This album, released in 1968, at the peak of the Pentangle's career,
is probably the most representative of their work. A sprawling two-record
set, half recorded in the studio and half live at the Royal Festival Hall,
showcases just how versatile the Pentangle were in their unique brand
of English folk, jazz, Celtic, blues, and pop styles. Some of the live
covers are easily their finest performances. Furry Lewis' "Turn Your
Money Green," sung by the delightful Jacqui McShee, swings sweetly,
buttressed of course by Renbourn and Jansch's guitar tapestry. Charlie
Mingus' "Haitian Flight Song" features a great solo by bassist
Danny Thompson, who was easily one of the finest musicians to grace the
instrument. The studio tracks are uniformly excellent as well, especially
"The Time Has Come," which turns waltz time inside out. McShee,
Renbourn, and Jansch all turn in career performances on this track. But
these examples merely scratch the surface of the Pentangle's peak. The
2001 CD reissue adds four bonus tracks: alternate versions of "In
Time," "The Trees They Do Grow High," and "Hole in
the Coal," and a studio version of "Haitian Fight Song. In all,
Sweet Child is an awesome and delightful collection, and probably their
finest hour.
(by Matthew Greenwald, All
Music Guide)
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