The original line-up of Plainsong featuring former Fairport Convention lead singer Iain Matthews and guitarist Andy Roberts was only together for about 18 months in the early 1970's - but in that brief period - they record... more »ed the classic album In Search of Amelia Earhart and a second previously unreleased album now seeing the light of the day for the first time. This set collects both of their studio albums as well as various rare live recordings - nearly 40 songs in total. British folk rock at its best, along with their versions of songs by Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and other greats. Many rare photos and detailed liner notes.« less
The original line-up of Plainsong featuring former Fairport Convention lead singer Iain Matthews and guitarist Andy Roberts was only together for about 18 months in the early 1970's - but in that brief period - they recorded the classic album In Search of Amelia Earhart and a second previously unreleased album now seeing the light of the day for the first time. This set collects both of their studio albums as well as various rare live recordings - nearly 40 songs in total. British folk rock at its best, along with their versions of songs by Gene Clark, Chris Hillman, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, and other greats. Many rare photos and detailed liner notes.
CD Reviews
Forgotten But Not Lost..............
M. Gaines | Alabama, United States | 05/26/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lost to the ages,Ian Matthews Plainsong is the bridge between the west coast folk of CSNY,Buffalo Springfield, the Byrds and their contempories of the time (68-72) in the U.K. Fairport Convention,the Incredible String Band and sensitive intuitive writers such as Richard Thompson, Nick Drake, Sandy Denny,etc.
Water has rewarded the faithfull with restored covers, informative liner notes, and a whole extra disc of the unreleased 2nd album, demos and live material.
Preaching to the faithfull is unfullfilling, Informing those who have not a clue is enlightening. Simplified, Plainsong is one of the most important reissues of recent memory, an important piece of work by Ian Matthews and company that should have made them a standard by which all future efforts by others would have been measured.
Eternally warm and transcendental, Plainsong is as fresh sounding today as it was when I unwraped the cover and placed it on my record player in 1972.
Get it now while you still can....................."
Astonishing and Important
Todd and In Charge | Miami, FL | 12/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I apologize for the seeming hyperbole, but this is truly an important and special release: WOW! Ian Matthews joined this group briefly before launching a full-fledged solo career in the early 70s, but what a mark they left! This is intelligent, inspired, music for the soul -- as vital as if they recorded it last week rather than 30 or so years ago.
The entire song cycle regarding Amelia Earhart is simply brilliant, as are the pitch-perfect and tight versions of "Yo-Yo Man," "Old Man at the Mill," "I'll Fly Away," "Save Your Sorrows," or the many other fantastic tunes on this disk. Marrying thoughtful, sweet lead vocals over tight harmonies, surrounded by inspired rock, folk, country, bluegrass, and cosmic-cowboy stylings, this was music way ahead of time. We've finally caught up."
A Combination Of The Three
PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 12/13/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This Deluxe Edition Of The Classic 1972 Record: "Plainsong" is in fact Three Releases on these Two CD's offered here.
The Original Release is as the Other Reviewers have already Posted one of the Finest Documents of Acoustic Music, well...Ever! And it's Merits and Beauty are of little equal by any other Artists in 1972 or since.
But things have gotten better as this edition features tracks from Two Other CD's: "Plainsong, And That's That", a 1992 Taxim Records release of demos for The Second Plainsong Record that didn't see Completion. "And That's That" also Included Four Vintage Live Plainsong Tracks from 1972. The Second Disc {Also from 1992} was titled: "Plainsong ~ On Air, The BBC Recordings" it was on Band of Joy Records. Both these CD's are long Out of Print, but here are the Contents of those Two right here.
Iain Matthews, Andy Roberts, Bobby Ronga and David Richards were the center of this Acoustic World and this Unique & Timeless Music is now all Together on these Two Discs sounding better than ever, This is a Bargain...Four Stars !!!
"
Great chestnut, thankfully re-released!
Elliot Knapp | Seattle, Washington United States | 01/03/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I first heard of Plainsong not, as most listeners probably did, as a fan of Iain Matthews' Southern Comfort/ Fairport Convention, but actually through Andy Roberts' later-70's collaboration with the legendary Roy Harper as a guitarist in his band and live accompanist. After hearing this album, I'm glad I went to the trouble to track it down.
The first disc, Plainsong's only official album, is the more together of the two--Plainsong's sound is typified by beautiful, flowing, clear vocal harmonies (Matthews has such a smooth voice!), their excellent selection of covers (from the title Earhart tune to folk and country standards to more obscure gems like Paul Siebel's "Louise", Gene Clark's "Spanish Guitar", and Henske/Yester's "Raider"), and their expert blending of country, rock, folk, and even a touch of psychedelia, using acoustic and electric instrumentation like slide guitar and dulcimer.
On the first disc, it's pretty easy to distinguish Matthew's self-penned songs from the covers, but it doesn't really take away from the album's flow. Matthews' tunes like "For the Second Time," and "Side Roads" are often the album's quieter moments, although "Even The Guiding Light" is one of the album's harder-rocking moments. "Yo-yo Man" and "Diesel on My Tail" lighten the mood (maybe a little more than necessary), and the pair of Earhart songs present two different stories of the famous aviator--a romanticized hero's tale, and a melancholy lament about what was more likely her actual, uglier end. The bonus tracks range from OK to very good, with a couple medium-caliber originals and some more well-chosen covers ("Seeds and Stems" is great weepy stoner country). I really have to hand it to Plainsong and Matthews for their eclecticism--these two discs have quite a broad range of great country songs as well as more obscure classics. The only drawback with Plainsong's one and only album is that at times it seems a little too polished--the vocals are so smooth, the production so clean that sometimes the music floats by without creating as much of an impression based on unique personality as it might. Regardless, how many British bands made this genuine, reverent country rock in the 70's that actually sounded this good?
The second disc, containing Plainsong's second, unreleased album, "Now We Are 3," and a great live set, is much less essential than the first disc. Really, I like to think of it as more of an entire bonus disc. "Now We Are 3" finds the band tinkering with their sound in some ways that don't really work as well (saxophone?), but also continuing to blend originals with some great covers. Unfortunately, this time around, the originals (although aided by Roberts on a few) just aren't as good, and many of the covers don't sound as heartfelt. Perhaps it was Matthews' growing plans to leave the band (check out the liner notes, that also have a lot of info about the artists Plainsong covered), or a bit of writers' block, but the spark that lit up the first album isn't as bright here. The live set is great, though, offering different versions of many of their signature songs, and "Along Came Mary" at the end is pretty enjoyable.
All in all, I heartily recommend this economically-priced twofer for fans of straight up country, country rock like the Byrds and Gram Parsons, and also for fans of Matthews and British folk rock. There's a lot to enjoy here for fans of both folk and rock, and it just might get you more interested in country. Hopefully it also gets you interested in some of the amazing artists that are covered here, especially cult legend Paul Siebel and psych-folk Judy Hensky/Jerry Yester."
Consistently good, but not exceptional
Peter Baklava | Charles City, Iowa | 12/03/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Plainsong continued Iain Matthew's forays into country rock and roots music, after he had abandoned Matthews Southern Comfort.
As band member Andy Roberts notes in this reissue's booklet, Matthews had a comprehensive knowledge of both American and English roots music, and many fine old 'chestnuts' are covered in this 2 cd package, alongside some memorably good songs written by Matthews himself.
With Plainsong, Matthews seemed to be aiming at a middle-of-the-road country rock sound, with pop overtones. At times Plainsong can sound like America, the Eagles, early 70's Hollies, John Denver, Mason Proffit, and many other bands of the period. A few tunes ("The Old Man and the Mill", "Raider") recall Matthews first band, Fairport Convention.
Matthews has a slight, pleasant tenor voice which can seem sweetly bland--he always sounds the same. Roberts, the other mainstay of the band, comes across vocally as a cross between Harry Chapin and John Denver. The instrumental backing is very good, particularly Dave Richards thudding, melodic bass playing, which helps the band to rock a little harder.
All in all this is a nice, wholesome-sounding band that chose to play mostly excellent material (John Hartford, Utah Phillips, Richard Thompson, Gene Clark) with only a few missteps ("Seeds and Stems"?). Very solid, but nothing groundbreaking. At two discs with two hours of music, it is worth the asking price.
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1