John had moved to WEA, who offered him a better deal. The album was recorded at The Townhouse, London and 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, you know, like Heartbreak Hotel, taking turns on the phone…’Darling please’…all that…Everyone’s the same!”

Collins played the drums again. The album, with its satirical title track dedicated to Ronald Reagan, was a serious bid for the mainstream big time and it charted for seven weeks, reaching No.25. John and Phil Collins produced some new sounds, particularly on the anti-war anthem Don’t You Go, where John’s voice is backed by a solitary piano and a sustained blow by Collins on the vocoder. John’s guitar was hardly audible and his vocals were swamped by synthesisers on a number of tracks.

Eric Clapton, who had played guitar on Couldn’t Love You More, recorded a version of May You Never for his Slowhand album. Rumour has it that John receives more royalties from this cover version than all of his own albums put together, which John laughingly says is “probably true.”

“The accolade genius doesn’t often apply in popular music.” – Steve Sutherland, Melody Maker

“Only Tim Buckley ever dumped this much sex on to vinyl.” -Steve Sutherland, Melody Maker

“Produced by Phil Collins with appearances from him and even Eric Clapton, Glorious Fool is a brilliantly blatant bid for the long deserved big time.” – Melody Maker

John rarely played the acoustic guitar now in his gigs and some fans found this hard to come to terms with. John embarked on a massive 32 date UK tour with Alan Thomson (bass), Max Middleton (keyboards), Danny Cummings (percussion) and Jeff Allen (drums). In August 1981 WEA released Please Fall In Love With Me / Don’t You Go as a single.

1. Couldn’t Love You More (J. Martyn)
2. Amsterdam (J. Martyn)
3. Hold On My Heart (J. Martyn)
4. Perfect Hustler (J. Martyn)
5. Hearts And Keys (J. Martyn)
6. Glorious Fool (J. Martyn)
7. Never Say Never (J. Martyn)
8. Pascanel (Get Back Home) (J. Martyn)
9. Didn’t Do That (J. Martyn)
10. Please Fall In Love With Me (J. Martyn)
11. Don’t You Go (J. Martyn)

Catalogue Number: K 99178 WEA
Matrix / Runout: Side A – W-8KD K99178 A-7 DANG GADANG BY TH’ WAY WO35 TOWNHOUSE and Side B – W-1 K99178 B-7 SOME CALL HIM PHIL! WO35 TOWNHOUSE

Vocals and Guitar – John Martyn
Drums, Vocoder and Additional Vocals – Phil Collins
Bass – Alan Thomson
Keyboards – Max Middleton
Percussion – Danny Cummings
Flugel Horn on Hold On My Heart and Trumpet on Didn’t Do That – Dick Cuthell
Piano on Don’t You Go – Phil Collins
Guitar on Couldn’t Love You More – Eric Clapton
Produced by – Phil Collins
Engineered by – Nick Launay (assisted by Steve Travell)
Sleeve – Bill Smith
Front Photo – Eberhard Grames
Back Photo – Andrew Douglas
Management – Sandy Roberton / Paul Brown