JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
...it's the Battle of Danny Thompson's drinking buddies!!
Which of these baby-faced guitar geniuses emerging from the late-60s do you prefer?
or
Any reason(s) permissible, be it:
- Better guitar player
- Vocals
- Beverley vs Linda
- Most sublime high points
- Least low points
- Personality*
- etc
I'm far from an expert on either, so I'm looking forward to learning from your opinions here
*I know John'll get a lot of sympathy votes here, but try and be objective if you can
Which of these baby-faced guitar geniuses emerging from the late-60s do you prefer?
or
Any reason(s) permissible, be it:
- Better guitar player
- Vocals
- Beverley vs Linda
- Most sublime high points
- Least low points
- Personality*
- etc
I'm far from an expert on either, so I'm looking forward to learning from your opinions here
*I know John'll get a lot of sympathy votes here, but try and be objective if you can
Last edited by Stirling Moss on 19 Feb 2009, 21:04, edited 1 time in total.
Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
John Martyn for me. I just connect with his music in a deeper way. Thompson is immense, but Martyn's the winner here.
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
Makes it 50-50 now, Molony.
In the end and with some hesitation I went for Richard.
I like 'em both but listen to Richard far more.
In the end and with some hesitation I went for Richard.
I like 'em both but listen to Richard far more.
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
I've gone for John Martyn for his originality and that sublime thing you included on the list. I've only got a couple of his albums, but sometimes they are exactly what I feel like listening to. I rate him about equal with Roy Harper on the sort of avant guard folk scale, but John Martyn had the slight advantage of the voice.
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
Colin Hugh wrote:
- Better guitar player Thompson
- Beverley vs Linda Linda
- Most sublime high points Thompson
- Least low points Thompson
- Personality* Thompson
- etc Thompson- better songwriter, more entertaining performer, better sense of humor, was in a great band, lots of great session playing, more experimental...
On the other hand Martyn is a better singer. So, 900-1, roughly?
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
thompson's guitar work really excites me more than I can describe. his guitar is like his true voice. I think he's a remarkable talent.
Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
toomanyhatz wrote:Colin Hugh wrote:
- Better guitar player Thompson
- Beverley vs Linda Linda
- Most sublime high points Thompson
- Least low points Thompson
- Personality* Thompson
- etc Thompson- better songwriter, more entertaining performer, better sense of humor, was in a great band, lots of great session playing, more experimental...
On the other hand Martyn is a better singer. So, 900-1, roughly?
...like a class A fuckwit, I missed out vocals (now corrected - thank you).
Otherwise, some fighting talk there T - good on you
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
One of the reasons for picking Richard is lack of familiarity with John. I only have his Solid Air album and I do like it a lot, but I've got about thirty Thompson albums including boots. Being a guitarist, Richard's playing really speaks to me (acoustic and electric) in ways that few other guitarists do. I've seen Richard somewhere between 12 and 20 times and I never saw John Martyn perform which probably increases my chances for picking Richard as well. I've really enjoyed watching RT's voice improve over the years. His guitar playing is superb but he hasn't always had a good voice until the last ten years or so. It seems richer and deeper than I remember in the early 80s. It's either age being kind to him or he's been taking lessons.
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
Molony wrote:John Martyn for me. I just connect with his music in a deeper way. Thompson is immense, but Martyn's the winner here.
I agree.I suspect that Thompson is a better guitar player, but Martyn is more natural, and is far more interesting for me.
I was just thinking today that Martyn is probably my favourite guitar player.
Bless the weather.......
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
andymacandy wrote:Molony wrote:John Martyn for me. I just connect with his music in a deeper way. Thompson is immense, but Martyn's the winner here.
I agree.I suspect that Thompson is a better guitar player, but Martyn is more natural, and is far more interesting for me.
I was just thinking today that Martyn is probably my favourite guitar player.
This proves my lack of knowledge about John Martyn. I think of him as a singer/songwriter and not a guitarist.
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
The music must speak for itself - personality etc are immaterial.
I am very familiar with both
Both have made excellent albums with their other halves although Linda has a better voice than Bev.
Both John and Richard are great guiatrists, singers and songwriters.
Richard has the better voice and probably the edge with the guitar.
Both have solo albums that mean so much to me.
Martyn's Grace & Danger is phenomenal to mention one.
Thompson's Across A Crowded Room almost matches it.
Who's albums have I played most over the years?
Thompson's
As my dear perceptive friend Yves says it's 50/50
Who played with Koss...?
Martyn
Who played with Swarb...?
Thompson
Now a discussion re: preference between Koss and Swarb might be more interesting...
So my decision. If push came to shove.
Erm..............
.
I am very familiar with both
Both have made excellent albums with their other halves although Linda has a better voice than Bev.
Both John and Richard are great guiatrists, singers and songwriters.
Richard has the better voice and probably the edge with the guitar.
Both have solo albums that mean so much to me.
Martyn's Grace & Danger is phenomenal to mention one.
Thompson's Across A Crowded Room almost matches it.
Who's albums have I played most over the years?
Thompson's
As my dear perceptive friend Yves says it's 50/50
Who played with Koss...?
Martyn
Who played with Swarb...?
Thompson
Now a discussion re: preference between Koss and Swarb might be more interesting...
So my decision. If push came to shove.
Erm..............
.
Last edited by C on 19 Feb 2009, 21:24, edited 2 times in total.
mudshark wrote:Where is he anyway, that very soft lad?
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
Six String wrote:andymacandy wrote:Molony wrote:John Martyn for me. I just connect with his music in a deeper way. Thompson is immense, but Martyn's the winner here.
I agree.I suspect that Thompson is a better guitar player, but Martyn is more natural, and is far more interesting for me.
I was just thinking today that Martyn is probably my favourite guitar player.
This proves my lack of knowledge about John Martyn. I think of him as a singer/songwriter and not a guitarist.
Well, its an academic distinction really.
He is a singer/songwriter, but to see him live , he has an incredible, intuitive ability with the guitar.Fluid and melodic in all kinds of tunings, with or without effects, complex or simple
Was, and had, of course...............
Bless the weather.......
Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
C wrote:The music must speak for itself - personality etc are immaterial.
Disagree, C - I mean, what is rock n roll without the mythology and the lurid tales?
You can't just write them off entirely
...can you?
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
Impossible choice. Very different but equally brilliant and innovative. Thompson has the wider canvas, but that's no reason to place him above Martyn. I prefer(ed) Martyn live solo. etc
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
Thompson is someone I feel I should like more than I do. Martyn, on the other hand, I loved the moment I first heard him. I just seem to connect with Martyn's music so much more.
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
Thompson of course.
But its a good question, not the least in that they are both deserve better recognition then they have got.
Alas although I have seen Martyn live, I never saw him at the hight of his powers, unlike Saint Richard.
In the end, Martyn was living off past glories IMO, whereas Thompson is still moving forward.
But its a good question, not the least in that they are both deserve better recognition then they have got.
Alas although I have seen Martyn live, I never saw him at the hight of his powers, unlike Saint Richard.
In the end, Martyn was living off past glories IMO, whereas Thompson is still moving forward.
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Re: JOHN MARTYN vs RICHARD THOMPSON
John Martyn for me.
Ive found Richard Thompsons most recent stuff to be really boring. Its all brilliant, of course, but it also pretty much sounds the same. I love Out on the Cobbles and Glasgow Walker and they are different from both his early stuff and each other.
Mind you last time I saw RT live ( solo ), my wife was so moved she cried the whole way through the gig. Last time I saw Martyn ( Glasgow 06ish ) he was improvising the lyrics like crazy and I thought he was sensational.
Back catalogues about the same, maybe RT has an advantage there, but Martyn had soul, which is something you never accuse RT of....
Close call.
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Ive found Richard Thompsons most recent stuff to be really boring. Its all brilliant, of course, but it also pretty much sounds the same. I love Out on the Cobbles and Glasgow Walker and they are different from both his early stuff and each other.
Mind you last time I saw RT live ( solo ), my wife was so moved she cried the whole way through the gig. Last time I saw Martyn ( Glasgow 06ish ) he was improvising the lyrics like crazy and I thought he was sensational.
Back catalogues about the same, maybe RT has an advantage there, but Martyn had soul, which is something you never accuse RT of....
Close call.
Joe Cobblers
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