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JOHN MARTYN
John Martyn - The Best Of The Island Years [2014] (4x CD's)
"The Best Of The Island Years" is a digest version of 2013's, definitive 18 disc set covering John Martyn's classic years with Island Records between 1967 and 1987. All 56 tracks on this box capture Martyn at the height of his creativity on the label. This collection features the best of the rarities from "The Island Years" and creates an exceptional collection of recordings for fans who have everything but the complete box set. It includes three songs which were unreleased prior to inclusion on the complete box set - 'Hi Heel Sneakers', from the Grace And Danger sessions, 'Love in Your Life' from Sapphire and 'Lifeline' from the Apprentice sessions, Martyn's final recordings for Island Records.
I love John Martyn's music... Fantastic player, creative & innovative...beautiful voice before he torched it. "Head & Heart" & "Bless The Weather" still stun & amaze me, many years on from my first listen ... "Solid Air" is still a triumph. Unreleased & alternate versions of beautiful songs by one of the greatest singer/songwriters in British folk rock history. Fresh and original. Thank you John Martyn. RIP. (Amazon)
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Track Lists
CD1
01 Go Easy (Take 2) 4:33
02 Bless The Weather (Alternate Take) 4:54
03 Just Now (Alternate Take) 3:38
04 Head And Heart (Alternate Take) 5:00
05 Glistening Glyndebourne (Alternate Take) 7:47
06 May You Never (Live At The Hanging Lamp, Richmond, UK/ 1972) 4:19
07 Head And Heart (Live At The Hanging Lamp, Richmond, UK/ 1972) 3:58
08 I'd Rather Be The Devil (Live At The Hanging Lamp, Richmond, UK/ 1972) 7:51
09 Solid Air (Alternate Take #2) 4:31
10 Over The Hill (Alternative Take) 3:20
11 I'd Rather Be The Devil (Devil Got My Woman) (Alternate Take #3) 6:03
12 Go Down Easy (Alternate Take 3) 5:12
13 Dreams By The Sea (Alternate Take 2) 3:24
14 May You Never (Alternate Take 2) 3:48
15 Fine Lines (Alternate Take #2) 3:55
CD2
01 The Glory Of Love (Alternate Take #1) 2:40
02 Make No Mistake (Instrumental) 6:47
03 Sunday's Child (Alternate Take) 6:32
04 Spencer The Rover (BBC Sight & Sound In Concert / London / 1977) 3:55
05 Eight More Miles (Alternate Take) 2:45
06 Outside In (Live At Leeds / 1975 / Alternate Take) 18:55
07 Solid Air (Live At Leeds / 1975 / Alternate Take) 7:13
08 The Man In The Station (Live At Leeds / 1975 / Alternate Take) 2:44
09 Dealer (Alternate Take) 5:16
10 One World (Alternate Take #2) 4:21
11 Smiling Stranger (Alternate Take #2) 3:37
12 Certain Surprise (Alternate Take #2) 4:01
CD3
01 Couldn't Love You More (Alternate Take) 3:15
02 Big Muff (Alternate Take #1) 7:13
03 Dancing (Alternate Take #2) 3:56
04 Small Hours (Alternate Take) 9:50
05 Black Man At Your Shoulder (Alternate Take) 8:31
06 Some People Are Crazy (Alternate Take #1) 4:13
07 Grace And Danger (Alternate Take) 7:39
08 Johnny Too Bad (Alternate Take 2) 7:19
09 Hi-Heel Sneakers 3:19
10 Running Up The Harbour (Alternate Take) 4:38
11 Sweet Little Mystery (BBC TV 5:00
12 Our Love (Alternate Take) 5:55
13 After Tomorrow Night (Alternate Take 1) 4:37
CD4
01 Sapphire (Andy Lyden Mix) 4:49
02 Over The Rainbow (Andy Lyden Mix) 3:48
03 Fisherman's Dream (Andy Lyden Mix) 4:35
04 Mad Dog Days (Andy Lyden Mix) 5:23
05 Love In Your Life (Andy Lyden Mix) 3:28
06 Solid Air (Live At The Glastonbury Festival, UK 1986) 5:44
07 Bless The Weather (Live At The Glastonbury Festival, UK 1986) 4:12
08 Lonely Love (Alternate Take #1) 3:23
09 Angeline (Alternate Take #1) 5:04
10 Piece By Piece (Alternate Take #1) 3:59
11 The River (The Apprentice Version) 4:19
12 Send Me One Line 5:14
13 The Apprentice 4:18
14 Lifeline 3:54
15 Patterns In The Rain 3:28
16 John Wayne (Live At The London Palladium 1986) 8:37
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Saw him quite a few times in London, once as support for a new American female singer, Joni Mitchell. He was always good, sometimes stoned, sometimes a bit pissed, sometimes both.But always good entertainment. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul,
DeleteThanks for commenting and sharing.
Yes, he certainly was a character.
But in the end its all about the music. I like his work.
Cheers.
Hi Butterboy,
ReplyDeleteTotally new stuff to me. Another artist to be discovered...
Thanks
Regards
Thanks for this, BB.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Your Compilations are great. I know it is a lot of work, so I do appreciate it.
ReplyDeletehello Butterboy - would love to hear this. Any chance of a re up.
ReplyDeleteHi bertbob.
DeleteNew links established, tested and working.
Cheers.
Many Thanks.
DeleteThanks Butterboy, a nice overview. Only saw him once at The Royal Festival Hall, September 1969. He was performing with his wife Beverley, the second performance was by Nick Drake (a very rare appearance!) and after the interval it was Fairport Convention (post the M1 crash) who were debuting their Liege and Lief album with the classic line-up of Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol, Ashley Hutchings, Dave Swarbrick and Dave Mattacks. A magical evening, never to be forgotten. Cheers for John.
ReplyDeleteMan from Mordor.
DeleteWow, that sounds like a truly incredible evening! Seeing John Martyn and Beverley, followed by a rare performance by Nick Drake, and then Fairport Convention debuting “Liege and Lief” with such a legendary lineup It must have been an unforgettable experience. Those are memories to cherish forever. Thanks for sharing your story and appreciation of great artists doing what they do best.
Cheers.