On the Cobbles was the final studio album by John Martyn released during his lifetime (his last studio album, Heaven and Earth, was released posthumously), released in 2004. The album was recorded at various studios in Ireland, the UK and US including Woolengrange in Ireland; The Toolshed, Chicago USA; Doon The Cellar, Birkenhead; Swan Yard Studios, London; Parr Street Studios, Liverpool; Hornyold Road Studios, Worcestershire and at The Caliope Recorders, Chicago, USA. It features guest appearances from Paul Weller, Nick McCabe, and long-time collaborator Danny Thompson.
The album was dedicated to "the surgical team & nurses of Orthopaedic Ward One at Waterford Hospital, Waterford, Ireland."
Contents
Track listing
All tracks composed by John Martyn except where indicated.
"Baby Come Home" (Frankie Miller) – 3:28
"Under My Wing" – 4:10
"Ghosts" – 4:03
"Back to Marseilles" – 4:20
"Cobbles" – 3:52
"My Creator" – 7:17
"One for the Road" – 4:05
"Go Down Easy" – 4:57
"Walking Home" – 4:49
"Goodnight Irene" (Lead Belly, John Lomax) – 4:14
Personnel
John Martyn – vocals, acoustic guitar (1–5, 9), Mutron guitar (1, 3–5, 7), hi-string acoustic guitar (7), electric guitar (8, 9)
Scott Steiner – Hammond B3 organ (2)
Paul Weller – Wurlitzer electric piano (2), Hammond B3 organ (2), acoustic guitar (2), backing vocals (2)
Spencer Cozens – acoustic piano (6, 10), electric piano (9), organ (10)
John Scully – keyboards (6)
Chris Cameron – Rhodes electric piano (8)
John Rice – mandolin (1)
Nick McCabe – electric guitar (9)
Alan Thomson – bass (1, 2, 5, 9, 10), electric bass (6)
John Giblin – bass (3, 7), acoustic bass (4), electric bass (6)
Danny Thompson – acoustic bass (6)
Arran Ahmun – drums (2, 5, 6, 9, 10), percussion (5)
Greg Marsh – drums (3, 4, 8), percussion (6)
Paul Burn – drums (7)
Garry Pollitt – percussion (1), keyboards (5)
Jim Tullio – percussion (1–4, 6, 7, 9), acoustic guitar (2, 9, 10), keyboards (5), bass (7), acoustic bass (8)
Peter Erskine – congas (7)
Production
Jim Tullio – producer, engineer, mixing
Garry Politt – co-producer, engineer
Spencer Cozens – co-producer (10)
Scott Steiner – mixing, additional engineer
John Giblin – additional engineer
Joshua Shapera – additional engineer
Lonny "DJ 007" Bonds – assistant engineer
Mick Cave – assistant engineer
Jan Lowenhaupt – assistant engineer
Darren Simpson – assistant engineer
Andrea Wright – assistant engineer
Adam Ayan – mastering at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, USA)
Lawrence Watson – photography
Ritch Ames – sleeve design