an amazing collection of great guitar playing by a wide variety of players in many styles...all on their favorite Martin Guitars!

 

 1) Layla  (Laurence Juber) 5mn 34s
 2) Moondance  (Jim Earp) 2mn 57s
 3) West Coast Blues  (Kenny Sultan) 2mn 41s
 4) Medley: The Vandals of Hammerwich/ John Peterson's Mare
    (Martin Carthy) 4mn 34s
 5) Ram (Steve Howe)   2mn 26s
 6) After The Rain (Peter Rowan)  3mn 59s
 7) Mountain Air (Pat Donohue)   2mn 58s
 8) The Old Grey Mare Came Tearing out of the Wilderness
    (Norman and Nancy Blake)   2mn 3s
 9) Steve's Boogie for Lightnin'  (Steve Miller)    1mn 39s
10) You Showed Me (Elliot Easton)  3mn 28s
11) Eleanor Rigby (Greg Hawkes)  2mn 7s
12) Singing In The Country (Roger McGuinn)  2mn 49s
13) Decatur Road  (Nancy Wilson)   3mn 46s
14) Danny Boy (Tony Rice) 2mn 6s
15) Lovers Love The Spring (Don McLean) 2mn 42s

 BONUS track
16) SLINKY   (Steve Miller) 3mn 14s

Product Description
Grammy award winning Solid Air Records and world renowned acoustic guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co. are proud to announce a collaborative CD entitled My Favorite Martin. All of the songs on this unique compilation were recorded on Martin Instruments or signature models owned by the individual artists, and many of the tracks were written or recorded specifically for this release. Laurence Juber's pristine solo guitar version of Eric Clapton's LAYLA appropriately initiates the CD. An incredible roster of artists follows with tracks from Nancy Wilson of Heart, bluegrass veteren Peter Rowan, as well as Ukelele master Greg Hawkes and southpaw guitarist Elliot Easton (both from The Cars). The CD continues with tracks from the Joker himself- Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band , Roger McGuinn , of Byrds fame, acoustic flatpicking wizards Norman and Nancy Blake, California bluesman Kenny Sultan, plus a special cut from one of the all-time greats Tony Rice-playing one of the most iconic Martin Guitars ever! In addition, Prarie Home Companions Pat Donohue adds a tack and fingerstylist Jim Earp lends a classic rendition of Van Morrison's "Moondance". No Martin compilation would be complete without across-the-pond representation from legendary UK guitarists Martin Carthy and Yes guitarists Steve Howe. Don McLean , whose collection includes over 40 Martin guitars, contributes the perfect closing track.

REVIEW ...GUITAR PLAYER Magazine Feb '09

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS    My Favorite Martin
 
Subtitled Legendary Guitarists Playing Legendary Guitars, this very enjoyable CD features 16 of the world's most accomplished guitarists- Ray Walston is not among them- playing Martin acoustics.  All the guitars sound magnificent, but a few of the vintage instruments sound especially luscious, such as Steve Howe's '53 00-18 on his composition "Ram," Jim Earp's '73 D-28 on his arrangement of "Moondance," and Tony Rice's '35 D-28 (given to him by Clarence White) on his lovely reworking of "Danny Boy."  Most of the performances feature a single musician playing unaccompanied, such as Laurence Juber's ingenious DADGAD rendering of "Layla," Martin Carthy's stately version of "The Vandals of Hammerwich/John Peterson's Mare," and Roger McGuinn's 7-string take on Pete Seeger's "Singing in the Country."  Two of my favorites, however, are multitracked pieces by members of the Cars: Elliot Easton's version of the Turtles' "You Showed Me" is stunning, particularly the glissando "string" parts played with a slide and delay pedal; and Greg Hawkes' beautiful orchestration of "Eleanor Rigby" using baritone, tenor, and soprano (a '50s Style 0) ukeleles.  I also dug Nancy Wilson's massive-sounding, detuned, and possibly phase-shifted riffing on "Decatur Road."  The album ends with Steve Miller and his dog Lady (I'm not kidding) performing "Slinky" on a "hidden" track.  Solid Air.  - Barry Cleveland

REVIEW...Minor 7th.com

Various Artists, "My Favorite Martin," Solid Air Records 2008
This anthology features 15 guitarists playing a variety of acoustic Martin instruments, including their own signature models, vintage guitars and ukuleles. The CD begins with Laurence Juber's solo rendition of "Layla," which has lately become one of his most popular arrangements. Other Solid Air artists contributing are Jim Earp, Kenny Sultan, Pat Donohue and Greg Hawkes (who plays Lennon and McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby" multitracked, on tenor, baritone and soprano ukuleles). The project's association with C.F. Martin and Co. brought in several other well-known musicians, including Martin Carthy, Steve Howe, Peter Rowan, Norman and Nancy Blake, Steve Miller, Nancy Wilson, Elliot Easton, Roger McGuinn, Tony Rice and Don McLean. Martin Carthy's typical arranging style and stark tone are well-represented by his medley, "The Vandals of Hammerwich / John Peterson's Mare." The Blakes turn in a fine version of "The Old Grey Mare Came Tearing Out of the Wilderness." Peter Rowan offers an original fingerstyle instrumental titled "After the Rain." Roger McGuinn revisits Pete Seeger's "Singing in the Country" on his signature 7-string (which has a high G, paired with the normal third string). Seeger's protege Don Mclean plays his original, "Lovers Love the Spring," the only vocal on the disc. Pop and rock guitarists Nancy Wilson, Elliot Easton, Steve Howe and Steve Miller add enjoyable, sometimes quirky pieces. Favorites include Wilson's multitracked "Decatur Road" and Tony Rice's soulful version of "Danny Boy," played on Clarence White's legendary 1935 D-28.
© Patrick Ragains