Beverley Martyn

 

Beverley Martyn

by Pete Clemons

Beverley Martyn

We can say with some surity that Beverley Martyn's life has been extensively covered in many places but here I am hoping to cover her more recent activities.

As recently as 2023 Beverly Martyn began to resurface once again. Releasing past interviews stories and anecdotes from her turbulent past. It felt like more music was possibly on the way too. But, sadly, it was not to be.

The comeback, after so many years, began with an album called 'No Frills' in 1998. With help from Art Garfunkel and fellow Dylan obsessive Wilko Johnson, Beverley began to write new songs and record some demos in the '90s, finally releasing an unaccompanied acoustic album after a very long silence.

The songs on 'No Frills' are intense. Beverley's voice was still expressive, the accompaniment sparse but competent. 'No Frills' was aptly titled.

Reviews for the album generally highlight its raw emotional honesty while occasionally noting its minimalist production. It was an album that Beverley was particularly proud of and called it a 'phoenix moment'.

A quite graphic book, Sweet Honesty' was released during January 2011. For years Beverley had kept quiet about the abusive relationship. But here, in those pages, she tells her story in her own words, taking us from her childhood in post-war Coventry through the making of classic albums 'Stormbringer!' and 'Road to Ruin' to the books release, where she survives as a woman beaten but not bowed.

Another head above water moment came during 2014. Aged 67, Beverley returned with an album titled 'The Phoenix and the Turtle' . This was only her second since 'Stormbringer!' and 'The Road to Ruin', the pair of classic folk-rock records she made in 1970 with her ex-husband, the late John Martyn.

'The Phoenix and the Turtle', recorded with former members of Los Lobos and Counting Crows, is an affirming testament to her survival instinct. 'It's been the best thing for a long time' she says. 'It's good to work, it's a great way of escaping your everyday troubles. I'm enjoying this time of my life. I just turned 67, I'm still here, and I think I know who I am now. This is what I do'.

Described by Beverley as a very personal album, 'The Phoenix and the Turtle', features songs written throughout her entire career, from her very first song, 'Sweet Joy', to the previously unrecorded Nick Drake & Beverley Martyn song 'Reckless Jane' which began life in 1974.

Several live performances followed. This included a gig in her native city of Coventry where she was accompanied by producer of 'The Phoenix and the Turtle' and guitarist Mark Pavey. Support for that evening was Cliff Hands.

A collection of live and home recordings, often featuring collaborations with John Renbourn titled 'The Attic Tapes' was released during 2015.

Finally, 'Where the Good Times Are' was released during 2018. This is a compilation and was released for Record Store Day in vinyl format. The album features early recordings from the 1960s, including her solo singles and previously unreleased tracks from her time with the Deram label.

50 years or so after their recording original tapes were unearthed and restored to create a representation of what could possibly have been Beverley's debut album. It is a remarkable record.