Description
A re-recording of what the artist considers his most successful solo album, Iain Matthews' *Valley Hi* (1973), 52 (!) years late.
Iain Matthews moved to America, where (ex-Monkees member) Michael Nesmith produced his two solo albums, "Valley Hi" and "Some Days You Eat the Bear, Some Days the Bear Eats You," for the U.S. label Elektra in California in 1973 and 1974 - Over the years, "Valley Hi" became Iain Matthews' most successful solo album, yet he himself had already struggled with the production while in the studio. To him, it was all too "country-heavy"; he felt misunderstood by his producer.
Fifty-two years after its release, Matthews fulfilled a long-held wish: He went into the studio and re-recorded the album--exactly as he had envisioned the songs back then but was unable to realize. The result is titled "Return To Upper Street: Valley Hi Reimagined." He was accompanied on this project by the band The Wild Verband.
British folk-rock legend Iain Matthews turned 80 on June 16, 2026 - In 1967, Ashley Hutchings recruited him to Fairport Convention. However, while the band was recording its third album, *Unhalfbricking*, Matthews left the group in 1969 due to personal and musical differences and subsequently formed Matthews Southern Comfort. In October 1970, MSC released a cover version of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock," which went on to sell millions worldwide. Despite the band's popularity, Matthews parted ways with them in November of that same year by abruptly walking off stage during a performance.
In 1972, he formed the band Plainsong with his friend Andy Roberts. Their debut album "In Search of Amelia Earhart" is still considered a milestone in British folk rock. But even this band was only a brief stopover in the long career of the restless Brit.
