John Martyn

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For other people named John Martyn, see John Martyn (disambiguation).

John Martyn
Martyn at the Cropredy Festival, 11 August 2006
Martyn at the Cropredy Festival, 11 August 2006
Background information
Birth nameIain David McGeachy
Born(1948-09-11)11 September 1948
New Malden, Surrey, England
Died29 January 2009(2009-01-29) (aged 60)
Kilkenny, Ireland
GenresFolk rock, folk jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, Songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1967–2009
LabelsIsland, WEA

John Martyn, OBE (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009) (born Iain David McGeachy) was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40 year career he released 21 studio albums, working with artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour. He has been described by The Times as "an electrifying guitarist and singer whose music blurred the boundaries between folk, jazz, rock and blues".[1]

Biography

Early life

Martyn was born in Beechcroft Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, England to an English mother and a Scottish father.[2] Martyn's parents, both opera singers, divorced when he was five and he spent his childhood alternating between Scotland and England. Much of this was spent in the care of his grandmother. His strongest ties were in Glasgow, and he attended Shawlands Academy there.[1] At school Martyn, or McGeachy as he was known by his mates, was a keen rugby player. On leaving school he attended Art College in Glasgow; leaving to pursue his musical aspirations.

Late 1960s and collaborations with Beverley Martyn

Mentored by Hamish Imlach, Martyn began his professional musical career when he was 17, playing a blend of blues and folk resulting in a distinctive style which made him a key figure in the British folk scene during the mid-1960s. He signed to Chris Blackwell's Island Records in 1967 and released his first album, London Conversation, the following year.

This first album was soon followed by The Tumbler, which was moving towards jazz. By 1970 Martyn had developed a wholly original and idiosyncratic sound: acoustic guitar run through a fuzzbox, phase shifter and Echoplex. This sound was first apparent on Stormbringer! in 1970, which was written and performed by both John and Beverley Martyn, his then wife, who had previously recorded solo as Beverley Kutner and had worked with artists such as Nick Drake and Jimmy Page. Her second album with Martyn was The Road to Ruin, also released in 1970. However, Island Records felt that it would be more successful to market Martyn as a solo act and this was how subsequent albums were produced, although Beverley Martyn continued to make appearances as a background singer as well as continuing as a solo artist herself.[1]

1970s

"Eibhli Ghail Chiuin Ni Chearbhail"
"Eibhli Ghail Chiuin Ni Chearbhail" (1973), built around a traditional tune, was featured on Inside Out. It typifies Martyn's unique use of the echoplex effect, coupled with a fuzzbox and phase-shifter.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

In 1973, Martyn released one of the defining British albums of the 1970s, Solid Air, the title song a tribute to the singer-songwriter Nick Drake, a close friend and label-mate, who died in 1974 from an overdose of antidepressants. In 2009 a double CD Deluxe edition of Solid Air, compiled, with John Martyn's blessing, by John Hillarby from the official John Martyn website and with sleeve notes by Record Collector's Daryl Easlea, was released featuring unreleased songs and out-takes. On Solid Air, as with the one that preceded it, Bless the Weather, Martyn collaborated with jazz bassist Danny Thompson, with whom he proceeded to have a fruitful musical partnership which continued until his death. He also developed a new, slurred vocal style, the timbre of which resembled a tenor saxophone.

Martyn in 1978

Following the commercial success of Solid Air, Martyn quickly recorded and released the experimental Inside Out, a more difficult album with emphasis placed on feel and improvisation rather than song structure. In 1974, he followed this with Sunday's Child. In September 1975 he released a live album, Live at Leeds—Martyn had been unable to convince Island to release the record, and resorted to selling individually signed copies by mail from home. Live at Leeds features Danny Thompson and drummer John Stevens. In 2010 Universal Music released a 2CD Deluxe version of Live at Leeds researched and compiled by John Hillarby. Whilst researching the release Hillarby discovered that not all of the songs on the original album were from the Leeds concert. After releasing Live at Leeds, Martyn took a sabbatical, including a visit to Jamaica, spending time with famous reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry.

In 1977, he released One World, which led some commentators to describe Martyn as the "Father of Trip-Hop".[3] It included tracks such as "Small Hours" and "Big Muff", a collaboration with Lee "Scratch" Perry. One World was recorded outside; the album's lush soundscapes are partly the result of microphones picking up ambient sounds, such as geese from a nearby lake.[4] In 1978 he played guitar on album Harmony of the Spheres by Neil Ardley.

1980s and marriage breakup

Martyn's marriage to Beverley broke down at the end of the 1970s and "John hit the self destruct button" (although other biographers, including The Times obituary writer, attribute the break-up of his marriage to his already being addicted to drink and drugs).[1] Out of this period, described by Martyn as "a very dark period in my life",[5] came the album Grace and Danger.

Released in October 1980, the album had been held up for a year by Chris Blackwell. He was a close friend of John and Beverley, and found the album too openly disturbing to release. Only after intense and sustained pressure from Martyn did Blackwell agree to release the album. Commenting on that period, Martyn said, "I was in a dreadful emotional state over that record. I was hardly in control of my own actions. The reason they finally released it was because I freaked: Please get it out! I don't give a damn about how sad it makes you feel—it's what I'm about: the direct communication of emotion. Grace and Danger was very cathartic, and it really hurt."[5] Martyn's last concerts were in November 2008 reprising Grace and Danger. His last ever gig was on 25 November in Dublin, not far from Thomastown in Kilkenny, where he had lived since 1998.

In the late 1980s Martyn would cite Grace and Danger as his favourite album, and said that it was "probably the most specific piece of autobiography I've written. Some people keep diaries, I make records."[5] The album has since become one of his highest-regarded, prompting a deluxe double-disc issue in 2007, containing the original album remastered.

Phil Collins played drums and sang backing vocals on Grace and Danger and subsequently played drums on and produced Martyn's next album, Glorious Fool, in 1981.

Martyn left Island records in 1981, and recorded Glorious Fool and Well Kept Secret for WEA, the label clearly aiming to bring him mainstream success, and achieving his first Top 30 album.[1] Glorious Fool was a sharp departure from Martyn's 70s sound and at the time was regarded as something of a sell-out by his die-hard fans, but time has revealed it to be a much stronger album than it seemed at the time, with some fine songwriting and vocals. Well Kept Secret (1982) was less successful. Martyn released a live album, Philentropy, in 1983.

Returning to Island records, Martyn recorded Sapphire (1984), Piece by Piece (1986) and the live Foundations (1987) before leaving the label in 1988.

1990s and 2000s

John Martyn performs at the Barbican Centre, London 2008.

Martyn released The Apprentice in 1990 and Cooltide in 1991 for Permanent Records, and then rerecorded many of his "classic" songs for No Little Boy (1993). The similar 1992 release Couldn't Love You More was unauthorised by and disowned by Martyn. Material from these recordings and his two Permanent albums has been endlessly recycled on many releases. Permanent Records also released a live 2-CD set called "Live" in 1994.

And (1996) came out on Go!Discs and saw Martyn draw heavily on hip-hop textures while blending a sound still distinctively Martyn, a direction which saw more complete expression on 2000s Glasgow Walker ; The Church with One Bell (1998) is a covers album taking in material from Portishead to Ben Harper.

In 2001 Martyn appeared on the track Deliver Me by Faithless keyboard player and DJ Sister Bliss.

In July 2006 the documentary Johnny Too Bad was screened by the BBC.[6] The programme documented the period surrounding the operation to amputate Martyn's right leg below the knee (the result of a burst cyst) and the writing and recording of On the Cobbles (2004), an album described by Peter Marsh on the BBC Music website as "the strongest, most consistent set he's come up with in years." Much of Cobbles was a revisiting of his acoustic-based sound.

He continued to write and collaborate with various artists up until his death whilst living in Ireland. He recorded a ballad entitled "Really Gone" with Irish group UltanJohn featuring John Conneely & Ultan Conlon which was released in November 2006.[citation needed]

On 4 February 2008, Martyn received the lifetime achievement award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk awards. The award was presented by his friend Phil Collins. The BBC website says of Martyn, "his heartfelt performances have either suggested or fully demonstrated an idiosyncratic genius." Eric Clapton was quoted as saying that Martyn was, "so far ahead of everything, it's almost inconceivable."[7] Martyn performed "Over the Hill" and "May You Never" at the ceremony, with John Paul Jones accompanying on mandolin.[citation needed]

To mark Martyn's 60th birthday, Island released a career-spanning 4CD boxed set, Ain't No Saint on 1 September 2008. The acclaimed set includes unreleased studio material and rare live recordings.

Martyn was appointed OBE in the 2009 New Year Honours.[8]

John Martyn was born Iain David McGeachy; and the OBE was cited under that name. The presentation by the Queen at Buckingham Palace was made to his partner Teresa and his daughter, Mhairi McGeachy.[citation needed]

Death

Martyn died on 29 January 2009, in hospital in Ireland, due to double pneumonia.[9][10] His death was announced by John Hillarby on his official website "With heavy heart and an unbearable sense of loss we must announce that John died this morning."[9]

Phil Collins paid tribute, saying: "John's passing is terribly, terribly sad. I had worked with and known him since the late 1970s and he was a great friend. He was uncompromising, which made him infuriating to some people, but he was unique and we'll never see the likes of him again. I loved him dearly and will miss him very much." [11] English rock band Keane included a dedication to Martyn at their Glasgow concert that evening. On 31 January 2009, Liverpool-based folk-singer/guitarist John Smith, who had previously supported Martyn on tour, performed "Spencer The Rover", from Martyn's Sunday's Child album, at The Bluecoat in Liverpool, announcing the song "For John".[citation needed]

At the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, on the evening of Martyn's death, Kathy Mattea and a band including Eddi Reader played "May You Never". Martyn and Danny Thompson had featured in the BBC television series "Transatlantic Sessions".[citation needed]

Danny Baker devoted an entire radio programme to Martyn's music on the day he died.

Paying tribute to Martyn, BBC Radio 2's folk presenter Mike Harding said: "John Martyn was a true original, one of the giants of the folk scene. He could write and sing classics like 'May You Never' and 'Fairy Tale Lullaby' like nobody else, and he could sing traditional songs like Spencer The Rover in a way that made them seem new minted." [12] Harding introduced an hour-long tribute to Martyn in his Radio 2 programme on 25 February 2009.

A tribute album entitled Johnny Boy Would Love This was released on 15 August 2011, comprising cover versions of his songs by various artists.

Discography

Studio albums

Other

  • Live at Leeds (September 1975)
  • So Far So Good (1977)
  • The Electric John Martyn (1982)
  • Philentropy (November 1983) (live)
  • Foundations (October 1987)
  • BBC Radio 1 Live In Concert (1992)
  • Couldn't Love You More (October 1992)
  • No Little Boy (July 1993)
  • Sweet Little Mysteries: The Island Anthology (1994)
  • Live (1994)
  • Serendipity — An Introduction To John Martyn (1998)
  • Solid Air — Classics Re-visited (2002) (compilation of previously released tracks)
  • Late Night John (2004)
  • In Session (live) (2006) (BBC sessions recorded for the John Peel and Bob Harris programs between 1973 and 1978)
  • The Battle of Medway: 17 July 1973 (live) (2007)
  • Anthology (2007)
  • The Simmer Dim (2008)
  • The July Wakes (2008)
  • Ain't No Saint (2008) 40-year anthology
  • May You Never — The Very Best Of (2009)

Singles

  • John The Baptist / The Ocean (Island WIP 6076, January 1970)
  • Anni Part 1 / Anni Part 2 (with John Stevens' Away) (Vertigo 6059 140, 1976)
  • Over The Hill / Head And Heart (Island WIP 6385, February 1977)
  • Dancing / Dealer (version) (Island WIP 6414, January 1978)
  • In Search Of Anna / Certain Surprise (Island K7450, 1979)
  • Johnny Too Bad / Johnny Too Bad (version) Island WIP 6547, October 1980)
  • Johnny Too Bad (extended dub version) / Big Muff (extended remix) (Island IPR 2047, March 1981)
  • Sweet Little Mystery / Johnny Too Bad (Island WIP 6718, June 1981)
  • Please Fall In Love With Me / Don't You Go (WEA K 79243, August 1981)
  • Hiss On The Tape / Livin' Alone (WEA K 79336, October 1982)
  • Gun Money (U.S. remix) / Hiss On The Tape (live) (WEA 259987-7, November 1982)
  • Over The Rainbow / Rope Soul'd (Island IS 209, October 1984)
  • Angeline / Tight Connection To My Heart (Island IS 265, February 1986)[13]
  • Classic John Martyn (Island CID 265, February 1986)
  • Angeline / Tight Connection To My Heart / May You Never / Certain Surprise / One Day Without You (Island 12 IS 265, February 1986)
  • Lonely Love / Sweet Little Mystery (live) (Island IS 272, October 1986)
  • Send Me One Line / Patterns In The Rain (Hypertension HYS 100 102, May 1990)
  • Deny This Love (remix) / The Apprentice (live) (Permanent S12, August 1990, 7 inch vinyl)
  • Deny This Love (remix) / The Apprentice (live) / Deny This Love (album version) (Permanent CD Perm 1, August 1990)
  • Jack The Lad / Annie Sez / The Cure / Jack Sez (Permanent CD Perm 3, April 1992)
  • Sweet Little Mystery / Head and Heart (Permanent, Perm 6, September 1982)
  • Lonely Love / May You Never (Permanent, Perm 8, December 1992)
  • Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Voiceprint, JMCD001 1998)
  • Excuse Me Mister / God Song (live) / Rock, Salt & Nails (live) / John Wayne (live) (Independiente, ISOM14MS CD May 1998)
  • Deliver Me (with Sister Bliss) (Multiply Records], CDMULTY72, March 2001)

DVD

  • Live in Concert (with Danny Thompson) (2005)
  • John Martyn at the BBC (2006)
  • The Apprentice In Concert (with Dave Gilmour) (2006)
  • Empty Ceiling (2007) (recorded in 1986)
  • The Man Upstairs (2008)
  • Solid Air Live at the Roundhouse (2007)
  • One World One John (2011) (recorded 1999 - 2001)

References

  1. ^ a b c d e John Martyn: guitarist and singer. The Times, 30 January 2009, p.75, Obituaries.
  2. ^ Some People Are Crazy — the John Martyn Story — John Neil Munro (Polygon 2007)
  3. ^ His obituary in The Times states that "The record's dubby, echoing soundscapes have been claimed as the forerunner of the 'trip-hop' style that emerged in the 1990s."
  4. ^ Munro JN (2008): Some People Are Crazy — The John Martyn Story, p. 125, Polygon. ISBN 978-1-84697-058-0
  5. ^ a b c "''John's Diary 1980s'' — Martyn's biography on his website". Johnmartyn.com. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  6. ^ "Johnny Too Bad". Bbc.co.uk. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Folkaward's winner page". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  8. ^ "No. 58929". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 31 December 2008.
  9. ^ a b Songwriter Martyn dies, aged 60 BBC News, 29 January 2009
  10. ^ [1] The Sun, 29 January 2009
  11. ^ Shaw, Vicky (29 January 2009). "Singer John Martyn dies aged 60". The Independent. London.
  12. ^ "Guitar legend Martyn dies — News — QTheMusic.com". News.q4music.com. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  13. ^ The 1986 single Angeline single was the world's first ever CD single

Further reading

  • John Neil Munro Some People Are Crazy: The John Martyn Story (2008)
  • Chris Nickson Solid Air: The Life of John Martyn (2011)
  • Mat Snow John Martyn In Person (2011)

External links

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