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One World (John Martyn album)

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One World is a 1977 album by John Martyn. One of his more experimental works, it features atmospheric, reggae influenced rhythms and free-flowing, jazzy arrangements. Acclaimed[1] for its collaborative spirit, the album includes contributions from Lee Perry on "Big Muff", and Steve Winwood (keyboards). Contemporary reviews were positive[2], with the NME declaring the album "mean, moody and magnificent"[3]. The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery. [4] When selecting Martyn as part of a "100 Great Voices" feature, Mojo chose the title track as an example of his talent.[5]

The album is notable for parts of it having been recorded outdoors. In particular, Small Hours was recorded late at night in the English countryside. The sweeping soundscapes on the album are partly due to the consequential presence of ambient sounds (such as water from a nearby lake) and natural reverb.[6] "Small Hours" was later reworked by Martyn into the track "Anna" as the haunting backdrop for Esben Storm's 1978 Australian film production of In Search of Anna[7]. This version of "Anna" also appears on Martyn's live album Live At The Bottom Line, New York, 1983.

Martyn later re-recorded the acoustic ballad "Couldn't Love You More" in a rock arrangement for his 1981 album Glorious Fool. The song, in its various forms, would remain a fixture of Martyn's live performances. Irish Musician Lisa Hannigan has described the song as one of her favourites, covering the song with Faultline in 2006.[8]

Whilst touring, Martyn's gig at the Collegiate Theatre, University College London was filmed by the BBC and transmitted on The Old Grey Whistle Test on 10th January 1978.[9] In January 1978, Island released "Dancing" / "Dealer" as a single. The album charted at #54 on its UK release.

In 2004, a remastered Deluxe Edition of the album was released. It consisted of the original studio album in remastered form and a bonus disc collating previously unreleased live recordings from Martyn's summer 1978 concert at Regents Park.[10] The remaining bonus tracks were studio outtakes, previously available on the scarce 1999 release "Another World".[11]

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Martyn; except where indicated

  1. "Dealer" – 4:58
  2. "One World" – 4:10
  3. "Smiling Stranger" – 3:29
  4. "Big Muff" (Martyn, Lee Perry) – 6:30
  5. "Couldn't Love You More" – 3:07
  6. "Certain Surprise" – 3:52
  7. "Dancing" – 3:43
  8. "Small Hours" – 8:45

Deluxe Edition Track listing

Disc 1 (Original Album remastered)

  1. "Dealer" - 4:59
  2. "One World" - 4:04
  3. "Smiling Stranger" 3:30
  4. "Big Muff" - 6:32
  5. "Couldn't Love You More" - 3:08
  6. "Certain Surprise" - 3:52
  7. "Dancing" - 3:56
  8. "Small Hours" - 8:44

Disc 2

  1. "Certain Surprise" (Live) - 3:06
  2. "Couldn't Love You More" (Live) - 3:12
  3. "One World" (Live) - 5:20
  4. "Dealer" (Live) - 6:11
  5. "Small Hours" (Live) - 7:23
  6. "Black Man At Your Shoulder" - 5:54
  7. "Dealer" (Alternate Version #1) - 4:31
  8. "One World" (Alternate Version) - 4:06
  9. "Smiling Stranger" (Instrumental) - 4:43
  10. "Big Muff" (Alternate Version) - 6:47
  11. "Certain Surprise" (Alternate Version) - 4:48
  12. "Dancing" (Alternate Version) - 3:44
  13. "Big Muff" (Drum Machine Version) - 4:53
  14. "Dealer" (Alternate Version #2) - 4:56
  15. "Small Hours" (Instrumental) - 10:20


Personnel

On tour, Bristol, 1978

Recording History

The different mixes. On initial LP release the album was issued in two distinct and separate mixes. The two mixes were distributed thus: Europe and the UK, USA and Canada. The track listing remains the same for both mixes but the audio is different, being the result of two entirely separate mix-down sessions from the master tapes. Referred to henceforth as the 'UK' and the 'US' mixes.

Subsequent CD releases have used the UK version. The 'US' mix of One World has not been released on CD.

Every track on the album is mixed at least slightly differently between the two mixes but some tracks are much more noticeably different. Three of the 'US' mixes appeared on the Electric John Martyn compilation: "Dancing" (U.S. mix); "Certain Surprise" (U.S. mix); "Dealer" (U.S. mix). The 'US' mix of "Big Muff" Appeared on the B side of a promotional UK 12" of "Johnny Too Bad" taken from Grace and Danger.

No indication of the differences in mix were given on the LP sleeves.

References

  1. ^ http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/john_martyn/reviews/8529
  2. ^ http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/1960s%20and%201970s
  3. ^ http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/Quote%20-%20Unquote
  4. ^ http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/1001albums.htm
  5. ^ http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mojo.html
  6. ^ Munro JN (2008): Some People Are Crazy - The John Martyn Story, p. 125, Polygon. ISBN 978-1-84697-058-0
  7. ^ http://aso.gov.au/titles/features/search-anna/credits/
  8. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Hannigan_discography
  9. ^ http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/Liner%20Notes%20-%20Live%20At%20The%20BBC
  10. ^ http://www.johnmartyn.info/node/530
  11. ^ http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/Introduction
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