One World (Dlx) [Deluxe Edition, Import]

John Martyn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 8, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Deluxe Edition, Import
• Label: Universal UK
• ASIN: B0002LU96M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Dealer

2. One World

3. Smiling Stranger

4. Big Muff

5. Couldn't Love You More

6. Certain Surprise

7. Dancing

8. Small Hours

9. Certain Surprise (Live)

10. Couldn't Love You More

11. One World (Live)

12. Dealer (Live)

13. Small Hours (Live)

14. Black Man At The Shoulder

15. Dealer (1st Alternate Take)

16. One World (Alternate Version)

17. Smiling Stranger (Instrumental)

18. Big Muff (Alternate Version With Drums)

19. Certain Surprise (Alternate Version)

20. Dancing (Alt Version)

See all 23 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

John Martyn's classic album from 1977 has now been Digitally Remastered and is available as a 2CD Deluxe Edition. This new remastered Deluxe Edition of One World is augmented by a disc of bonus material, including five One World numbers recorded live at Regent's Park in the summer of 1978. To round the package off, there are alternate versions and demos of the album tracks, including the sought after out-take Black Man At The Shoulder, a version of Big Muff with drums and an instrumental version of the album's highlight, Small Hours. Although Bless The Weather set his 70s template and Solid Air was his first masterpiece, ONE WORLD is arguably John Martyn's most important album. Released in November 1977 at the height of punk, it was his first new material for nearly three years. Its themes strike a universal chord; matters of love, life, friendship, ecology and dancing abound. The mood of the album remains resolutely upbeat, through a wash of late night effects and instrumentation. Recorded in English countryside, the natural ambience of the settings of the sessions spills over into the work. Bonus CD tracks, 'Certain Surprise', 'Couldn't Love You More', 'One World', Dealer', & 'Small Hours', recorded live in the summer of 1978 at Regents Park & ten out-takes, 'Black Man At The Shoulder', 'Dealer' (First Alternate Take), 'One World' (Alternate Version), 'Smiling Stranger' (Instrumental), 'Big Muff' (Alternate Version With Drums), 'Certain Surprise' (Alternate Version), 'Dancing' (Alternate Version), 'Big Muff' (Drum Machine Version), 'Dealer' (Second Alternate Version), & 'Small Hours' (Instrumental Version), from the original recording sessions. Universal. 2004.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Long Overdue and Welcome Reissue, February 27, 2005

By 

H. Simon (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One World (Dlx) (Audio CD)

Fans of John Martyn have long lamented Island's decision to allow this album to remain deleted from its catalog -- most of us consider it (along with 1973's Solid Air and 1980's Grace and Danger) to be one of John's real masterpieces. Thankfully, it was worth waiting for its reintroduction -- Island has done a very nice job with this 2-disc treatment. The first disc remasters the eight-song album, making John's shimmery, across-the-water (read the accompanying booklet and you'll understand) guitar work sound at once ethereal and immediate. You can also hear, for the first time, some of the really cool dub beats and rhythm tracks (on Smiling Stranger, for example) that got buried beneath hearing on the vinyl mix. Overall, it sounds like you're hearing the album for the first time, and it's a truly great album. The second disc, parts of which have been bootlegged around for awhile as "Another World," has a really nice 5-song live set with John at his most direct and accessible (if a bit out of tune on the acoustic guitar!). The rest is a fascinating set of alternative takes and working tracks that, unlike most such dross, actually enhance one's understanding of the album as released. Really thoughtful and well done. And the booklet is a treasure that explains how the album came to be and some of the recording techniques that give it its unique and path-breaking ambient sound, particularly on Small Hours. If you're not a John Martyn fan, you're much better off starting with the damn-near-perfect Island anthology, "Sweet Little Mysteries," than this reissue. But if you're already part of the club, this is revelatory stuff that brings a truly classic album into much clearer focus.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime genius, a lost masterpiece, November 22, 2005

By 

James F. Mcdermott "Jim" (NYC NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One World (Dlx) (Audio CD)

It's difficult to write how brilliant this record is. Words cannot do it justice, but I'll try:

The standout track "Small Hours" was recorded outdoors in the English countryside, late at night, in an ambient setting. As he plays sweeping, slow chords on an electric guitar, using a volume pedal, soaked with both electronic and natural reverb, you can hear loons in the background whooping in response. It is one of the most touching, brilliant and natural recordings of his career.

"Big Muff" and "Dealer" are brilliant, dubby tracks. "Couldn't Love You More" "Certain Surprise" and "Dancing" are more straight ahead pop, but they share dynamic elements of the more ambient tracks.

The whole CD ebbs and bubbles, an ambient masterpiece that somehow grooves deeply but remains tranquil. The 2nd disc has both live and alternate versions of the album tracks, including an extended, instrumental version of "Small Hours".

This is a complete album - a statement, a cohesive work that will get inside your head and heart. The reissue is superb, for once the bonus material actually expands the enjoyment of the album. You just can't go wrong with this CD if you love muic.