Background

The album was written and recorded while John Martyn was in the process of divorcing from his wife Beverley

Beverley Martyn

Beverley Martyn is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.While still a student, she was picked to front The Levee Breakers, a jug band who played the folk circuit in South East England...

 and the songs strongly reflect the emotional upheaval that he was experiencing at the time. Phil Collins

Phil Collins

Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....

 played drums and provided backing vocals. The release of the album was delayed by Island Records

Island Records

Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...

 for a year because Chris Blackwell

Chris Blackwell

Christopher Percy Gordon "Chris" Blackwell is a British record producer and businessman, who was the founder of Island Records, acknowledged as the most successful and groundbreaking independent record company in history. Blackwell has been a music industry mogul for over fifty years...

, the label owner (and friend of both John and Beverley) found the album too depressing. Producer Martin Levan said of the delay that "the messages I was getting back was that Chris [Blackwell] felt it was too sad and he didn't want to put it out. He felt it too depressing and didn't want it released." Speaking in 1981, Martyn captured his frustration at the situation, "I freaked: 'Please get it out! I don't give a damn how sad it makes you feel - It's what I'm about: direct communication of emotion."

When released, Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...

described the album as "a very strong outing for John Martyn, placing him in a class with such intelligent eclectics as Joan Armatrading and Joni Mitchell." Grace and Danger was released in a deluxe edition in February 2007, which featured the original album remastered, with a second CD of demos and offcuts. The BBC Scotland programme Scotland's Music, presented by Phil Cunningham

Phil Cunningham (folk musician)

Phil Cunningham, MBE, born 1960 in Edinburgh, Scotland is a Scottish folk musician and composer.-Biography:Phil played accordion and violin from a very young age. He attended school in Portobello, and was raised Mormon, attending church regularly and playing organ...

 included a performance of "Hurt In Your Heart" by Martyn during its November 2007 episode "Love & Loss".

The album cover was created by UK photographer/artist Sandy Porter.

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Martyn; except where indicated

1. "Some People Are Crazy" – 4:19
2. "Grace and Danger" – 4:02
3. "Lookin' On" – 5:11
4. "Johnny Too Bad" (Winston Bailey, Hylton Beckford, Sydney Crooks
   Sydney Crooks
   Sydney Crooks , also known as Sidney Crooks, Sidney George, Luddy Pioneer, and Luddy Crooks, is a Jamaican singer and record producer, and a member of The Pioneers since 1962.-Biography:Crooks was born in Westmoreland and after moving to Trench Town aged 17, entered the music business in...
   
   , Delroy Wilson
   Delroy Wilson
   Delroy Wilson was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer.-Biography:Wilson released his first single "Emy Lou" in 1961 for record producer, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, at the age of thirteen...
   
   ; additional lyrics "translated" by John Martyn) – 3:56
5. "Sweet Little Mystery" – 5:28
6. "Hurt In Your Heart" – 4:58
7. "Baby Please Come Home" – 3:56
8. "Save Some (For Me)" – 3:34
9. "Our Love" (John Martyn, Beverley Martyn
   Beverley Martyn
   Beverley Martyn is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist.While still a student, she was picked to front The Levee Breakers, a jug band who played the folk circuit in South East England...
   
   ) – 3:57

Deluxe Edition track listing

Disc 1

1. "Some People Are Crazy" – 4:19
2. "Grace and Danger" – 4:02
3. "Lookin' On" – 5:11
4. "Johnny Too Bad" – 3:56
5. "Sweet Little Mystery" – 5:28
6. "Hurt In Your Heart" – 4:58
7. "Baby Please Come Home" – 3:56
8. "Save Some (For Me)" – 3:34
9. "Our Love" – 3:57
10. "Sweet Little Mystery" (Old Grey Whistle Test
    Old Grey Whistle Test
    The Old Grey Whistle Test was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers...
    
    performance, 10/01/81) - 4:56
11. "Lookin' On" (Old Grey Whistle Test performance, 10/01/81) - 5:10
12. "Some People Are Crazy" (Rock Goes To College
    Rock goes to College
    Rock Goes To College was a BBC series that ran between 1978 and 1981 on British television. A variety of up-coming rock oriented bands were showcased live from small venues and broadcast simultaneously on television and radio during a 40-50 minute live performance.It was a follow-on to the...
    
    performance, 02/03/81) - 4:19
13. "Grace and Danger" (Rock Goes To College performance, 02/03/81) - 4:25
14. "Save Some (For Me)" (Rock Goes To College performance, 02/03/81) - 3:34

Disc 2

1. "Small Hat"
2. "Johnny Too Bad" (First version)
3. "Running Up The Harbour"
4. "Sweet Little Mystery" (First version)
5. "Dead On Arrival"
6. "Some People Are Crazy" (First version)
7. "Baby Please Come Home" (First version)
8. "Grace And Danger" (First version)
9. "Hurt In Your Heart" (Instrumental)
10. "After Tomorrow Night"
11. "Our Love" (First version)
12. "Lilo Blondino"
13. "Johnny Too Bad" (Dub mix)

Tracks 1-12 from CD2 recorded at Basing Street Studios, London, 29 March 1979. Tracks 4-6 were mixed there 4 June 1979. The rest 9 June 1979.

Personnel

• John Martyn - Guitar, vocals
• Tommy Eyre
  Tommy Eyre
  Tommy Eyre was a session keyboardist from Sheffield, England, who appeared on records by Joe Cocker, John Martyn, Alex Harvey, Greg Lake, Michael Schenker, Gary Moore, B.B. King, John Mayall, Tracy Chapman and Wham!...
  
   - Keyboards, Synthesisers
• John Giblin
  John Giblin
  John Giblin is an internationally renowned session bassist who has worked with the following artists:*Eric Clapton, Sting, Mark Knopfler, Phil Collins * Peter Gabriel...
  
   - Bass
• Phil Collins
  Phil Collins
  Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
  
   - Drums, Backing vocals
• Dave Lawson - additional synthesisers on "Some People Are Crazy", "Sweet Little Mystery" & "Baby Please Come Home"
• Martin Levan - Producer

External links

• The Official John Martyn Website