Iain Matthews - Later On (1973)

Iain Matthews (born Ian Matthews MacDonald, but changing his name to avoid confusion with Ian McDonald of King Crimson) is an English musician and singer-songwriter, and was an original member of Fairport Convention. He left in 1969 to form his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort, which had a UK number one in 1970 with a cover version of Joni Mitchell's 'Woodstock'. He was influenced by both rock and roll and folk music, and has performed as both a solo artist, and as a member of various bands, including Fairport Convention during their early period, when they were heavily influenced by American folk rock. He initially embarked on a solo career, and his first album was called 'Matthew's Southern Comfort', and was rooted in American country music and rockabilly. It included Matthew's original songs alongside choice covers from Neil Young and Ian & Sylvia, and he then kept the band together, naming them after the debut album (dropping the apostrophe), and recorded two more albums with them in 1970. In 1971, Matthews recorded two solo albums ('If You Saw Thro' My Eyes' & 'Tigers Will Survive'), and the following year he formed Plainsong with Andy Roberts, previously of The Liverpool Scene, and released the classic 'In Search Of Amelia Earheart' album. There were a few songs recorded during the sessions for their first album which wouldn't fit on the record, and they've recently surfaced on compilations, so I've taken them and added some 1970 radio sessions from the band, a demo for Matthews' 'Journeys From Gospel Oak' album, and a few Plainsong radio sessions, including their take on the title track of his 1972 solo album, for this retrospective of Iain Matthews' early career.

Track listing

01 Touch Her If You Can (Matthews Southern Comfort out-take 1969)
02 Yankee Lady (Matthews Southern Comfort out-take 1969)
03 Belle (Matthews Southern Comfort out-take 1969)
04 Later On (Matthews Southern Comfort out-take 1969)
05 I Believe In You (Matthews Southern Comfort out-take 1969)
06 Not Much At All (Matthews Southern Comfort radio session 1970)
07 Baby Ruth (Matthews Southern Comfort radio session 1970)
08 Hearts (Matthews Southern Comfort radio session 1970)
09 Christine's Tune (Iain Matthews demo 1972)
10 Seeds And Stems (Plainsong radio session 1973)
11 Spanish Guitar (Plainsong radio session 1973)
12 Tigers Will Survive (Plainsong radio session 1973)