Category: 1980s

John had moved to WEA, who offered him a better deal. The album was produced by Phil Collins, who had recently split up from his wife and the two assisted one another. “We were both going through divorces at the same time, so we just got on. It was great fun…

Released on 18 October 1982 and coinciding with the release of Well Kept Secret, Island released this compilation album The Electric John Martyn…

Released in September 1982, Well Kept Secret was influenced by Phil Collins particularly on the ‘disco’ track Back With A Vengeance. The pop orientated album still features John’s trade marks; sensuality and expression of emotion…

John had recently remarried and released Philentropy in November 1983, without announcement on his own Body Swerve Label, whilst being out of contract. “I had some tapes of a Brighton Dome gig and a Bristol…

Sapphire was recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas but the sessions didn’t start well as John had a number of disagreements with producer Barry Reynolds. John asked Robert Palmer to help. “Actually it almost didn’t happen, the production team had all fallen out, no-one was taking responsibility for anything, too much rum was being consumed all over the place, so I got Robert Palmer in…

Piece By Piece was released as John celebrated his 20th Anniversary as a performer. In the hope of securing elusive radio air play time, Island released Classic John Martyn at the same time. This was the first commercially available CD single and featured the tracks Angeline…

Expanded version of John’s Piece By Piece album with a different running order and four additional songs…