Browse by Artist: MARTYN, JOHN

Artist:	MARTYN, JOHN
Title:	The Battle of Medway
Label:	HUX (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	HUX 090CD

Live at the Medway Folk Centre, July 17th, 1973. "The Battle of Medway, released with the full approval of John Martyn, captures him in blistering form, on one of his last-ever solo acoustic folk club gigs. Famed for the late-night cool of his '70s studio albums and the explosive live shows of the same era, Martyn forged a unique path through the accepted forms of folk, jazz and rock, bringing electric power into the folk clubs and soulful balladry into the colleges. Recorded in July 1973, in ambient stereo by club organizer Geoff Harden at Medway, Kent. In between the releases of Solid Air and Inside Out, this is the sound of John Martyn -- on one of his determinedly last-ever folk club gigs -- frightening the living daylights out of anyone who came there expecting 'The Wild Rover.'"

Artist:	MARTYN, JOHN
Title:	London Conversation
Label:	ISLAND (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	IMCD 319

2005 Island Remasters reissue including one bonus track plus enhanced packaging and sleeve notes. "John's debut album, London Conversation, was recorded in mono at Pye Studios in Marble Arch and released October 1967. An album of innocent songs that won praise from the music press and launched a career that has spanned five decades. London Conversation was released when John was just nineteen years old, the album being produced by Theo Johnson under the supervision of Chris Blackwell. The album is in the folk tradition with some excellent lyrics and jazzy instrumentation such as the sitar and flute in 'Rolling Home.' It was this instrumentation that set John apart from his fellow musicians on the folk circuit at the time." Includes the track 'Sandy Grey,' a song about Nick Drake, written by the American singer-songwriter Robin Frederick, and also 'Cocain,' which is a traditional song arranged by John which still remains a favorite with him: the only song from the album that he still performs today. John's cover of Bob Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice' demonstrates his sensitive nature. His young fresh voice gives the song a simple, almost innocent air and this same innocence is evident throughout the whole album."

Artist:	MARTYN, JOHN
Title:	The Tumbler
Label:	ISLAND (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	IMCD 320

2005 Island Remasters reissue plus enhanced packaging and sleeve notes. "The Tumbler was released in 1968, recorded at Regent Sound, Denmark Street in London's Soho. John's previous album, London Conversation had been well received, however The Tumbler documents an early step forward in his musical progression. On his performance on the BBC for John Peel's Night Ride radio show, John played songs that would later feature on this record, 'Sing a Song of Summer,' 'The Gardeners,' 'Goin' Down to Memphis' and 'The River.' Saxophonist and flautist Harold McNair's playing is influential on this record, particularly so on 'Dusty,' 'Fly on Home' and the dark and worrying 'The Gardeners,' adding a new dimension to The Tumbler. John's fast and dazzling finger picking guitar technique is a feature of the album, particularly on 'Seven Black Roses,' which John describes as his visual guitar solo or Spiders on the Strings. A vigorous and tonally expanded instrumental, one of the few songs from this album that John still performed live to wide acclaim in his 1970s gigs and one that remains an inspiration to all aspiring guitarists."

Artist:	MARTYN, JOHN
Title:	Bless the Weather
Label:	ISLAND (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	IMCD 321

2005 Island Remasters reissue including seven bonus tracks plus enhanced packaging and sleeve notes. "Bless the Weather was released in 1971, and was a beautiful and heartfelt album, recorded at Sound Technician in Chelsea. Danny Thompson (Pentangle) played bass, Richard Thompson, Tony Reeves (Colosseum), Ian Whiteman and Roger Powell (Mighty Baby) all contributed. John's unique fusion of folk, rock and jazz, his fascination with electronics and its boundless possibilities were becoming more obvious in his music. This experimentation began to distance him from the folk scene as he continued to break all the rules using the echoplex to build layers of rhythmic sound. 'Glistening Glyndebourne' showcased John's technique of playing acoustic guitar through the echoplex to stunning effect. The calm and floating 'Go Easy,' the organic and joyous celebration of spirituality 'Walk to the Water' and anthemic 'Head and Heart' instill a feeling of inner contentment. Bless the Weather proved very popular, receiving enthusiastic reviews from his fans and the music press. For the first time we can also hear a version of 'Head and Heart' recorded with a band during the sessions on 17th May 1971."

Artist:	MARTYN, JOHN
Title:	Inside Out
Label:	ISLAND (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	IMCD 322

2005 Island Remasters reissue including four previously unreleased bonus tracks plus enhanced packaging and sleeve notes. "Inside Out was released in 1973. The free-form jazz oriented experimental album features sublime guitar work by John and superbly varied bass playing from Danny Thompson. Traffic's Steve Winwood (keyboards) and Chris Wood (sax) also contribute, as do Remi Kabaka (percussion) and others. The intensive recording sessions took place over a few days and were largely late at night with no cutting, editing or splicing. It was 'live' and tracks were faded out where necessary. The album won John a Golden Disc from Montreaux and received glowing reviews from the music press who described it as 'music from inner space' and a 'cosmic foray.' Inside Out is an intensely personal and expressively invigorating album, an exquisite flowing blend of vocals, guitar, keyboards, sax and drums. The provocative experimentation with echoplex and distortion effects set him apart from other traditional 'folk' musicians. Live performances are included on this release courtesy of the BBC from their Sounds of the Seventies radio show presented by Bob Harris and first broadcast on 15th October 1973."

Artist:	MARTYN, JOHN
Title:	Sunday's Child
Label:	ISLAND (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	IMCD 323

2005 Island Remasters reissue with seven bonus tracks plus enhanced packaging and sleeve notes.. "Sunday's Child was recorded and mixed during August 1974 at Island Studios in Hammersmith and released in January 1975. The sessions were short but intensive, producing songs of considerable contrasts from the rock n' roll 'Root Love and Clutches,' to the traditional folk song 'Spencer the Rover.' The overall feel of the album is one of contentment and John called it 'the family album, very happy, purely romantic...a nice period.'" Three of the bonus tracks on this CD are previously unreleased, including five from a 1975 BBC Radio One John Peel Session.

Previous Page Index of Artists Next Page