The Time Between

What new insight can I bring to the guy who’s been dissected and ripped apart by every writer covering American – or any kind of - music? Not much. I can just say if you haven’t heard him, or have been put off by the worship, give him another chance. He’ll pay you back a million times over. Forgetting the hype, and the Cosmic American Music stuff, and forgetting the poor little rich kid upbringing (no wonder he killed himself – who could live through that and come out straight on the other side) and focus on the voice and the songs. And don’t go for the Burritos (much as I love them) just put on Grievous Angel and hear something pure for once. It’s not about Elvis’s backup band (although they are spectacular and have never sounded better). It’s about the songs and the voice. There’s a bunch of Gram stuff out there where he struggles to stay on key but on GA he’s all there. And while Emmylou is terrific it’s all about Gram. It’s country soul. It’s white man’s blues. It’s pure. The thing about Gram is that while the songs live on (how many more tribute concerts do we really need?) his versions are definitive (even the covers – who has done Love Hurts better?). You can see all the way into the guys heart when you hear these songs. And where did these songs come from - $1000 wedding, Brass Buttons, She. Las Vegas (thank you Ric Grech – did anyone else see him in tiny folk clubs in Leicester in the 70’s – often with, I believe, his then girlfriend Claire Hammill? He’d just turn up places for about three months one summer singing Gram songs – then he disappeared and we lost him. Very sad), Gram had a hand in so many classics that still sound amazing. Timeless, brilliant stuff. I can understand why Chris Hillman feels neglected I have to say – he was in three seminal bands – The Byrds, The Burritos, and Manassas (probably the best thing Stephen Stills ever did) – not to mention The Desert Rose Band. He wrote some brilliant songs (Time Between for one – from which we stole our name) and in lots of ways was the driving force that brought Country and Rock together. Brilliant guy, long term player, amazing career, huge influence – and he’s still doing it. But Gram was his partner and equal – and it was Gram who created an industry because of what he did in a three year period. Shooting star indeed.


Ian Matthews

I don’t know why but I missed Ian (Iain?) Matthews. I loved Book Song by the Fairports (I still think it’s the prototype for the Gram/Emmylou sound) and I guess that brought me back to him when I rediscovered the Fairports recently. So I just got a bunch of his solo albums, the Plainsong album and the Matthews Southern Comfort one too. And…..they’re OK. He had the looks no doubt, and the bands – Andy Roberts, Red Rhodes, BJ Cole – all great players. But there’s a reason he’s second tier. A bit like Gene Clark (I know I’m too tough on Gene really). A great pop voice trying to do songs that require a much more emotional delivery. A great example would be his version of Tried So Hard (I know it’s a Gene Clark song – a great song too). But listen the Ian’s version. Perfunctory would be a good way to describe it. And that’s the case with most of his solo albums – terrific songs done in a not too exciting way). I would however say the MSC album is very good – and yes the version of Woodstock deserved its #1 spot in the UK charts. It’s a nice sounding album – great harmonies, good songs, nice production. And the Plainsong album is pretty decent too – it should have been great. A British folk/rock supergroup. The problem is they were competing with real supergroups like CSN&Y – who just did this stuff so much better. Plainsong I think works as it’s a very English album (even tho’ they’re doing very American songs) – and Ian has a good English folk voice (way better than the finger in the ear, Martin Carthy-like voice so familiar to anyone who went to a folk club in a pub in the 70’s in England at least). Again the musicianship is terrific and tasteful. Maybe that’s the problem – it’s all a little too tasteful and he never let’s go. What he could do tho’ was pick songs. His solo albums are a smorgasbord of songs that ended up on all the most tasteful albums of the 70’s and early 80’s. Anyway all worth a listen so check them out – but don’t expect too much.