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JOHN & BEVERLEY MARTYN: THE ROAD TO RUIN

John Martyn

Prog Folk


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John Martyn John & Beverley Martyn: The Road to Ruin album cover
3.29 | 18 ratings | 3 reviews | 0% 5 stars

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Studio Album, released in 1970

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Primrose Hill (2:58)
2. Parcels (3:29)
3. Auntie Aviator (6:04)
4. New Day (3:59)
5. Give Us a Ring (3:54)
6. Sorry to Be So Long (4:44)
7. Tree Green (3:11)
8. Say What You Can (3:06)
9. Road to Ruin (6:22)

Total Time 37:47

Bonus track on 2005 CD remaster:
10. Here I Am (4:28)

Line-up / Musicians

- John Martyn (Iain David McGeachy) / vocals, guitars, harp, arrangements
- Beverley Martyn (Kutner) / vocals

With:
- Paul Harris / piano, arrangements
- Ray Warleigh / saxophone (1)
- Dudu Pukwana / saxophone (6,8,9)
- Lyn Dobson / flute (4), saxophone (8)
- Dave Pegg / bass (5,8)
- Alan Spenner / bass (1,6,9)
- Danny Thompson / double bass (4)
- Wells Kelly / drums, bass (3)
- Mike Kowalski / drums (3)
- Rocky Dzidzornu / congas
- Tony Cox / arrangements (8)

Releases information

Artwork: Nigel Waymouth from "Une Semaine De Bonté" engraving by Max Ernst

LP Island Records ‎- ILPS9133 (1970, UK)

CD Island Remasters ‎- IMCD 165 (1993, Europe)
CD Island Remasters ‎- IMCD 3178 (2005, Europe) Remastered by Paschal Byrne with a bonus track from 1970, previously unreleased

Thanks to Adams Bolero for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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JOHN MARTYN John & Beverley Martyn: The Road to Ruin ratings distribution


3.29
(18 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(0%)
0%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(44%)
44%
Good, but non-essential (50%)
50%
Collectors/fans only (6%)
6%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

JOHN MARTYN John & Beverley Martyn: The Road to Ruin reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Sean Trane
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Prog Folk
3 stars Second and last album with wife Beverley née Kutner, Road To Ruin is also counted as the fourth album in Martyn's "solo" career, even if it might overlook a tad Bev's contributions on these two albums. The couple was still living in the Woodstock area and more on TRTR than on Stormbringer, this shows and influences the sound. Coming with a 19th century artwork, Road To Ruin is the logical continuity of Stormbringer, but brings the duo too often on country grounds instead of remaining folk. It should be noted that it was John who resisted the solo trail and insisted on making this second album, despite having much praise. He probably regretted his decision during the recording in late spring 70, as it was obvious that Joe Boyd and him did not see eye to eye on production value.

Opening on Primrose Hill, a short commercial Beverley-sung (and written by) track that also present a rare sax and Harris's ever present piano, we're into fully electrified folk rock, while Parcels is a sweeter more acoustic folk track sung and written by John, thus giving two different tones. Both of these tones will meet on the superb 6-mins Auntie Aviator where Beverley's voice and Harris' piano draws chills in our spines, but this is nothing compared to John's incredible aerial electric guitar solo and a certain amount of sustain note, enhanced by his Echoplex pedal effect. The flute-laden (by ex soft Machine Lynn Dobson) New Day follows, the first to feature also the double-bass king Danny Thompson. Although a cover, Give Us A Ring (intended at nick drake apparently) is more aligned with Bev's style (a tad more country-ish), but it's John singing.

The flipside is fairly different, much harder rocking (all things relative of course) with the downright country-ish Sorry To Be So Long, complete with sax, jew's harp. The same can be said of Say What You can, and it's no surprise these tracks were co-written and represent more Bev's side of things. While John's Tree Green comes back to his LC days, it's also filled with slide guitar. The 6-mins+ title track closes the album is an almost-normal Martyn fashion, with him almost solo for the first two minutes, before bongos and piano pick up and again a sax (actually two here) as the track takes on a Traffic feel and give a bit of Live At Leeds jamming-feel.

The remastered version comes with added live picture of the couple, some cool liner notes and one bonus track, Here I Am, which fits relatively bad with the album as it's the hardest rocking track of the album, even though it's from the end of the RTR recording session. While the logical continuation of Stormbringer, it's clear the Road To Ruin is digressing from Martyn's normal progression trail, yet it sufficiently influenced him in his career that even though not essential to his discography, it's still a solid foundation stone to Martyn's adventures.

Latest members reviews

4 stars This second LP credited to John & Beverley Martyn, "The Road To Ruin" from late 1970, is an intimate experience full of warm, inviting songs that are quite welcome on a cool night when you're in front of the fireplace with a smoke or drink, or both. Simple yet lush, the songs have sparse arrangemen ... (read more)

Report this review (#2688196) | Posted by SpecialKindOfHell | Monday, January 31, 2022 | Review Permanlink

3 stars The Road to Ruin was the second and last album released by husband and wife John and Beverley Martyn. It's a very interesting contrast to "Stormbringer" and a worthy companion. The first half of the album is especially strong, kicking off with "Primrose Hill", where its saxophone brings in a l ... (read more)

Report this review (#624465) | Posted by Frankie Flowers | Tuesday, January 31, 2012 | Review Permanlink

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