JOHN MARTYN – LONDON CONVERSATION LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 UK 1969 MONO

John Martyn – London Conversation
(Island Records  1969   ILP952  Rough Island Pink Bullseye Labels  Mono)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing

Front Laminated Sleeve in Nr MINT/Excellent+ condition
– couple of light marks on front – back cover has some ringwear & light rubbing and “17/11/70” written in pencil above island logo

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition
(there are a few light surface marks visible on the vinyl when held up to the light but they don’t affect the sound quality)

John Martyn, OBE (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009) (born Iain David McGeachy) was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40 year career he released 21 studio albums, working with artists such as Eric Clapton and David Gilmour. He has been described by The Times as “an electrifying guitarist and singer whose music blurred the boundaries between folk, jazz, rock and blues”.

London Conversation is the first album by John Martyn, released on Island Records in 1967. Largely self-penned, the album is much more folk oriented than his blues/jazz tinged later releases. Recording was completed by 9 August and the album was released when Martyn was 19 in October 1967. The album reputedly cost £158 to record. The cover photo was taken by Barry Wentzel on the roof of Island Records boss Chris Blackwell’s flat in Cromwell Road, London.

All tracks composed by John Martyn except where indicated.

Side one

1. “Fairy Tale Lullaby” – 2:50
2. “Sandy Grey” (Robin Frederick) – 2:25
3. “London Conversation” (Martyn, Jon Sundell) – 2:42
4. “Ballad of an Elder Woman” – 2:43
5. “Cocain” (Traditional; arranged by Martyn) – 2:59
6. “Run Honey Run” – 2:37

Side two

1. “Back to Stay” – 3:28
2. “Rolling Home” – 5:43
3. “Who’s Grown Up Now” – 4:01
4. “Golden Girl” – 2:34
5. “This Time” – 3:07
6. “Don’t Think Twice” (Bob Dylan) – 4:11

• John Martyn – vocals, guitar, sitar, harmonica