Customer Reviews

No Little Boy

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album conssits of new arrangements of John Martyn classics. These are not the original versions, which can be found on earlier albums or on the compilation from Island, Sweet Little Mysteries. Still, the songs here are enriched by Martyn's reaching middle age. "I don't wanna know" carries a lot more weight and sadness than the original recorded over twenty years ago, and all the songs in general benefit from Martyn's maturity.

The arrangements on "No Little Boy" are first class, with guest appearances by such "stars" Phil Collins, David Gilmour, Levon Helm and a number of talented session musicians. The jazziness of the music is in the forefront; those who want to hear Martyn's distinctive guitar playing should look elsewhere. Only on "Solid Air" can you hear his finger picking coming through.

I highly enjoy this album. I've also played it for number of my friends, who never knew of Martyn and are now hunting this cd down.

To hear John Martyn croon on "ONE WORLD," a song from an album impossible to find, is worth the price. Levon Helm and Phil Collins helping on some classic Martyn is great, too. I've been a big fan of JM since 1970. The classic cover of "Solid Air" is superb. And "Ways to Cry," has a hauntingly wonderful phrase repeated that I never heard before in the original; "got no little boy left..." "Fine Lines" is another great self-cover. If you are a "real fan" of JM, you will appreciate the fresh take on some of his best tunes. I put NO LITTLE BOY in my top 4 JM list, which includes BLESS THE WEATHER, SOLID AIR and ONE WORLD. Don't miss a chance on this one, no matter what any mis-guided JM purist says. To see JM play is to understand evolution. It is after all, a NEW WORLD. Fresh interpretations of songs is the right of the originator. Understand that and enjoy them with fresh ears. There's more than plenty there to enjoy.

John Martyn has a voice that feels like warm dark chocolate.This album is a goldmine of sweet, jazzy love songs that will make you feel good. Mood music that wraps you in a feeling that is sexy yet emotional. John Martyn is my favorite and this album is his best. This is music to fall in love to.

Go for a drive on a melancholy evening. Play the lead song, "Solid Air" and you may keep driving all night. Martyn's slurred growl will put you under a spell of dark gold that will make the real world fade into irrelevance. Why hasn't this guy won a Grammy?

This '93 recording of John Martyn covering some of his own earlier songs is consistent with his high standard of excellent arrangement/production and guest musician backing. I like the original versions just fine (many available on the excellent early compilation Sweet Little Mysteries: The Island Anthology [2-CD Set]), but these are a nice fresh (at least early 90's era) interpretation. I especially like Phil Collins' harmony vocals (a role his voice is best suited to), as well as Martyn's duet with Levon Helm (which makes "Just Now" outstanding), and Jerry Underwood's and Andy Sheppard's sax work (adding plenty of feeling throughout), (David Gilmour adds his lead guitar to 3 tracks, a nice touch but pretty low key and unessential seeming.)

Mainly this is an album of Martyn's outstanding songs and vocalizing set to a cool, languid and polished vibe. It marks a turning point in his life and career perhaps, looking back on what he'd done (ups and downs of "youth"), ready for a more mature future...

Highly recommended for old and new fans alike.

Prefer the "original" versions? Keep in mind that Martyn never did a song the same way twice; his lyrics almost as improvisational & changeable as his music. I love to hear him perform as many versions as is possible to catch up with.

This CD has both brilliant renditions of inspired songs to attempts at others that fall flat simply because the instrumentation and production don't fit their mood and lyrics. The former are so preciously rare in this world that even one of them make this collection well worth listening to over the course of a lifetime.

This is John's second best album...right behind "Church with One Bell." Same Valium-laced blend of jazz and blues...but this time written by the artist. Outstanding...but not quite up to the masterpiece standards of "Church." concisereport@mindspring.com

Don't make the same mistake as a friend of mine who bought this CD thinking it was the original versions of John Martyn's songs. The originals are more raw, bluesy, wandering and evocative. Maybe you like this better. I didn't. To each his own, (but know what you're getting).

If you are a fan, do NOT buy this album! If you want to find out more about John Martyn and think that a greatest-hits type album is the way to go--do NOT buy this album!! There are some wonderful songs here that were once played and sung with real passion, but are now so slickly over-produced that it squeezes the life out of them. I don't know why Mr. Martyn agreed to re-record this music since the originals were so good--maybe it was legal. It's a travesty.

Buy "Grace and Danger," or "Glorious Fool," but NOT this garbage. What a shame.