Matthews Southern Comfort

"Matthews' Southern Comfort" 1970

This is a transitional album for Matthews. Having recently exited Fairport Convention, this record pays tribute to that period of his career in both material ("A Castle Far") and in the choice of musicians who back him (many of them from Fairport Convention). At the same time, songs like "A Commercial Proposition" indicate where Matthews is headed on 1971's Later That Same Year. ~ Jim Worbois, All Music Guide

Ian Matthews - vocals
Gerry Conway - drums, congas, tamborine
Ashley Hutchings - bass guitar
Richard Thompson - electric and acoustic guitars
Roger Coulam - piano, hammond organ
Gordon Huntley - pedal steel guitar
Pete Wilsher - fuzz steel guitar on "Colorado springs"
Simon Nicol - electric guitar
Dolly Collins - flute organ on "The castle far"
Pol Palmer - flute
Marc Ellington - finger symbols

Sample pic: Click

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"Second Spring" 1970

With this album, Matthews' Southern Comfort is a real band and, in addition to Matthews, also includes Roger Swallow (ex-Marmalade) and Marc Griffiths (ex-Spooky Tooth). Though there is really nothing that makes this a memorable record, it's still quite a nice record overall. If you already know his work on Elektra, Mooncrest, or even Later That Same Year, it would be well worth your while to search this record out. ~ Jim Worbois, All Music Guide

Ian Matthews - vocal
Carl Barnwell - guitar
Mark Griffiths - lead guitar
Andy Leigh - bass
Ray Duffy - drums
Gordon Huntley - steel guitar
Tom Paley - banjo on "Ballad of Obray Ramsey"
Roger Churchyard - fiddle on "Jinkson Johnson" & "Southern comfort"
Martin Jenkins - mandolin on "Southern comfort"

Sample pic: 1, 2