British guitarist analyses John Martyn's subtle excellence live in 1973 

John Martyn is one of the most underrated musicians of the last century.

I remember John Martyn opening for Yes in the mid 70's. I had no idea who he was but after 5 minutes of his set the restless crowd became quiet and mesmerized by his hypnotic sound.

How privileged people of my generation were to have artists like John, giving us music like this, in our teens. It was like winning a musical lottery without even knowing it.

It's about 35 years ago that he gave a concert in Cologne, Germany. Since he was unknown in germany at the time, there were about 20 people there besides me. When he came on stage he smiled at the few people and said thank you for being there, you still get the full program, no matter if 20 or 20 thousand .Later we sat with him on stage as he played.And what can I say it was an unforgettable great concert what a musician and fine guy. Thinking back on it makes me feel sentimental. Robby

A friend hipper than me turned me onto "Solid Air", the album featuring this song, in 1973. It has remained a favorite ever since. I heard "May You Never", tonight while making dinner.

Great vocals. His guitar playing is impeccable with lyrics that are a poet's dream. You can hear a calypso beat both in the guitar and his singing delivery.

Reading the comments I'm surprised to se so many people have never heard of him. He ranks up there with Michael Hedges and Nick Drake. A true virtuoso who inspired many guitarists in the 70's. R.I.P. John Martyn.

I haven’t heard of him either,which is another wonderful introduction to a beautiful soul,and unique style. It’s sad that he’s passed . His music will live on,thanks to people like you Fil, you are the reason why these beautiful souls are not forgotten. Thanks so very much indeed.❤️!

He draws you in so easily! (Ha! I did Google the lyrics as soon as I got confused, because he made me want to know!) All the moving parts don't seem apparent at first, like a swan gliding along, paddling madly under the surface. Thanks for shining a light on all those parts!

John Martyn proves that a voice is as much an instrument as anything you can play.

John Martyn was an absolute genius, and Solid Air and Bless the weather are two masterpieces. Plus when you listen to his albums you are actually listening to two geniuses jamming together because then you have him and his best friend Danny Thompson (who played in Pentangle and then with Bert Jansch, Nick Drake, Donovan, Kate Bush, Talk Talk, Peter Gabriel, John McLaughlin...) on the double bass.

My mum turned me onto him a few months ago when I asked for music recommendations. LOVE HIM. There's a subtle aura of pain even when he's not singing anything explicitly sad. These solo guitarists/singers like him and Joni Mitchell really are something else. To produce complex music to hold a crowd with just your voice and a single instrument, and to adjust it at any moment on a creative whim. Incredible! My mum's great taste proven as always lol

Another new (to me) artist to look into. He sounds wonderful. I love his voice.

IT was great to be a hippie in the 70s ,Thanks Fil

I met John Martyn back in 1988 just as he was arriving to set up n sound check at a local club opposite our rehearsal rooms. I first came across his music thanks to a hippy mate in 1972 who played me his two albums with Beverly, and like most people was entranced. Outside the club we hailed him down, he was unmistakeable, and he started chatting to us like we were childhood mates. All I will say about him is he was one of the warmest, friendliest people I have ever met. A very down to earth legend. Martyn is in the same league as that other giant of British homegrown music, also seriously under rated, the late and great Ronnie Lane.

I remember hearing that Eric Clapton had said how fantastic JM was and basically miles ahead of everyone. So glad I discovered him and a whole bunch of other artists from simply buying an Elton John bootleg called "Nick Drake Sessions " Discovered Nick Drake, John Martyn, and on to a whole bunch of British folk artists that I didn't know existed...Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Richard and Linda Thompson, Sandy Denny, The Strawbs, and probably more from that connection. He was called the one man Pink Floyd for his mastery of the echoplex. He was a genius, and, like Nick Drake, will only go on to gain popularity with time. I've turned many on to John Martyn. He was fantastic!

Met John in the 70s. One of those exceptional musicians and personalities who turn up once a decade. His artistic and technical talent, his passion and creative ability and independent thinking left us with a special legacy. It was also unfortunately his downfall. RIP John..

I was lucky to see John live several times in the early 70's - he had a gift of completely hypnotisinig the audience - time stood still when he played, a complete magician.

John Martyn is such a special, unforgettable talent. ❤His music is so soothing and comforting to listen to. You can really hear his influence in musicians such as John Smith (who played support to John in the mid-2000s).

One of the greatest ! I remember where I was when I heard the news , I cried.

My favourite musician of my youth and has stayed with me. A great musician, song writer and a fabulous voice from his early folk days to his latter jazz based days and all points in between

Saw this performance on TOGWT and went out and bought Solid Air next day. Remains a firm favourite today. Saw him live many times and his album output before Solid Air and after have given me many keepers. Glad some people are finding him for the first time. So much to explore. RIP Big Man.

Thank you for bringing John Martyn some more recognition.He is one of the greatest originals of modern music.

This is the kind of music I gravitated to in the '70s

Great breakdown of a great song.... I was lucky enough to see John 4 times over the years... One of them was the Grace and Danger tour... When I looked at the layout of the stage I noticed that the drum kit was set up with a left hand hi-hat..... I got awfully excited but it wasn't to be... it wasn't Phil... Just being in some lovely theatres with John providing the music was magical.. Keep on Rocking...

Brilliant analysis of one of my great musical heroes. John never really courted fame and as a result is not as well known as his genius deserved. He influenced so many and his ambient echoplex style is evident in The Edge's guitar sound as well as Portishead. I saw him live many times over the years and was so sad (but not surprised) when he passed. He certainly had his demons but left a great legacy. One essential album was missed here though - One World (between Sunday's Child and Grace and Danger). One of his greatest. More analysis videos of John please! Perhaps some with the great Danny Thompson on double bass, his partner in crime!

Fil...You made my day! Your analysis of the incredibly talented John Martyn was SPOT ON! John could do it ALL...he could sing, write songs and play guitar BETTER than virtually anyone! “May You Never” was one of his finest compositions. P.S. Eric Clapton (as you mentioned) was a BIG fan of John’s, even including one of John’s songs on one of his albums. John Martyn, in the past, never truly got the recognition he deserved. Maybe now he will...

Great choice and analysis, as ever. I had the privilege of seeing him in concert around this time, and a few more times right up until his final tour. It would be wonderful to see an analysis of one of JM's Echoplex masterpieces, like Big Muff, or I'd Rather Be The Devil.

Great that you introduced John Martyn to a number of people who have never heard of him. You are in for a musical treat. Enjoy.

I never heard of him, I'm a bit disappointed for I see that he passed a little over a decade ago. I like his style, great coordination of his singing and playing. Great analysis Fil! Thanks for introducing him.

Saw him at the Londonderry Sunderland. Only about 40 people there but he played his heart out and was brilliant. He engaged the audience and was as funny as owt. Shared a spliff too. Genius.

I saw John first at a concert he gave, in I think it must have been, 1967, at the Chelsea College of Science and Technology where I was studying maths. It was opposite Chelsea Arts College and people would sometimes confuse the two. I had just started to learn to play acoustic guitar myself and had already come across one or two of the many excellent guitarists trying to make a living in London. He must have been 18 or 19 at the time and totally knocked me out with his speed and originality. The first albums of both John Martyn and his older contemporary Bert Jansch had material that could be copied by a relatively inexperienced player. But this did not last long as you have rightly pointed out. You could see he mastered a technique some quite well known guitarists had taken a lifetime to perfect, within a few years. Although one could follow the progression, at least twice I got the impression he had thought, OK I have done that, let's try something completely different. A truly remarkable, but rather troubled and sometimes violent, man and artist.

Omg, ty Fil one of my favorite artists. 👌🔥

Thank you Fil, you just made my night! John Martin was genuine genius musician, I had the absolute honor of seeing him live at least 4 times, each time was pure heart & soul joy, my memories of him re ignited whenever I listen to his music or watch videos. If I had to pick favorite songs (which truly is difficult) those that spring immediately to mind are Solid Air, One World & Johnny be Good all are especially excellent live. Thanks for explaining his guitar technics, I’m not a musician but at least with your great teachings I get to understand how John created such special sounds...his lyrics were always astonishing too 👏👏👏💖

So hypnotic, so mesmerizing

Fil I am so pleased you have dissected this great song by an incredible talent, this is one of my favourite songs of all time, I was fortunate enough to see John live a few times, a couple of times with the equally legendary Danny Thompson, thank you for introducing so many new people to his work, I hope they all go and check out more of this great mans work.

I love his fret action... His hammer pull off... Runs are incredible... Thanks professor His vocals are amazing... He's like jim Croce and his lead guitarist all rolled up into one... Smooth... Rock 🎸

Thanks for this. John Martyn was on another plane of musical consciousness. And that cat could swing. All feel and soul.

Hi Fil! This was a new one to me, but that is one great thing about your channel...you give us such different genres that we can learn about artists we may find new to us! Thanks for this talented guy! So glad I took a listen! Enjoy your weekend! ✌️

Loved John and followed his gigs around the 80s. This is incredibly special to me. It’s mine and my daughter’s little love you song.

Thank you for featuring John Martyn, one of my favourites. Saw him live solo in Toronto in the late 80s: brilliant!

One of my, asbolute, best guitarist! I love John Martyn! Thanks for the sharing...☮️🙏🏻

At the age of 17 I was working the summer in The Shetlands and my friends took me to a ( The) John Martyn gig. I have had a love affair with his music ever since. Much missed ❤

Thank you for highlighting this wonderful musician, one of my favorites he deserves so much more attention

Love his style and his words.... very cool... I didn’t know him either, but I really could sit and listen to these kinds of songs for a long, long while. I’m going to look him up..

I had the privilege of seeing John Martyn live at Newcastle City Hall in the early 90s. This was during his ‘Weather Report’ era - and he had a phenomenal band behind him. However, part way through he was handed a spliff and he treated us to an acoustic set. Wow! It was quite brilliant. I particularly like his echo-plex acoustic sets from the early to mid 70s - ‘Big Muff’ is a particular favourite. A unique, and much missed talent. God speed Big John! My album recommendations? Bless The Weather, Live At Leeds, Solid Air, One World, Glorious Fool, Foundations (a live album from the mid 80s), and Cooltide. Must buy Grace And Danger at some point!

Not heard of him but like his voice and style of singing. Will have to look him up. Thank you.

I don't suppose you'll read this, Fil, since I've been away from this channel for a while and am therefore a little late to this particular party, but I just wanted to say a huge thank you for this John Martyn analysis. I'd been asking for a while, I remember, trying my best to tempt you... Turns out you put up this video the day before my birthday last year, so I had a huge smile on my face listening to my 'late birthday present'... :-) I was lucky enough to be one a crowd of local freaks (as we called ourselves back then) who crammed into the upstairs room of a dingy pub in the Old Town of Hastings, where John and Beverley were living in '73, when Solid Air was released. John had put the word out he'd be giving a free concert, word of mouth only, to allow him to run through the entire Solid Air album before an audience, to make sure everything was working (including the EchoPlex with some home-made additions IIRC) to make sure he could actually reproduce the sound off the record, fully, before taking it out on tour for the album launch. So we may have been the first to hear that magical album, live, in its entirety, up close and personal with the man himself. Needless to say, John was on top form and gave a perfect performance as we all just sat, spellbound, at the sounds, melodies and images each song captured..an unforgettable evening. I seem to remember vaguely May You Never becoming a bit of a hippy anthem for us at the time, for the way it seemed to sum up the Love and Peace values of the era. Everyone knew everyone back then; the guy who rented our basement did the pen and ink drawing for the inside cover (IIRC) of Inside Out, John's follow-up album... and he sat next to me at the bar of the Lord Nelson once, courteously offering to buy me a drink. Incredible artist, unusual character, I adore his music but found him a little scary personally, and he treated his lovely wife Beverley abominably, I'm sorry to say. We did hear the rumours at the time, and could hardly believe it. But she still bore the injuries from John's violent drunken (etc) excesses decades later.

FIRST TIME HEARING HIM. LOVE HIS STYLE 😍😍😍

Wow! I never heard of him before. This was just beautiful. That voice is so smooth and the guitar is mesmerizing.

I loved this doc. So informative and the guy's so obvious genuine enthusiasm. More please!

Heard him first on Whistle Test and never forgot it . One of those moments in your life !

I loved this performance and had never heard John Martyn. I too, must look him up to hear more! Thanks, Fil!

I still have his albums from the 70’s - scratched and well played - recorded them onto CD’s years and years ago - was listening to one this morning 2024 - still one of the best musicians

Absolute EXCELLENCE!! Enough said. Thanks Fil for remembering a GREAT talent. Excellent analysis!😎🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦

This was great, and Yes I can see how complicated the guitar work is! And love the lyrics and a nice relaxed voice too!. Yet I have never heard of him before this video. Thanks for another informative introduction to a late great artist, Fil.

Great video Fil on a lovely gentle genius of a man. I first came across John Martyn with the 1980 album `Grace and Danger`. `Sweet Little Mystery` is just a classic track and his own interpretation of ` Somewhere Over The Rainbow` shows his beautiful gentle vocal. I saw him in the `80`s in The National Stadium in Dublin and i still rate that gig as one of the best live performances i have ever been privileged to experience. May he R.I.P. Might i add just like the late great John Prine, John Martyn made a home for himself here in Ireland and just like Prine he was welcomed with open arms. Slainte.

I knew him through my brother who was 10 years older than me and also sadly passed away around 10 years ago. He loved John Martyn and I grew to through listening to him as a child. Solid Air was his favourite. Lovely singer/player

He was years ahead of his time.

Great analysys, so interesting. Thanks!

Thanks, Fil, He makes it look so easy....looked up lyrics to get the words better....but it was interesting and a song I've never heard. Thanks again. Have a great day.

Stunning performance! Thanks for bringing my very distant memory of him back. I'm going to have to look him up and hear some more,

Hello. I just want to say that I love the video. I have been a fan of John Martyn since 2016. Even though I am sad he passed away, I am grateful for the music he left behind. Keep up the good work. Peace and respect from the USA.

Saw him at the Crucible in Sheffield in the 80s. Epic..."Solid Air" and this song from it is just so good there're no words to describe it. It will accompany me through my entire life. Understated relaxed greatness.

Fil is like a farmer ploughing up a field to allow a new crop to grow from past plantings.

Phil, thanks so much for your very thoughtful analysis of the esteemed John Martyn, for me the artist that put so much soul in folk music as to change the game.

Great guitarist and singer who was also close friends with the also great and late great Nick Drake.

I love your analyses, I haven't the foggiest Idea what you're talking about but your enthusiasm and musical knowledge is so impressive. One of the greatest songs of the era. Thank you.

Great analysis, Fil. Very good to see John Martyn getting this recognition - I see, below, that some had not been familiar with John's work - so, you have done them a service. Suggestions (well, you did ask!): Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Martin Simpson, Richard Thompson, Bert Jansch, John Renbourne. That should keep us going for a while! Thanks.

Finally ! guitar again!! why people don`t know is they stuck on mainstream get out and search undeground rock/folk etc thanks Fil!

He was able to play almost automatically, which is highlighted here, and was shown particularly one time I saw him in Aberdeen. He was so drunk that he fell off the stage - but didn't miss a note!!

Love the Man, a troubled beautiful musical Genius Caught him many times live always conjured up a Sonic storm, just the man and his guitar! One I remember at a still free Glastonbury Festival 77/78 ? Incredible!!...

Beautiful music. Always great when you have music I am not familiar with. Great stuff Fil. Thanks.

Ooooh - very nice. So intimate.

“Playing along is...gonna be a bit of a challenge.” Glorious British understatement. Yes, it’ll be a right spot of bother...

He’s new to me Fil....but I really enjoyed listening to him! Melodic guitar work with great vocals! Brilliant! Cheers Mario! 😀👌🤘

I remember watching this as a callow youth, when it was first aired. Naturally, my parents hated it. Enjoyed it and your analysis.

One World is a classic album, some of it recorded outside, achieving an ethereal sound. Listened to a recent UK podcast Word in Your Ear talking to Graeme Thompson who recently wrote a bio of John Martyn called Small Hours (a great tune from the One World album). Anyone that likes Nick Drake may enjoy Martyn's music.

Brilliant! I love John Martyn's work. I bought his first album back in the day, which sadly went the way of a lot of stuff from your youth! It amazes me how many of us went to art college either before, during or after playing in a band during the early 70s. This brings back a lot of fab memories. :)

I had the pleasure of mixing the sound for him a couple of time’s, always a true professional

John Martyn's original far outshines any cover (Eric Clapton included). His loose style is something I have enjoyed Live & on record for years. I would love for you to see the solo live versions of "Big Muff" & "Couldn't Love You More". His guitar work & (early) effects are amazing.

Ever do any Bruce Cockburn? Many Excellent songs, Enjoyed this one, reminds me of Bruce

Saw JM about half a dozen times from 1975 on - mainly, small intimate venues. He always overran - multiple encores, the crowd didn't want him to stop. Unique guitarist, gorgeously haunting (often tortured) lyrics, wonderful vocal quality and control. One of a handful of musicians who died (along with John Lennon, Little Richard, Prince, Aretha, Steve Marriott, Lou Reed) whose death I really felt.

#Fil thank you for everything you did and said in this video I'm sure you love John Martyn's music as I do The first time I heard his voice... I was 11 years old and I'm still listening to his music with deep gratitude 💛

I saw him a few times in early and then later days. Pure genre crossover magic. One of the greatest composers and musicians of British music.

I was your first like again getting good at it great video and analysis no surprise

I love this song!!

'May you never lay your head down, without a hand to hold'. What a line. Spotify came up with this track for me one day. I'd not heard it before and confess to not being aware of JM before then. My ear was captured by that line. It makes me well up a bit. I'll occasionally fall asleep holding my wife's hand so to me the line symbolises love and its importance. I also 'play' guitar so I can appreciate JM's ability. I learned to play Lindsey Buckingham's 'Never Going Back Again' but this would be another step, especially with a vocal. (While watching, I was thinking the same as you: 'it would be satisfying enough just to play the guitar piece, let alone adding the incredible vocal') Thanks for an entertaining and informative vid, Fil, and for raising JM's profile.

One of my favorite albums is his covers album, The Church With One Bell. It is an audiophile's delight.

Thanks for awakening me to JM’s music. I listened to many of his contemporaries on the Brit folk scene, including Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Nick Drake and Richard Thompson, so Martyn slipped through the cracks for me. I will pay closer attention.

Thanks for reminding what an excellent song this is!

Like Bert Jansch this kind of musician takes hold of so many styles of musical sound and create something original, new..great choice for analysis....keep you fine videos acoming?

Great analysis Fil! I can only describe John Martyn as peerless. I started listening to John back in the 1970's after hearing the tracks "Big Muff" and "Dealer" from the album "Solid Air". It's a shame he had such a troubled life, but maybe that's what inspired his music. I remember reading that some years before he died, he had to have one if his legs amputated below the knee due to an untreated rupture in his knee joint. Needless to say, John carried on performing from a wheelchair until his other health issues limited his live work. John Martyn died too soon, but left us all of his music. Loved his singing style because to me he really used it as another instrument. Fil, maybe in the fullness of time you will re-visit John's music and analyse "I'd Rather Be The Devil" live which I think is from the same session as this from the OGWT. Thanks again Fil. Stay safe.

What are the odds? Was just watching this brilliant performance again, and there you were in the sidebar with an analyses of the very same performance!

Saw him fairly often through the 70s and, for the last time, somewhere in the mid 80s at Euston Station in London. You can/could exit the station at the side and come out on a bridge overlooking a service road below. I was on the bridge and he was below carrying two guitar cases - one an Ovation, which I've never seen him play. He sat on that, got the Martin out of the other and began to play. I raced down the stairs to listen and got there just in time to see a van pull up and the guitar go back in the case. Should have stayed and listened from above. Oh well.

Loved a lot of his music, Grace and Danger & Glorious fool I played a lot and unbeknown to me one of my friends in Hamburg was a long time friend of John that resulted us meeting when he was in Hamburg and involved going for a pint or two before and after the gigs in notably the Markthalle & Fabriek in Hamburg. What a Voice he was blessed with and his guitar technique equally unique. RIP John it was a pleasure to have met you, hear your music and enjoy a blether and pint in your company.

He was a genius but a very complex man. A friend of mine's partner used to own a pub in Rye which John frequented; he told me that John was a mean and nasty man, which shocked me to the core. I loved his music and voice; this information kind of tarnished what I'd imagined him to be. I often play the album Solid Air when I'm alone in the car. He also wrote the theme tune to the Anthony Hopkins film '84 Charing Cross Road'; that is such a beautiful song. Thanks Fil!

Loved him as a youngster. Sweet little mystery is my favourite of his.

Incredible break down of how much work he's putting in to the song and I loved learning more of his bio. I'll put a request in to analyse *Nathan Cavaleri* who struggled coping with early fame as a guitarist from the age of 10.

Morning/afternoon Fil. Great analysis.👏 I have a lot of catching up to do. I never heard of him but I'm going to try & listen to more of his music when I get a chance. I did enjoy it but I had to look up the lyrics, I couldn't understand all the words, interesting. I love it when you start analyzing, sorry your finger is still sore. There's something about a guy and his guitar😍 and a guy and the piano😍. I spiked the likes for the live stream to night but I don't think I can make it. You know I have to think out loud now, I have missed seeing and hearing your voice to start my mornings off. Oh Fil it does my heart good to see that ever so erotic million dollar smile. I have missed you. You probably don't know know what to say to that, you have so many that think the same. Have a great evening Fil. Whatever it's worth from the heart, love ya❤