One World

About One World

One World is a 1977 album by John Martyn. One of his more experimental works, it features atmospheric, reggae influenced rhythms and free-flowing, jazzy arrangements. Acclaimed for its collaborative spirit, the album includes contributions from Lee Perry on "Big Muff", and Steve Winwood (keyboards). Contemporary reviews were positive, with the NME declaring the album "mean, moody and magnificent". The album is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery. When selecting Martyn as part of a "100 Great Voices" feature, Mojo chose the title track as an example of his talent. It was voted number 948 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums 3rd Edition (2000). The album is notable for parts of it having been recorded outdoors. In particular, "Small Hours" was recorded late at night in the English countryside. The sweeping soundscapes on the album are partly due to the consequential presence of ambient sounds (such as water from a nearby lake) and natural reverb. "Small Hours" was later reworked by Martyn into the track "Anna" as the haunting backdrop for Esben Storm's 1978 Australian film production of In Search of Anna. This version of "Anna" also appears on Martyn's live album Live At The Bottom Line, New York, 1983.  more »