Search - John Martyn :: Hidden Years: The Very Best Of John Martyn

John Martyn doing Tom Jones doing John Martyn

Michael C. Fox | Colorado | 11/05/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Sad. There is really no other way to describe this album. Martyn has exhumed some of his best work and added a Vegas sheen to it. Avoid this at all costs. Get SOLID AIR or BLESS THE WEATHER instead. And John, come back to us, please."

What did we do to deserve this.........

Michael C. Fox | 11/03/2003

(1 out of 5 stars)

"This is possibly my first and last review. The Glaswegian bard is one of the true originals with a guitar technique all his own and a voice that would make another great scot say "its singing Jim but not as we know it.." Buy all you can get, a very good start is "Sweet little mysteries. The Island Anthology", BUT please do not buy this tortured abomination of a CD.This is not a best of, it is John Martyn meets Liberace.These are lounge lizard retakes of some of the maestro's best work.All I can imagine is that late one night he and a mate or two took a bet that he wouldn't have the guts to do it and this is the result."

Worthy and Enjoyable Listening

D Dermott | US | 06/16/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're the type who wants to hear a song exactly as it was originally recorded, then don't buy this CD. John Martyn's music has evolved from day one, from folk and pop to today's jazzy, soulful, expressive sound. I doubt that he's ever sung a song the same way in his life and that has alienated many fans along the way and limited his commercial success.

I heard him in concert this month and one woman continually shouted out "Sweet Little Mystery," but he never played it. Martyn plays what he wants, when he wants and on this snapshot of his career I find the listening very enjoyable, although the latter tracks fade in intensity.

Just as Clapton's unplugged version of Layla stands on it's own compared to the original, Martyn has breathed a wonderful new life into his classics on this CD."