''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,

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Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...

and CaVa Sound Workshops,

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, the album was originally released on LP by

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in 1984, catalogue number ILPS 9779, with photography by

Anton Corbijn Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard (; born 20 May 1955) is a Dutch photographer, film director and music video director. He is the creative director behind the visual output of Depeche Mode and U2,Pitman, Joanna"The silent partner"' ...

and a cover illustration by

Cathie Felstead Cathie Felstead, born 1954 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, in the UK, is an English illustrator. Early life and education Felstead attended Chelsea School of Art where she gained a BA in graphic design. She then studied illustration a ...

. Robert Palmer assisted in the later stages of the recording and the LP

liner notes Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes. Origin Liner notes are desce ...

acknowledge his help: "An extra special thank you to Robert Palmer without whose help this album may never have been made."

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Martyn except where indicated. #"Sapphire" 4:42 #" Over The Rainbow" (

Harold Arlen Harold Arlen (born Hyman Arluck; February 15, 1905 – April 23, 1986) was an American composer of popular music, who composed over 500 songs, a number of which have become known worldwide. In addition to composing the songs for the 1939 film ...

, Yip Harburg) 3:21 #"You Know" 3:14 #"Watching Her Eyes" 3:15 #"Fisherman's Dream" 4:16 #"Acid Rain" (Martyn, Alan Thomson) 4:11 #"Mad Dog Days" (Martyn, Alan Thomson) 4:59 #"Climb The Walls" 4:14 #"Coming In On Time" 3:34 #"Rope-Soul'd" (Martyn, Alan Thomson,

Barry Reynolds Barry Reynolds (born 27 October 1949, in Bolton, Lancashire) is a British guitar player, songwriter, composer and producer, best known for his long-lasting collaboration with Marianne Faithfull. Reynolds first emerged with the band Pacific Drift ...

) 4:46

Personnel

*John Martyn - guitars, vocals, LinnDrum *

- guitar * Alan Thomson - bass guitar, keyboards, LinnDrum *

Jack Waldman Jack Waldman (September 6, 1952 – May 17, 1986) was a jazz and rock musician, composer, producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Waldman was best known for his studio work and performances with singer Rob ...

- keyboards * Jim Prime - keyboards *Robin Rankin - keyboards * James Hooker - keyboards * Steven Stanley - LinnDrum *Andy Lyden - LinnDrum * Uziah Thompson - percussion *Colin Tully - saxophones *Morwenne Laidlaw - vocal harmonies *Terry Neason - vocal harmonies *Lorna Brooks - vocal harmonies *

- cover illustration *

- photography Choral section by S.N.O. arranged by Dave Murricane.

References

External links

The Official John Martyn Website
John Martyn albums 1984 albums Island Records albums {{1980s-rock-album-stub