Iain Matthews
Rhythm of the West – The Columbia Years 1975-1977
(Cherry Red Records)
⭑⭑⭑☆☆

THIS subtly memorable 6-CD set focuses attention on the Columbia output of the unjustly under appreciated Iain Matthews.

This gifted performer first appeared on record as a member of the first incarnation of Fairport Convention in the late 1960s before turning his attentions towards country-rock with Matthews Southern Comfort in 1970. His stint with the band was relatively short-lived but did produce a chart topping UK single in the shape of their stylish cover of Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock.

Matthews hasn’t enjoyed too much in the way of chart success with his solo musings since those days but his work always repays closer investigation and this collection of mid 1970s studio recordings and rare live performances is thankfully no exception to the rule, including fine covers of Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl and The Youngbloods’ Darkness Darkness.

Quicksilver Messenger Service
Who Do You Love? – The Recordings 1967-1972
(Cherry Red Records)
⭑⭑⭑⭑☆

THIS excellent four-piece band carved out a unique niche for themselves in the mid-1960s musical culture of San Francisco with an innovative psychedelic sound which leaned heavily on the dazzling interplay between guitarists John Cipollina and Gary Duncan.

Maintaining a stable performing line-up proved impossible for this notoriously undisciplined outfit as the years wore on, but their vinyl output was never less than interesting and this beautifully annotated 7-CD set brings together the complete contents of the musically eclectic albums that they recorded for Capitol Records before they essentially gave up the ghost on the back of falling record sales in 1972.

Mercurial guitarist Cipollina would later go on to work with Copperhead and Man but his most inspired playing is captured here, including an epic rendition of Bo Diddley’s Who Do You Love.

The Charlie Daniels Band
The Epic Singles As & Bs
(Floating World Records)
⭑⭑⭑☆☆

THIS fine 2-CD set showcases the work of American multi instrumentalist Charlie Daniels and his talented cohorts, drawing on the cream of the material that they recorded for Epic Records during his lengthy association with the label.

Daniels’s eclectic fusion of rock, country, blues and jazz helped to pave the way for the relatively short-lived Southern Rock boom during the early 1970s, although he’s probably best remembered these days for his chart-topping country hit from 1979, The Devil Went Down To Georgia.

This infectious ditty is one of the highlights of this beautifully annotated exploration of the veteran musician’s singles repertoire alongside gems such as The South’s Gonna Do It Again and Uneasy Rider, and if you enjoy the highly entertaining contents a deep delve into Charlie’s album output should also repay closer investigation.