John's Diary The Singles
"Every record I've made - bad, good, or indifferent - is totally autobiographical. I can look back when I hear a record and recall exactly what was going on. That's how I write. That's the only way I can write ! Some people keep diaries, I make records."
John The Baptist / The Ocean
(Island WIP 6076, January 1970)
The first single from John and Beverley Martyn, with The Band's Levon Helm on drums and very odd lyrics! Both songs taken from Stormbringer.
May You Never / Just Now
(Island WIP 6116, November 1971)
Early and rare version of May You Never, a song for John's son, featuring drums and back-up guitar. This version is very different from that which appears on Solid Air.
John didn't like the way the recording had turned out and left the producer to overdub and piece it all together. There is some discussion as to who actually plays with John for this single, for many years it has been suggested Paul Kossoff accompanies John on guitar. I asked John about this and as far as he can remember John 'Rabbit' Bundrick plays keyboards and Kossie played guitar.......but as John says it was a long long time ago!
A rare single and very hard to find. If you ever see one buy it!
Anni Part 1 / Anni Part 2 (with John Stevens Away)
(Vertigo 6059 140, 1976)
Rare single on the Vertigo label from 1976 released by John Stevens Away. Although this song was written by John Stevens it features John playing lead guitar and singing lead vocals for both Anni Part 1 and Anni Part 2 on the B side. An unusual song and not an easy single to find.....
Over The Hill / Head And Heart
(Island WIP 6385, 25th February 1977)
The lyrics for this single contain the word "sweet cocaine" and Island Records were eager to secure radio air play time but considered the lyric to be too risky in the late 70s! So they issued a DJ promo version with a changed lyric. "Dry champagne" being substituted for "sweet cocaine." The image shown is for the DJ version.
Dancing / Dealer (version)
(Island WIP 6414, January 1978)
In Search Of Anna / Certain Surprise
(Island K7450, 1979)
Released in Australia only. The theme tune to the Australian film of the same name released in 1978 and directed by Esben Storm. The song was recorded on 29th July 1978 at United Sound Studios, Sydney, Australia with final mix and production in March 1979. The B side is a live recording of Certain Surprise recorded in Sydney during a tour in 1977.
This has not been released in any other format, on an album for example, however a live version (albeit very different from this single) has been released on Live At The Bottom Line, New York 1983 (Collectors Series Volume3 by Voiceprint in 2001). A very rare single, if you ever see one buy it!
Johnny Too Bad / Johnny Too Bad 
(version)
(Island WIP 6547, October 1980)
Instrumental version on the B side.
Johnny Too Bad (extended dub version) / Big Muff (extended remix)
(Island IPR 2047, March 1981)
12 inch single.
Sweet Little Mystery / Johnny Too Bad
(Island WIP 6718, June 1981)
Please Fall In Love With Me / Don't You Go
(WEA K 79243, August 1981)
The German issue had a different sleeve.
Hiss On The Tape / Livin' Alone
(WEA K 79336, October 1982)
Gun Money (U.S. remix) / Hiss On The Tape (live)
(WEA 259987-7, November 1982)
B side recorded live at the Oxford Apollo on Sunday 10th October 1982.
Over The Rainbow / Rope Soul'd 
(Island IS 209, Oct. 1984)
Angeline / Tight Connection To My Heart
(Island IS 265, February 1986)
Classic John Martyn
(Island CID 265, February 1986)
To celebrate John's 20th Anniversary as a performer, Island released Classic John Martyn, a five track CD single. Angeline / Tight Connection To My Heart / May You Never / Solid Air / Glistening Glyndebourne. This was the world's first commercially available CD Single in a fold out cardboard digi pack.
Angeline / Tight Connection To My Heart / May You Never / Certain Surprise / One Day Without You
(Island 12 IS 265, February 1986)
12 inch single with different songs to the CD version shown above.
Lonely Love / Sweet Little Mystery (live)
(Island IS 272, October 1986)
Lonely Love / Fisherman's Dream (live) / Sweet Little Mystery (live)
(Island 12IS272), March 1986)
The 12 inch and 7 inch share the same design of picture sleeve. The 12 inch featured an additional song Fisherman's Dream (live) recorded at the London Palladium on 3rd March 1986.
Send Me One Line / Patterns In The Rain
(Hypertension HYS 100 102, May 1990?)
Licensed from Permanent Records this 7 inch is very hard to find.
Deny This Love (remix) / The Apprentice (live)
(Permanent S12, August 1990 7 inch vinyl)
Deny This Love (remix) / The Apprentice (live) / Deny This Love (album version)
(Permanent CD Perm 1, August 1990)
This remix is different to the album version on The Apprentice.
Jack The Lad / Annie Sez / The Cure / Jack Sez
(Permanent CD Perm 3, April 1992)
The only appearance of Jack Sez, not to be found on an album.
Sweet Little Mystery / Head and Heart
(Permanent, Perm 6, September 1992)
Sweet Little Mystery / Head and Heart / Never Let Me Go
(Permanent, Perm CD6, September 1992)
Both CD and 7 inch version share the same picture sleeve.
Lonely Love / May You Never
(Permanent, Perm 8, December 1992)
Lonely Love / May You Never / Man In The Station
(Permanent, CD Perm 8, December 1992)
Both CD and 7 inch version share the same picture sleeve.
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
(Voiceprint, JMCD001 1998)
Exclusive CD only available to members of the now discontinued Fan Club.
Excuse Me Mister / God Song (live) / Rock, Salt & Nails (live) / John Wayne (live)
(Independiente, ISOM14MS CD May 1998)
The last three songs are live recordings from The Mean Fiddler recorded on 18th December 1997.
Deliver Me
(with Sister Bliss)
( Multiply, CDMULTY72, 12th March 2001)
Two CD singles with different mixes.
Vinyl 12 inch version.