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View Full Version : Album Club - Week 107: 20.08.2013: John Martyn - Bless the Weather (1971)



Album Club
20-08-2013, 07:32
Thanks to John (johnB) for his selection for this week.


John Martyn - Bless the Weather (1971)
I could have chosen one of a dozen albums from John Martyn. His output during the 1970s was sublime from the stunning Solid Air, through the proto trip-hop of One World, to the emotionally draining divorce album Grace & Danger. His work in the last 10-15 years of his life also had some very special moments.

I've chosen an album from 1971 called Bless The Weather.

http://i1300.photobucket.com/albums/ag89/Jrb1961/image_zpsba59698c.jpg (http://s1300.photobucket.com/user/Jrb1961/media/image_zpsba59698c.jpg.html)

Beautiful voice, simple guitar,....... 'nuff said.

Here's the album on Spotify - you should note that the original album had just 10 tracks - this version has extra bonus tracks (11-17)

spotify:album:7jkBoGc1277k6g0Vo9YXtX

John Martyn - Bless the Weather (http://grooveshark.com/#!/album/Bless+The+Weather/3452734) on Grooveshark

You can find John's Wiki page John Martyn on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Martyn)
His own webpages are John Martyn's Official Web Page (https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.johnmartyn.com%2F&ei=3hgTUsGrBMTRhAf9o4H4CA&usg=AFQjCNEwHUF-SZjRncsIokaFJG-L5NotuQ&bvm=bv.50952593,d.ZG4)
Wiki page for the album - Bless the Weather (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bless_the_Weather)

Bazil
22-08-2013, 19:52
Of course I know him but his music has never been played by me, I would never have listened to this sort of stuff in 1971 but today it can get picked up on my radar. I found it lacking a bit of oomph but of course its acoustic and probably some very fine geetar work which is wasted on me.
It was pleasant enough but only 5/10 from me.

John
23-08-2013, 05:59
I am quite liking this I am not sure how often I play it but I like its vibe and some nice guitar playing too. I vote after a few more listens

Tarzan
23-08-2013, 09:12
10/10 for me just because it is John Martyn- oh and it is a brilliant album too.

Barry
23-08-2013, 19:50
Interesting choice in that it falls between 'Solid Air' and 'Grace and Danger', two titles which are especially loved by me.

Clearly continuing his "walking on sausages" style of slurred singing, I'll give it 7/10.

Rare Bird
23-08-2013, 21:33
8/10 from me, i have all his albums upto & including 'Solid Air'

Audioman
23-08-2013, 22:51
Never heard this having only owned Solid Air and Grace and Danger. I will give this 7/10.

Tim
23-08-2013, 23:20
Easy vote for me as I love this album, but gave it a spin tonight anyway - 8/10 here, SA is the only JM album I would score higher.

Audio Al
24-08-2013, 01:17
I have listened to this album , something new as I have not listened to this artist before

Not overly impressed , at some stages in a track all the musicians seemed to be doing there own thing , no harmony , slightly random

6 out of 10 from me :)

Tim
24-08-2013, 12:14
I have listened to this album , something new as I have not listened to this artist before
Check out Solid Air Al, its an all-time classic and may possibly appeal more? If not, no matter, but your musical knowledge will have grown ;)

Audio Al
24-08-2013, 15:28
Check out Solid Air Al, its an all-time classic and may possibly appeal more? If not, no matter, but your musical knowledge will have grown ;)


Cheers Tim

just listened to Solid Air on my mac , its a lot better track

pjdowns
24-08-2013, 16:25
I've tried it a few times but for whatever reason I can't get along with this album :(

synsei
24-08-2013, 20:55
T'was alright that. Not quite as engaging as Forcione's Tears Of Joy and the recording isn't quite in the same league either, but it was fun all the same which is why I gave it a 7/10 :)

John
24-08-2013, 21:01
7 from me too

johnB
26-08-2013, 04:04
Just back from the mud of Leeds Festival and pleased to see that whilst i was away this John Martyn album got a few more positive comments (ie more than none) than the Dexy's album I put up a few months ago.

Tarzan
26-08-2013, 10:31
I have listened to this album , something new as I have not listened to this artist before

Not overly impressed , at some stages in a track all the musicians seemed to be doing there own thing , no harmony , slightly random

6 out of 10 from me :)



Yup, that is John Martyn- have you listened to "Solid Air " Al? You will get John Martyn after this.

Audio Al
26-08-2013, 11:05
Yup, that is John Martyn- have you listened to "Solid Air " Al? You will get John Martyn after this.


Keep up double daftee!

See post 11 :ner:

losenotaminute
26-08-2013, 11:22
I came across John Martyn on the Old Grey Whistle Test DVDs. He delivers amazing performances of 'May You Never' on OGWT DVD 1 and 'Couldn't Love You More' with Danny Thompson on OGWT DVD 3. I liked 'Just Now' a lot, his legato style of singing works very well on ballads. Not so impressed with 'Let The Good Things Come'.

I voted 7, it's great quality music but not something I would choose to listen to repeatedly.

Lawrence

The Grand Wazoo
28-08-2013, 07:46
I don't know this album at all - 'Solid Air' and 'Grace and Danger' are my touchstones for his work, with the latter being my favourite - my miserablist tendencies showing their hand there! I'll report back later.

johnB
28-08-2013, 09:24
I don't know this album at all - 'Solid Air' and 'Grace and Danger' are my touchstones for his work, with the latter being my favourite - my miserablist tendencies showing their hand there! I'll report back later.
I thought about posting Solid Air or Grace and Danger, but felt that both would be reaonably well known (and although both are brilliant Chris, I concur with your "miserabalist" comment....the former album being about Nick Drake and the latter being about his divorce from Beverley Martin....plus he had Phil Collins on drums!)..... So felt that Bless The Weather was a slightly left-field choice, plus the note that he holds at the end of Just Now is stunning.

MartinT
17-09-2013, 20:39
I don't know any John Martyn albums and have rarely listened to his albums. I like his style and delivery although the songs are of variable quality. A good 7/10 from me.

I'm investigating Solid Air now.