Pentangle - Basket Of Light (1969)

Pentangle are a British folk group originally active in the late 60s and early 70s.

The Pentangle's third album was without a doubt their best yet. Their inventive take on folk music reached its pinnacle with this collection of nine songs - four traditional numbers, four originals, and one surprise pop cover ("Sally Go 'Round The Roses", originally a hit for The Jaynetts in 1963). As before, it was the brilliant acoustic musicianship of Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox, along with the crystal clear vocals of Jacqui McShee, that gave the band it's distinctive sound. The band's basic format of two acoustic guitars, standup bass and drums was varied on several songs, with glockenspiel from Cox, banjo from Jansch and sitar from Renbourn (the latter two giving "The House Carpenter" an eerie psychedelic feel).

The album actually gave them two minor hit singles. "Light Flight" was used as the theme tune to a forgettable BBC TV drama called Take Three Girls, and subsequently charted at #43 and became their best-known song. "Once I Had A Sweetheart" also made it to #46. The album itself got to #5 on the UK charts. As the 60s drew to a close the band were at the peak of their popularity, touring both the UK and US, performing at the Isle Of Wight Festival, recording the soundtrack to the film Tam Lin and making several TV appearances. 

Sweet Child (1968) <|> Cruel Sister (1970)

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