes, making for a schizophrenic listen. While the English tracks seem more authentic and relaxed in pace, the others are more accomplished in their playing, unfortunately reminding me a bit of JANSCH and even PENTANGLE in their buffed and scrubbed sterility, and it's hard enough to connect with a sub two minute instrumental never mind several.

Renbourn has bestowed the same 20 miles over the speed limit mentality in his accompanists. I'll admit that African drums, flutes, and acoustic guitars would still represent a novel concept today, but 2 drum solos on a studio album?? It's not that they sound any better on a live album, but at least we expect them in that setting. "Sweet Potato" avoids this preening and instead struts with self awareness, so it's my pick from the last 15 minutes. Still, the best here is undoubtedly the suite "Morgana" which might have made MIKE OLDFIELD a follower, accounting for his own folky forays that ebbed and flowed from "Tubular Bells" onward. Not a lot of, or even enough of, anything to warrant better than 3 stars I'm afraid.

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Posted Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | Review this album | Report (Review #3154620)

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