John Martyn
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Biography
[Edit]Singer/songwriter/guitarist John Martyn was born Iain David McGeachy on September 11, 1948, in New Malden, Surrey, and raised in Glasgow by his grandmother. He began his innovative and expansive career at the age of 17 with a style influenced by American blues artists such as Robert Johnson and Skip James, the traditional music of his homeland, and the eclectic folk of Davey Graham (Graham remained an influence and idol of Martyn's throughout his career). With the aid of his mentor, traditional singer Hamish Imlach, Martyn began to make a name for himself and eventually moved to London, where he became a fixture at Cousins, the center for the local folk scene that spawned the likes of Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell, and Al Stewart. Soon after, he caught the attention of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who made him the first white solo act to join the roster of his reggae-based label. The subsequent album, London Conversation (February 1968), only hinted at what was to come in Martyn's career. Although it contained touches of blues along with Martyn's rhythmic playing and distinctive voice, it was for the most part a fairly straightforward British folk record. With his follow-up later that same year, the Al Stewart-produced The Tumbler, Martyn began to slowly test other waters, employing backup musicians such as jazz reedman Harold McNair, to flesh out his sound. His voice also started to take on a jazzier quality as he began to experiment musically.
While on the road, Martyn continued to experiment with his sound, adding various effects to his electrified acoustic. One such effect, the Echoplex, allowed him to play off of the tape loops of his own guitar, enveloping himself in his own playing while continuing to play leads over the swelling sound. This would become an integral part of his recordings and stage performances in the coming years. He also met Beverley Kutner, a singer from Coventry who later became his wife and musical partner. The duo released two records in 1970, Stormbringer and The Road to Ruin, the former recorded in Woodstock, N.Y. with American musicians including members of the Band. For one track on their second album, John and Bev hired Pentangle double bassist Danny Thompson, who remained a constant in John's career throughout the better part of the '70s, on-stage and in the studio. John planned his third solo album when Beverley retired to take care of the couple's children, although there was supposedly pressure from Island for him to record on his own.
The next couple of years saw Martyn continuing to expand on his unique blend of folk music, drawing on folk, blues, rock, and jazz as well as music from the Middle East, South America, and Jamaica. His voice continued to transform with each album while his playing became more aggressive, yet without losing its gentler side. Bless the Weather (1971) and Solid Air (1973) which helped form the foundation of Martyn's fan base, featured some of his most mature and enduring songs: "Solid Air," written for close friend Nick Drake, "May You Never" (recorded by Eric Clapton), and "Head and Heart" (recorded by America). By the time of 1973's Inside Out, Martyn's use of the Echoplex had taken on a life of its own while his vocals became more of an instrument: deeper and bluesier, with words slithering into one another, barely decipherable.
During this period, Martyn's well-publicized bouts with alcoholism came to the forefront and began to affect his career somewhat. He became an erratic and at times self-destructive performer. He might perform an evening of electronic guitar experiments for a crowd of folkies or a set of traditional, acoustic ballads when playing to a rock audience. His shows would also range from the odd night of falling over drunk to sheer brilliance, as captured on the independently released Live at Leeds (1975).
Following Sunday's Child (1974), the live record, and a 1977 best-of collection, Martyn, for the most part, abandoned his acoustic guitar on record for a sort of rock, world, and jazz fusion. Although his style was moving away from its folk roots, his songs retained the passion and structure of his best early work. Grace and Danger (1980), his first release since 1977's One World, painfully and honestly depicted the crumbling of John and Beverley's marriage in some of his most powerful material in years. It also seemed to garner interest in Martyn's sagging career. With this new momentum and the help of friend Phil Collins, Martyn signed to WEA, where he recorded two records, Glorious Fool (1981) and Well Kept Secret (1982). Glorious Fool, a superb effort, produced by Collins and featuring Eric Clapton on guitar and Collins on drums, piano, and vocals, looked to be his best shot at mainstream success, but failed to extend his cult status. Martyn released his second independent live record, the magnificent Philentropy, before returning to Island Records for two studio releases, a live album and a 12" single which featured a version of Bob Dylan's "Tight Connection to My Heart." He was dropped by the label in 1988.
Continuing to battle his alcoholism, Martyn resumed his career in 1990 with The Apprentice and 1992's Cooltide. He also released an album of his classic songs re-recorded with an all-star cast featuring Phil Collins, David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, and Levon Helm of the Band, as well as various compilations and live recordings. After a four-year layoff, Martyn issued And, an album with strong jazz, trip-hop, and funk overtones, followed in 1998 by The Church with One Bell, a collection of diverse covers. In 1999 he also released a live double album which documented a classic concert at London's Shaw Theatre in 1990 entitled Dirty, Down & Live.
Martyn recorded a surprise studio comeback effort called Glasgow Walker at the turn of the century that was very well received, and had his entire Island catalog remastered and reissued — two of his albums, One World, and Grace and Danger, were given the Universal "deluxe" treatment with bonus discs. In 2003, a cyst burst in Martyn's leg due to septicemia brought on by diabetes. The end result was an amputation, but he continued to tour the world with the same tireless energy and restlessness, performing with his band from a wheelchair. Martyn, shrugged it all off, typified by this infamous quote: " "I've been mugged in New York and luckily I fought my way out of it. I've been shot a couple of times as well but I just lay down and pretended to be dead."
In 2007 two DVDs appeared, a Live at the BBC set recorded in the 1970s, and Voiceprint's The Man Upstairs documentary. 2008 saw Martyn's name surface once more with some real regularity due to a flurry of activity by the man and his touring schedule, but also because of new releases. His One World label issued a pair of catalogued live dates, the best of these being Simmer Dim , and, in December, Universal/Island released a four-disc retrospective box entitled Ain't No Saint. In January, 2009 Martyn was awarded the OBE (Order of the British Empire) — an irony since he was the most rebellious of Scotsmen. Martyn's health, however, was in real decline as a result of a lifetime of substance abuse issues; in the early morning hours of January 29, 2009, he passed away at the age of 60 after a third bout with pneumonia.
With his characteristic backslap acoustic guitar playing, his effects-driven experimental journeys, or his catalog of excellent songs, as well as his jazz-inflected singing style, John Martyn will remain an important and influential figure in both British folk and rock. ~ Brett Hartenbach & Thom Jurek, Rovi
Title: Live In Concert
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Glasgow Walker
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: On Air
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Blues, World Music, Country, Pop, Contemporary Folk, Celtic, Folk
Title: Glorious Fool
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Piece By Piece
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: The Best Of The Island Years
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: World Music, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Folk
Title: No Little Boy
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Couldn't Love You More
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Collectors Series: Live At the Town and Country Club 1986
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Sweet Little Mysteries (The Island Anthology) (CD2)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Folk Rock, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, 1986
Artist: John Martyn, Danny Thompson, Arran Ahmun
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Sweet Little Mysteries - The Island Anthology
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: May You Never - The Very Best of John Martyn
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: Live At Bristol 1991 - Official Bootleg
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Solid Air (Rarities Edition)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: The Road To Ruin
Artist: John Martyn, Beverley Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Songwriter/Lyricist, Contemporary Folk
Title: Sapphire (RePresents)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: World Music, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Folk
Title: Collectors Series, Vol. 1: Another World
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Songwriter/Lyricist, Contemporary Folk
Title: One World (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, World Music, Pop, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Live
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Couldn't Love You More / No Little Boy
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: London Conversation
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Foundations (Live At Town and Country Club, London / 1986)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Collectors Series: Live At the Bottom Line, New York 1983
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: The Church With One Bell (Bonus Track Version)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Live In Nottingham 1976
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: The Tumbler
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Germany 1986
Artist: John Martyn, Danny Thompson
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Mad Dog Days
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: Solid Air (Remastered)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Songwriter/Lyricist, Contemporary Folk
Title: Live At Leeds
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Blues Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk, Celtic
Title: Classics, Vol. 1
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: The Apprentice
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk, Folk
Title: Bless the Weather
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: Live At Leeds (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Blues Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk, Celtic
Title: Solid Air
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: Grace & Danger (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: The Island Years
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: World Music, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Folk
Title: Classics Live, Vol. 1
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: On the Cobbles
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Sunday's Child
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Pop, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: Remembering John Martyn
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: In Session At the BBC
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: And Live ...
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Contemporary Folk
Title: Cooltide
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic, Folk
Title: On Air: John Martyn
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Blues, Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Contemporary Folk
Title: Classics Volume 1
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Title: Classics Live Vol. 2
Artist: John Martyn
Genre: Rock, Folk Rock, World Music, Songwriter/Lyricist, Psychedelic
Collections
Title: Best of the Test - The Old Grey Whistle Test
Genre: Rock
Title: This Is the Blues
Genre: Blues
Title: This Is the 70's
Title: Rap, Pop & Dance 2
Genre: Electronica
Title: Fruitcake: Singer/Songwriters
Genre: Pop
Title: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 1: Volume One
Genre: World Music
Title: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 1: Volume Two
Genre: World Music
Title: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 2, Vol. One
Genre: Country
Title: This Is Folk
Genre: Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Cafe Del Mar - The Best Of (By Jose Padilla) CD2
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronica, Deep House, Pop
Title: Cafe Del Mar - The Best Of (Jose Padilla) CD2
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz, Dancefloor, DJ/Remixes, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Cafe Del Mar Ibiza - Volumen Tres Y Cuatro CD 2
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronica, Jazz, Dancefloor, DJ/Remixes, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Cafe Del Mare - Ibiza Volumen Tres (Vol 4)
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronica, Jazz, Dancefloor, DJ/Remixes, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Late Night Tales
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Pop Rock
Title: Songs Of Yesterday (CD5)
Genre: Rock, Blues Rock
Title: The Red Room - Autumn 2006
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronica
Title: LateNightTales Mixed By Roeyksopp
Genre: Chill Out, Electronica, Nu Disco
Title: The Red Room
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronica
Title: True Chill Out
Title: Cafe Del Mar - (Vol- 4)
Genre: Chill Out
Title: Latest & Greatest Relaxing Songs (CD2)
Genre: Soul, Jazz, Rock, Alternative
Title: Latest & Greatest Relaxing Songs (CD2)
Genre: Pop
Title: Alternative Acoustic (CD2)
Title: Classic Rock # 018: Classic Cuts No. 14
Genre: Rock
Title: The Greatest Singer-Songwriter Classics (CD3)
Genre: Pop
Title: Classic Acoustic 2017 (CD3)
Genre: World Music, Country, Traditional Pop Music, Acoustic, Indie
Title: Classic Acoustic 2017 (CD2)
Genre: World Music, Country, Traditional Pop Music, Indie
Title: Ram Cafe Vol. 11 (CD1)
Title: Acoustic 70s (CD2)
Genre: Blues, Rock, World Music, Country, Pop, Folk, Easy Listening
Title: Acoustic 70s - 60 Hit Chart Tracks 2017 (CD3)
Genre: Pop Rock
Title: 100 Greatest Male Voices 2020 (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Pop
Title: NOW Folk Classics
Genre: World Music, Folk
Title: 100 Greatest Singer-Songwriters (CD1)
Genre: Rock, Rock & Roll, World Music, Rockabilly, Pop Rock, Acoustic, Folk
Title: Country & Folk 2021
Genre: World Music, Country, Songwriter/Lyricist, Folk
Title: Folk Rock Essentials (CD1)
Title: Folk Rock Essentials (CD2)
Title: Jazz Rock Essentials (CD2)
Title: 100 Greatest Folk Songs (CD2)
Genre: World Music, Pop, Folk
Title: Hora Nostálgica 2023 / Hora Nostalgica 2023
Genre: Blues
Featuring albums
Title: Late Night Tales: Snow Patrol
Artist: Snow Patrol
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Pop, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Contemporary Folk
Title: Late Night Tales: Röyksopp / Late Night Tales: Royksopp
Artist: Röyksopp / Royksopp
Genre: Electronica, Rock, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 2, Vol. Two
Artist: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain
Genre: World Music, Country, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 2, Vol. Three
Artist: Jerry Douglas, Aly Bain
Genre: World Music, Country, Songwriter/Lyricist
Title: Back Street Crawler (Deluxe Edition)
Artist: Paul Kossoff
Genre: Rock, Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
Title: Late Night Tales: Röyksopp / Late Night Tales: Royksopp
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor
Title: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 1: Volume Three
Genre: World Music
Title: Volumen Cuatro
Artist: Café Del Mar / Cafe Del Mar
Genre: Ambient, Downtempo, Electronica, Jazz, Rock, Dancefloor, DJ/Remixes, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: AnotherLateNight & LateNightTales Complete Collection Vol. 34
Artist: Röyksopp / Royksopp
Genre: Electronica, Funk, Experimental
Title: LateNightTales
Artist: Röyksopp / Royksopp
Genre: Downtempo, Trip Hop, Electronica, Soul, Indie Rock, Disco, Funk, Experimental
Title: John Stevens' Away / Somewhere In Between / Mazin Ennit
Artist: John Stevens' Away
Genre: Jazz
Title: This Is Us - Season 2 (Music From the Series)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: The Trip Created By Saint Etienne (CD2)
Artist: Saint Etienne