The Definitive Transatlantic Collection

Album Review

This single-disc compilation collects highlights from John Renbourn's solo career, largely focusing on his instrumental guitar work. That means tracks largely selected from Another Monday, Sir John Alot, The Lady and the Unicorn, The Hermit, The Black Balloon, and The Nine Maidens. There is one vocal track from Faro Annie, the folk-rock arrangement of "Shake Shake Mama," and Renbourn also takes vocals on the Pentangle favorites "Lord Franklin" and "So Clear." "After the Dance" comes from the Bert Jansch/Renbourn collaboration Bert & John. Renbourn combines an expertise in Old English folk styles with more recent folk music to produce elegant, tasteful performances that impress with the intricacy of the playing and the spirit of the music. This is a good summary of his work from the mid-‘60s to the mid-‘80s.