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John Martyn — Solid Air
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AndyJ
(Oregon)
Posted: Apr 24, 2013 - 12:19
 
Reminds me of Mark-Almond the fusion-jazz band of the '70s. They only put out a few albums...but they are among my faves.
Listening thru headphones opens this up nicely


Thank you.. 

rtree
(Crestone, Colorado)
Posted: Apr 24, 2013 - 12:14
 
Sometimes he and Harry Manx sound so much alike!  This one's great.{#Bananajumprope}

hayduke2
(Southampton, NY)
Posted: Apr 12, 2013 - 17:31
 
sweet piece man       ummmm um,  wow, music that does and does not require some real introspection

donnyballgame
(41*53'36.29N 87*38'20.43W)
Posted: Mar 12, 2013 - 06:37
 
Mushmouth and Jack Johnson's love child.

Keef
(Confluence of the American River)
Posted: Jan 08, 2013 - 13:51
 
Two John Martyn Songs in a row for Twosday.  Thanks.

enkay
(Vancouver Island)
Posted: Nov 14, 2012 - 18:35
 
 oldsaxon wrote:
Wow, who's playing that bass?
 
That would be the wonderful Danny Thompson. They were quite a team back in the 70's, it's well worth reading up about how fantastically dissolute and wild they were.

Sublime music though. 

midreaming
Posted: Nov 14, 2012 - 18:24
 
 GarageDragon wrote:
I know this is supposed to be jazzy and all, but it sounds to me like he's singing words to a different song from what the band is playing.
 
separate ..but equal, ..solid maannnn, stone groovy

GarageDragon
Posted: Oct 14, 2012 - 09:50
 
I know this is supposed to be jazzy and all, but it sounds to me like he's singing words to a different song from what the band is playing.

bstevens1951
(Bar Harbor, Maine)
Posted: Oct 14, 2012 - 09:48
 
 Lichenia, wrote:
This album was also my introduction to Mr. Martyn way back in my college days. A remarkable sound then, and still now.  Regretfully, never saw the man live.

hooray
 



oldsaxon
(Wales via Vancouver, BC.)
Posted: Oct 06, 2012 - 10:18
 
Wow, who's playing that bass?

Lichenia,
(uk)
Posted: Aug 04, 2012 - 09:41
 
 Toke wrote:

Thankyou enkay you have summed him up to a tee. I was fortunate to see him locally in concert just before his unfortunate death. This was my first Album of his I bought in 1973 and still have it on vinyl. Wow I must be getting old.  RIP John..
 



hooray

Lichenia,
(uk)
Posted: Aug 04, 2012 - 09:40
 
never fails for me, my all time favourite ever. Saw John twice live and will never forget his performance

SpamNRice
(Northern, Italy)
Posted: Jul 11, 2012 - 22:44
 
Could love it, could hate it - depends on the mood and time of day. Right now, it's hitting all the right spots early in the a.m.{#Yes}

coding_to_music
(Beantown)
Posted: Jul 11, 2012 - 22:43
 
 TJS wrote:
solid 4.
 
LOL

I'll give it an 8 just out of respect, and it is pleasant 

pollyh
(Redmond WA)
Posted: Jul 03, 2012 - 23:01
 
OMG, i could've sworn this was Jesse Colin Young!
 

Toke
(Bournemouth UK)
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 12:14
 
 enkay wrote:
Love and miss Big John.

Yeah he mumbled. And slurred. And extemporised and heaven only knows what else.  He used his voice as a musical instrument, and ran in and out of the backing instruments like tall grass waving in the wind. I love it, but I can see why others don't.

Anyway, a solid 9 from me, and may his star shine ever brighter. 
 
Thankyou enkay you have summed him up to a tee. I was fortunate to see him locally in concert just before his unfortunate death. This was my first Album of his I bought in 1973 and still have it on vinyl. Wow I must be getting old.  RIP John..

ddoebler
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 12:13
 
A little too free form and lacking in melody for my tastes.  Maybe good background music for a Bohemiam shop or something to enjoy live, but on this station, I'm looking for a melody.

stunix
(Narrowboat nr Caen Locks)
Posted: Jun 15, 2012 - 12:11
 
I had the absolute pleasure of seeing him play live a number of times, it was electric, he holds you.....  and is the master of an audiance.  even when he occasionally drops you halfway thrugh a song , puts his hand up and says, "sorry, lets start again, I can do that can't i, it's my show?"

Miss ya Big Man.

sajitjacob
(Christchurch NZ)
Posted: May 14, 2012 - 17:29
 
I could never get along with John's annoyingly self conscious "singing". Shamon!?.

RobN
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 13:01
 
This is a very moving song about depression. If you've never been there, it might be difficult to relate to. However the heavy slurred vocals give that "wading through treacle", or indeed "walking through solid air" feeling - which absolutely hits the spot. Someone below remarked that it's a song about John's friend Nick Drake - which I suppose reinforces the interpretation. A solid 9.

renostve999
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 11:58
 
I like it a lot.

Sometimes a song tells a story, sometimes it's "just" music.  When I hear Mr. Martyn, I'm perfectly happy to have the music and really don't need the words or the story.  The music just sounds good.  If I absolutely need a story, I'll read a book...or listen to country music.  {#Nyah}

I've had bunches of people tell me for years that Bob Dylan can't sing.  Same with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. And others, too.

That's okay...I still enjoy whatever it is they do and will continue to purchase their recordings.  {#Bananajam}

It's a big world and I like to hear other peoples' opinions about music.
Until I found RP, I had never heard of John Martyn.  Just another reason that I luv this radio station.

Steve

Lakeview
(Great White North)
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 11:40
 
Mute.

rockstarbro
(Up and to the right. A little higher. A little to the left. Ahhh... that's it. RIGHT THERE!)
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 11:40
 
You took the words right out of my mouth.

TimeWaster wrote:
bbouuuiowieirl sklisjoidul    slkdjflkj  sowid aauirrrr  wlkejriowiuelrklkjslkjdlfk
 



TimeWaster
Posted: May 09, 2012 - 11:39
 
bbouuuiowieirl sklisjoidul    slkdjflkj  sowid aauirrrr  wlkejriowiuelrklkjslkjdlfk

TJS
(Bradley, Il)
Posted: May 01, 2012 - 09:22
 
solid 4.

Blastcat900
(Neither here nor there)
Posted: Apr 07, 2012 - 17:54
 
Never heard of him before Radio Paradise... so thanks. Makes me so angry that I had ( mostly still have ) no CLUE.

Jazzerguy
Posted: Apr 07, 2012 - 17:51
 
Always amazed by RP. By any account aim pretty well verses in music

enkay
(Vancouver Island)
Posted: Apr 07, 2012 - 17:48
 
Love and miss Big John.

Yeah he mumbled. And slurred. And extemporised and heaven only knows what else.  He used his voice as a musical instrument, and ran in and out of the backing instruments like tall grass waving in the wind. I love it, but I can see why others don't.

Anyway, a solid 9 from me, and may his star shine ever brighter. 

mckinloid
Posted: Mar 30, 2012 - 16:20
 
This is a great song from a great album.  There are some very small minded criticisms here.

Groogrux69
(Auburn, CA)
Posted: Mar 30, 2012 - 16:13
 
Excellent!

old_shep
(Iowa)
Posted: Mar 30, 2012 - 16:13
 
Play it again, Sam....er, Bill.

Stratocaster
(Bermuda)
Posted: Mar 07, 2012 - 01:46
 
 calypsus_1 wrote:

John Martyn by Bryan Ledgard
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ledgard/

This photo was taken on August 11, 2006 in Cropredy, England, using a Nikon D200.

 
WHAT??  There's no pillow wrapped around his microphone?  Then how does he get that sound????

Just kidding...love this tune and album.  Who listens to lyrics anyway? 

AvoidingWork
(Home of Big Boy #4004)
Posted: Jan 27, 2012 - 07:48
 
It's nice to hear that Mushmouth seems to have a career that suits him.  


LifeIsMusic
Posted: Jan 27, 2012 - 07:47
 
Again, I wish there was a rating of "odd." My voice teacher would scream if she heard this.

Gregorama
(Austin, TX)
Posted: Jan 27, 2012 - 07:46
 
Sorry but the lack of diction sounds more lazy than cool. Nice groove but the zazazazazdada crap detracts from it.

jatkins679
(CA)
Posted: Jan 08, 2012 - 18:33
 
What did I just listen to? If I wanted to listen to mumbling, I'd just listen to my daughter talk in her sleep.

'Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble, solid air!' 

kcar
Posted: Jan 03, 2012 - 14:14
 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
Sounds like Nina Simone as the general anesthetic is kicking in.
 
I was just thinking that this would be a great soundtrack to a lost weekend, starring fistfuls of Percocet and 750 ml bottles of cough syrup. 

Not sure I could ever warm up to this. We'll see.  

dpvest
(northern cali)
Posted: Dec 07, 2011 - 23:34
 
John Martyn is a musician's musician.  I wish I was familiar w/ his work some 30 yrs ago.  well, I can't get them back.  guess I'll just hafta catch up.  kudos (again) RP.
You've been taking your time,
And you've been living on solid air
You've been walking the line,
And you've been living on solid air
Don't know what's going 'round inside
And I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on solid air
You've been painting the blues
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 'round 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 can be your friend, I can follow you anywhere
Even through solid air
You've been stoning it cold,
You've been living on solid air
You've been finding it cold,
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
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
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 on inside
But I can tell you that it's hard to hide
When you're living on solid air

 



TerryS
(Another SW)
Posted: Dec 02, 2011 - 19:43
 
It's contagious.......the Billy-Joe Phelps school of enunciation/pronunciation.

hcaudill
(Washington, DC)
Posted: Nov 06, 2011 - 07:13
 
I learned the other day that this song is about Nick Drake. 

Shesdifferent
(Just visiting this planet)
Posted: Oct 05, 2011 - 18:39
 
 Cynaera wrote:
I can't understand a feckin' word he's singing, but somehow, it doesn't matter. It isn't the words, but the voice that relaxes me. Yet another aspect of my personality that I'm only now discovering - I don't need to know the words to a song, if the voice and the music touch me enough to make me think outside my narrow little box...  Thanks, RP. {#Sunny}
 
Totally agree.....was just having a conversation with a friend who was listening with me and I said..."I would never hear of half these artists if it wasn't for RP" this one is a solid 8 for me at least!

Poacher
(Brighton, UK)
Posted: Sep 04, 2011 - 08:19
 
 Cynaera wrote:
I can't understand a feckin' word he's singing, but somehow, it doesn't matter. It isn't the words, but the voice that relaxes me. Yet another aspect of my personality that I'm only now discovering - I don't need to know the words to a song, if the voice and the music touch me enough to make me think outside my narrow little box...  Thanks, RP. {#Sunny}
 
John is one of my favourite artists of all time (and very much missed). I too could never understand what he was singing. . . but he always hit the spot. For me, lyrics are a long way down the list of music importance. After all, if I wanted poetry i'd listen to poets not music.

While words can sometimes lift a song, surely its the music that should always come first. . . which is probably why I don't like Dylan and am scathing about pompous twats who think they can unravel the ' hidden' meanings of songwriters when in reality there is nothing to unravel. 


Jelani
(Home of the freak, land of the vague)
Posted: Sep 04, 2011 - 08:16
 
 calypsus_1 wrote:

John Martyn by Bryan Ledgard
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ledgard/

This photo was taken on August 11, 2006 in Cropredy, England, using a Nikon D200.

 
Reminds me of a certain character from a Mike Meyers movie....

SmackDaddy
(San Diego)
Posted: Aug 03, 2011 - 22:26
 
Morphine should have covered this.

socalhol
(Seattle)
Posted: Jul 29, 2011 - 16:33
 
Man, I really LIKE this guy's voice — and this song is fairly modern sounding for '73!  Sounds like he could be Ray LaMontagne's father.

Red_Dragon
Posted: Jul 29, 2011 - 16:32
 
I can't decide if he expects me to take his vocal style seriously or if it's some sort of drug-influenced parody of The Reverend Ignatowski.

anotherlistener
(outside Bawlmer)
Posted: Jun 28, 2011 - 06:46
 
And people complain about Dylan's singing!!!

cohifi
(Denver)
Posted: Jun 01, 2011 - 22:05
 
 Quixmundi wrote:
All these compliments yet such a low rating?
 
Hey !  7 => 8 Now for me.  Nice concept, too!



Quixmundi
(on the banks of Eagle Creek, Indiana)
Posted: Jun 01, 2011 - 22:00
 
All these compliments yet such a low rating?

cohifi
(Denver)
Posted: Mar 30, 2011 - 17:20
 
RP is the best, isn't it?  7 for now so I can bump it up later.