A COMMERCIAL PROPOSITION
PHILIP S WOLF | SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA. USA | 10/05/2006
(3 out of 5 stars)
"At long last the Release of GO FOR BROKE / HIT AND RUN as a Twofer CD. Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this is the first time they have been in CD form.
Ian had covered Folk, Country & Bluegrass on Nine Records between 1970-1974 and of those nine, "Matthews Southern Comfort" (1970), " If You Saw Thro' My Eyes" (1971), "Tigers Will Survive".(1972), "Valley Hi" (1973), and "Some Days You Eat the Bear" (1974) are Great Records that met with Good Critical Acclaim and Moderate Sales.
But by 1975 the Record Companies became the Record Industry and the Stakes became HUGE after the Release of "Fleetwood Mac" (1975) sold 7 Million Units. Rock Artists became PRODUCT and CBS Records signed Ian Matthews, and in a Corporate Board Room decided to Market as a POP STAR. And the reasoning behind this thinking was he was capable of BIG Pop Stardom. He had already had a Number One Hit with his Cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" in 1970 and in 1972 he had a Minor Chart Sucess with the Crystals classic "Do Doo Ron Ron". So the plan was pick a Cover Tune, Over-Arrange it and BINGO, Big Pop Star.
So here we are at "Go For Broke". It hit the shops in 1976 and surprise! Six out of the Ten Songs here are Cover Versions such as "Darkness, Darkness" (Youngbloods, 1969) , "Brown Eyed Girl" ( Van Morrison, 1967), "Just One Look", (Hollies, 1965) and even 'Groovin" ( Young Rascals, 1967). Sometimes it comes out fine (Brown Eyed Girl) Sometimes it doesn't ( Groovin' ). There are lot's of Saxophones, Cheesy Keyboards and String Arrangements featured on "Broke" and to be nice about it the Production is WAAAY over the top. Ian COULD do these Songs better with just his Voice & an Acoustic Guitar, and if you have seen this Great Artist on any Stage you know exactly what I mean.
But what saves "Go For Broke" are the four tunes written by Ian, and Two of them are Great: "Lonely Hunter" and "Rhythm of the West", Here they are Sounding Great.
Well, "Broke" did not set the Music Industry on fire with Big Sales so for "Hit & Run", Producer Nick Venet (Beach Boys) was brought in and it is much Different. Now very much in a Jazz Vein and it is the Better or these Two Recordings. "Hit & Run" contains Six Songs penned by Ian, with "Tigers Will Survive" and "Hit and Run" as the Sandouts. "Times" is a Remake of "Reno, Nevada", and frankly is not so Good, "I Will Not Fade Away" is better, But the Best thing here is the Remake of John Martyn's, "One Day Without You", after it failed to set the Chart's on fire, Ian's time with CBS Records was over.
Lucky for all of us this Set-back, did not Destroy our Hero, Ian continued on with his Music, Switched Labels and got back to Business. He Explored Folk & Country once again and then Punk / Alternative, New Age and back to Pop Music ( Well you get the Idea).
He is Still out there and still Making Great Music, Now he is known as Iain, and Will Survive...
"
Great albums, poor sound
Michael A. Scarpitti | Columbus, Ohio USA | 01/14/2007
(1 out of 5 stars)
"These albums from Columbia Records came out in the middle 70's. I always liked Ian Matthews' voice from the first time I heard it on his Fairport Convention work. The albums themsleves represent some rather refined singing and quite lovely songs. It's a pity the sound on this disc is so bad.
The mastering on these albums is, unfortunately, unacceptable. The sound is horrid. It's harsh and unfocused. There is no bass whatsoever, and the upper midrange is screechingly over-emphasized. The sound of the cymbals is also horrible.
I have many other CDs from albums that are as old or older, and the sound is just fine. There is something wrong with the master.
Not recommended."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1