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Solid Air

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Untitled

Solid Air is a folk jazz album released in 1973 by John Martyn on Island Records.

Contemporary reviews were favourable with music paper Sounds declaring that Solid Air flows beautifully and shows the entire spectrum of music that John Martyn has at his fingertips." [1] The album has continued to receive acclaim and is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery.[2] The album was rated as the 67th Greatest British Album Ever by the British music magazine Q, and was also included in their list of Best Chill-Out Albums Of All Time.

"Solid Air", the title track, was dedicated to a friend of Martyn's, Nick Drake. Drake died of an antidepressant overdose 18 months after the album was released. Martyn said of the track "It was done for a friend of mine, and it was done right with very clear motives, and I'm very pleased with it, for varying reasons. It has got a very simple message, but you'll have to work that one out for yourself."[1]

"May You Never" became something of a signature song for Martyn, becoming a staple of his live performances. Released in November 1971 as a single in an early form, the song was re-recorded during the Solid Air sessions.[3] Eric Clapton covered "May You Never" on his 1977 album Slowhand. When Martyn was presented with a lifetime achievement award by Phil Collins (a collaborator of Martyn's) at the 2008 BBC Folk Awards, Clapton sent a message saying that he was "so far ahead of everything else it was inconceivable" and acknowledged the extent of his influence on "everyone who ever heard him."[4] [5] Martyn and his band, including John Paul Jones on mandolin, played "May You Never" and "Over The Hill" at the Awards Ceremony.[6]

In 2006, Martyn performed the album live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series and subsequently toured the UK.

A double CD reissue curated by John Hillarby was released in 2009, including several alternate studio and live versions. Hillarby's deep understanding and appreciation of Martyn's music are evident in his curation of this release.

The album cover is an example of schlieren photography demonstrating the 'solid' nature of air.

Track listing

All tracks by John Martyn unless noted otherwise.

  1. "Solid Air" – 5:46
  2. "Over The Hill" – 2:51
  3. "Don't Want To Know" – 3:01
  4. "I'd Rather Be The Devil" (Skip James) – 6:19
  5. "Go Down Easy" – 3:36
  6. "Dreams By The Sea" – 3:18
  7. "May You Never" – 3:43
  8. "The Man In The Station" – 2:54
  9. "The Easy Blues" – 3:22

Bonus track

  1. "I'd Rather Be The Devil" (Recorded live in 1975)

2009 Deluxe Edition Track listing

Disc 1 (Remastered Original Album)

  1. "Solid Air"
  2. "Over The Hill"
  3. "Don't Want To Know"
  4. "I'd Rather Be The Devil"
  5. "Go Down Easy"
  6. "Dreams By The Sea"
  7. "May You Never"
  8. "The Man In The Station"
  9. "The Easy Blues/Gentle Blues"

Disc 2 (Outtakes, Demos and Live recordings)

  1. "Solid Air" (Alternate Take)
  2. "Over The Hill" (Alternate Take)
  3. "Don't Want To Know" (Alternate Take)
  4. "I'd Rather Be The Devil" (Alternate Take)
  5. "Go Down Easy" (Alternate Take)
  6. "Dreams By The Sea" (Alternate Take)
  7. "May You Never" (Alternate Take)
  8. "The Man In The Station" (Alternate Take)
  9. "The Easy Blues/Gentle Blues" (Alternate Take)
  10. "Keep On"
  11. "When It's Dark"
  12. "In The Evening"
  13. "May You Never" (Single Version)
  14. "The Easy Blues" (Live)
  15. "May You Never" (Live)
  16. "I'd Rather Be The Devil" (Live)

Personnel

References

  1. ^ a b http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/1960s%20and%201970s
  2. ^ http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/steveparker/1001albums.htm
  3. ^ http://www.johnmartyn.com/?location=/web/Singles
  4. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4389429/John-Martyn.html
  5. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/02_february/05/folk.shtml
  6. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/events/folkawards2008/report.shtml


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