Search - John Martyn :: Couldn't Love You More

Re-recordings Given A Lease Of New Life With A SUPERB REMAST

Mark Barry at Reckless Records, Lon | UK | 06/07/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Away in the USA at the time, and without his knowledge or permission, Permanent Records in the UK took the then very naughty decision to release this collection of `in progress re-recordings' in October 1992 on Permanent Records PERM 9 (LP, MC and CD). Martyn was understandably furious and denounced it. But in a strange quirk of fate, the public, however, largely embraced them - and the album even opened up a whole new audience for him.



All tracks are 1991 remakes of songs that appeared on his Island Label albums from 1971's "Bless The Weather" up to 1986's "Piece By Piece". Here's the breakdown:



1. Lonely Love (originally on "Piece By Piece", 1986)

2. Couldn't Love You More (originally on "One World", 1978)

3. Sweet Little Mystery (originally on "Grace & Danger", 1980) [with PHIL COLLINS on Backing Vocals]

4. Head & Heart (originally on "Bless The Weather", 1971)

5. Could've Been Me (originally on "Well Kept Secret", 1982) [with PHIL COLLINS on Backing Vocals]

6. One Day Without You (originally on "Sunday's Child", 1975)

7. Over The Hill (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

8. Fine Lines (originally on "Inside Out", October 1973)

9. May You Never (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

10. One World (originally on "One World", 1978)

11. Ways To Cry (originally on "Inside Out", October 1973) [with PHIL COLLINS on Backing Vocals and DAVE GILMOUR of PINK FLOYD on Guitar]

12. Angeline (originally on "Piece By Piece", 1986)

13. Man In the Station (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

14. Solid Air (originally on "Solid Air", February 1973)

15. Never Let Me Go (originally on "Well Kept Secret", 1982)



16. Couldn't Love You More (from "Live At Bristol `91", One World OW1006CD) [BONUS TRACK]

17. Never Let Me Go More (from "Live At Bristol `91", One World OW1006CD) [BONUS TRACK]



Although the improved and upgraded booklet doesn't advise who remastered the tapes, the website seems to say it was done by DALLAS SIMPSON who did such superb work on the 2007 reissues of "The Apprentice" (1990) and "Cooltide" (1991). The sound quality on this disc matches them - it's beautiful throughout - a really great job done.



As you imagine, some of the versions work and some don't. The lovely "Head & Heart" is a delightful little tune tucked away on "Bless The Weather", but its newer version is more heavy handed and loses that sweetness. "Man In The Station" from "Solid Air" is the same - an awful remake. But then there's a run of 6 from "One Day Without You" through to "Ways To Cry" where the new versions are just as lovely as the originals - just updated and different - and even in many ways - more soulful. Special mention should also go to PHIL COLLINS for his heartfelt vocal contributions - especially on "Ways To Cry" - it's a track where both their hurting personal lives seem to seep through their voices - an absolute highlight on this disc.



A second album from these sessions followed in July 1993 called "No Little Boy" (a lyric from "Ways To Cry"), which was supposed to be the album he had intended (also remastered on CD - see the list below). The press's reaction to both collections fell into two camps, the purists were scathing, while new ears loved them. Both collections have been re-packaged to buggery by other labels since then, which hasn't help - so fans have all but ignored them, or forgotten them entirely. Personally - John Martyn could fart in a bottle - and I'd still want to hear it. Which is one of the reasons for this review - this lovely and muscular 2007 REMASTER has finally brought out just how good many of these re-recordings were and still are. And I would urge fans and newcomers to give these re-makes another chance.



PS: One World Records is the label imprint by VOICEPRINT of the UK dedicated to John Martyn's work. It features remastered reissues of his albums along with newly discovered titles from the archives. Titles so far include:



1. "The Apprentice" from 1990, his 1st album in the UK on Permanent Records, it's original 11 CD tracks have had 5 Bonus Tracks Added (2007 release) (see SEPARATE REVIEW)

2. "Cooltide", from 1991, his 2nd album in the UK for Permanent Records - a gem of an album (see SEPARATE REVIEW)

3. "Couldn't Love You More" from 1992, an album of 15 excellent re-recordings of his Island Label stuff, now remastered with two bonus tracks added (2007 release) (REVIEWED ABOVE)

4. "No Little Boy" from 1993, an album of 14 re-recordings covering his career from 1970 up to 1991, now remastered with 2 bonus tracks (2008 release)

5. "One World Records Sampler CD", 14 Tracks, 1 of which is an exclusive live version of "Amsterdam" recorded in Oxford, October 1982 (available online only) (2008 release)

6. "Live", a new set with 20 tracks across 2CDs (2008 release)



PPS: "The Simmer Dim" is John Martyn's new album and is due Monday, 9 June 2008 - it's a live set recorded in the UK in 1980"