{"product_id":"matthews-southern-comfort-second-spring","title":"Matthews' Southern Comfort – Second Spring","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMatthews' Southern Comfort – Second Spring\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSecond Spring\u003c\/em\u003e is the second album from Matthews' Southern Comfort, the British folk-rock and country-rock band led by former Fairport Convention vocalist Ian Matthews. Originally released in 1970 on Uni Records, the album captures the group at an important point in the development of the British country-rock sound, combining Matthews' distinctive vocals with rich acoustic arrangements, pedal steel guitar and close vocal harmonies. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing his departure from Fairport Convention, Ian Matthews initially recorded under the Matthews' Southern Comfort name as a solo project. The touring band that subsequently formed around him became a fully fledged group, featuring musicians including Gordon Huntley on pedal steel guitar, Mark Griffiths on lead guitar, Carl Barnwell on guitar, Andy Leigh on bass and Ray Duffy on drums. \u003cem\u003eSecond Spring\u003c\/em\u003e was the first album to properly showcase this established band line-up. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album is a beautifully understated blend of British folk-rock, country rock and American-influenced country-folk, with Matthews' clear, warm vocal style at its centre. The band's use of pedal steel, fiddle, acoustic guitar and harmony vocals gives the record an unmistakably early-1970s country-rock character, while retaining the more delicate sensibility of the British folk scene from which Matthews emerged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSide A opens with Ballad Of Obray Ramsey, a gentle country-folk number that sets the tone for the album, followed by Moses In The Sunshine and the traditional song Jinkson Johnson. Tale Of The Trial closes the side with Matthews' songwriting alongside the band's understated acoustic instrumentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSide B begins with the traditional Blood Red Roses, featuring layered harmony vocals, before Even As provides a showcase for Carl Barnwell's songwriting. The medley-like pairing of Even As \/ D'Arcy Farrow gives the side additional variety, followed by Matthews Southern Comfort's interpretation of James Taylor's Something In The Way She Moves. The album closes with Southern Comfort, written by Canadian folk artist Sylvia Fricker, whose composition also gave the group its name. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe album was well regarded at the time, with \u003cem\u003eCash Box\u003c\/em\u003e describing \u003cem\u003eSecond Spring\u003c\/em\u003e as a standout release and praising Matthews' songwriting and vocal performance, while highlighting the band's refreshing take on soft country music. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSecond Spring\u003c\/em\u003e is also an important precursor to the band's breakthrough later in 1970. Following the album, Matthews Southern Comfort recorded their celebrated version of Joni Mitchell's \"Woodstock\", which became a UK No. 1 single in October 1970. That success brought the band international attention, although Matthews subsequently became uncomfortable with the commercial direction and the group's country-rock image. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor collectors of Matthews Southern Comfort vinyl, British folk rock, country rock and 1970s singer-songwriters, \u003cem\u003eSecond Spring\u003c\/em\u003e is an essential addition. It is particularly recommended for fans of Fairport Convention, Ian Matthews, Fotheringay, The Byrds, Joni Mitchell and early British country rock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA warm, beautifully played and influential slice of early-1970s British folk-rock, \u003cem\u003eSecond Spring\u003c\/em\u003e finds Ian Matthews and his band creating an understated meeting point between British folk tradition and American country music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide A\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBallad Of Obray Ramsey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoses In The Sunshine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJinkson Johnson\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTale Of The Trial\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide B\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlood Red Roses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEven As \/ D'Arcy Farrow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSomething In The Way She Moves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSouthern Comfort\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ImV_qP0sQ6I?si=SkhQkcQ4siuSMK_C\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"UNI Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55119640691030,"sku":"UNLS 112","price":8.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_53fd9d57-2480-441c-9673-709f89d1ca0f.jpg?v=1787919544","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/matthews-southern-comfort-second-spring","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}