FOUNDATIONS, John Martyn. Island Records, through Festival.

JOHN Martyn fans will probably be disappointed with this album. Joe Cocker fans, however, might think it's great. A famous Irish [sic] folkie who now has an English accent seems to have sold his soul for concert commercialism. It's very sad.

This is a live album of old and new, recorded at the Town and Country Club in London. Instead of the Martyn of 10 years ago, whose magic voice was only backed by a steely guitar, this man has surrounded himself with instruments. There are keyboards, bass guitars, drums, percussion and a sax. The real music is crowded out.

And you wouldn't be a fool if you mistook the vocalist for a certain gravel-voiced Englishman. The tempo of most of these songs is even and safe. It just ain't like it used to be. But for what it is, this album has a few redeeming features.

One is Johnny Too Bad. It's the second-last track, and Martyn finally lets his voice go the way it wants to. It drags triumphantly over this folked-down, rocked-up, bluesy sort of number and the sax and bongos actually add something to it.

May You Never is another. This is an oldie but a sensitive goodie.

"May you never lay your head down without a hand to hold | May you never make your bed out in the cold | May you never lose your temper if you get in a bar-room fight, | May you never lose your lover overnight." The last line used to be 'lose your woman.' He's been liberated.

Mad Dog Days, dedicated off-the-cuff to Margaret Thatcher, is the other track worth a listen. Otherwise, for vintage Martyn, buy an earlier album. Not everything gets better with age.

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This review was published Sunday 19 June 1988 on page 14 of the Canberra Times. It was combined with The Lion And The Cobra by Sinéad O'Connor.