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.

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!

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.