JOHN MARTYN ‘Classics’
***** Martyn’s split with Permanent during the 90s centred on their release of material he hadn’t approved, notably re-recordings of some of his great 70s Island tracks. Permanent have since morphed into Artful and this ‘best of’ covers much of that disputed 90s material. That said, quality shines through, especially with Levon Helm’s contribution on ‘Just Now’: And though some 70s die-hards may not thrill to Martyn’s boozily passionate songs getting re-pitched as smooth jazz, artists like Andy Sheppard do put class into ‘Classics’ like ‘Sunday’s Child’. However, while rich completists may buy ‘Classics’, us more ‘umble punters will wait for ‘Glasgow Walker’ on Independiente.
Andy Robson
Classic Rock
1 June 2000
