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After leaving Fairport Convention in 1969, Iain Matthews strung together a journeyman's career, touring and recording prolifically both as a solo artist and with his country-inflected folk-rock band Matthews Southern Comfort. Apart from a chart-topping cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock," his efforts tended to be admired by critics, but shunned by the mainstream. One of his most satisfying endeavors was the group Plainsong, a project which ran its entire course during the calendar year of 1972. A collaboration between Matthews and guitarist Andy Roberts, the original quartet also included bassist David Richards and American guitarist Bobby Ronga. Between their formation on December 19, 1971 and their final show on December 29, 1972, Plainsong toured the U.K. and Europe, captured numerous live performances for television and the BBC, and recorded two excellent full-length albums, one of which became a cult classic while the other remained shelved for decades. Released in October, the band's debut for Elektra, In Search of Amelia Earhart, was an inspired meeting of wistful folk-rock songwriting and American country twang filtered through the lush harmonies of three Brits and one New Yorker. Much like Matthews' other fine releases of the era, Plainsong's debut made little commercial impact, even though New Musical Express hailed it as "one of the classic albums of 1972." The album had barely been out a month when Ronga was cut loose due to excessive alcohol abuse. Plainsong carried on as a trio and spent that November recording a follow-up album that never saw the light of day. A BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Sunday performance at the end of the year served as their final show and by January the band was no more.
Matthews and Roberts later revived Plainsong in the early-'90s by which point the Amelia album had gained some luster among record collectors as an overlooked folk-rock gem. The latter day Plainsong, while still flying under the radar, enjoyed further success during the '90s and beyond, touring occasionally and releasing a string of well-made albums. Still, there was a special magic to the 1972 lineup which had burned so brightly before falling apart. Released in 2022, the elaborate box set, Following Amelia: The 1972 Recordings & More, offers a remastered edition of their debut along with their long-shelved follow-up and copious bonus materials including John Peel and Bob Harris BBC sessions, an entire 1972 Amsterdam concert, and even newly recorded versions by Matthews and Roberts to mark their 50th anniversary. For a band who, in their original incarnation only existed for only one year, Plainsong's career is remarkably well documented both in recording and biographical detail. Unsung during their brief heyday, Following Amelia is the defining collection of one of British folk-rock's great cult bands.
© Timothy Monger /TiVo
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Plainsong, MainArtist - Ian Matthews, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Rick Cunha, Composer, Writer - Martin Cooper, Composer, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Plainsong, MainArtist - PAUL SIEBEL, Composer, Writer - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Plainsong, MainArtist - Ian Matthews, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
J. Fagan, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Sandy Roberton, Producer - Jim Fagan, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
David D. McEnery, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Sandy Roberton, Producer - LIndsay McPhail, Composer - Dave Mc Enery, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
David Frazier, Composer - Hezekiah Walker, Composer - Charles Minor, Composer - Albert E. Brumley, Composer, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Sandy Roberton, Producer - Albert Brumley Jr, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Plainsong, MainArtist - Ian Matthews, Writer - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Plainsong, MainArtist - Ian Matthews, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Plainsong, MainArtist - Ian Matthews, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Jerry Yester, Composer, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Judy Henske, Composer, Writer - Sandy Roberton, Producer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Elektra Entertainment.
Plainsong, MainArtist - Tandyn Almer, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Ian Matthews, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1972 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
David D. McEnery, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - LIndsay McPhail, Composer - Dave Mc Enery, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
Plainsong, MainArtist - PAUL SIEBEL, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
Nils Lofgren, Composer - Plainsong, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
Plainsong, MainArtist - Richard Thompson, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
Plainsong, MainArtist - Ian Matthews, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
Plainsong, MainArtist - Andy Roberts, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer, Writer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
Jerry Yester, Composer, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Judy Henske, Composer, Writer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
Plainsong, MainArtist - Bill Heagney, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 BBC BBC
DISC 2
Dave Richards, Composer - Traditional, Composer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Andy Roberts, Composer - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Andy Roberts, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Merle Haggard, Composer - Plainsong, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Bill Heagney, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - John Hartford, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - John Hartford, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Bruce Phillips, Composer - Plainsong, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Andy Roberts, Composer - Mike Evans, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2005 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Richard Farina, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Iain Matthews, Composer, MainArtist - Tommy Nunes, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2022 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Andy Roberts, Composer - Plainsong Light, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2022 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
John Hartford, Composer - Iain Matthews, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2022 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Andy Roberts, Composer - Mike Evans, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2022 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Bruce Phillips, Composer - Iain Matthews, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2022 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
Plainsong, MainArtist - Richard Farina, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2022 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts
DISC 3
Plainsong, MainArtist - Iain Matthews, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
George Frayne, Composer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Billy C. Farlow, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
Gene Clark, Composer - Plainsong, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
Plainsong, MainArtist - PAUL SIEBEL, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
Terry Fell, Composer - Plainsong, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
David D. McEnery, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - LIndsay McPhail, Composer - Dave Mc Enery, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
Rick Cunha, Composer, Writer - Martin Cooper, Composer, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
David Frazier, Composer - Hezekiah Walker, Composer - Charles Minor, Composer - Albert E. Brumley, Composer, Writer - Plainsong, MainArtist - Albert Brumley Jr, Composer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
Plainsong, MainArtist - Andy Roberts, Writer - Iain Matthews, Composer, Writer
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 1992 BBC BBC
Album review
After leaving Fairport Convention in 1969, Iain Matthews strung together a journeyman's career, touring and recording prolifically both as a solo artist and with his country-inflected folk-rock band Matthews Southern Comfort. Apart from a chart-topping cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock," his efforts tended to be admired by critics, but shunned by the mainstream. One of his most satisfying endeavors was the group Plainsong, a project which ran its entire course during the calendar year of 1972. A collaboration between Matthews and guitarist Andy Roberts, the original quartet also included bassist David Richards and American guitarist Bobby Ronga. Between their formation on December 19, 1971 and their final show on December 29, 1972, Plainsong toured the U.K. and Europe, captured numerous live performances for television and the BBC, and recorded two excellent full-length albums, one of which became a cult classic while the other remained shelved for decades. Released in October, the band's debut for Elektra, In Search of Amelia Earhart, was an inspired meeting of wistful folk-rock songwriting and American country twang filtered through the lush harmonies of three Brits and one New Yorker. Much like Matthews' other fine releases of the era, Plainsong's debut made little commercial impact, even though New Musical Express hailed it as "one of the classic albums of 1972." The album had barely been out a month when Ronga was cut loose due to excessive alcohol abuse. Plainsong carried on as a trio and spent that November recording a follow-up album that never saw the light of day. A BBC Radio 1 Sounds of Sunday performance at the end of the year served as their final show and by January the band was no more.
Matthews and Roberts later revived Plainsong in the early-'90s by which point the Amelia album had gained some luster among record collectors as an overlooked folk-rock gem. The latter day Plainsong, while still flying under the radar, enjoyed further success during the '90s and beyond, touring occasionally and releasing a string of well-made albums. Still, there was a special magic to the 1972 lineup which had burned so brightly before falling apart. Released in 2022, the elaborate box set, Following Amelia: The 1972 Recordings & More, offers a remastered edition of their debut along with their long-shelved follow-up and copious bonus materials including John Peel and Bob Harris BBC sessions, an entire 1972 Amsterdam concert, and even newly recorded versions by Matthews and Roberts to mark their 50th anniversary. For a band who, in their original incarnation only existed for only one year, Plainsong's career is remarkably well documented both in recording and biographical detail. Unsung during their brief heyday, Following Amelia is the defining collection of one of British folk-rock's great cult bands.
© Timothy Monger /TiVo
About the album
- 6 disc(s) - 119 track(s)
- Total length: 07:17:32
- Main artists: Plainsong
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Lemon
- Genre: Folk/Americana
© 2022 Cherry Red Records Ltd ℗ 2022 Iain Matthews & Andy Roberts, BBC
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