Piece By Piece remastered and expanded was released by Universal Music on high quality heavy weight vinyl on 26 January 2015.

The press release stated;

“Single disc, two-disc, double lp and digital equivalent releases which marked John Martyn’s return to Island Records in the mid-1980’s.

Universal Music Catalogue is pleased to announce the multi-formatted releases of Sapphire and Piece By Piece on January 26th 2015, two of John Martyn’s most overlooked albums and a return to the label he was most famously associated with following two album for WEA.

Both Sapphire, originally released in 1984, and Piece By Piece, 1986 are long deleted and ripe for reappraisal. Each album has been remastered and expanded, including some recently unearthed material, with a second disc as part of Island’s RePresents series alongside limited edition double vinyl editions.

Sapphire features alternate mixes by co-producer Andy Lyden, and five previously unreleased studio takes. Among these, the ‘Straight Choir’ version of ‘Fisherman’s Dream’, one of Martyn’s most popular songs, was omitted from the original album in favour of a gospel choir version. There are also three previously unreleased live performances recorded in Hamburg in 1986.

Piece by Piece includes seven alternate mixes, and seven previously unreleased live performances also recorded in Hamburg in 1986. Bob Dylan’s ‘Tight Connection To My Heart’ features among the new live recordings; it was a song Martyn rarely played on stage. ‘Angeline’ became the world’s first ever CD single when it was taken from the album and released at the beginning of February that year, just ahead of a 20 date tour which marked John Martyn’s 20th anniversary since his first professional shows.

Both albums feature enhanced packaging containing lyrics, a new essay plus rare and previously unseen photographs.”

Piece By Piece was first released in April 1986, further details here.

This remastered and expanded gatefold vinyl release includes a second LP of alternative takes/mixes and live songs. There are 9 alternative takes plus John’s cover of Bob Dylan’s Tight Connection To My Heart. Five live songs from 1986 are also included. Both records are housed in custom printed sleeves illustrated with photographs, memorabilia and sleeve notes. There are 6 previously unreleased takes including 5 live songs, the other takes on LP2 were previously included on the comprehensive 18 CD limited edition box The Island Years released in 2013.

LP1
Side A

1. Nightline (J. Martyn)
2. Lonely Love (J. Martyn)
3. Angeline (J. Martyn)
4. One Step Too Far (J. Martyn)
5. Piece By Piece (F.Patterson)

Side B

1. Serendipity (J. Martyn)
2. Who Believes In Angels (J. Martyn)
3. Love Of Mine (J. Martyn)
4. John Wayne (J. Martyn)

LP2
Side A

1. Lonely Love – Alternative Take
2. Angeline – Alternative Take
3. Tight Connection To My Heart
4. Serendipity – Alternative Take
5. John Wayne – Alternative Take

Side B

1. Nightline – Live in Hamburg 23/4/1986
2. Piece By Piece – Live in Hamburg 23/4/1986
3. Serendipity – Live in Hamburg 23/4/1986
4. Love Of Mine – Live in Hamburg 23/4/1986
5. Tight Connection To My Heart – Live in Hamburg 23/4/1986

Catalogue Number: 471 174-3 (LP1) and 471 174-4 (LP2) Island

As original release Piece By Piece
Researched, Compiled and Sleeve Notes – John Hillarby
Project Co-ordination – Joe Black at Hey Joe!
Design by – Phil Smee at Waldo’s Design and Dream Emporium, St Albans
Mastering by – Paschal Byrne and Ben Wiseman at The Audio Archiving Company, London
Mixing by – Jared Hawkes at Universal Mastering, London
Memorabilia and Tape Box Photos Courtesy – John Hillarby
Clearances – Emine Rifat
A&R by – Liam Donoghue
Marketing by – Sue Armstrong
John Hillarby would like to thank Colin Tully, Alan Thomson, Ian BArnett, Pete Grant, Matt 2Ts, Vicky Murray and Brian Young
Hey Joe! would like to thank Carolyn Agger, Sue Black, Justin Brown, John Chadwick, Johnny Chandler, Kathryn Gilfeather, Simon Gurney, Ivar Hamilton, Amanda Harcourt, Mick Houghton, The Judester, Nicola Kennedy, Peter Matthews, Grant KcKean, David Ward MacLean, Claire Morris, Tasha Pert, Kevin Phelan, Sam Router, Pat Sergo, John Scott, Claire Shomade, Greg Snowden, David Suff, Craig Thompson, Pete Thompson, Jon Turner, Allen Ward and Birte Zywko
This reissue is respectfully dedicated to Beverley, Mhairi, Spencer and Teresa
www.johnmartyn.com