Customer Reviews

Solid Air

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a totally wonderful album!! It's one of those works that truly have something for everyone. A love of left-field jazz and blues led him to this scintillating formula that you can kick back and enjoy (repeatedly!) or pick through for cool, groovy samples. I had long heard of this album as a big influence on folks I really respect, but that still didn't prepare me for the bewitching effect of this magical effort. Why, pray tell, is this guy not world famous? Upon further investigation, I found that "Bless The Weather" and "Inside Out" are also incredible, especially the former. This is ideal for listening on a cool, breezy, sensuous evening, but the moments on it that challenge that idyllic scenario are the ones that will keep you coming back for more. Also highly recommended to Terry Callier fans. I wish some ad agency would put something from here in some commercial, and get him some deserved recognition while he's still around to enjoy it, unlike his late buddy Nick Drake. GET THIS ALBUM!

There must have been something in the water supply in the early '70s that enabled John Martyn, Van Morrison, the Stones, etc. to create an incredible series of albums. Then, just as suddenly and inexplicably, they all seemed to have run aground. Martyn with INSIDEOUT, Morrison with HARD NOSE TO THE HIGHWAY, and the Stones with GOAT'S HEAD SOUP. Martyn's problem seems to have involved not only the standard 70s spiral into drugs and alcohol, but a nearly fatal bout of Phil Collinsitus by way of Spinal Tap, MACH 2--freeform jazz experiment. Martyn's voice, always his most expressive instrument went noodling off through most of the 80s as he sank deeper and deeper into synthesizers, drum machines, and Kenny-G jazz. HOWEVER, there was a time when Martyn stood amongst the British folk giants: Nick Drake and Richard Thompson. It is no surprise then that Drake is the inspiration for the title track, a mournful eulogy Martyn wrote after his friend's death, and Thompson accompanies on several tunes. If you are determined to hear more of this potentially great singer/songwriter, the only other disc to consider is BLESS THE WEATHER. Possibly the only performer alive today who could be resurrected by means of the threadbare UNPLUGGED format.

I was introduced to John Martyn's music in the early 70's, through the "Solid Air" album. From first listen, I was mesmerized by the combination of acoustic bass and guitar, coupled with John martyn's soulful voice. In "Solid Air" you will find that 80% of the titles are really good songs, unlike many albums which are put out these days... In subsequent years, I have kept listening to this album and "Bless the Weather" and have turned on many acquaintances to this wonderful music. NOT ONE PERSON I HAVE PLAYED THESE ALBUMS TO HAS DISLIKED IT...

If John reads this review: "Thank you"

Solid Air (1973.), John Martyn's second studio album

Who the hell is John Martyn?? That is probably what 99/100 people would say if you asked them who he was. I think this is quite sad and unfortunate because in John Martyn is an excellent musician, performer and songwriter. Solid Air, John Martyn's 1973 effort is really deserving of all the 5* reviews it has been given by the few reviewers of the album on this site and it is sad that so few people will listen to and experience the greatness of this masterpiece. With John Martyn, you have an artist who is a truly great representer of jazz but also he incorporates a touch of folk and other genres. He is in a class of his own.

So, you ask yourself, where did this bloke appear from. Originally he produced 2 albums with his wife Beverly - 'Road to Ruin' and 'Stormbringer' which are both great. However, from then on he went solo and this is one of his early efforts on his own. The album itself is only about 35 minutes long but it is captivating throughout with Martyn's veratile ability on acoustic guitar and piano. He also has a kind of drooling singing voice (a style he began to adopt around this time) - difficult to understand but its quite unique. The album itself has 9 tracks which are all really good. The pick of these for me are Solid Air, Over The Hill and I'd Rather Be The Devil.
John Martyn himself still performs a lot of these tracks - he's in the past few years released an anthology of his songs. He also still does a lot of live performances.

That aside this 1973 studio album is a forgotten classic which you will find is well worth buying.

I first heard "In Solid Air" eleven years ago and have not stopped listening to it since. (Like the previous reviewer, this is my favorite Martyn collection by a long shot). I especially like the moody, evocative quality to the arrangements. The sense that John Martyn is pushing the expressive boundaries comes through on songs like 'Go Down Easy' and 'Don't Want to Know.' It is towards these expressive ends that Martyn's singing slurs and draws out lyrics to fuse his voice to the melody. And one listen to 'May you Never" and you will know why the likes of Eric CLapton routinely cover the works of this unique talent. John Martyn sounds like nothing I've heard before or since. At the risk of sounding corny, this is a real creative masterpiece. If you haven't heard this CD before, I am trully envious of you. I only wish I could find stuff half this good around today. And if you ever get a chance to see John Martyn in concert, you won't be disappointed.

This album never fails to send shivers up my spine whenever I listen to it. The quality of singing is so exceptional, that it completely overshadows that of other songwriters. The tunes and arrangement blend together to create a haunting ambience around each of the songs. "Man in the station" is a wonderful example of this. I would stick my neck out and say that this is the best rock album ever by a solo artist, and I say this after having listened to a lot of Van Morrison, Tim Buckley, Laura Nyro et al. If you are looking for a masterpiece, this CD is what you should get your hands on.

Eric Clapton is among those who have covered John Martyn's "May You Never," but for the most part, Martyn's own recordings have been recognized only through word of mouth. While guys like Dave Mason and Richard Thompson have managed to enjoy greater success in the US, Martyn remains one of the most underrated and under-promoted artists of our generation. Maybe it's the limited adjectives of label promo people, who use non-descript monikers like singer-songwriter and broad genre banners like 'folk.' The artistry of people like Dylan and Joni Mitchell defy those categorizations and if you listed to Solid Air you may want to add John Martyn to that list of iconoclasts. It's stayed on my top ten favorites for 30 years.

This CD is an unsung treasure. John Martyn displayed a masterful talent for songwriting on this album and the production and arrangements are top notch also. The opening strains of "Solid Air" always give me chills. I read that John Martyn had written this song as a cautionary tale to his friend Nick Drake, and if you listen to the song from this perspective it speaks volumes about their relationship. Nick Drake's biography touches on the guilt and sadness that Martyn felt upon Drake's death and "Solid Air" was his way of reaching out in an attempt to help a friend. John Martyn's talent as a guitar player and vocalist is clear on this album. I'm impressed with the two tones he possessed vocally: the relaxed and almost airy sounding style contrasting with the raspy growl he was capable of. "Don't Want To Know" is just one example of Martyn's great songwriting, with the theme building to a great climax at the end of the song. Also interesting is Martyn's cover of Skip James' "I'd Rather Be The Devil". "May You Never" is such a well crafted song and the guitar part is one of my favorites. This whole CD could really be used as a "How To" manual for upcoming songwriters. As opposed to the synthesizers Martyn employed in his music in the eighties, the keyboard on this album really enhances these songs and I don't find that it has aged badly. Actually, the effect that the keyboards add to the songs is one of my favorite things about this album. There isn't a weak song on this disc and if you are a fan of the singer-songwriters of the early 1970's this criminally neglected album is a must have.

I listened to this album constantly when it was released in 1973. I recommend his double album. But "Solid Air" is available again and I have purchased the CD to replace my aged vinyl. His voice touches one viscerally. The lyrics flow with the music. Call it folk, call it soft rock, it was New Age back before there was such a thing. This album of life is timeless and little known. You will do your and your friends a good deed by sharing it with them.

This album is to me a beautiful comingling of various talents that each alone is not so remarkable. The voice is plain, but so unusually inflected, the ax work spare but poignant, the song writing probably the most notable, and the whole irresistable. A great work that fits as well in my life today as when it was first released, though admittedly for (probably) different reasons.