Bridget St. John - Jumblequeen (1974)

Bridget St. John - Jumblequeen (1974)

Hux reissue

This 1974 album by the cult British singer-songwriter was her last recording for two decades. It's by turns searingly honest and achingly beautiful, and the production, by Ten Years After bassist Leo Lyons, gives St. John's songs plenty of room to breathe, with help from such storied contributors as the singer Beverley Martin, the guitarist Stefan Grossman, and the experimental musician Ron Geesin.

In 1974, Bridget signed to Chrysalis Records and released her 4th album, Jumblequeen. This was a great folk-rock album, produced by Leo Lyons of the band Ten Years After. The album includes support from excellent musicians including the folk guitarist Stefan Grossman, Chick Churchill (Ten Years After) and Mike Giles (King Crimson). It also features harmony vocals from Beverley Martin. This CD is now reissued in agreement with Bridget St John, and it includes three previously unreleased bonus tracks, recorded in 1975. 'Bumper To Bumper' features Famous Jug Band guitarist Pete Berryman and 'Grow' has Ron Geesin on piano.
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Released: (1974/1995 Remastered & Expanded Edition)
BGO Records (BGO CD260)
Genre: British Folk

Bridget St. John's fourth album fell somewhere between vintage British folk-rock and the kind of singer/songwriter approach used by Phoebe Snow or early Joni Mitchell. It was a low-key, agreeable affair of sophisticated romantic ruminations, although not compelling. Though a couple of songs came from outside sources (including a cover of Elton John's "Sweet Painted Lady"), most of the material was self-penned, and rather self-effacing, with assistance from backup musicians including ex-King Crimson drummer Mike Giles and noted acoustic guitarist Stefan Grossman. Oddly, different CD reissues of the album have added different bonus tracks. The mid-'90s reissue on BGO added four tracks recorded in the U.S. in 1976; however, the three bonus tracks added on the 2006 reissue on Hux were entirely different, slightly lo-fi ones done in 1975 that were previously unreleased anywhere. Recorded in preparation for a future album that would never be realized, these actually show her exploring some interesting possible future directions, playing underwater-sounding guitar through a foot pedal on "3DB Australia"; using Ron Geesin (most famous for his composing contribution to Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother) as piano accompanist on "Grow"; and featuring Peter Berryman on accomplished picked folky guitar on "Bumper to Bumper." ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Tracklist:

1. Sparrowpit 3:08
2. Song For The Waterden Widow 2:44
3. I Don't Know If I Can Take It 4:04
4. Some Kind Of Beautiful 3:16
5. Last Goodnight 5:04
6. Curious & Woolly 3:11
7. Want To Be With You 3:34
8. Jumble Queen 3:24
9. Sweet Painted Lady 3:41
10. Long Long Time 3:47
11. 3DB Australia 4:09
12. Bumper To Bumper 3:27
13. Grow 3:34