Joni Mitchell’s version of the song “Woodstock” was released on “Ladies Of The Canyon” in April 1970. Two months later, Matthews Southern Comfort recorded a set of songs for a Radio 1 session. They were told that they needed one more song and Ian Matthews, having bought “Ladies Of The Canyon” a week before, decided to record “Woodstock”. Listener response was so positive that the band were encouraged to release the song as a single and the record company put pressure on the band to include it on their forthcoming album, “Later That Same Year”, which was to be released in November 1970. The single stayed at Number One on the U.K. Charts for three weeks in October/November 1970. Their version is slower than CSN&Y’s and more deadpan than Joni Mitchell’s. The musical style is “country-rock” and it’s too easy to dismiss their version as dull. To me, it’s sad, melancholic and resigned. Their version makes it sound like a song sung by someone leading a humdrum life, not in touch with their emotions, wandering directionless through the world. The way that Ian Matthews sings “I have come here to lose the smog and I feel just like a cog in something turning” is desperately sad and yet, simultaneously heartwarming. Here’s my confession. Ian Matthews resisted the record company pressure to include “Woodstock” on “Later That Same Year” although it was included on the American version and is a bonus track on the CD re-issue. So I’ve been writing about a song that’s not, officially, on the album.
Ian Matthews MacDonald changed his name to Ian Matthews to avoid confusion with Ian MacDonald, the multi-instrumentalist for King Crimson. He joined Fairport Convention and sung lead vocals on their first two albums with Judy Dyble (whose boyfriend was Ian MacDonald) and Sandy Denny. When Fairport Convention changed direction to explore English folk music, he left the band and formed Matthews Southern Comfort who released an eponymous album in 1969, “Second Spring” in 1970 and later that same year, “Later That Same Year”. The pressure of a hit single was too much for Ian Matthews who left the band (who continued to record as Southern Comfort) to release two solo albums in 1971, before forming Plainsong. Moving to the USA, he has had a prolific career, releasing over 40 solo albums. A note for the pedant – he changed his name, again, to Iain Matthews in 1989.
I’ve written a lot about a song that doesn’t appear on the official release of this album. However, over the last few days, after Peter suggested that I listen to it, I have listened to the U.S. version of the album non-stop. It’s absolutely wonderful. Whereas, many acts over the last 20 years have adopted the label “Americana” to produce music that is faithful to the concept of music emanating from the country heartland of the USA, none have captured a sound so pure, effortless, relaxing, timeless and beautiful as Ian Matthews managed 52 years ago. “And Me” features gorgeous harmonies and sensational acoustic guitar playing. “Tell Me Why” is the opening track from “After The Goldrush”, released in September 1970, at the same time that “Later That Same Year” was recorded. “Brand New Tennessee Waltz” is a cover of a wonderful song by Jesse Winchester from his eponymous first album, released at around the same time as “After The Goldrush”. Best of all is “For Melanie“, a seven minute song that reminds me of Trees’ “On The Shore“, with a stunning instrumental coda. From: https://addsomemusictoyourdayblog.wordpress.com/2022/07/23/later-that-same-year-by-matthews-southern-comfort/
