Search - John Martyn :: No Little Boy

Bridget S. (Vassar) from PLYMOUTH, IN
Reviewed on 11/28/2013...

What an amazing disc! I picked this up at a used cd store the other day and actually wasn't familiar with this album of John's. SOOOO darn good. Classic early guitar sounds of John with the massive reverb/echo. Versions of the songs are awesome too; for example Solid Air is completely different! The closing track "One World" might be the most powerful song on the album. Listen to this if you're a Martyn fan! You wont be disappointed!

No Little Boy - top 4 JM

James E. Tessier | Forestdale, RI USA | 05/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To hear John Martyn croon on "ONE WORLD," a song from an album impossible to find, is worth the price. Levon Helm and Phil Collins helping on some classic Martyn is great, too. I've been a big fan of JM since 1970. The classic cover of "Solid Air" is superb. And "Ways to Cry," has a hauntingly wonderful phrase repeated that I never heard before in the original; "got no little boy left..." "Fine Lines" is another great self-cover. If you are a "real fan" of JM, you will appreciate the fresh take on some of his best tunes. I put NO LITTLE BOY in my top 4 JM list, which includes BLESS THE WEATHER, SOLID AIR and ONE WORLD. Don't miss a chance on this one, no matter what any mis-guided JM purist says. To see JM play is to understand evolution. It is after all, a NEW WORLD. Fresh interpretations of songs is the right of the originator. Understand that and enjoy them with fresh ears. There's more than plenty there to enjoy."

Rearranged classics create a worthwhile new release!

James E. Tessier | 01/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album conssits of new arrangements of John Martyn classics. These are not the original versions, which can be found on earlier albums or on the compilation from Island, Sweet Little Mysteries. Still, the songs here are enriched by Martyn's reaching middle age. "I don't wanna know" carries a lot more weight and sadness than the original recorded over twenty years ago, and all the songs in general benefit from Martyn's maturity.The arrangements on "No Little Boy" are first class, with guest appearances by such "stars" Phil Collins, David Gilmour, Levon Helm and a number of talented session musicians. The jazziness of the music is in the forefront; those who want to hear Martyn's distinctive guitar playing should look elsewhere. Only on "Solid Air" can you hear his finger picking coming through.I highly enjoy this album. I've also played it for number of my friends, who never knew of Martyn and are now hunting this cd down."