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Product Description
CD Description
180 grams audiophile vinyl
About the Artist
John Martyn is known as the legendary singer-songwriter, arranger and guitarist that blurred boundaries between folk, rock, jazz & blues. He was a prolific artist, recording twenty studio albums during his career, all of which had a powerful sense of space & expansive approach to melody that define the sound of the British Bard. 'Heaven And Earth' is the last album Martyn was working on before his death in 2009, and was completed by Gary Pollitt & Jim Tullio, two of his closest friends & colleagues. Featuring Phil Collins on 'Can't Turn Back The Years', this is the first vinyl edition of this phenomenal album.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
John's final and farewell album arrived this morning and I have listened with the mixed emotion of love and loss inevitable in hearing his last recording. I wasn't expecting to find Martyn at his best but instead to hear him finish with enough echo from a distinguished musical past and the growl and guffaw of his enduring if at times disturbing character and personality.
It's all there. The musical echo is in the funk and groove of most songs that reflect the thread of his latter recordings, and 'Heaven and Earth' and 'Can't Turn Back the Years' reflect the other songcraft of earlier work, the second through, interestingly, the empathetic songwriting of his great friend Phil Collins.
The album begins powerfully with the gruff Martyn vocal strong in the mix and that's the authority you want to hear. Indeed, the opening two tracks 'Heel of the Hunt' and 'Stand Amazed' have the loud and laughing funkgroove one has come to expect from him in his latter recording years as well as live performances.
'Heaven and Earth' doesn't have the memorable strength of earlier work but it allows Martyn's voice to slide and slur and giggle along the simple melody with its declaration of love that does recall so many of his powerful romantic declarations: 'I'll move heaven and earth just to be with you' and the sax slurs its groove too.
Phil Collins may be a plonker politically but he has been a close and dear friend of Martyn and made sustained musical contributions to John's work over the years, most notably on 'Grace and Danger'. His song 'Can't Turn Back the Years' is the most Matrynesque on the album and I believe this must be a genuine reflection of the empathy he has for John both musically and as a person.
The album ends ironically with 'Willing to Work' with John's spoken, partly inarticulate intro and opening scat line 'woopee do.......I'm willing to work' and the groove core is a fitting manifesto for his unique career.
If you are not a fan this isn't the album to purchase to represent John at his best; if you are, this is compulsive and joyous and celebratory because genius endures as a whole and this is a glorious part of that.
It's all there. The musical echo is in the funk and groove of most songs that reflect the thread of his latter recordings, and 'Heaven and Earth' and 'Can't Turn Back the Years' reflect the other songcraft of earlier work, the second through, interestingly, the empathetic songwriting of his great friend Phil Collins.
The album begins powerfully with the gruff Martyn vocal strong in the mix and that's the authority you want to hear. Indeed, the opening two tracks 'Heel of the Hunt' and 'Stand Amazed' have the loud and laughing funkgroove one has come to expect from him in his latter recording years as well as live performances.
'Heaven and Earth' doesn't have the memorable strength of earlier work but it allows Martyn's voice to slide and slur and giggle along the simple melody with its declaration of love that does recall so many of his powerful romantic declarations: 'I'll move heaven and earth just to be with you' and the sax slurs its groove too.
Phil Collins may be a plonker politically but he has been a close and dear friend of Martyn and made sustained musical contributions to John's work over the years, most notably on 'Grace and Danger'. His song 'Can't Turn Back the Years' is the most Matrynesque on the album and I believe this must be a genuine reflection of the empathy he has for John both musically and as a person.
The album ends ironically with 'Willing to Work' with John's spoken, partly inarticulate intro and opening scat line 'woopee do.......I'm willing to work' and the groove core is a fitting manifesto for his unique career.
If you are not a fan this isn't the album to purchase to represent John at his best; if you are, this is compulsive and joyous and celebratory because genius endures as a whole and this is a glorious part of that.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Heaven and Earth is a labour of love assembled by his band and his mates after John Martyn's untimely death; there may be elements the great man might have scorned - perhaps the wonderful sharp slick backing singers - but the result is a treat, and an album we hadn't been expecting. Throughout his career John had an artist's habit of taking you somewhere new and uncomfortable where he had ventured while you were getting used to his last work, and in time you caught up and understood his point, but by then he had move on! However this album takes us to a place to which you can relate pretty quickly - either that or I've been brainwashed after all these years...Jazz, blues, rock, humour, strength, vulnerability, pathos, the kitchen door and the dog - it's all here, emitted from John's home in Ireland and polished in studios all over the world. More for your personal stereo or late at night than a selection of party favourites, there are strong and varied tracks throughout and you feel the musicians gave their all - and a little more just for John - willingly. John tuning up or in bad form was always better than most, and this is not a sloppy excuse for a record but a real work to enjoy. Wherever Buddhists go, we hope John is happy. Is there a first time John Martyn buyer? You could start here and work backwards. If already a fan, you shouldn't be disappointed, far from it.Heaven and Earth
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm a long term JM fan, discovering him at 18 and listening to his work for the 26 years which have passed since. I was surprised he lasted as long as he did, but its still a huge loss that he is no longer with us. And great news...this last album is a cracker. I'm sitting listening to it online, tapping my foot, loving every moment, and filling up with tears. Not everything John has done has either been as good as it should have been, or could have been, so I was worried that what we might have here were fragments and work in progress, and it would be a disappointing legacy to set alongside the jewels in his back catalogue.
But, you know, this sounds great. The vibe is joyous, funky even. His friends have clearly worked to make sure this last album is a fitting legacy to a tremendous musician. Over-produced? Not to me - actually its got the love and attention that many of his previous albums deserved but never got. Having listened to it once through I just want to play it straight through again - not out of nostalgia or mourning, but because its great album that makes me feel good and reaches straight into my soul, where all good music gets to.
I've no idea whether this will win any new converts (after all if you've not got it by now with all the other wonderful stuff he's put out, you really are beyond musical redemption) but this is a joyful last opus for those of us who love his music. Rock on, John - its just a pity you're not here to play this stuff live for Jools Holland - because this sounds like some of the best stuff you've ever done.
But, you know, this sounds great. The vibe is joyous, funky even. His friends have clearly worked to make sure this last album is a fitting legacy to a tremendous musician. Over-produced? Not to me - actually its got the love and attention that many of his previous albums deserved but never got. Having listened to it once through I just want to play it straight through again - not out of nostalgia or mourning, but because its great album that makes me feel good and reaches straight into my soul, where all good music gets to.
I've no idea whether this will win any new converts (after all if you've not got it by now with all the other wonderful stuff he's put out, you really are beyond musical redemption) but this is a joyful last opus for those of us who love his music. Rock on, John - its just a pity you're not here to play this stuff live for Jools Holland - because this sounds like some of the best stuff you've ever done.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
one that maybe should have stayed unreleased
Unlike most of the reviewers, I have to say that this is not a great album to go out on. I have been a massive defender and fan of this man over the decades, and was quietly... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Franimi
His last offering
John Martyn is as moody as ever on this his last album. Great guitar work and quite a jazz feel to some of the songs makes this an album which one can warm to. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. K. Bowyer
Go on, you know you want to
C'mon all you sort-of-John-Martyn-fans out there. You know you've toyed with the idea of getting your hands on his last outing. Well, go on then. You've nothing to fear. Read more
Published 7 months ago by L. Sleepa
Not a Fan
I did not know this artist before buying his work "Heaven and Earth" I got CD and played it. Nothing moved me so it sits on the shelf with the other CD's that get dusted of once in... Read more
Published 8 months ago by chuckee44
Gift that delighted it's recipient!
Arrived promptly and well packaged. Bought as a gift for a friend who is delighted with it. Great songs by a great singer!
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. C. J. Taylor
Sadly delightful
What can I say about the music made by this man that hasn't already been said? I read the reviews on Amazon before I bought this and was slightly nervous it would be a... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Big Al
Stunning sound quality!
Just thought I'd add my bit to what's alreay been written about this last album by the late great John Martyn. Read more
Published 10 months ago by jw/mana
Thank you for the music: Heaven and Earth
As ever, when it comes to music, John Martyn never disappoints: not even after his passing. A sore miss but still I find myself involuntarily whispering up a big thank you to John... Read more
Published 10 months ago by VitalSpark
A good suprise
I was worried this would be a shambles but I was pleasantly suprised. His voice is still so full of who he was and many of the tracks are now firm favourites. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Annie R M
The Last Studio Album .
As an avid John Martyn Fan of 20 plus years and a large John Martyn album collection, this is by far one of his best. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tony
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