Released by Island Records in 1982, not long after he'd decamped to Warner,
The Electric John Martyn focuses on the British guitarist's plugged-in efforts from the mid- to late '70s. A rather brief ten-song affair, this collection picks up just after
Martyn's landmark 1973 album
Solid Air (and contains none of its songs) and offers a smattering of highlights from
Inside Out (1973),
Sunday's Child (1975),
One World (1977), and
Grace and Danger (1980). It is notable for offering alternate U.S. mixes of "Dancing," "Certain Surprise," and "Dealer," as well as a single edit of "Sweet Little Mystery." There is also a nice 12" dub mix of
Martyn's cover of the reggae tune "Johnny Too Bad." It's a solid enough collection with a concise feel, but
Martyn's Island years would eventually receive much more thorough coverage in later, more expansive compilations. ~ Timothy Monger