Track Listing
DISC 1:
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. Man In the Station, The
9. Easy Blues/Gentle Blues, The
DISC 2:
1. Soli 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. Man In the Station, The - (alternate take)
9. Easy Blues/Gentle Blues, The - (alternate take)
10. Keep On - (previously unreleased)
11. When It's Dark
12. In the Evening - (previously unreleased)
13. May You Never [Single Version]
14. Easy Blues, The - (live)
15. May You Never - (live)
16. I'd Rather Be the Devil - (live)
| Details | | Contributing Artists: | Danny Thompson, Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg, Richard Thompson, Simon Nicol | | Producer: | John Martyn, John Wood | | Distributor: | MSI Music Distribution | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Personnel: John Martyn (vocals, acoustic & electric guitar, synthesizer); Richard Thompson (mandolin); Simon Nicol (autoharp); Sue Dranheim (violin); Tony Coe (saxophone); John "Rabbit" Bundrick (acoustic & electric piano, organ, clavinet); Tristan Fry (vibraphone); Danny Thompson (acoustic bass); Dave Pegg (bass); Dave Mattacks (drums); Neemoi "Speedy" Acquaye (congas).
Personnel: John Martyn (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John Bundrick (electric piano, Clavinet, organ); Danny Thompson (double bass); Dave Mattacks (drums); Neemoi "Speedy" Acquaye (congas).
Liner Note Authors: John Hillarby; Daryl Easlea.
Recording information: Island And Sound Techniques Studios (11/1972-12/1972).
Photographer: Brian Cooke.
He began as a folksy minstrel but seemed drawn to experimental, free form improvisation. Solid Air is where John Martyn's love affair with effects and echoplex became serious. The title track, dedicated to his close friend Nick Drake, became a eulogy, while the breezy "Over The Hill"--one of the greatest songs ever written about a train journey--is a feathery delight. "May You Never" and "Don't Want To Know" continued the simple, stoned ballad approach, although it is his interpretation of Skip James' "I'd Rather Be The Devil," totally reshaped with hypnotic shifts, tidal echoes, and a slurred growl, which broods over the whole album. A record that remains Martyn's youthful zenith.
Editorial Reviews
Ranked #67 in Q's 100 Greatest British Albums
Q (06/01/2000)
Included in Q's Best Chill-Out Albums of All Time - ...the musical equivalent of a reassuring hug....a quiveringly sexy folk record.
Q (07/01/1999)
[A] sublime proto-chill out record on which the vaunted interplay between Martyn and double bassist Danny Thompson reached its folk-jazz zenith.
Mojo (04/01/2004)
5 stars out of 5 -- [T]he artist's command of his craft and spirit of experimentation resulted in a jaw-dropping collection...
Record Collector
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