Personnel: John Martyn (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); John "Rabbit" Bundrick (electric piano, Clavinet, organ); Danny Thompson (double bass); Dave Mattacks (drums); Neemoi Acquaye (congas).

Liner Note Authors: John Hillarby; Daryl Easlea.

Photographer: Brian Cooke.

He began as a folksy minstrel but seemed drawn to experimental, free form improvisation. Solid Air is where John Martyn's love affair with effects and echoplex became serious. The title track, dedicated to his close friend Nick Drake, became a eulogy, while the breezy "Over The Hill"--one of the greatest songs ever written about a train journey--is a feathery delight. "May You Never" and "Don't Want To Know" continued the simple, stoned ballad approach, although it is his interpretation of Skip James' "I'd Rather Be The Devil," totally reshaped with hypnotic shifts, tidal echoes, and a slurred growl, which broods over the whole album. A record that remains Martyn's youthful zenith.