Living In The Shadows

Bert Jansch

27th January 2017 - Album - EARTH014

Living in the Shadows: 4LP casebound book-back set, comprising Bert Jansch’s three studio albums from the 1990s, alongside an additional disc of unheard and unreleased material.

  • 1990: The Ornament Tree
  • 1995: When The Circus Comes To Town
  • 1998: Toy Balloon

£35.00£60.00

Signifying a return to form that heralded one of the most prolific periods of his life, this special collection features some of Jansch’s finest work. Living In the Shadows includes an extra disc of demos, alternate versions and never-before heard tracks, transferred from Jansch’s personal tapes, alongside the three studio albums of the 1990s: ‘The Ornament Tree’, ‘When The Circus Comes To Town’ and ‘Toy Balloon’.

This trio of works represents quite different facets of Jansch’s talent; where ‘Circus’ is a bluesy, late-night sounding party, ‘Ornament’ is altogether more subdued, drawing on Maggie Boyle’s bodhran, flute and whistles to creative a sound that is nothing if not celtic. ‘Toy Balloon’ falls somewhere in the middle, with that feeling of intimacy that is so Bert.

Despite these apparent contrasts, the unifying element is of course, Jansch’s guitar. There is an ease about these albums that suggests a musician that has found himself very at home—“just a simple soul”, to quote the man himself.

The real draw here for many Jansch fans will be disc four: unreleased tracks (including—let joy be unconfined!—one with John Renbourn), as well as alternative takes of familiar songs from the ’90s period. Chosen specifically for their contrast to the studio versions, these tracks are often more stripped-down or without the embellishment typical of the era. Mostly recorded at Bert’s home studio, this unheard and unreleased collection, transferred from Bert’s own DAT tapes, has an intimate quality that is incredibly moving.

Living in the Shadows: 4LP casebound book-back set, comprising Jansch’s three studio albums from the 1990s (The Ornament Tree; When The Circus Comes To Town; Toy Balloon), alongside an additional disc of unheard and unreleased material. Both studio albums and DAT transfers, remastered by Brian Pyle.

Tracklist

The Ornament Tree
The Ornament Tree (Bonny Portmore) 3:50
The Banks O'Sicily 3:33
The Rambling Boys Of Pleasure 4:40
The Rocky Road To Dublin 2:58
Three Dreamers 3:46
The Mountain Streams 3:49
The Blackbirds Of Mullamore 4:47
Ladyfair 2:15
The Road Tae Dundee 4:07
Tramps And Hawkers 3:15
The January Man 3:42
Dobbins Flowery Vale 3:33

When The Circus Comes To Town
Walk Quietly By 2:55
Open Road 3:47
Back Home 3:52
No-One Around 2:56
Step Back 3:55
When The Circus Comes To Town 2:28
Summer Heat 3:55
Just A Dream 3:45
The Lady Doctor From Ashington 2:00
Stealing The Night Away 3:29
Honey Don't You Understand 3:53
Born With The Blues 2:48
Morning Brings Peace Of Mind 3:18
Living In The Shadows 4:00

Toy Balloon
Carnival 4:25
She Moved Through The Fair 4:55
All I Got 3:16
Bett's Dance 2:46
Toy Balloon (For Little Anna-Rebecca) 3:32
Waiting & Wondering 4:14
Hey Doc 2:45
Sweet Talking Lady 3:58
Paper Houses 3:01
Born And Bred In Old Ireland 3:10
How It All Came Down 4:40
Just A Simple Soul 3:54

Picking Up The Leaves (Unreleased Material)
Morning Brings Sweet Peace Of Mind (Alternate Version) 3:00
Back Home (Demo) 3:48
Just A Dream (Alternate Mix) 3:35
Untitled Instrumental 2:27
When The Circus Comes To Town (Demo) 2:02
No-One Around (Demo) 3:39
Lily Of The West (Demo) 4:14
Fool's Mate (Demo) 2:11
Paper Houses (Demo) 3:08
Another Star 4:15
Little Max 3:06
Merry Priest 3:13
Untitled Instrumental 2 (Early Attempt With John Renbourn) 2:24
Untitled Instrumental 2 (With John Renbourn) 2:59

Description

Signifying a return to form that heralded one of the most prolific periods of his life, this special collection features some of Jansch’s finest work. Living In the Shadows includes an extra disc of demos, alternate versions and never-before heard tracks, transferred from Jansch’s personal tapes, alongside the three studio albums of the 1990s: ‘The Ornament Tree’, ‘When The Circus Comes To Town’ and ‘Toy Balloon’.

This trio of works represents quite different facets of Jansch’s talent; where ‘Circus’ is a bluesy, late-night sounding party, ‘Ornament’ is altogether more subdued, drawing on Maggie Boyle’s bodhran, flute and whistles to creative a sound that is nothing if not celtic. ‘Toy Balloon’ falls somewhere in the middle, with that feeling of intimacy that is so Bert.

Despite these apparent contrasts, the unifying element is of course, Jansch’s guitar. There is an ease about these albums that suggests a musician that has found himself very at home—“just a simple soul”, to quote the man himself.

The real draw here for many Jansch fans will be disc four: unreleased tracks (including—let joy be unconfined!—one with John Renbourn), as well as alternative takes of familiar songs from the ’90s period. Chosen specifically for their contrast to the studio versions, these tracks are often more stripped-down or without the embellishment typical of the era. Mostly recorded at Bert’s home studio, this unheard and unreleased collection, transferred from Bert’s own DAT tapes, has an intimate quality that is incredibly moving.

Living in the Shadows: 4LP casebound book-back set, comprising Jansch’s three studio albums from the 1990s (The Ornament Tree; When The Circus Comes To Town; Toy Balloon), alongside an additional disc of unheard and unreleased material. Both studio albums and DAT transfers, remastered by Brian Pyle.

Description

Signifying a return to form that heralded one of the most prolific periods of his life, this special collection features some of Jansch’s finest work. Living In the Shadows includes an extra disc of demos, alternate versions and never-before heard tracks, transferred from Jansch’s personal tapes, alongside the three studio albums of the 1990s: ‘The Ornament Tree’, ‘When The Circus Comes To Town’ and ‘Toy Balloon’.

This trio of works represents quite different facets of Jansch’s talent; where ‘Circus’ is a bluesy, late-night sounding party, ‘Ornament’ is altogether more subdued, drawing on Maggie Boyle’s bodhran, flute and whistles to creative a sound that is nothing if not celtic. ‘Toy Balloon’ falls somewhere in the middle, with that feeling of intimacy that is so Bert.

Despite these apparent contrasts, the unifying element is of course, Jansch’s guitar. There is an ease about these albums that suggests a musician that has found himself very at home—“just a simple soul”, to quote the man himself.

The real draw here for many Jansch fans will be disc four: unreleased tracks (including—let joy be unconfined!—one with John Renbourn), as well as alternative takes of familiar songs from the ’90s period. Chosen specifically for their contrast to the studio versions, these tracks are often more stripped-down or without the embellishment typical of the era. Mostly recorded at Bert’s home studio, this unheard and unreleased collection, transferred from Bert’s own DAT tapes, has an intimate quality that is incredibly moving.

Living in the Shadows: 4LP casebound book-back set, comprising Jansch’s three studio albums from the 1990s (The Ornament Tree; When The Circus Comes To Town; Toy Balloon), alongside an additional disc of unheard and unreleased material. Both studio albums and DAT transfers, remastered by Brian Pyle.

Tracklist

The Ornament Tree
The Ornament Tree (Bonny Portmore) 3:50
The Banks O'Sicily 3:33
The Rambling Boys Of Pleasure 4:40
The Rocky Road To Dublin 2:58
Three Dreamers 3:46
The Mountain Streams 3:49
The Blackbirds Of Mullamore 4:47
Ladyfair 2:15
The Road Tae Dundee 4:07
Tramps And Hawkers 3:15
The January Man 3:42
Dobbins Flowery Vale 3:33

When The Circus Comes To Town
Walk Quietly By 2:55
Open Road 3:47
Back Home 3:52
No-One Around 2:56
Step Back 3:55
When The Circus Comes To Town 2:28
Summer Heat 3:55
Just A Dream 3:45
The Lady Doctor From Ashington 2:00
Stealing The Night Away 3:29
Honey Don't You Understand 3:53
Born With The Blues 2:48
Morning Brings Peace Of Mind 3:18
Living In The Shadows 4:00

Toy Balloon
Carnival 4:25
She Moved Through The Fair 4:55
All I Got 3:16
Bett's Dance 2:46
Toy Balloon (For Little Anna-Rebecca) 3:32
Waiting & Wondering 4:14
Hey Doc 2:45
Sweet Talking Lady 3:58
Paper Houses 3:01
Born And Bred In Old Ireland 3:10
How It All Came Down 4:40
Just A Simple Soul 3:54

Picking Up The Leaves (Unreleased Material)
Morning Brings Sweet Peace Of Mind (Alternate Version) 3:00
Back Home (Demo) 3:48
Just A Dream (Alternate Mix) 3:35
Untitled Instrumental 2:27
When The Circus Comes To Town (Demo) 2:02
No-One Around (Demo) 3:39
Lily Of The West (Demo) 4:14
Fool's Mate (Demo) 2:11
Paper Houses (Demo) 3:08
Another Star 4:15
Little Max 3:06
Merry Priest 3:13
Untitled Instrumental 2 (Early Attempt With John Renbourn) 2:24
Untitled Instrumental 2 (With John Renbourn) 2:59

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