Thank you for your considered, lengthy, and amusing reply Tomraff. I apologise for this long delay in mine.

I totally agree the ordering is a thankless task really, and somewhat arbitrary, apart from the top 3 or 4 that most would agree with, for John Martyn, and many other artists probably. Indeed my attitudes change and rereading my reviews here written four years ago I feel I was unfairly harsh on some of the later albums and remix albums (I've actually been listening to a lot of them this week actually after catching a covers band called The John Martyn Project who are excellent and touring the UK as I write).

I am near 60 and I do play guitar (how could you tell?!) albeit of the classical genre so have never been very good at acoustic or folk. I disagree that his songs are at all simple to play, although you do say the genius was in the right hand which I do agree on. I tried to learn May You Never but gave up. The songs are deceptively difficult and I've heard many great interpreters who nevertheless didn't quite get his unique phrasing and timing. I saw him live many times mostly in the latter part of his career and he rarely played acoustic - I wonder if even his exceptional prowess on the instrument had deserted him by then.

Thanks for the comments on Miles and Pharoah and Kenny. I agree he was channelling the former two throughout his career - Solid Air in particular a case in point.

Best Eddy