John Martyn - One day without you (1978)

[Branton48]

The Master!!Saw him meany times.Was lucky enough to have a beer with him in Ireland.Born in England but brought up in Glasgow.He's one of our greatest son.Thanks for the Music Johnny Boy.Rest in "PEACE".

[jaquijaq1]

Why do some people do that thing where they have to respond to negative comments? Who cares what other people think of your very own special music choice. To respond is to give credence to someone you would probably never choose to befriend in real life....

[MusashiChanFR]

What is this soundhole magnetic pickup ? Thx !

[bloodandashes75]

I listen to that big nutter every day. I miss him

[Yokel47]

Cheers I got it



[studyireland]

i saw John Martyn briefly at a gig in North London (Harlsden i think). His flight was delayed in Milan and no doubt the stress was eased at the airport bar... He got half way through Mad Dog Day before, well, leaving the stage. Despite the 3 hours waiting and a 3 minute show, it was worth it for the memory. Two weeks later we had complimentary tickets for his gig at the Town and Country.

[TheMrgaztop]

John, these dicks are arguing over your accent!!! How many bar fights did we stand back to back over peoples accents? Who did we care about? Fukin no one! Drink, get drunk, fight, play the music, Wake up in the morning and FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[joeythestud]

What kind of guitar is john martyn playing there?

[mazsenior]

@joeythestud A Guild.

[Yokel47]

What's that about him dedicating the song to the Berkley Hunt/National Front?....is he being sarcastic or am I missing something orrr.....

[mazsenior]

@Yokel47 I think his troubles with the opposite sex are well chronicled unfortunately.

[Breitheamhnaig]

@Yokel47 ever heard of rhyming slang?

[swordfisherman007]

@Yokel47 It's Cockney Rhyming Slang

[bgfd1]

A very special talent who wrote and performed so many great songs. I think his music will be around for a very long time.

[panzermort]

John Martyn not his real name Iain David McGeachy was born in England but after his parents seperated was brought up by his grandmother in Scotland, this is the reason he switched between accents and he did it subconsciously, from a wild drinking and some say violent man at home to a genius who unfortunately never received the recognition he so surely deserved and to not listen to someones work and then say oh he only had one good song is funny he had over 20 studio albums

[mrnoiseee1]

blow any other guitarist of his generation off the stage, but if ive wronged you,

please post a video of yourself doing the same and well see...and its not standard tuning the high and low e's are tuned to d and all strings are dropped down a full step, fucktards

[mrnoiseee1]

elly roll mortan's style for guitar and being one of the first white signed artists on the label that basically wrote most

of eric claptons hit songs during his heyday you are watching one of the best British guitarist

s of his generation, in front of a massive university audience ON HIS OWN ,

[mrnoiseee1]

just got in here, but a lot of you have blatantly come straight from your mothers teat with your lips still wet from the ignorance of her milk, as well as being one of the only guitarists to even attempt translating one of the inventors of jazz piano, just got in here, but a lot of you have blatantly come straight from your mothers teat with your lips still wet from the ignorance of her milk, as well as being one of the only guitarists to even attempt translating one of the inventors of jazz

[chazzyt]

read the brilliant biography on John then youll get it. TIT

[danarazzi]

Anyone know where there is tab for this? Even what tuning it's in? I really don't think it is in standard tuning like people have said?

[thumpinrascal]

@danarazzi

I think it's Just drop D cause it sounds and looks like he's doing something similar to 'may you never' which is drop D

[thumpinrascal]

@danarazzi I think it's Just drop D cause it sounds and looks like he's doing something similar to 'may you never' which is drop D

[GrungeHippie95]

@thumpinrascal it is standard, you can see him tuning the bottom string from D up to E, except it's not E, because it is standard down a tone and a half, so low to high in pitch: C# F# B E A D

[lejambon08]

i don't know what windgat9 said but it's funny seeing everyone laying into him. Is this some sort of cult of john martyn? You're all laying into him so much you may as well tell him he's not allowed to have an opinion or a voice

[Edinwildlifetog]

His sublime music and soul live on forever.

[CarolinaBeachcomber]

"Every bird that sings is born to fly...." I hope he's happy flying, happy singing, wherever he is now. What beautiful musical gifts he gave us.

[MetalMachineManiac]

what guitar is he playing? like what make?

[1978BenF]

@MetalMachineManiac Looks like a Guild D55 to me. He usually played a Martin D28.

[AcousticMax]

@MetalMachineManiac Yep Guild D55, sold mine a few years to get a Maton 808TE for gigging. Do miss her though. ;o(

[GreenManalishiUSA]

wow. john m. in top form here. fantastic performance. ain't makin' 'em like john anymore.

[blairbond]

saw him live at cropredy before he died, i was like 11... too young to appreciate it :( r.i.p. john, a master!!

[corty1987]

the man that disliked this needs to stop listening to lady gaga and other computer genarated music, and learn to appreciate what a talented man an his guitar can acheive. brillliant song!!! absolutaly gutted never got to see this ma live :(

[neilcoyne00]

@corty1987 You know I must be the luckiest guy in the world. I went out to his house on boxing day and brought my guitar played a few songs of mine to him while he listened and said he liked that one or just closed his eyes and nodded. Then he took out his Martin and sat there and played all night with the guy who brought me out (who was on slide guitar). Just sat there drinking till all hours listening to this legend. This was about two years before he died he lived in Kilkenny where I'm from.

[corty1987]

@neilcoyne00 sounds brilliant. ya a very lucky man, the closest i got was when my mam an dad went to see him at durham an she was pregnant with me. my dad an uncle have had a smoke with him. winds me up that iam never gonna see a talent like this in my life.

[OK0088]

just realised this after probably the 1000dth listen...the barkley hunt, the national front...rhymes with...see you next tuesday! I think he hates somebody.

[mcnulty70]

2 years now

[Gimmer3]

Miss you John, I can't believe you are gone.

John Martyn 11th September 1948 - 29th January 2009

[steunitpassword]

cheers john! 

[johnmorgan27]

I wonder if JM is looking down (or up) at some of these comments. Hopefully he'd piss himself laughing and not be too upset by the pettiness, ignorance etc. RIP, and thanks very much.

[taffboyslim]

Ironic really, a video on youtube that shows how much better concerts were before youtube... no-one whooping like a banshee, no-one holding up a phone to make a poor quality video, just people litening to fantastic music ...and bear in mind this is Reading!

[seftonstreet]

Johnny Martyn. Born in south west London and raised in Glasgow/ sw London too. So no wonder he spoke in a cockney/scottish accent, depending where he was or with. All part of the charm of a very complex character but mostly just an awesome musician.

[scrumpymanjack]

Why would anyone listen to John Martyn (apart from his mother) if you can listen to Nick Drake? It's like choosing to watch Accrington Stanley when you could be watching Chelsea or Arsenal.

[redscotti]

@scrumpymanjack

nick drake was one of the all time best ok but why bother posting a comment if all you’ve got to say is something as stupid as this?!

[scrumpymanjack]

@redscotti Yeah, I guess that comment was a little provocative. I don't take it back but I do apologise if I riled anyone.

[jamiemcgeechan]

Seems like youve been gone far too long John! But your memory will always live on

utter genius!! So Special - one day without you its hard!!!!!

[jamiemcgeechan]

Re the accent have you ever watched English /american people trying to watch an episode of RAB C Nesbit! the BBC put subtitles on programmes produced in Scotland ! in order for non picts/celts to unnerstoan the patter - listen to his singing voice and the song!!!!!!!! BEAUTIFUL just appreciate share the love!

[QuantumPlenum]

When his parents split, his mother lived in England and his father stayed in Scotland, he then later moved to live in London.

If you can't see the beauty in this great  man's work - well, it's nowt but your loss!

[ChanGalang01]

Shut the fuck up and listen to the music twat!

[ginger1brain]

Anyone know what tuning this is in?

[paulzyssental]

@theguitarmaneire: quite right this guy was a genious! thanks for uploading! there was never any show, he was who he was.

[pennavie]

is there somewhere where i can get only the audio for this concert? i looove this version.

[lenard1977]

Great Vid

[zestvisuals]

If only I had a time machine! I'd have seen much more of Jm playing live! I love him! xxx

[django1889]

@zestvisuals without wanting to upset by most accounts ive heard of family and friends who saw him live felt cheated because he was so pissed up for most of his gigs though im not saying he wasnt bloody amazing but his live performances on the whole were poor in comparison to his abilties.

[windgat9]

Yes he was progressive. So was his ever changing speaking accent. London working class as a youth, which changed to thick Scottish a few years later. Not really a sign of someone being true to himself. Do you think he was maybe pretending to be something he was not? But I suppose there are the insecurities which create great music incouding clean crisp vocals.

[bid84]

@windgat9 ha his accent?? who gives a bollix, they can thicken with drink/your present company etc anyway when i listen to his tunes i get sucked in by its beauty,,right from his early stripped back folk, to his latter electro/synth compositions,, all reveal a creative genius, documenting his own life through his lyrics and songs no matter how personal doenst really shout liar does it?

[fingal42]

One of our greatest singer songwriters and guitarists. A truly progressive artist, and sadly missed.

[davescot100]

gota laugh at people with negative comments, i like this alot, very clean crisp vocals... lol

[davescot100]

i must learn this addictive song ! class....

[50NSM]

@windgat9 - John Martyn wrote beautiful songs....and lots of them........and performed them with a commitment and passion that is unmatched.....if you really believe what you said then I can only imagine that you haven't heard much of his work, and that you never experienced the magic of his live performances.....he is unforgettable and sadly missed, especially by those of us who were privileged to call him 'friend' as I was.....he was a creative force of nature, a true free spirit..

[windgat9]

Come on guys. He was a one trick pony. One song where you could actually hear the words and recognise a tune (May you Never). The rest all incomprehensible mumbling and self indlugent melodic wandering in the wildeness. The fact the he hugged you on stage or you knew his sisters thrid cousin does not change this,

[alexmortland]

@windgat9 I comprehend Mr Martyn's "mumbling" just fine, I love his "melodic wandering", and I don't get the "self indulgent" part at ALL. It's HIS art, goddammit. Who else is he supposed to "indulge"? You? He's failed, apparently.... somebody should've done a better job of reminding him about his responsibilities, I guess.

[alexmortland]

@windgat9 Anyway, I gather you're not a huge John Martyn fan. It's OK.... I'm not a huge Eric Clapton fan. You'd do well to back off on that "obnoxious self-important Internet guy" habit of presenting your opinions as fact, though.

[windgat9]

@alexmortland Yeah I guess you are right, Alex. Anybody who presents a critical opinion in a fan site is like a Jew going into a Catholic Chuch and claiming that Christ did not exist,. Horror, shock, rejection, disbelief...! Anyway, thank you for not calling me a toolsack or an imbecile like some of the other John Martyn fanboys did in defence of their hero.

[alexmortland]

@windgat9 Ah, it ain't THAT big a deal, and I can sorta see where you're coming from... if somebody'd only been exposed to John via "May You Never" (or most of his pre-Solid Air material), they'd probably get the impression that this fella was some sort of FOLK singer & possibly be thrown off by the discovery that he was actually more of a jazzy experimental dude (who later pussed out with some airbrushed AOR crap in the 80s/90s, but that's what happens when you hang out with Phil Collins!).

[eihwazone]

one day without you, i have a hole rite where my heart should be

one day without you an i feel jus how cold my life could be....you

know i'd like to keep you to myself...keep by my side.....my tim....

[windgat9]

problem is that he wrote one great tune, - May you Never, - and all the rest are incomprehensible quasi experimental stuff. Most of them indistinguishable frrom each other,.

[TheGuitarManEIRE]

@windgat9

are you serious mate? You'd really want to open your ears before you come out with a stupid statment like like.

[windgat9]

@TheGuitarManEIRE

Taling about opening ears,what's with John Martyn's speaking voice? In his 20's it's a working class London accent; few years later it's thick, thick, Scottish. Bit artificial and affected, donlt you think? Not the sign of a man who is being true to himself.

[TheGuitarManEIRE]

@windgat9

Who cares? I certainly don't. This was because he spent a lot of time in both places. He might have put on the accent just so people in London could understand him more easily. All his music is fantastic; stuff before solid air and after. If you can't hear the beauty in his music I'm sure you must be deaf.

[kenif]

@TheGuitarManEIRE

I knew John when he lived in Hampstead with Beverly. His Southern accent was a necessity for him to be understood. After a few pints he reverted to unintelligible Glasgie. Back then you had to speak in Southern RP to get anywhere, there were no regional accents on the beeb like today.

[Furtheronmusic]

@TheGuitarManEIRE - Yep I believe both were genuine as he spent his childhood split between the two places. I know members of his family and they say he would flip back and forth with them.... great great man with the greatest voice... sadly missed

[kenif]

@windgat9

I knew John when he lived in Hampstead with Beverly. His Southern accent was a necessity for him to be understood. After a few pints he reverted to unintelligible Glasgie. Back then you had to speak in Southern RP to get anywhere, there were no regional accents on the beeb like today.

[panzermort]

@windgat9 he spent his childhood alternating between England and Scotland. Much of this was spent in the care of his grandmother. His strongest ties were in Glasgow, and he attended Shawlands Academy there.[1]

[ajack2boys]

@windgat9

Why would you care about this?

Bruce Springsteen doesn't sing or speak like anyone from New Jersey that I have ever heard, nor does Bob Dylan sound like someone from Minnesota.

Affectation or otherwise, the persona and "voice" an artist adapts to communicate with an audience is an aesthetic choice to which you respond or don't, and not one from which one can conclude whether one is "true" to oneself.

[iheartscientology]

@windgat9 I don't think you understand that his accent is very raw, easily adaptable. it wasn't a London accent, He was from Hastings. True to himself? who is. He was, extrmely proud of his heritage, easily backed up by HIS song 'over the hill' which was a hit when I was a youngster. The song was about the west hill in hastings where he lived. all of his songs are personal to him. so go fuck yourself

[drummiedan]

@windgat9 you idiot.

[Nellynoodlebums]

@windgat9 you sound bitter

[boo66]

@windgat9 I'd noticed that over the years. Quite the chameleon our Iain! Goes with singing love and peace but being an occasional violent cunt too.

Never mind that though.. Just listen!!!

[joolspirog]

@boo66 and I guess you are an Angel mate. We ALL, have our Demons and dark side.

[creamslut]

@windgat9 lol. you sir, are a goon. this man's work is amazing, the album grace and danger is one of the best albums ever written. go listen to some of his stuff before you start mouthing off. quasi experimental.. what does that even fucking mean? tool sack.

[camilledenis21]

@windgat9 you're stupid

[bobertthebadger]

@windgat9 what the fuck're you on about you ridiculous man!?

[delviz]

@windgat9 i wouldn't even bother normally to reply to a comment like this ....... but you've missed out lad .......... which is sadly your loss . this man was one of the greatest songwriters that i've ever heard ...... i hugged him once on stage in finsbury park .... he kept dropping his guitar cause he was lagging so i picked it up for him ....... i asked him to play" make no mistake " he never did.........

that was john through and through ......

[delviz]

@windgat9 @windgat9 i wouldn't even bother normally to reply to a comment like this ....... but you've missed out lad .......... which is sadly your loss . this man was one of the greatest songwriters that i've ever heard ...... i hugged him once on stage in finsbury park .... he kept dropping his guitar cause he was lagging so i picked it up for him ....... i asked him to play" make no mistake " he never did.........

that was john through and through ......

[Branton48]

@delviz Hay man i like you.Awe the best.Big john fan myself.Don't let these baw bags bother you.The cunts must be deaf..

[purplejash]

@windgat9 you're talking tosh mate...one of the greatest song writers and performers ..a brilliant man, my hero and much missed!

[GreatBonFire]

@windgat9 It's just you who have some indistinguishable mush between your ears!

[111chazz]

@windgat9

You must be made of stone or just an imbecile. If you can't appreciate his voice, guitar style and lyrics you must be tone deaf or just plain stoopid. I feel sorry for you that you cannot merge with John's music. You must be lacking a vital spark in your make up that connect to your emotions. I have seen John 3 times in small venues and he makes the audience feel they are one big family. I suggest you re-listen to his songs but this time, PAY ATTENTION!!!

[muckwrangler79]

@windgat9 nob

[smokintoe72]

@windgat9 talkin shite there ?

[rooduck]

@windgat9 please listen to hurt in your heart and if you still think your comments stand true then you sir are as big a arse as most of us think you are.

[9ihsanp9]

@windgat9 The problem is you have listened to only one great tune. Here are some more really great tunes: Over The Hill, Solid Air, Bless The Weather, Sweet Little Mystery, You Can Discover and his heartfelt rendition of Spencer The Rover to name but a few. I don't usually reply to comments like yours but jesus man you gotta respect a great musician when you come across one.

[7777brando]

@windgat9 Artists like U2, Ray Lamontagne and Portishead, to name only a few, wouldn't think so!!!!

[spudigy]

@windgat9 You're obviously a bed-wetter... Quit masterbating into you're moms underware and p1ss off while doing it....... 

[panzermort]

@windgat9 are you taking the piss, he wrote hundreds of good tunes "may you never" actually a lot of people dislike, what about "certain surprise" "over the hill" "my baby girl" "one world" "john wayne" ha the list is quite long?

[scoorieboy]

Outstanding in every way.

[mARCarchitectureaz]

saw him sing this at Cellar Door, Georgetown, DC in '77, with my beautiful, soon to be ex-wife Joan. guess i hoped it would make a difference? we stayed for two shows, small table right up front. he came out with a shout "How the fuck are ya DC?" and was promptly handed a brandy alexander and washed it down with a Molsen. we 'found' his music right after Solid Air in early 70's in AZ. Met him20 years later at club in Scottsdale. My ex drives a Mini now, seems to be happy. Be well Joan.

[grippin762]

God speed, lad.

[piptaylor99]

Thank you for posting. This is John at his best. What a surprise to see this concert on video, my girlfriend and I are sitting in the audience at the front! The Stranglers got dropped by the BBC. JM was drafted at short notice. His A&R tipped us off. I took a bottle of red wine for John to say thanks and bought him a rum and blackcurrent in the SU Bar afterwards he was nice to us. The Musicman amp was a gift from Eric Clapton through a quad PA. The Echoplex and voice was magical. RIP John.

[suzeworld]

lovely post piptaylor -- I went to school with (one of) his sister's in law, she got me into his music .. still love it thirty years later!

[piptaylor99]

Thank you for your kind comment. In fact I was quite nervous meeting him and ever since I have wished I had asked him more "player" type questions. He was very gracious and pquite rightly pleased with his performance. This was the start of my echoplex and JM obsession! As a matter of interest what was the sister in laws name, if you done mind me asking.?

Kind regards

[suzeworld]

Rebecca .. we were at school together in coventry in the mid 70s ... she was a stunning looking as her sisters!

[larkrise59]

Dear Jabba,

Berkeley hunt is, indeed, rhyming slang for, ahem, 'cunt' and the National Front were a British fascist load of idiots who attracted much loathing at the time of this gig.

I think it's a joke rather than a relationship remark.

[hammerhorrorsmith]

anyone know what the barclay hunt is a reference to? im sure its something naughty

[jabba17]

the barclay hunt / national front is rhyming slang for cunt if you'll pardon my french. meaning his GF at the time who was obviously doing his nut in

[hammerhorrorsmith]

no point wondering about it its natural. i love you john

[vvoodee]

I think his secret was he sang very quietly which uses less breath and gives you more staying power.

[brows08]

convinced john had lungs twice the size of the rest of us, any time i sing his songs im left breathless halfway through a line! maybe im just a shit singer but john was a spectacular one for sure

[vvoodee]

This is one of his tunes that was so much better live, the studio versions off Sundays child don't have the bounce do they?

Was he bitter (read below) don't think so just foul mouthed. He's singin the berkley a love song innee?

Thanks YouTube and the people that post these. If it weren't for you this stuff would just be a distant memory.

[vvoodee]

The lyric is phenomenal.

Thanks for putting this up.

[gerardmanleyh]

One year without you - it's been difficult.

[piptaylor99]

Well said, very sad year all round.

[boocoodinkydau]

@gerardmanleyh Right!

[purplejash]

@gerardmanleyh ...my hero, his music has been the soundtrack to my life, so very much missed :-(

[dmolaro]

Does anybody know what's the tuning on this one?

[TheOuttakeman]

Surprisingly, standard tuning..

[mart3442]

Its the same as standard guitar tuning (EADGBE), but he sometimes dropped it all a tone or more.

[mazrio128]

Awesome. That is all. Thank you John.

[theschumanity]

Wow. Since I'm American I had no idea what the "front"/"hunt" bit was about. Amazing how bitter he was. It adds a lot of weight to the song. I saw him in November 08 in New York City. It was his last ever show in the Americas.

RIP John

[skensgirl]

R.I.P.John.......x

[elixirix]

wow

[tarkstar99]

What did he mean about dedicating to the national front?

[bobertthebadger]

barclay hunt and national front are rhyming slang for the word.. 'cunt' meaning his wife at the time. hope you're not offended..

[batsoup]

Oh nostalgia - for the days when we were younger and wiser.

Love this.  Thanks for sharing.

[Growyerown]

"here comes the feeling i might find somebody else" - THAT is a line!!

[LiteGauge]

@Growyerown Yes, but it's yours not John's ;o) "here comes the fear you might find somebody else."

[smithartois]

spot on.........cheers..x

[rmh2k6]

there is not a sole on this earth that can touch him

RIP john

[sammyoneboy]

Aaaaargh.......sublime

[freshinit]

this song basically sums up my life. What a man. better than a bad man. he is so tender. like men. we are foolish things. give us a break. we will love you for it. And also he is totally on form in this. i had the big pleasure of seeing him just before he died. he was still doing it broad!

all love goes to this chap amoung men

very few will follow

[mertz123]

vocally, and guitar wise

this is an absolutely INCREDIBLE performance.

"one day without you, i feel a hole right where my heart should be". wow

[dimefan88]

What a song

I bet there are many more who will miss him like I do

R.I.P Big man

[PretzelLogic]

six months without him, now I know how sad my life can be.

[BIGMUFF100]

Cant get enough of this track, love it, what an emotional master. R.I.P.

[JesseMathews]

Thanks so much for this rare video ! :D.

he was a legend, RIP dear ol chap...

Cheers,

Jesse.

[iainmcgeachy]

Thanks very much for this-is there a DVD of this concert at Reading Uni? -The BBC version must be a shortened version of the concert me thinks.

The old bugger -bloody great eh?

[TheGuitarManEIRE]

I'm not too sure really. I found this on the internet while looking for a live version of could'nt love you more that was on BBC4 in March, also on rock goes to college. This clip is part of a bigger clip called Rock Goes to College - Reading University - BBC. I know that theres a good few DVDs of concerts on Amazon.

He's definatly one of the greats of last century.

[robcastellani]

@iainmcgeachy

You can get this on DVD now - 'John Martyn - At The BBC'.

[spongyplunger]

@iainmcgeachy  theres a dvd on amazon, double disc i think loads of gigs all bbc. this is on it. got the whistle test gig on too. its sic. worth gettin

[Foomphei]

@iainmcgeachy There is a DVD called John Martyn at the BBC. It has this, rock goes to school and some old grey whistle test concerts plus a couple of others. Defineately worth it. It was gifted to me by the man that put me on to this God of Guitar and Voice. Eternally in your debt Mr McD.