Jack Orion is the third album by Scottish folk musician Bert Jansch, released in 1966. It contains a number of traditional songs, including the epic "Jack Orion": a ten-minute adaptation of the Child ballad "Glasgerion" which tells of a court fiddler’s attempt to seduce a countess and his servant's treachery in successfully impersonating him. A number of songs are performed with friend and fellow guitarist John Renbourn, who would later join him in the group Pentangle. "The Waggoner’s Lad" has Jansch unusually playing the banjo with Renbourn supplying the guitar part.

Jack Orion
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 1966 (UK)
Recordedc. early summer 1966
Studio5 North Villas, Camden, London
GenreFolk
Length44:30
LabelTransatlantic
ProducerBill Leader
Bert Jansch chronology
Lucky Thirteen
(1965)
Jack Orion
(1966)
Bert and John
(1966)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[1]

Track listing edit

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Waggoner's Lad" (instrumental)traditional3:32
2."The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"Ewan McColl; instrumental arranged by Bert Jansch1:45
3."Jack Orion"traditional9:50
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."The Gardener"traditional1:40
5."Nottamun Town"traditional4:30
6."Henry Martin"traditional3:17
7."Blackwaterside"traditional3:49
8."Pretty Polly"traditional4:07

Additional Personnel John Renbourn - guitar on 1, 3, 6 & 8

1970 US and 1991 Vanguard CD track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Waggoner's Lad"traditional3:32
2."Blackwaterside"traditional3:49
3."The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face"Ewan McColl1:45
4."900 Miles" (from It Don't Bother Me UK release)traditional3:08
5."The Gardener"traditional1:40
6."Pretty Polly"traditional4:07
7."Nottamun Town"traditional4:30
8."Henry Martin"traditional3:17
9."Jack Orion"traditional9:50

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.