14:00-16:00 Mon-Fri

Our usual afternoon song selection is spiced with music from the late John Martyn.

John Martyn was born in Surrey in 1948 but spent his childhood in Glasgow. He started playing guitar in the mid-1960's. Within a short time he had established a reputation on the folk-club circuit and soon after that was making his first album for Island Records.

During the seventies he released several critically acclaimed albums including 'Stormbringer' and 'The Road To Ruin'. It wasn't until 1971's 'Bless The Weather' that Martyn explored more thoroughly the jazz influences that had been creeping into his work together with long-standing friend and musical collaborator Danny Thompson. The album 'Solid Air', built around repetitive hypnotic melodies and heavy use of electronic effects, consolidated this work further until the album 'One World' (1977) which remains the definitive statement.

The 1980s marked something of a hiatus in Martyn's career, following the break up of his marriage. His turmoil was reflected - artistically - on the album released in October 1980: Grace and Danger. Martyn recorded three more albums for Island before being dropped by the label in 1988.

The 1990s was a period of consolidation with the release of four studio albums of new material, a re-working of some of his classic songs and a 2-CD live set. He also recorded an album of cover versions The Church With One Bell in 1998.

In the past decade, Martyn's work has been re-evaluated through the re-issue of expanded versions of some of his classic 70s album but with a wider recognition such as a lifetime achievement at the BBC Radio 2 folk awards in 2008. His last studio album, 2004's 'On The Cobbles' was chronicled in a BBC documentary and was generally regarded as a successful return to a more acoustic-based format.

In September 2008, on the advent of Martyn's 60th birthday, Island released a definitive 4CD boxed set, Ain't No Saint, which includes many previously unavailable live recordings from throughout his career.

Martyn was appointed OBE in the 2009 New Year Honours and died on 29 January 2009.

Characterised by a passionate gruff drawl and charismatic stage presence, John Martyn has a devoted legion of fans and rings every last emotion from his songs which explore the excesses as well as the pleasures of human life.

John Martyn: Head and Heart - a tribute, Sunday 1 Feb 2009 20:00

Featured tracks:

Dusty (from 'The Tumbler', 1968)
John The Baptist (from 'Stormbringer', 1970)
Head and Heart (from 'Sweet Little Surprise', 2001) recorded 1977
May You Never (from 'The Battle of Medway 17 July 1973')
Spencer The Rover (from 'In Session', 2006) recorded 1975
Dealer (from 'Live at the Town and Country Club 1986', 2003)
Just Now (from 'No Little Boy', 2007) originally released in 1993
The Apprentice (from 'Live at the Town and Country Club 1986', 2003)
Angeline  (from 'Live at the Town and Country Club 1986', 2003)
Sweet Little Mystery (from 'The Brewery Arts Centre Kendal 1986', 2001)
Excuse Me Mister (from 'New York Session', 2000), recorded 1998

Buy John Martyn CDs

John Martyn website