Solid Air
John Martyn
- LP
- Label
- Island Records
Solid Air is the fourth studio album by Scottish folk singer-songwriter John Martyn, released in February 1973 by Island Records.
The album was recorded over eight days and features instrumental contributions by bassist Danny Thompson and members of Fairport Convention. "Solid Air", the title track, was dedicated to a friend of Martyn's, Nick Drake, who would die of an antidepressant overdose 18 months after the album was released. Martyn said of the track "It was done for a friend of mine, and it was done right with very clear motives, and I'm very pleased with it, for varying reasons. It has got a very simple message, but you'll have to work that one out for yourself."
The album features an avant-garde cover of Skip James' "Devil Got My Woman," here retitled "I'd Rather Be the Devil" and performed with heavy use of Martyn's Echoplex tape delay effect.