For those unaware, British folk-rock legend Iain Matthews turned 80 on June 16th, 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.

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 and he was accompanied on this project by the band The Wild Verband.

1. Keep On Sailing
2. Old Man At The Mill
3. Shady Lies
4. These Days
5. Leaving Alone
6. 7 Bridges Road
7. Save Your Sorrows
8. What Are You Waiting For
9. Propinquity
10. Blue Blue Day

In truth, and even before this reimagining was brought forth, this was a mighty fine collection of Anglo-Americana with the assistance of some top drawer session cats. Matthews has always been good at choosing cover songs, always one step ahead of the curve in terms of the artists and songs he chooses. Indeed, his original version of Steve Young’s 7 Bridges Road was directly cribbed by The Eagles for their much more famous version.

A simply gorgeous and well sung album that surely benefited from the Michael Nesmith production and O. J. Rhodes pedal steel, to my mind it was always Matthews’ vocal being a perfect marriage with the country twangin’ instruments that made this the enjoyable experience that it originally was.

It’s no wonder he couldn’t last with Fairport Convention having to compete with Sandy Denny for lead opportunities as no band should have two voices so gifted. A couple of slower moments sort of halt the overall flow, as it did on the original, but the downtime is brief.

Yet another great version of These Days is reimagined here and so along with the aforementioned 7 Bridges Road and even the newly crafted Old Man At The Mill, the music still showcases Matthews at his very best. Still maybe too country for some, but not for me.

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