![](http://web.archive.org./web/20101015092119im_/http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kHbVgXs6F24/SedUk_rz2kI/AAAAAAAAAzY/u0513QHeczE/s400/VImage000.bmp)
The performance at London's Collegiate Theatre captured him at his peak; hot and full of enthusiasm for his new songs, his performance was truly remarkable, and the tracks reproduced from One World are outstanding.
The ethereal 'Small Hours', a song described by Chris Blackwell, head of Island Records, as one of the greatest pieces of music ever recorded, is superbly executed; but the real stand out track is an energetic and gutsy rendition of 'Big Muff', revealing a remarkable picking ability and a masterful control of the non-user friendly echoplex.
John Martyn didn't need a band to support him, although he liked to play with one, allowing him, as he stated, 'to change the textures; create different moods'.
But essentially he could it all by himself, as this quirky performance proved.
John Martyn - Live at Collegiate Theatre, London, January 10th, 1978
May You Never
Small Hours
Certain Surprise
Couldn't Love You More
Big Muff
Audio rip from DVD @320kbs here
This performance has now been released on DVD by the BBC, so if this whets your wotsit...