John had rejoined Island in 1984 and Chris Blackwell sent him to Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas to record. The sessions were going badly as John had a number of disagreements with the producer and so John asked Robert Palmer to help.

“Actually it almost didn’t happen, the production team had all fallen out, no-one was taking responsibility for anything, too much rum was being consumed all over the place, so I got Robert Palmer in who brought in some other excellent musicians, and that was it…it was all down to Robert in the end.”

The playing is light, relaxed, subtle and dreamlike quality of the production was present on every track. John’s expressive and soulful vocals ensure the album doesn’t become too smooth and bland with its overall synthesised sound. There is little guitar on the album and what there is was apparently electronically treated so as to be indistinguishable from the synthesisers around it, the exception to this rule being the solo on Fisherman’s Dream. Before Sapphire, Sundays Child had been the only other self produced album and this one contained just enough high points to convince critics that, whilst no new ground had been broken, it was still a contemporary album with above-average charms.

The album was mixed by Harvey Goldberg in May and Andy Lyden in June, and then again in August 1984 by Brian Young at Cava Studios in Glasgow before John was content with the sound.

Fisherman’s Dream was originally recorded with the Scottish National Choir singing on it! John said, “it sounded awful…as soon as they opened their mouths I went aargh…I’ve made a mistake, I don’t want these people on my record.”

Sapphire contains some gems; Rope Soul’d, the title track itself, the ever popular Fisherman’s Dream and Over The Rainbow which is the encore to many of John’s gigs.

“Sapphire comes close to grade A form.” – Rolling Stone

“In an era when empty gestures of style proliferate in music, Martyn’s music speaks with an uncommon candour, intelligence and intensity. At times, the combination of guitar and synthesiser creates a sound which appears to come rolling across the stalls like a tsunami wave, pinning you to your seat…John Martyn strikes the perfect balance between virtuosity and modernism. Put simply he is in a league of his own.” – The Guardian

1. Sapphire (J. Martyn)
2. Over The Rainbow (H. Arlen, C. Harburg)
3. You Know (J. Martyn)
4. Watching Her Eyes (J. Martyn)
5. Fisherman’s Dream (J. Martyn)
6. Acid Rain (J. Martyn, A. Thomson)
7. Mad Dog Days (J. Martyn, A. Thomson)
8. Climb The Walls (J. Martyn)
9. Coming On Time (J. Martyn)
10. Rope-Soul’d (J. Martyn, A. Thomson, B. Reynolds)

Catalogue Number: ILPS 9779 Island
Matrix / Runout: Side A – ILPS 9779 A-5U-1-2- SOUND CLINIC CW and Side B – ILPS 9779 B-4U-1-1-10 CUTTAWALLA

Vocals and Guitars – John Martyn
Additional Guitar – Barry Reynolds
Bass Guitar – Alan Thomson
Keyboards – Jack Waldman, Jim Prime, Robin Rankin, Alan Thomson and James Hooker
Linn Drums – Steven Stanley, John Martyn, Andy Lyden and Alan Thomson
Percussion – Uzziah ‘Sticky’ Thompson
Saxophones – Colin Tully
Harmonies – Morwenne Laidlaw, Terry Nelson and Lorna Brooks
Choral Section – Scottish National Orchestra arranged by Dave Murricane
Engineers – Andy Lyden and Steven Stanley (assisted by Benji Armbrister, Kendal Stubbs, Frankie Gibson and Ca Va Sound Workshops Engineer Brian Young)
Mixed by – Harvey Goldberg (assisted by Stephen Street)
Sapphire mixed by – Andy Lyden
Produced by – John Martyn
Cover illustration – Cathie Felstead
Photography – Anton Corbijn