Among the most creative and experimental of the British singer-songwriters from the 1960s and 70s, John Martyn pushed boundaries regularly while many of his contemporaries were happy to stick it out in folk club settings and re-write the songbooks of others.
Of the ten albums Martyn produced for Island Records between his 1967 debut, London Conversations, and 1980’s Grace and Dagger, he rarely compose or recorded a weak number, and with milestone records like 1973’s Solid Air (the title track of which was written for the soon-to-be late Nick Drake) and 1977’s One World in the mix, this period of the great man’s work remains staggering in its quality, depth and delivery.
John Martyn differed too from other UK writers of a similar genre, by achieving a certain level of success in the US as well as in the UK and Europe. Indeed, this new collection features a veritable smorgasbord of John Martyn classics, favourites and obscurities from his most potent era, all recorded live in the USA or in London, between 1975 and 1981.
1 Head And Heart 6:30
2 Man In The Station/My Baby Girl 6:19
3 Make No Mistake/Bless The Weather 10:01
4 Seven Black Roses 3:46
5 Sweet Certain Surprise/Couldn’t Love You More 8:47
6 Over The Hill 4:05
7 Solid Air 6:01
8 Big Muff 6:10
9 Sweet Little Mystery 7:13
10 Many You Never 3:57
11 Spencer The Rover 4:19