Track Listing

1. Tell Me What Is True Love
2. Rosemary Lane
3. M'Lady Nancy
4. A Dream, A Dream, A Dream
5. Alman
6. Wayward Child
7. Nobody's Bar
8. Reynardine
9. Silly Woman
10. Peregrinations
11. Sylvie
12. Sarabanda
13. Bird Song

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4911 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 37 minutes

CD Description
One of British folk guitarist Bert Jansch's best-loved albums, 1971's ROSEMARY was previously only available on CD paired with 1968's BIRTHDAY BLUES. Reissued in 1996 with improved fidelity and the LP's lovely original cover art, ROSEMARY LANE sounds better than ever. The album was recorded at homeand primarily features solo performances, as opposed to thesmall-group arrangements Jansch had been using on his previous albums and in the group The Pentangle.
ROSEMARY LANE has a broad emotional palette and a respect for Jansch's folk roots, evidenced by his recordings of the traditional "Rosemary Lane", "Reynardine", and "Sylvie" and by an adaptationof Robert Johnson's "Alman". Of the originals, "Tell Me What Is True Love?" and "M'Lady Nancy" are the highlights, but the whole of ROSEMARY LANE is nothing short of divine.

Customer Reviews

The Magic of Jansch
For anyone who has never heard Bert Jansch solo, this would be an ideal place to start. His style encompasses folk, renaissance, blues and conveys an ethereal quality that marks his work from his contemporaries. This particular album displays in my view, that wistfullness of the mysterious bard the best. There isn't a bad track on here. Reminds me of winds playing over moor and heath just as the sun sets below the horizon.

Guitar genuis lets the songs do the speaking
Anyone already familiar to Bert Jansch will know exactly how important he was to the english folk scene of the early sixties - basically, he did for the acoustic guitar what Jimi did for the electric. Hearing his versatility with the old piece of wood is a wonder - noone had played like this before (it also made Dylan quite envious, which is no bad thing)! whereas other folksters treated their instrument with respect, Jansch abused his, strumming with fierce verocity and producing highly original interpretations of folk standards as a result.

Rosemary Lane is the first album in which the focus is not entirely placed on guitar. Whilst song was never sacrificed by Burt for lightning string picking, sometimes it was obscured a little as the listener sat back and gasped 'wow' at yet another incredibly inventive use of scaling or chord progression. On this album the songs shine just as brightly as the talent displayed with guitar. And what songs they are! 'Tell me what is true love' is a request from a child to his father, stunningly evocative and quite (sniff) touching. 'Silly woman' despite the rather unfortunate title is no misogynistic rant ala 'Stupid girl' but rather a remonition on the uselessness of words in a relationship that transcends understanding. 'Reynardine' is quite simply, a gorgeous interpretation of an old standard based on a medieval comedy of sorts. I could go on and on but I'll wind up with saying that this without doubt the most affecting (and argueably best) Jansch album you'll hear. Right, I'm off to fall in love with it all over again!

Rosemary Lane
This in my opinion is one of Berts best recordings and no Bert or Folk Music Fan should be without it.