JOHN MARTYN

Live At Leeds (Deluxe Edition)

ISLAND/UNIVERSAL. CD
OUT NOW
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Singular singer-songwriter in his pomp and expanded.

Famously fond of a tipple or 10, John Martyn was always a dangerously erratic live proposition who, on a good night, could almost make time stand still. A bad one was like a slow-motion car crash. Originally released as a limited edition of just 10,000 copies, he was in fine fettle for this 1975 performance, backed by bassist Danny Thompson and drummer John Stevens. May You Never, Bless The Weather and Solid Air naturally feature, along with much jocular banter and swearing. This revamped two-disc set also includes a bunch of previously unreleased rehearsal tracks, six with ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff who, by then, was already sadly peering into the abyss.

PETER KANE