''On the Cobbles'' was the final studio album by
John Martyn
Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), known professionally as John Martyn, was a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40-year career, he released 23 studio albums, and received frequent critical acclaim. ...
released during his lifetime (his last studio album, ''
Heaven and Earth'', was released posthumously), released in 2004. The album was recorded at various studios in Ireland, the UK and US including Woolengrange in Ireland; The Toolshed, Chicago USA; Doon The Cellar, Birkenhead; Swan Yard Studios, London; Parr Street Studios, Liverpool; Hornyold Road Studios, Worcestershire and at The Caliope Recorders, Chicago, USA. It features guest appearances from
Paul Weller
Paul John Weller (born John William Weller; 25 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/ new wave/mod revival band the Jam (1972–1982). He had further success with the blue-eyed soul mu ...
,
Nick McCabe, and long-time collaborator
Danny Thompson
Daniel Henry Edward Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson and John Mart ...
.
The album was dedicated to "the surgical team & nurses of Orthopaedic Ward One at Waterford Hospital,
Waterford, Ireland
"Waterford remains the untaken city"
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, pushpin_map = Ireland#Europe
, pushpin_map_caption = Location within Ireland##Location within Europe
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, coordinates ...
."
Track listing
All tracks composed by John Martyn except where indicated.
#"Baby Come Home" (
Frankie Miller
Francis John Miller (born 2 November 1949) is a Scottish rock singer-songwriter and actor.
Miller wrote for and performed with many recording artists and is best known for his 1977 album ''Full House'', the singles "Be Good To Yourself", " D ...
) – 3:28
#"Under My Wing" – 4:10
#"Ghosts" – 4:03
#"Back to Marseilles" – 4:20
#"Cobbles" – 3:52
#"My Creator" – 7:17
#"One for the Road" – 4:05
#"Go Down Easy" – 4:57
#"Walking Home" – 4:49
#"
Goodnight Irene" (
Lead Belly,
John Lomax
John Avery Lomax (September 23, 1867 – January 26, 1948) was an American teacher, a pioneering musicologist, and a folklorist who did much for the preservation of American folk music. He was the father of Alan Lomax, John Lomax Jr. and Bess Lo ...
) – 4:14
Personnel
*
John Martyn
Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), known professionally as John Martyn, was a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40-year career, he released 23 studio albums, and received frequent critical acclaim. ...
- acoustic guitar, Mutron guitar, vocals
*
Peter Erskine
Peter Erskine (born June 5, 1954) is an American jazz drummer who was a member of the jazz fusion groups Weather Report and Steps Ahead.
Early life and education
Erskine was born in Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S. He began playing the dru ...
- conga
*
Ari Brown
Ari Brown (born February 1, 1944) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and pianist.
Biography
Brown grew up in Chicago and attended Wilson College, where he met musicians such as Jack DeJohnette, Henry Threadgill, Roscoe Mitchell, and Joseph ...
- tenor saxophone on "Go Down Easy"
*Steve Eisen - alto flute
*
John Giblin
John Giblin, is an active session musician, contributing mainly as an acoustic and electric bass player, and spanning genres of jazz, classical, rock, folk and avant-garde music. Best known as a studio musician, recording film scores and cont ...
- double bass on "Back to Marseille", guitar on "Goodnight Irene"
*
Nick McCabe - guitar on "Walking Home"
*
Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard (born 20 January 1957) is a British jazz saxophonist and composer. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans, Carla Bley, ...
- tenor and soprano saxophones
*
Mavis Staples - vocals on "Goodnight Irene"
*Jim Tullio - acoustic guitar, percussion, keyboards, fretless bass on "Go Down Easy"
*Tony Peers - trumpet on "Ghosts"
*Greg Marsh - drums, percussion
*Paul Burn - drums on "One for the Road"
*John Rice - mandolin on "Baby Come Home"
*Scott Steiner - Hammond organ
*John Scully - keyboards on "My Creator"
*Kahil El'Zabar - percussion on "Go Down Easy"
*Spencer Cozens - organ, piano
*Paul Mertens - bass harmonica on "Baby Come Home"
*Fred Nelson - piano
*
Paul Weller
Paul John Weller (born John William Weller; 25 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/ new wave/mod revival band the Jam (1972–1982). He had further success with the blue-eyed soul mu ...
- acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammond B3 organ, backing vocals on "Under My Wing"
*Chris "Hambone" Cameron - Fender Rhodes on "Go Down Easy"
*
Danny Thompson
Daniel Henry Edward Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson and John Mart ...
- double bass
*
Alan Thomson - fretless bass
*The bass line on "My Creator" is a combination of parts recorded by Danny Thompson, Alan Thomson and John Giblin
External links
John Martyn's Website
{{Authority control
2004 albums
John Martyn albums
Independiente Records albums