John Martyn RIP
Posted by: Richwleeds on 29 January 2009
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by Phil Ward
PS. I Just read on Tracy Thorn's Myspace blog that Solid Air was the first record she and Ben Watt listened to together.
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by BigH47
Who?
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by tonym
Another great artist passes on. Very sad - he's singing to me now as I type...
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by gone
Went through most of his back-catalogue last night, and some words stay in my mind - forgive the indulgence.....
May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold.
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
May you never lose your temper if you get hit in a barroom fight.
May you never lose your woman overnight.
Well, you're just like a great, strong sister to me,
And I know that your love is true,
And you hold no blade for to stab me in my back;
I know that there's some that do.
So please, won't you please, won't you bear it in mind:
Love is a lesson to learn in our time.
Please, won't you please, bear it in mind for me.
Well, you're just like a great, strong brother to me,
And I know that your love is true,
And you never talk dirty behind my back;
I know that there's some that do.
Many would do well to learn from this
Cheers
John
May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold.
May you never make your bed out in the cold.
May you never lose your temper if you get hit in a barroom fight.
May you never lose your woman overnight.
Well, you're just like a great, strong sister to me,
And I know that your love is true,
And you hold no blade for to stab me in my back;
I know that there's some that do.
So please, won't you please, won't you bear it in mind:
Love is a lesson to learn in our time.
Please, won't you please, bear it in mind for me.
Well, you're just like a great, strong brother to me,
And I know that your love is true,
And you never talk dirty behind my back;
I know that there's some that do.
Many would do well to learn from this
Cheers
John
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by nemouk
God rest Big John.So sad to learn he has made his final body swerve.I was lucky enough to be a drinking partner of his in the late seventies/early eighties.His music has been with me throughout my life and will continue to be so.
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by scottyhammer
damn it...after rick wright now this sad news i feel like ive been kicked in the guts !
his music will live on forever infact im off to play some now - RIP big man.
his music will live on forever infact im off to play some now - RIP big man.
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by smiglass
Wow! I have loved "Don't wanna know" for years but never knew who wrote it, now I have downloaded his work and am sorry I have missed so much. What a wonderful talent! RIP
Anthony
Anthony
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by Colin Lorenson
RIP John.
Saw you once at Erics in Liverpool, and in the Grapes beforehand of course. Fantastic gig.
Off to play Small hours from One World. You will live on everytime I play you.
Saw you once at Erics in Liverpool, and in the Grapes beforehand of course. Fantastic gig.
Off to play Small hours from One World. You will live on everytime I play you.
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by Simon Matthews
John was very close to death in 2004 when he had the burst cyst in his leg which led to his amputation. That experience certainly influenced the 'On thee cobbles' album which stands up very well against all of his seventies/eightees output IMO. A stand out track for me is 'My creator'. The lyrics have extra meaning now....
My Creator
I believe I heard a voice this morning
I believe I heard a voice
I do believe I heard a voice, heard a voice this morning
I believe I heard it twice
Always love, always love
We will sleep forever one day
Don't cheat because I'll take all of your heart away.
That's what my creator told me: one day
That's what he said to me one day.
Cause you fight till you fight no more
Be righteous
Be black or white as you please
But never bend the knee
That's what my creator taught me.
My creator always said
Fight till you fight no more
Be righteous
Fight till you fight no more
Be right till you're right no more
Try to till you try to no more
Cry till there's no more crying
Live till you live no more
Live till there is no more dying
Be sweet till you can be sweet no more
Be sweet to your dying day.
That's what my creator told me today
That's what my creator taught me today.
Be still, be still inside your heart
Try forever, just try ...
Be sweet forever
Forget me never
You know the Lord is true
Forget me never
Try to be truthful
I didn't give you wings cause you ain't in heaven
You ain't in heaven yet
You are not in heaven yet
He said
Come and join me in a sweet celebration
Come and join me, come while you can
Come and join me in a sweet, sweet vision
Come and join me, come if you can.
That's what he said.
My Creator
I believe I heard a voice this morning
I believe I heard a voice
I do believe I heard a voice, heard a voice this morning
I believe I heard it twice
Always love, always love
We will sleep forever one day
Don't cheat because I'll take all of your heart away.
That's what my creator told me: one day
That's what he said to me one day.
Cause you fight till you fight no more
Be righteous
Be black or white as you please
But never bend the knee
That's what my creator taught me.
My creator always said
Fight till you fight no more
Be righteous
Fight till you fight no more
Be right till you're right no more
Try to till you try to no more
Cry till there's no more crying
Live till you live no more
Live till there is no more dying
Be sweet till you can be sweet no more
Be sweet to your dying day.
That's what my creator told me today
That's what my creator taught me today.
Be still, be still inside your heart
Try forever, just try ...
Be sweet forever
Forget me never
You know the Lord is true
Forget me never
Try to be truthful
I didn't give you wings cause you ain't in heaven
You ain't in heaven yet
You are not in heaven yet
He said
Come and join me in a sweet celebration
Come and join me, come while you can
Come and join me in a sweet, sweet vision
Come and join me, come if you can.
That's what he said.
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by Simon Matthews
From his myspace site. Fingers crossed that there is one last hurrah.
"His new album is now complete (which I believe features John's own live drum manipulations, plus many new musicians including Jim Lampi on the Chapman Stick) and awaits to be released by Independiente. This time Martyn promises a happier album; "I just want to be happy. I'm fed up of being miserable. But there's always a melancholy streak in my nature..." Never have I encountered a man with such a powerful self-destructive nature, coupled with an equally powerful survival one. How John Martyn has survived his numerous run-ins with record companies, managers, fans, crippling creative spasms and bouts of drugs is beyond me? That he is still performing and recording quality heartfelt music is in itself an achievement to be proud of. Martyn claims his best music is yet to come. And now, like Martyn we must play the waiting game and hope serendipity prevails."
"His new album is now complete (which I believe features John's own live drum manipulations, plus many new musicians including Jim Lampi on the Chapman Stick) and awaits to be released by Independiente. This time Martyn promises a happier album; "I just want to be happy. I'm fed up of being miserable. But there's always a melancholy streak in my nature..." Never have I encountered a man with such a powerful self-destructive nature, coupled with an equally powerful survival one. How John Martyn has survived his numerous run-ins with record companies, managers, fans, crippling creative spasms and bouts of drugs is beyond me? That he is still performing and recording quality heartfelt music is in itself an achievement to be proud of. Martyn claims his best music is yet to come. And now, like Martyn we must play the waiting game and hope serendipity prevails."
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by Diccus62
quote:Originally posted by BigH47:
Who?
Everything but the Girl
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by BigH47
OK. Thanks.
Posted on: 30 January 2009 by D.L
very sad.
came across John Martyn's music in the mid 90's - a friend was playing 'inside out' in his car, and I thought it was a current release! says it all really - so ahead of its time.
Another friend saw him live - he came on stage holding a half empty bottle of scotch, sang one and half songs, fell over, and then walked off again.
don't think i'll ever grow bored of the 60's/early 70's stuff.
came across John Martyn's music in the mid 90's - a friend was playing 'inside out' in his car, and I thought it was a current release! says it all really - so ahead of its time.
Another friend saw him live - he came on stage holding a half empty bottle of scotch, sang one and half songs, fell over, and then walked off again.
don't think i'll ever grow bored of the 60's/early 70's stuff.
Posted on: 31 January 2009 by Voltaire
I must admit that I was not aware of him or his music. Having read the comments on this (and other) forums I am galvanised to investigate.
Posted on: 31 January 2009 by naim_nymph
Me too!
Posted on: 02 February 2009 by Simon Matthews
Munch
Keep us posted if you see when the Beeb will show something. To be honest it was pretty crap of them not to slot something on bbc4 over the weekend.
The Obituaries have been a mixed affair. Talking about the connections with Clapton and Gilmour was a very reductionist position to his oeuvre taking by some poorly informed journalists. Having said that there were a couple of well written ones.
Keep us posted if you see when the Beeb will show something. To be honest it was pretty crap of them not to slot something on bbc4 over the weekend.
The Obituaries have been a mixed affair. Talking about the connections with Clapton and Gilmour was a very reductionist position to his oeuvre taking by some poorly informed journalists. Having said that there were a couple of well written ones.
Posted on: 02 February 2009 by D.L
they should show something of him live - there must be something in the archives. a totally different musical experience to his studio albums from what i've seen of him on tv.
Posted on: 06 February 2009 by nemouk
Just listened to both cd,s of John's "Solid Air Classics Revisited".I had thought it was just another compilation of his greatist but it is in fact a reworking of them by John done, I believe, in about 2000.It really is excellent and should I think be in everyones collection of his music. D.L "Live at the BBC" is an excellent DVD of lots of his live preformances there.
Posted on: 06 February 2009 by Mat Cork
I caught him live a couple of times, including one great night in Winchester in about '94.
Up there with Nick Drake and Richard Thompson in my book as our great singer songwriters.
Solid Air is a masterpiece, but he rarely put out a duff album. Fine Lines probably my favourite track. A true bon viveur or whatever it is the French say. RIP John.
Up there with Nick Drake and Richard Thompson in my book as our great singer songwriters.
Solid Air is a masterpiece, but he rarely put out a duff album. Fine Lines probably my favourite track. A true bon viveur or whatever it is the French say. RIP John.