The Church and The Minidisc

 Martin Stephenson is one of the many artists who broke

through in the early eighties and who has managed to retain

not only his fan base but also his credibility despite the fact

that his career has taken a number of twists and turns and

seen him move with ease from eighties pop through to roots

music and a few other stops in between. Born in County

Durham on the 27th July 1961, Martin first became aware

of music as a teenager. In fact it was down to an older friend

at a youth club that the young Martin first heard the music of

Frank Zappa. Other influences however were about to be

brought to bear as Punk exploded across the nation and

Martin was fired up enough over the ‘anyone can do it’ ethic

to take up the guitar himself.

Whilst working as a carpet fitter by day Martin was during

the evening playing guitar in his first band the Strange

Relations. By the age of nineteen and yet another dead end

day job, Martin heard Runaway Boys by the Stray Cats on

the radio and was inspired enough to give up his day job and

fully immerse himself in music by at first busking on the

streets. Shortly after however Martin formed the Daintees

and things began to move quickly. By 1982 the band were

recording and were one of the first bands to sign to the

Newcastle-Upon-Tyne label Kitchenware who released the

band’s debut single Roll On Summertime. Shortly after Martin

and the band signed to the major London Records Label.

Following the break up of the Daintees, Martin headed out on

a tour of Highland café’s and folk clubs, which was probably

a kick against the commercial direction the record label, had

wanted Martin to move in. By the time of his album Yogi In

My House Martin had signed with the independent Demon

records label. The album was again an eclectic affair although

considered by many to be one of his best albums. The albums

featured tracks such as Dance The Last Goodbye and Gone

The Gypsy Davey, which reflected Martin’s roots influences.

The album also contained performances from friends like

Jools Holland and more importantly Pauline Murray who herself

was another native of the North East and had fronted the punk

band Penetration. The album was one of two released in 1995

the other album being Sweet Misdemeanour.

The rootsier side of Martin’s influences however have never

been far from the surface and indeed as far back as the debut

with the Daintees on Boat To Bolivia there had been a track

dedicated to The Reverend Gary Davis (Tribute To The Late

Gary Davis).

The album The Church and the Mini Disc was originally

released in 2000 and proved to be a popular album amongst

the Martin Stephenson fan base. The album was recorded in

Croik church in the Highlands of Scotland and was literally

just Martin recording onto a mini disc in a church. Martin

Stephenson himself regards the resulting album" Some of

the most meaningful recording of my career".

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