Pentangle Songs Ranked

Pentangle (or The Pentangle ) is a British folk-jazz band with an eclectic mix of folk, jazz, blues, and folk-rock influences. The original band was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and a later version has been active since the early 1980s. The original line-up, which was unchanged throughout the band’s first incarnation (1967–1973), was: Jacqui McShee (vocals); John Renbourn (vocals and guitar); Bert Jansch (vocals and guitar); Danny Thompson (double bass); and Terry Cox (drums). The name Pentangle was chosen to represent the five members of the band and is also the device on Sir Gawain’s shield in the Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which held a fascination for Renbourn. In 2007, the original members of the band were reunited to receive a Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and to record a short concert that was broadcast on BBC radio. The following June, all five original members embarked on a twelve-date UK tour. Here are all of Pentangle songs ranked.

Enjoy listening to this British rock band. Click below and enjoy the folk-rock fusion music of the Pentangle.

10. Taste of Love (Open the Door, 1985)

“The remarkable strength of the players and Jacqui’s wonderful vocals made them unbeatable at what they did and the new incarnation of the band continued the glorious path of the past.”

9. Mirage (The Pentangle, 1968)

“”Mirage” is transported by the vocals of McShee, the Renbourn / Jansch interaction and a rhythm section at the top; while in a more playful vein “Way Behind the Sun” is carried by Thompson’s plump double bass.”

8. Ever Yes, Ever No (Think of Tomorrow, 1991)

“The band have distilled the folk texture into a more catchy form, that they adapt across all of the songs here to create a very pleasant mood. McShee’s vocals have this mystical enticing about them that pairs really well with the really rich textures.”

7. Straight Ahead (Think of Tomorrow, 1991)

“This was a really cool listen, but it wasn’t really anything spectacular. If it sounds like the sort of thing you’d be into, then sure, but I don’t think I’ll come back to it.”

See more: Pentangle Albums Ranked

6. Share a Dream (Think of Tomorrow, 1991)

“A thoroughly enjoyable listen, never heard of the Pentangle’s before I listened to this late 60’s debut of theirs, or any of their releases, and I will be looking for more.”

5. The Toss of Golden Hair (Think of Tomorrow, 1991)

“Pinches of jazz and blues stylings spice things up without allowing them to stray too far from the folk baseline, and the combination of innovative arrangements of traditional fare and group compositions retains the listener’s interest all the way through.”

4. The Dolphin (Open the Door, 1985)

“Ably teasing out the electric folk, traditional folk, and jazz influences on their sound both in the live performance and in the studio. the Pentangle treat the listener to a true tour de force here.”

See more: Don Henley Albums Ranked

3. Pentangling (Pentangling, 1973)

“I like Jacqui McShee’s voice but I prefer my folk when it veers towards rock not jazz as it did with this band. The musical virtuosity of Jansch, Renbourn, Thompson and Cox doesn’t mean much to me I’m afraid.”

2. No Love Is Sorrow (Solomon’s Seal, 1972)

“At this stage of their career, The Pentangle are exhausted after long stints of touring and many years of recording, this is the beginning of the end. They burst onto the scene as a unique Folk-Jazz band, who rode the wave of the British Folk explosion along with other bands that enjoyed superstar status at the end of the sixties. Solomon’s Seal marks the end of an era for the band.”

1. Sad Lady (Open the Door, 1985)

“The most noticeable and distinguishing features I remember having listened to after going through Pentangle’s next-to-last effort were the use of the electric guitar (albeit moderately, not on every track, normally played with uncanny feeling and usually with limpid tones), and a unusual opening to US influences; if the former add renewed interest to the always sensitive and tasty arrangements the latter proved the group was not hermetically closed in a restrictive shell of influences”