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Length: 5:40
Plays (last 30 days): 4
And you've been living on solid air
You've been walking the line
You've been living on solid air
Don't know what's going wrong inside
And I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on
Solid air
You've been painting it blue
And you've been looking through solid air
You've been seeing it through
And you've been looking through solid air
Don't know what's going wrong in your mind
And I can tell you don't like what you find
When you're moving through
Solid air
I know you, I love you
And I could be your friend
I could follow you anywhere
Even through solid air
You've been stoning it cold
You've been living on solid air
You've been finding that gold
You've been living on solid air
I don't know what's going on inside
I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on
Solid air, solid air
You've been getting too deep
You've been living on solid air
You've been missing your sleep
And you've been moving through solid air
I don't know what's going on in your mind
But I know you don't like what you find
When you're moving through
Solid air, solid air
I know you, I love you
I'll be your friend
I could follow you anywhere
Even through solid air
You've been walking your line
You've been walking on solid air
You've been taking your time
But you've been walking on solid air
Don't know what's going wrong inside
But I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on
Solid air, solid air
You've been painting it blue
You've been living on solid air
You've been seeing it through
And you've been living on solid air
I don't know what's going on in your mind
But I can tell you don't like what you find
When your living on
Solid air, solid air
I know you, I love you
And I'll be your friend
I could follow you anywhere
Even through solid air
Ice blue solid air
Nice blue solid air
Written of course for John's pal Nick Drake...Bill I never hear you play Nick or have I not been listening enough LOL
While I didn't discover Nick Drake here (it was a VW commercial), he does get played fairly regularly on RP.
Back in the early 80s with a bunch of workmates, we rented an apartment in a chilly but atmospheric country house in the North Downs in Kent just outside London. One of my mates (thanks Dave!) introduced us to this album, as we were sat around the stove late one evening with a whisky in hand. Forty odd years later I still put this LP on late in the evening, when enjoying a dram by firelight. Every track is a classic.
A lovely share. Thank you.
I was in a basement pub in Dublin and they played this album. I had never heard John Martyn prior to that, and I was transfixed. I asked the bartender who it was, wrote it down on a napkin, and put it in my wallet. About six months later in Toronto, I met a British guy, pulled that napkin out and asked him if he knew who John Martyn was. He did, and shared some of his CDs with me. Couldn't Love You More was our first dance song at our wedding a couple of years later, and now 22 years later, we still love him!
That's a great story! I worked with John Martyn in 2006 (in Ireland where he then resided until he passed away in early 2009). A ledged of a man to the very end.
His Anthology was my summer sound track when I lived in California in '94-'96 and introduced his music to so many folks back at that time. I love how his sound continues to influence new generations of listeners.
Couldn't Love You More - what a wonderfully appropriate song for a wedding :)
Written of course for John's pal Nick Drake...Bill I never hear you play Nick or have I not been listening enough LOL
I hear a goodly amount of Nick on RP!? Another genius.
I guess John Martyn was a troubled soul in his latter years.
I saw him in Whelan’s Pub in Dublin circa 2000 – a small intimate venue, where me and my brother had our own table, and Guinness brought to us on demand – a very nice setting.
This is my recollection of the evening – a little bit distant – but I think accurate:
The band came out, without John, and started playing. After one song, still no sign of John, and the band played a second tune. Still no sign of John, but the room was full of JM fans so no complaints, just patience. One of the stage crew then placed a cheap plastic chair at the centre of the stage and soon after out came John Martyn, in a sharp black suit and black turtleneck seater … and blue slippers.
I think he was ‘helped’ to the chair.
There he sat in the chair, as the band started the third song/tune – obviously weighed down by what ever substance had been recently taken – his head down, his eyes closed, guitar in hand…
After a short time, he started playing the guitar, head still down, eyes still closed, no singing.
You could sense the audience willing and hoping and waiting.
Finally, about two thirds the way through the third song, his head lifted slowly, and his eyes glazed open.
The crowd roared in relief, and the rest of the evening began.
Mr Martyn was indeed deeply troubled in his last years. Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records, mentions this in his memoir, The Islander.
(By the way, I couldn't decide if the book was a boastful episode of name-dropping or an insider's tale from the beginnings of rock and roll.)
You carried that napkin around for 6 months instead of just Googling the name?
I guess John Martyn was a troubled soul in his latter years.
I saw him in Whelan’s Pub in Dublin circa 2000 – a small intimate venue, where me and my brother had our own table, and Guinness brought to us on demand – a very nice setting.
This is my recollection of the evening – a little bit distant – but I think accurate:
The band came out, without John, and started playing. After one song, still no sign of John, and the band played a second tune. Still no sign of John, but the room was full of JM fans so no complaints, just patience. One of the stage crew then placed a cheap plastic chair at the centre of the stage and soon after out came John Martyn, in a sharp black suit and black turtleneck seater … and blue slippers.
I think he was ‘helped’ to the chair.
There he sat in the chair, as the band started the third song/tune – obviously weighed down by what ever substance had been recently taken – his head down, his eyes closed, guitar in hand…
After a short time, he started playing the guitar, head still down, eyes still closed, no singing.
You could sense the audience willing and hoping and waiting.
Finally, about two thirds the way through the third song, his head lifted slowly, and his eyes glazed open.
The crowd roared in relief, and the rest of the evening began.
I was in a basement pub in Dublin and they played this album. I had never heard John Martyn prior to that, and I was transfixed. I asked the bartender who it was, wrote it down on a napkin, and put it in my wallet. About six months later in Toronto, I met a British guy, pulled that napkin out and asked him if he knew who John Martyn was. He did, and shared some of his CDs with me. Couldn't Love You More was our first dance song at our wedding a couple of years later, and now 22 years later, we still love him!
You carried that napkin around for 6 months instead of just Googling the name?
Clue:
Main Mix - 1
Mellow Mix - 5
World/Etc Mix - 6
Written of course for John's pal Nick Drake...Bill I never hear you play Nick or have I not been listening enough LOL
He does play Nick Drake, occasionally.
Listen to the whole album! Then find another John Martyn album and repeat!👍😎
From Wikipedia.
Martyn was born in Beechcroft Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, England.
but you can claim him as Scottish if it pleases you.
My father was born in Fleet, Hampshire, but was Scottish to his bones.
Maybe if you took the cloth out of your ears you'd hear better?
He is auditioning for the next Godfather movie. Brando put cotton in his cheeks.
Imagine writing, performing, mixing this...
10.
torment and great art are not always mutually exclusive
Why is that important? It's music, and his voice is as much an instrument as his guitar or that sweet, sweet sax. Just relax, tune in, and catch his groove.
Right on unc. Love that sax.
Maybe read the lyrics to the left?
Why is that important? It's music, and his voice is as much an instrument as his guitar or that sweet, sweet sax. Just relax, tune in, and catch his groove.
Fast forward to now and hearing this after so many years I find it parallels almost indistinguishably to my relationship with said brother - still like it (him) but it (he) isn't quite as cool as I once imagined.
this song is so deep, love it! And you Will62 seem to be really cool : )
Saw something online recently that struck me as funny - "For every cigarette you smoke, God takes away one hour of your life and gives it to Keith Richards"
Sigh.
Fast forward to now and hearing this after so many years I find it parallels almost indistinguishably to my relationship with said brother - still like it (him) but it (he) isn't quite as cool as I once imagined.
For my part: because it some sort of navel-gazing, meaningless, sultry jazz thing; which is something I can't stand. But, hey, we all have our faullts .
Knowing it is a tribute to one of my favorite artists and applying the lyrics to, and putting the musical composition into that frame, this is an amazing piece altogether.
Thanks for introducing me to it, RP!
I like John Martyn. He caught an edge of a Fusion Jazz movement that was in the air at the time. Not Rock, not Jazz, not many things, but something unique and gone all too soon for me. I enjoy the music played here and learn from what I find new, annoying, or... different.
Well put. It's amusing how people here home in on a single aspect of music they don't want to like, instead of appreciating and enjoying music for the overall feeling it creates. In the case of John Martyn it's the voice, of course. As if perfect diction has ever been a requirement in rock, jazz and blues.
IMO, if you want intelligibility so much, download a talking book. Or watch the news.
I like John Martyn. He caught an edge of a Fusion Jazz movement that was in the air at the time. Not Rock, not Jazz, not many things, but something unique and gone all too soon for me. I enjoy the music played here and learn from what I find new, annoying, or... different.
Each to their own Bentonian but I think its majestic. Island Records was so incredibly creative in the late 60s to early 70s. John Martyn, Fairport Convention, Free, Roxy Music, King Crimson, Traffic, The Wailers and Nick Drake.
Wish they played music like this in the elevators I ride in!
yeah...
is georgeous. The best chill out album of all time...probably.
Me too. Still miss the great man. . . he is a great reminder to me to make the effort to see live music as and when I can because you never know who you might never be able to see again. . . or might miss some amazing live talent. . . just like John had in such abundance.
I love you brother
This song should headline the "Save the Beeeezzz" Campaign...
The first time I saw him play live, my sister and I turned to eachother and said at the same time....." he's so young." I think it was because he was our age but clearly had so much talent. What a guy.
Listening thru headphones opens this up nicely
Thank you..
I guess John Martyn was a troubled soul in his latter years.
I saw him in Whelan’s Pub in Dublin circa 2000 – a small intimate venue, where me and my brother had our own table, and Guinness brought to us on demand – a very nice setting.
This is my recollection of the evening – a little bit distant – but I think accurate:
The band came out, without John, and started playing. After one song, still no sign of John, and the band played a second tune. Still no sign of John, but the room was full of JM fans so no complaints, just patience. One of the stage crew then placed a cheap plastic chair at the centre of the stage and soon after out came John Martyn, in a sharp black suit and black turtleneck seater … and blue slippers.
I think he was ‘helped’ to the chair.
There he sat in the chair, as the band started the third song/tune – obviously weighed down by what ever substance had been recently taken – his head down, his eyes closed, guitar in hand…
After a short time, he started playing the guitar, head still down, eyes still closed, no singing.
You could sense the audience willing and hoping and waiting.
Finally, about two thirds the way through the third song, his head lifted slowly, and his eyes glazed open.
The crowd roared in relief, and the rest of the evening began.
How incredibly sad.