UK Psychedelia Discussion Forum
Regal Zonophone 2
Been listening to this album today released in 1970 after his stint in Fairport convention,its actually a solo album by Ian Matthews though the following albums "Second Spring" and "Later that same Year"were a group effort,but some of the musicians who played on this solo album the likes of Richard Thompson Ashley Hutchings,Poli Palmer,Dolly Collins and Simon Nicol amongst others sound superb.I was a bit wary of getting this as ive read that it has a country sheen to it,but i am so glad i got it,its a very good album indeedy,and yes there are quite a few moments that have a country vibe(Colorado Springs Eternal being one but there are others) but its all tastefully done!!in fact theres even an excellent sitar sounding laced track titled "Thoughts for a friend",but there are many good songs,he does a tasteful song originally recorded by Dave Dee,Dozy,Beaky,Mick and Tich titled"The Castle Far"which comes as no surprise as Ian Matthews was managed by Howard and Blaikely who were DD,D,B,M&T managerial team and main songwriters,in fact they wrote a few tracks on this album too.Richard Thompson wrote the track "A commercial Proposition" which from the liners is a song hes never released himself,nice acoustic and piano led number.Other highlights for me are the tracks titled"What We Say"a smashing little slow number with leslied speakered steel guitar(thats what it sounds to me anyway)"Fly Pigeon Fly","The Watch"(which is a tasty little morsel)and"Sweet Bread"(which sounds like Fairport Convention with a countrified steel guitar)are other tracks that caught my ear!!"Ive lost you "is a heartbreaker of a song,which sent a shiver down by back and to my ears sounds like a Gerry Rafferty track and the Final Track"Once upon a lifetime"is just beautiful,with lovely lyrics.Yes it aint psych at all but well put together folky numbers with a country steel guitar getting a fair bit of play.PLease dont let that put you off as it is a nice little album!!"Second Spring"next to get played!!
Anyone else heard this album?
This album may not go down well with some people as i say its got a country bent to it,but i must confess and say ive been listening to a few bits of rock with a country twist,and unbelievably enjoying them as i would never had entertained it a few year ago,but i bought Pocos first 2 albums and enjoyed those,also bought the west coast country rock comp cd released by Big Beat a few year back,and noticed i enjoyed a lot on that,to my ears its more rock with a bit country sound and not country and western,the article in a issue of Shindig featuring an overview about country rock got me intersted too,of course one of my fave groups The Byrds got me started listeing to and accepting this music more than what i usually did,with Dr Byrds and Mr Hyde and the double cd Untitled spurring me on,then got The Gosdin Brothers Big beat cd,followed by The Dillards , Hearts and Flowers,then American Beauty and Workingmans Dead cds by The Grateful Dead..........i thought i would never have those in my music collection,but maybe im just getting old and mellowing a bit,thats the thing with a lot of this country rock stuff it can be real mellow sounds and kind to the ears.Well after reading this back to myself it sounds like a justifaction on listening to country rock...maybe it is,but honestly i would never had listened to all those cds just a couple of year back,but having an impression of something that i thought would be like Dolly Parton,i was way off the mark with that feeling,it shows you shouldnt dismiss a genre or album of any sort before getting to hear examples of said music,like any genre there will be some awful albums concerning this music,but i've been lucky up to now!!Here endeth my reasoning!!GULP!!!Does anyone else enjoy this stuff out there in RZ land?Or am i the only one.....lol.!!
what was the west coast comp called stuart please?
Hiya Phil,the cd is released by Big Beat and put together by Alec Palao,the full title is Country and West Coast-The birth of Country Rock.I picked it up on Amazon for just under 6 quid,so it maybe worth a look at Amazon Phil.This comp features the likes of Poco,John Phillips,Lovin Spoonful,International Submarine Band,Dillard and Clark,Pure Prairie League,flying burrito Brothers and more less well known acts.
thanks stuart