Grace & Danger (Deluxe Edition)

1980’s Grace and Danger is where guitarist John Martyn chronicles the dissolution of his marriage to wife Beverley, with whom he’d recorded several albums. The album so disturbed the label president that its release was delayed a year. Always a great technical player, Martyn infused tough, often uncomfortable emotion into these songs of obvious pain and frustration. “Some People Are Crazy” opens with tight accompaniment that underscores the somber events. (The quartet features Genesis drummer Phil Collins, bassist John Giblin and keyboardist Tommy Eyre). The title track, however, immediately kicks up the drive with shades of hard rock breaking past his dejected vocals. “Lookin’ On” sweetens the soul with a gentle vocal while the Slickers’ reggae tune “Johnny Too Bad” toughens up with some funk. From there, the album grows progressively sad with the remarkably touching “Sweet Little Mystery,” “Hurt in Your Heart” and “Baby, Please Come Home.” The album ends with “Our Love,” a tune credited to John and Beverley Martin.