Sapphire cover

Sapphire

Released

Roberton bails and Martyn decamps to Island, with Blackwell throwing him one last lifeline. Martyn ends up recording in Nassau with some of the Compass Point All-Stars, including guitarist Barry Reynolds and percussionist Uziah “Sticky” Thompson. Robert Palmer helps out with production towards the end. Linn Drum heaven! The extended reissue has some live tracks from 1986 that are worth hearing—like “Fisherman’s Dream”—for an idea of Martyn as an electric guitar player and completely bizarre stage presence.

Sasha Frere-Jones

Suggestions
Crash cover

Crash

Charli XCX
England Made Me cover

England Made Me

Cath Carroll
Brilliant Trees cover

Brilliant Trees

David Sylvian
OutRun cover

OutRun

Kavinsky
Electric cover

Electric

Pet Shop Boys
Viva cover

Viva

La Düsseldorf
Syphon  cover

Syphon

Wojciech Rusin