Sunday, August 14, 2011

John Martyn tribute update

Update: Robert's track is now available at Amazon UK & iTunes UK for £0.79. Unfortunately, it looks like Amazon US is making it an "Album Only" track, but you can get it from iTunes US for $0.99.


Set includes 2 CDs, a DVD (no Robert interview or performance), and a 40 page booklet (see Robert's page here). (Thanks Chris)

Robert Smith - Small Hours (BBC 6 Music) by CoF (Thanks Aaron)
If you like the track, please buy it, or the album, when it's released on Aug. 15th/16th. Pre-order links - HMV and Amazon US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Japan.

“I first heard ‘Small Hours’ on the John Peel Show late in 1977 and fell instantly in love with it... ‘One World' very quickly became my favourite John Martyn album... And these beautiful songs were, are and always will be an inspiration and an enchantment.” - Robert Smith (from the press release)

Reviews: The Telegraph, The Morton Report, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, Huffington Post, Direct Current, RTE

Original story: Both NME and Timber & Steel have news on the John Martyn tribute CD, which includes Robert's cover of 'Small Hours'. The CD has been rescheduled for release on Aug. 15th in the UK and Aug. 16th in North America. Previous story here. (Thanks Lovecat)

53 comments:

  1. Off topic, what is Black Tide, and why is it here?

    http://www.thecure.com/events/

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  2. Just ads for that band. Universal has been doing that for a while now, with various ads for things like that.

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  3. Yes. Double CD, DVD, and a book.

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  4. that cover is realy nice...probably the best non cure thing he's done

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  5. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012bw0v/Lauren_Laverne_05_07_2011/

    You can listen the song here at 2:50:16
    Excellent!

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  6. Yes, that's what I said in the post. : )

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  7. Keith: I think I'm going to have to agree with that. It's a beautiful song to begin with, and Robert just does a fantastic job with his cover version.

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  8. They could easily replace Plainsong and UTS with this as a show opener and I don't think anyone would mind too much.

    It's a good cover, about as good as one could hope for. As good as the original? No? Close? Yes.

    I also think this is the best Robert has sang in a very long time. I give it a solid 10/10. Can you imagine a new Cure album that sounds as good as this?

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  9. I was waiting for this for ages. The original is amazing and this is brilliant too!

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  10. *cries* Thanks Craig. This is beautiful!

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  11. What a gorgeous song, I love the Robert touches like the surging ocean waves and Plainsong-like chimes - and the Curey guitar sound too!! He sounds amazing here.

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  12. Wow - just beautiful. I'm on my 3rd listen already, loving it!!!

    Have to agree that this is EASILY the best thing RS has done outside the Cure (and maybe it points towards what that long talked about RS solo album would sound like...)

    Recalls the spacious feel of the Cure's strongest material too, which is never a bad thing in my opinion.

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  13. i love this! i'm not familiar with john martyn at all, but i did listen to the original before this came out, so i've been anticipating this release.

    robert does not "oversing" as i find he does on a lot of recent tracks. he is relaxing his voice more, singing softly, and i really think that's more appealing. i like this track a lot.

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  14. @theseashallnothavethem i agree. i hope THIS is what a solo album would sound like.

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  15. just made a quick video for it, here it is, what a great track, I hope this is what a solo album would sound like
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ySA8TqExU

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  16. "oversing" - that's exactly what i've been trying to put my finger on for the last few years/albums

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  17. I love it!!! and its good for jogging as well (working out for bestival-dancing)

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  18. a sensational cover and as others have mentioned robert's voice is in fine form.

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  20. VEry...Very Good Cover from Robert.....very Cure-ish & very "Wish - The cure" sound period!!

    PS>Graig....do u hear some rumours or whispers about a new The cure album or studio projets ?

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  21. beautiful.

    sounds like Bloodflowers era to me.

    Robert plays the most beautiful guitar - it really shines in this song!

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  22. a review

    http://www.rte.ie/ten/2011/0706/martynj.html

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  23. Thanks, ml68. Here's the bit about Robert's cover:

    "The Cure's Robert Smith adeptly handles one of the most difficult-to-get-right pieces on the record, Small Hours. Although, Smith's version is busier and more complex than Martyn's, it takes the necessary risk and finds a new brightness, a new effulgence, a new power in the song. Smith first heard Small Hours on The John Peel Show in 1977 and One World, the album from which it is taken, happens to be his favourite."

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  24. This is Robert at his romantic spell-casting best. From only one play, the song captures the heart and soul like only a masterpiece can. It is an enchanting version of an enchanting song. I think the great John Martyn would be very, very happy with this cover.

    How it makes one yearn for more original Cure songs. The band's output has arguably been prodigious, but they still sound a very long way from being a band ready to retire or just repeat the past.

    Perhaps Craig's reticence to answer questions concerning the band's future is a good sign? Unless corrected, I shall take it as such.

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  25. wow i love you Robert Smith what a beautiful tribute to John Martyn

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  26. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS!!!!

    THANKS ROBERT!!!!

    PLEASE MORE, MORE, MORE!!!! ;0)

    soon please...

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  27. stupid download limit exceeded with Soundcloud...will someone email me the song to mikec@axisrecapital.com

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  28. Mike: If you go to the Soundcloud page, you'll see that I added a new download link for it - http://bit.ly/oaXTLF.

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  29. I just want a new album with such production/guitars & vocals from Robert, i want to forget the 2 last albums from The cure for the opposite reasons (Awfull production & vocals & bad melodies )

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  30. the dvd contains some footage with robert?

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  31. Possibly. Haven't seen the tracklist for the DVD yet. It is said to include interviews with some of the artists, and footage of them recording their covers.

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  32. I don't normally get so excited, but this song just blew my mind! It's awesome! Simply, honestly: wow. I'm going to listen to the original right now to try to understand whose is the magic, Robert's or John's :-)

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  33. every morning I wake up and want to hear this track again...that hasn't happened for a long time with any cure/rs related stuff! very very nice...

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  34. Is it just me or does the sound towards the beginning sound like Rogers work with the Moog?

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  35. Wow, this is the first thing that Robert has done since Bloodflowers that gives me goosebumps. (That's 11 years of ho-hum output.) This is such a return to form. Bravo, Robert! See? There's no need to 'oversing'. Your voice is still beautiful.

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  36. It's so beautiful. I constantly listen to it. Thank you Aaron and Craig for recording/posting. Definitely will purchase when it comes out.

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  37. the version from the cd i think its a different mix from the bbc radio? someone listen in details?

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  38. I bought the set yesterday and I must admit it is truly fantastic. Highly recommended.

    Unlike most cover albums, the artists on this set have a profound respect for John's work and legacy. No one is trying to 'make the song their own' or whatever the buzzwords are that are usually attached to such compilations. Each track is a wonderful as the last and crafted with love and respect.

    I know many of you are just interested in downloading Robert's track, but I'll fully recommend purchasing the complete set. Despite it being composed entirely of covers it's a great starting point into John's music. Use Robert's track as an excuse to treat yourself to some great listening.

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  39. Just bought the track, by itself, on itunes US. No album purchase necessary!

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