Respect for Kathy Mattea for so ably duetting with the wonderfully unpredictable Martyn! I first saw him live in Belfast in 1973 just after Solid Air was released. He had a filthy cold, was swigging Night Nurse, washing it down with whiskey, and was bloody superb!
What a spellbinding performance. He "never" played it better. Kathy makes it a marvelous duet. Danny and Jerry do what they do so well. Just the sheer enjoyment of the performance is terrific. Rarely all the planets align to produce something as special as this.
This kind of spellbinding performance from all of them, makes life worth living. JM what an absolute legend he was. If you ever feel down play this eh!
This must rate as the best rendition of "May You Never" ever recorded!!.....Kathy Mattea seems to have an electric relationship with John & the slide guitar is just sublime. Their reaction to what they have just produced at the end says it All!! John Martyn OBE....What a Man he was!!
This is like another life on another planet. I would rate it among one of the best performances ever done by anyone. And you are right, at the end they all knew it was something very special they had just done. If only someone could have saved Mr. Martyn at this point of his life, and stopped him destroying himself.
Yes and yes again !! I’m always watching this. rarely do I watch JM as I have a lots of JM to listen too. But there’s something awesome going on here besides the great music … probably great fun !!
That may well be the finest performance of any song I've ever heard, just in terms of the rich and harmonious interplay between each performer. And at the end, you can see they know it!
why people listen to today´s music crap escapes me. I am 65 so I was able to enjoy the early 70´s music which by the way is the best music ever, this is not an opinion, it is a fact. Listening to this song , you must be aware it cannot get any better. This is music from the soul, if they do not understand it, too bad for them, so the ones who love this, they are on the right track. Greetings from down south Barcelona, keep listening to good 70´s music(on l.p. of course).
I saw John in concert several times in the early 70’s at the then New University Of Ulster in Coleraine Northern Ireland. He played in Lecture theatre One which was fully clad in wood and had great acoustics. His vocals and guitar technique literally blew my mind as to what a good songwriter and acoustic guitarist could produce. Looking back it looks like he was an early adopter of guitar loop effects to create a great depth of sound and atmosphere He always apologised for being under the weather having allegedly taken something to help him cope with the flight to get there. It didn’t matter, he was mesmerising in every way. Just a wonderful, talented man.
Just wonderful, JM and Danny Thompson Mmmmm, with the beautiful voice of Kathy Mattea and the musicianship of Jerry Douglas. Doesn’t get a lot better!!!
John Martyn, why couldn't save this tortured genuis. Never to be forgotten in my lifetime. And thank you for your support of local amateur musicians in the south west of Scotland. Some people cannot be saved! You have spoken to me John
Awwwwwwww - bless him, the big fella and the little boy - all in one on this. I could watch this for ever. So beautifully done. I love the eye contact between players who are just enjoying how good each other is. And Danny - if you ever get bored and find yourself reading these things. THANK YOU TOO for everything you do. Not just with John, but with all the other old buggers I've seen you with over too many years. Love you fellas. Sleep well John.
Stood in the audience in the 70's in Bristol uni uk in awe this song. inspired me to play his style. Almost caught his joint when he tossed to the audience 😊
My god, what an absolutely astonishing rendition of this wonderful song. I must have heard this recording a hundred times now and I’m still sitting here with tears on my cheeks. The even-numbered tears are sad but the odd ones are happy.
Oh, wow. Oh, wow. Crying as I type this, and that's no lie. I've listened to John for 40 years, but I've never heard such relaxed, cool perfection between 4 musicians at the top of their game. Beautiful vocal harmonies, John an' Danny, Kathy's beautiful harmonies, and that Dobro! It don't get no better than this!
Both Scotland and Ireland have borne some beautiful and creative talents, but this man was simply unique, in every sense of the word, a sublime song writer and fabulous talent -- Ar dheis de go raibh a anam dilis -- RIP John --
I listen to this,every night,then lay down for a night's sleep.Watching & listening to the unbridled joy of making music that touches the soul,somehow puts the day's cares aside.
This is a great version of this track - probably my favourite. John is really into it here and all of them are enjoying themselves. You can see that Kathy is really beguiled by John. And Martyn's and Thompson's relationship is a match made in heaven. Rest in peace in that far better place John. A real wordsmith I'll miss you from one big man to another!
I asked Kathy about this session and this recording in particular. She smiled, and "let slip" that a lot of whisky had been drunk. Fantastic recording of a great song.
Watching these Transatlantic Sessions videos, I've come to appreciate even more what Jerry Douglas brings to a band. He's more than just an outstanding dobro player. He's one of the very best country/folk musicians on any instrument.
He IS … total genius. And he just kept getting better. Here’s another Jerry Douglas accompanying masterpiece: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DqDulYRi1dM.html
Can a performance get any more sublime than this? Breathtakingly brilliant. Thanks John et al. You were always good in the Half Moon in Putney but never (as I remember) this good....must have been the fault of the beautiful Young's beer.
I've been listening to this video about one a month for years. Can't get enough of it. The song itself, Martyn's voice, Thompson's bass runs, Douglas' dobro and Mattea's subtle but spot on harmony not to mention the sound mix and the photography. Kids, it doesn't get any better than this.
Probably my favourite youtube clip EVER !!!! Absolutely sublime!!!! And the look of joy on their faces to the end knowing it couldn't be better!!!! R.I.P. John.
This is just magnificent. I don't know Mattea but I love the way she looks at Martyn, taking her lead from him, not overshadowing, just perfect. It's clear they all enjoyed this and it shines through. Didd I say I loved it?
Soooooo goooooood! Tank you John Martyn (R.I.P.) for writing this song! And thanks to Kathy Mattea, Jerry Douglas and Danny Thompson for this performance!!
How do you strip up a masterpiece that's already stripped back beauty?. Yet, somehow, this may be even more beautiful than it's original version. A massive loss to songwriters everywhere. RIP big man.
This was the first performance I ever heard from the Transatlantic Sessions. What a perfect introduction to the whole series for me. One of the greatest recordings of one of the greatest songs, and they have a may of making us feel like we were right there.
The most memorable moment from my trip to Glasgow and Celtic Connections in Jan 2010 - besides from seeing and hearing Jerry Douglas - was the final of the Danny Thompson show. A full Old Fruitmarket, artists and audience sang this song together in memory of John Martyn.
