Biography
Paul Martin, a New York singer-songwriter born Paul Myerberg, issued several highly obscure singles across 1966 and 1967 while also laying down numerous demos that remained unreleased during that period. Many of those recordings later appeared on a 1996 Distortions compilation. Neither an especially gifted performer nor a distinctive composer, Martin generated lo-fi folk-rock marked by garage and psychedelic touches. Even so, his material carries a certain raw allure for dedicated 1960s collectors, since few contemporary garage acts incorporated such wide-ranging and eclectic folk and pop elements. Tracks might include Blonde on Blonde-style organ, passages scored for violins and cellos, or occasional backing vocals from New York female singers working in a pop-soul vein. These unexpected touches appeared throughout many of his songs, reflecting an apparent uncertainty about committing to an underground stance, Top 40 fare, singer-songwriter introspection, or adolescent punk directness.