Bert Jansch ‎– L.A. Turnaround

L.A. Turnaround was recorded a year after the dissolution of Bert Jansch’s group Pentangle, and saw the artist at a shifting point in his life and sound. The Scottish singer had left his record label and signed to  Charisma, which led to label owner Tony Stratton-Smith recommending Jansch to team up with ex-Monkee turned country-rock pioneer Michael Nesmith. The pairing would prove to be an excellent match with Jansch’s traditional folk and masterful guitar work backed by the breezy West Coast country sound of Nesmith’s guitar and Red Rhodes’ pedal steel. Recording at Stratton-Smith’s pastoral home in Sussex, the album has a laid back feel best exemplified by opener “Fresh as a Sweet Sunday Morning.” Other highlights include “Needle of Death” a rework of a song previously released on Jansch’s debut solo album and the instrumental “Lady Nothing” written by former bandmate John Renbourn. The album would have a limited release, resulting in it becoming somewhat of a lost classic which is a shame, as L.A. Turnaround is one of the finest works in Bert Jansch’s career.

Recommended – A1 Fresh as a Sweet Sunday Morning, A3 One for Jo, B2 Needle of Death