JOHN MARTYN : SAPPHIRE

  1. Sapphire
  2. Over The Rainbow
  3. You Know
  4. Watching Her Eyes
  5. Fisherman's Dream
  6. Acid Rain
  7. Mad Dog Days
  8. Climb The Walls
  9. Coming In On Time
  10. Rope-Soul'd
    Bonus Tracks :
  11. Love In Your Life
  12. Fisherman's Dream
  13. Mad Dog Days
  14. Fisherman's Dream
  15. Over The Rainbow

Label : Island Records

Release Date : November 1984 / January 26, 2015 (Deluxe Edition)

Length : 65:04

Quality : Soundboard Recording (A+)

Review (AllMusic) : Recorded in the Bahamas with the help of Robert Palmer, Sapphire continues in the vein of the early-'80s slicker John Martyn sound. By now the guitar has sunk so far into the mix to where it's become virtually nonexistent, and keyboards and drum machines have taken over. Not that omnipresent guitar is necessary for a good Martyn album, but a career that's built so much with guitar, when changed to less guitar, needs to have something else going for it. Martyn's unique voice and adept songwriting have proven to be enough since his guitar sank into the background, but unfortunately these attributes aren't enough to sustain this particular album. The only really memorable tracks are "Fisherman's Dream" and "Mad Dog Days." "Over the Rainbow" (yes, the song from Wizard of Oz) is a surprisingly good choice for Martyn, yet it works much better in his live shows than here in a studio version.

Review (Wikipedia) : Sapphire is a rock album by John Martyn, who by this stage in his career had almost entirely abandoned the acoustic guitar and folk approach in favour of a glossy pop/rock sound. Recorded at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas and CaVa Sound Workshops, Glasgow, Scotland, the album was originally released on LP by Island in 1984, catalogue number ILPS 9779, with photography by Anton Corbijn and a cover illustration by Cathie Felstead. Robert Palmer assisted in the later stages of the recording and the LP liner notes acknowledge his help: "An extra special thank you to Robert Palmer without whose help this album may never have been made."

Review (Amazon) : Deluxe two CD expanded edition. Digitally remastered edition of this 1984 album from the acclaimed British singer/songwriter. This edition of 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 favor of a gospel choir version. There are also three previously unreleased live performances recorded in Hamburg in 1986. The album was recorded at Compass Point Studios, Nassau, Bahamas and CaVa Sound Workshops, Glasgow, Scotland. Robert Palmer assisted in the later stages of the recording. This edition feature enhanced packaging containing lyrics, a new essay plus rare and previously unseen photographs.