Universal Music are pressing an exclusive 7-inch vinyl single release for Record Store Day 2014!

Packaged in its own picture sleeve the A-side is the very rare and highly collectable band version of John’s much loved song May You Never, originally released as a single in November 1971 (see discography entry) and on the B-side there is an alternate take of May You Never that features ex-Free guitarist Paul Kossoff on guitar, previously unavailable on vinyl!

The single will be available exclusively from participating stores on Saturday 19th April 2014.

Well Kept Secret is to be re-released by Cherry Red Records in remastered and expanded form with two bonus songs and enhanced artwork.

Available to pre-order now and here is the full tracklisting is-

1. Could’ve Been Me (J. Martyn)
2. You Might Need A Man (J. Martyn)
3. Hung Up (J. Martyn)
4. Gun Money (J. Martyn)
5. Never Let Me Go (Joe Scott)
6. Love Up (J. Martyn)
7. Changes Her Mind (J. Martyn)
8. Hiss On The Tape (J. Martyn)

Luka Bloom’s new album includes a cover of John’s song Head And Heart taken from his 1971 album Bless The Weather.

Luka, “The making of Head and Heart was as good a time as I’ve ever had in a studio. Some of the songs were recorded at home; some in Brian Masterson’s home. But six of them were recorded in Wicklow with The Phil Ware trio, featuring Phil Ware on piano, Dave Redmond on double Bass and Kevin Brady on drums.”

Siobhan Long of The Irish Times reviews the album, “Luka Bloom is mining the space between the notes with increasing precision. In Head & Heart he continues the exploration, in

Beverley and her band will be playing Bush Hall, London on 29th April 2014, to coincide with the release of her new album The Phoenix and the Turtle. The album is available to pre-order here.

Tickets for the gig are priced at £15.00 in advance. Box Office: 020 8222 6955. Further information on Beverley’s Facebook event page here or the Bush Hall venue website here.

New old NME interview from 1975.

Meet the man they call The Bitterest Beard in Britain.
Yes, JOHN MARTYN is uptight. About almost everything. As usual. Or maybe it’s just his way. ROD McSHANE endures the onslaught.

EVEN THOUGH John Martyn will be taking a year off from gigging in Britain after his current tour ends this month, there won’t be any accusations of short-changing from the man’s considerable British following. He’s currently on his third tour of the year, and apart from that there’ve been numerous dates in Europe (including the Montreaux Jazz Festival), and the anti-climactic ‘end of the Rainbow’ gig.

Avid John fan Michael Rome was in no doubt what to call his superb new yacht!

“The “e” on the end of the name is my and John’s Leeds connection. I was born and bred in Leeds, “Live at Leeds” and the river Aire!!” Says Mike.

Solid Aire is moored in Plymouth but regularly visits Brixham and other South coast ports, so keep an eye open if you are in the area, who knows you may be invited aboard!

Beverley Martyn’s new album The Phoenix and the Turtle is due for release on 22 April 2014 on both CD and vinyl.

Here is the tracklisting-

1. Reckless Jane
2. Potter’s Blues
3. Going To Germany
4. Sweet Joy
5. Nighttime
6. Levee Breaks
7. Women & Malt Whisky
8. Mountain Hop
9. Jesse James

Described by Beverley as a very personal album, it features songs written throughout her entire career, from her very first song, Sweet Joy, to the previously unrecorded Nick Drake and Beverley Martyn song Reckless Jane which was started in 1974 when Nick Drake lived near to John and Beverley in Hampstead. “We started writing the song as a bit of a joke,” she says, “I couldn’t look at it for a long time after he died, but then finally I decided to finish it.”