HEAD AND HEART – THE ACOUSTIC JOHN MARTYN, APRIL 28
28 FEBRUARY 2017 (Toronto, ON) - This April 28 sees the release of
Head and Heart – The Acoustic John Martyn, a beautiful, 35-track, double CD set, which captures the legendary singer-songwriter at his intimate best.
Thoughtfully compiled, the set comprises key album tracks, from his 1967 debut,
London Conversation through to 1977’s
One World. The set closes with a version of
Patterns In The Rain, recorded live at Island Records 25
th birthday party in 1987. Accompanied only by grand piano, it is an unusual and very different performance from
John Martyn, highlighting his remarkable vocal talent. In addition to many of his best known songs, the album also features four previously unreleased recordings, including three demo versions of songs recorded at the sessions for 1968’s
The Tumbler and the long lost 1971 performance of
Bless The Weather for
The Old Grey Whistle Test.
The set is made complete with the inclusion of specially commissioned liner notes by respected music writer and author of the Sandy Denny biography,
I’ve Always Kept A Unicorn, Mick Houghton.
Singer-songwriter/guitarist John Martyn began his innovative and expansive career at the age of 17, with a style that, at first, drew influence from American blues artists. He eventually moved to London, where he became a regular fixture at Les Cousins
, the centre for the local folk scene that spawned the likes of Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell and Al Stewart, and he soon caught the attention of Island Records founder Chris Blackwell who made him the first solo white act to join the roster of his then reggae-based label. His debut album,
London Conversation was predominantly a traditional folk release but, always open to experimentation, the next couple of years found Martyn continuing to expand on his unique blend of music, as he drew upon folk, blues, rock and jazz as well as music from the Middle East, South America and Jamaica. With his characteristic backslap, acoustic guitar playing and catalogue of timeless songs, John Martyn, who died in 2009, remains an important and influential figure in British folk and rock music.
DISC ONE
01: Fairy Tale Lullaby ( 2:49 ) from London Conversation ( 1967 )
02: London Conversation ( 2:39 ) from London Conversation ( 1967 )
03: Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright ( 4:11 ) from London Conversation ( 1967 )
04: She Moved Through The Fair ( 2:33 ) from London Conversation ( 1967 )
05: Goin’ Down To Memphis ( 3:06 ) demo version from The Tumbler session ( 1968 ) *
06: A Day At The Sea ( 2:29 ) demo version from The Tumbler session ( 1968 ) *
07: Seven Black Roses ( 4:02 ) demo version from The Tumbler session ( 1968 ) *
08: Woodstock ( 1:45 ) from Stormbringer! ( 1970 )
09: John The Baptist ( 2:48 ) – Demo version from Stormbringer! session 16
th April 1969
10: Traffic Light Lady ( 3:03 ) – Demo version from Stormbringer! session 16
th April 1969
11: Parcels ( 3:23 ) from The Road To Ruin with Beverley Martyn ( 1970 )
12: New Day ( 3:59 ) from The Road To Ruin with Beverley Martyn ( 1970 )
13: Tree Green ( 3:12 ) from The Road To Ruin with Beverley Martyn ( 1970 )
14: Go Easy ( 4:15 ) from Bless The Weather ( 1971 )
15: Bless The Weather ( 4:26 ) – Old Grey Whistle Test performance ( 1971) *
16: Head and Heart ( 4:52 ) from Bless The Weather ( 1971 )
17: Singin’ In The Rain – Alt Take ( 3:39 ) ( 1971 )
18: In The Evening ( 4:04 ) from Ain’t No Saint ( 2008 )
( * ) Previously Unreleased
DISC TWO
01: The Glory Of Love ( 2:14 ) from Ain’t No Saint ( 2008 )
02: Solid Air ( 5:45 ) from Solid Air ( 1973 )
03: Over The Hill ( 3:28 ) Alt Take from the Solid Air Deluxe Edition ( 1973 )
04: May You Never – Live ( 3:39 ) from the Solid Air Deluxe Edition ( 1973 )
05: Go Down Easy – Take 3 ( 5:11 ) from The Island Years box set
06: When It’s Dark ( 8:39 ) from the Solid Air Deluxe Edition
07: Fine Lines ( 3:47 ) from Inside Out ( 1973 )
08: Ways To Cry ( 3:01 ) from Inside Out ( 1973 )
09: Beverley / Make No Mistake ( 5:25 ) from the Bob Harris show 15/10/1973
10: One Day Without You ( 3:42 ) - John Peel session 13/1/1975
11: Lay It All Down ( 1:47 ) from Sunday’s Child ( 1974 )
12: My Baby Girl ( 3:05 ) - John Peel session 13/1/1975
13: All For The Love Of You ( 5:05 ) from Ain’t No Saint ( 2008 )
14: Working It Out ( 2:42 ) from Ain’t No Saint ( 2008 )
15: Spencer The Rover ( 3:53 ) - John Peel Session 13/1/1975
16: Certain Surprise / Couldn’t Love You More ( 5:41 ) John Peel session 4/2/1977
17: Patterns In The Rain – Live at the Island Records Birthday Party ( 3:18 ) – 4/7/1987