Anji (instrumental) explained

Angi
Artist:Davy Graham
Album:3/4 AD
Released:1962
Genre:Folk
Length:2:27
Label:Topic
Angie
Artist:Bert Jansch
Album:Bert Jansch
Released:April 16, 1965
Genre:Folk
Length:3:15
Label:Transatlantic
Producer:Bill Leader
Anji
Artist:Simon & Garfunkel
Album:Sounds of Silence
Released:January 17, 1966
Recorded:December 13, 1965
Genre:Folk
Length:2:17
Label:Columbia
Producer: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 song 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 another 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

  1. data from 3/4 AD EP profile on FolkBlues site http://www.folkblues.co.uk/graham1962.htm.
  2. Web site: Boisson. Steve. 18 February 2016. The Story Behind Davey Graham's 1960s-Era Fingerstyle Classic 'Anji'. 5 August 2020. Acoustic Guitar.
  3. data from Bert Jansch album overview on Allmusic site http://www.allmusic.com/album/bert-jansch-mw0000014864.
  4. Web site: Bert Jansch Bert Jansch. 2020-08-05. bertjansch.com.
  5. data from Sounds of Silence album overview on Allmusic site http://www.allmusic.com/album/sounds-of-silence-mw0000195709.
  6. Web site: Gill. Andy. 2002-08-02. Album: Chumbawamba - Readymades, Republic/Universal. 2020-08-05. The Independent. en.