If You Saw Thro My Eyes [Import]

Product Description:
Re-release of the 1970 Folk/Rock Classic by the Former Fairport Convention Member.

Album Details

Japanese Digitally Remastered Limited Edition Issue of the 1971 Album Classic from the Fairport Convention/Matthews Southern Comfort Singer/Songwriter in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Customer Reviews:

Stunning,Masterful and Eternal.......2006-01-09

Ian Matthews 1971 work "If You Saw.........." has to be one of the corner stones of American folk classics that should have solidified Matthews reputation among the music listening populace.
A work that has been in and out of print in the UK, it has sadly gone unnoticed and forgotten.
I can recall its impact upon my own listening discernment way back in 1971. Being aquainted with Fairport Convention and Matthews connection what that band and Ian's offshoot Matthews Southern Comfort who gave the music world " Colorado Springs Eternal", "Commercial Proposition" as well as their interpretation of the Joni Mitchell hit "Woodstock" my expectations on a Matthew's solo outting were exciting to say the least.
Little was I prepared for what unfolded upon my first listening of this gem. From the open track of "Desert Inn" to the final track " If You Saw Thro' My Eyes" impacted me with it's eternal beauty that simply transcended much of what was being offered in the folk/rock genre of 1971.
Matthew's would go on well into the future writing and performing his heartfelt tales of life post "If You Saw Through......." with his follow ups "Tigers Will Survive" (1972), "Valley High" (1973) and "Somedays You Eat the Bear" (1974) that would firmly set these works as a trilogy to what he would create in the future.
"If You Saw Through My Eyes" holds up as if it had just been recorded in 2005 and in my book that qualifies it as a stone cold classic.
If you missed out in 1971 I highly recomend catching up in 2005 on what I term an 'eternal stunner'.

Average customer rating:

Eternal Stunner.............
save pop thro' tradition
Must Have LP/CD!
Cutting the Best of Well Thought Out Rock
Beautiful!

If You Saw Thro' My Eyes
Iain Matthews
Manufacturer: Vertigo
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Folk | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000CFYAX
Release Date: 2003-10-06

Album Details

Re-release of the 1970 Folk/Rock Classic by the Former Fairport Convention Member.

Customer Reviews:

Eternal Stunner....................2005-04-16

save pop thro' tradition.......2005-03-21

At the time of its maiden vynil apperance you might underestimate it - because the then charts overflowed with classy folksy albums and perhaps due to sky-high standards once set by Matthews' Southern Comfort in "Woodstock", "Colorado Springs Eternal" and "I've Lost You". However this now CD format puts everything in correct perspective. Dynamic-wise, the recording sounds like it always belonged with digital era, never with analog. Unbridled. There's space to the studio and Iain's warm breath to the (close-miked) vocal. What's more crucial, the album comes across viable and contemporary every little bit (littereally, too). These here are exacly the set of songs suited equally well for a social convention, a baby lullaby or a sellout arena rebel-rock act. Arrangements - impeccable 'cause it's Matthews. It's Matthews magic at work - and you are strongly advised to check out "Stealin' Home", a somewhat later-on treasury of power songs. So far I know, Mr.Matthews hates term "folk" but his is by far more meaningful contribution than that of Fairport's, tune-wise. I could go on and on but for the fear of being "moderated" by Amazon.

Must Have LP/CD! .......2005-01-16

As a Record/CD/45 Collector, I must say there are certain LP's now CD's in Today's World, you MUST OWN, if you're willing to capture the BEST sound in ANY ERA!
Well, there are many, too many to explain in this short reference, but when I first received my initial LP/45 to CD Recorder, the most important [Hard-to-find] LP was "If You Saw Thro My Eyes" by former Fairport Convention member, Ian Matthews! [I already owned 3, but they were all over-played].

Besides Sgt. Peppers, The Band and Rubber Soul, this was arguably the BEST LP I had listened to, in ALL MY DAYS!

Masterpiece!

Cutting the Best of Well Thought Out Rock.......2004-06-15

I'm all for it! Like our friend, Cathbear, from Malden MA, this has long been one of my most sought after CDs. Each cut flows into the next, creating a total poem. (Not a "concept album", like "Sgt. Pepper's" or "Salty Dog", but an integrated whole, none the less.) Iain serves us with a full platter of well thought out music. His melodies are simple, but the orchestration has lots of subtle complexities which keep things interesting. The lyrics are reflective and sometimes evocative without being mundane, moody or heavy-handed. The cuts speak for themselves and are clever methods to tell his tales.

In "If You Saw Through My Eyes" Matthews shows that he is one of the best singer-songwriter, folk-rockers among his contemporaries - right along side early Jackson Browne, Ellen McEllwaine and Elton John.

I'm very glad that the "industry" is seeing it's way to re-releasing some of the older masterpieces along with what passes for talent these days. I highly recommend "If You Saw..." to any one who has a taste for excellent lyrics set to well crafted tunes.

Beautiful!.......2004-01-20

For the past five years or so, I have been hunting for two of my all-time favorite albums on CD. I received a copy of Mary Hopkin's "Earth Song/Ocean Song" for my birthday - I can only imagine how much my friend paid for it. Two weeks later, I found out "If You Saw Thro' My Eyes" was being rereleased on CD. I ordered it immediately, and finally - finally!! - it arrived this morning, and is playing as I type.

"Beautiful" is really the only word to describe this work. Every single song takes your breath away. And the CD really shows off the magnificence of the arrangements and lyrics.

If you are a fan of great songwriting, buy it!

Music Album:

Music Album