Live At Leeds And More - John Martyn

John Martyn's breakthrough

Advantages: Most of the tracks very strong. Album stands test of time
Disadvantages: Not a commercial album and needs repeated listening.

With the recent death of John Martyn OBE announced at the age of 60, I thought I'd review his most popular and enduring album, Solid Air, regarded by many fans as his masterpiece. A Brief Background John Martyn was born in 1948 in Surrey to Scottish parents who moved back to Glasgow, when he was still a toddler..His parents soon split up and he continued to live with his father and took up the guitar at 15. He made rapid progress on the instrument developing a finger-picking style. Two years later he left home at 17, heading back to the South East, where he began to perform on the British folk circuit, eventually gaining a residency at Les Cousins, London's most prestigious folk club. Whilst still a teenager he was spotted by Chris Blackwell the founder of Island Records, who signed him up in 1967, when he cut his first album ...

RippedoffPete 13.02.2009 (15.02.2009) · Read full review
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Review of Solid Air - John Martyn

John Martyn's near masterpiece

Advantages: Highly original and relaxing acoustic guitar songs, superbly played
Disadvantages: Inferior bonus tracks might interfere with the mood of the album for some.

, beautifully. It's easy to throw superlatives at at an album or artist that you like. John Martyn was a musician I greatly admired in the 1970s, but not so much after then. Once he crossed paths with Phil Collins, he decided to try to embark on a more commercial sound using awful synthesizers and drum machines on much of his studio work since. In retrospect Collins did Martyn's career no favours whatsoever, although Martyn's live performances continued to please.Thankfully, Bless The Weather and a couple of other excellent '70s John Martyn albums demonstrate his musical talents at their natural and very best. If you are looking for quality and a change from all the dross put out nowadays then I cannot recommend this album too highly. It takes a few listens to get into it properly, but it is a real grower and one I've never got tired ...

RippedoffPete 15.08.2008 (31.12.2008) · Read full review
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Review of Bless The Weather - John Martyn

The Who Live At Leeds Is A Classic

Advantages: A great live performance in a small venue
Disadvantages: Huh?

In the late 60's and early 70's, I had the pleasure of seeing most of the major bands of that period perform in concert. Sadly, The Who was one act that I missed, and I've regretted it to this very day--I can only imagine what a concert by The Who must have been like. I can picture Pete Townshend windmilling his guitar, Keith Moon frenetically working out on the drums, and Roger Daltrey prancing and posturing while singing lead vocals, while John Entwhistle was keeping this band from flying away with his solid, unassuming work on the bass guitar. If you've never heard a band perform live, well, what do you do? You purchase a recording of a live concert, of course, and Live At Leeds by The Who has been a part of my music collection for many years. Live At Leeds was recorded at Leeds University on February 14, 1970. Many live shows had ...

mmosier 02.08.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Live At Leeds (Deluxe Edition) - Who (The)