Anji (instrumental)

"Angi"
Song by Davy Graham
from the album 3/4 AD
Released1962
GenreFolk
Length2:27
LabelTopic
Songwriter(s)Davy Graham
"Angie"
Song by Bert Jansch
from the album Bert Jansch
ReleasedApril 16, 1965
GenreFolk
Length3:15
LabelTransatlantic
Songwriter(s)Davy Graham
Producer(s)Bill Leader
"Anji"
Song by Simon & Garfunkel
from the album Sounds of Silence
ReleasedJanuary 17, 1966
RecordedDecember 13, 1965
GenreFolk
Length2:17
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Davy Graham
Producer(s)Bob Johnston

"Anji" (also spelled "Angi", "Angie" or "On gee") is an acoustic fingerstyle guitar piece composed and recorded by noted folk guitarist Davy Graham in 1961 and originally released as part of his EP debut 3/4 AD.[1][2] The piece is one of the best-known acoustic blues-folk guitar pieces ever composed, with many notable artists covering it, such as Bert Jansch (included on his first, eponymous album in 1965, renamed as "Angie" - the album cover credits Graham[3][4]), John Renbourn, Lillebjørn Nilsen, Paul Simon (on the Simon & Garfunkel album Sounds of Silence[5]), and Harry Sacksioni (on his Optima Forma - Live album). The tune is in the key of A minor (often used with a capo at the second fret) and is notable for its trademark descending bassline. However, the original recording by Davy Graham is in the key of C minor with a capo at the third fret.

Parts of the tune were sampled for the Chumbawamba track "Jacob's Ladder" from their album Readymades and the anti-war single "Jacob's Ladder (Not In My Name)".[6] Paul Simon, in his version, quotes a song from Sounds of Silence, "We've Got a Groovy Thing Goin'," and, further, another song from the same album, "Somewhere They Can't Find Me," opens with the guitar riff from "Anji".

References

[edit]
  1. ^ data from 3/4 AD EP profile on FolkBlues site [1].
  2. ^ Boisson, Steve (18 February 2016). "The Story Behind Davey Graham's 1960s-Era Fingerstyle Classic 'Anji'". Acoustic Guitar. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  3. ^ data from Bert Jansch album overview on Allmusic site [2].
  4. ^ "Bert Jansch | Bert Jansch". bertjansch.com. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
  5. ^ data from Sounds of Silence album overview on Allmusic site [3].
  6. ^ Gill, Andy (2002-08-02). "Album: Chumbawamba - Readymades, Republic/Universal". The Independent. Retrieved 2020-08-05.