Bert Jansch

For his debut album, 21-year-old Bert Jansch sat down in his pal's kitchen, pressed play on a portable tape recorder and laid down 15 perfect tunes using a borrowed guitar. An amazing story -- but far more important: Bert Jansch helped transform the folk revival into the singer-songwriter movement. The album became a vital listen for Neil Young, James Taylor, Nick Drake and any other young songwriter more interested in exploring inner realities than addressing politic and social issues.