Tigers Will Survive

• Artist: Iain Matthews
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1971 11
• Total Time: 38:27
• Genre: Folk

Review

Tigers Will Survive, Ian Matthews' second release of 1971, and fifth in less than three years, continues the Anglo-American folk-rock that he began in 1968 with Fairport Convention. Following his departure from the band in early 1969, Matthews' style quickly veered from the British traditional direction that Fairport was headed, gravitating more toward the American singer/songwriter scene that was the source for much of the group's material in their early days, keeping him closer to the mid-Atlantic mix of What We Did on Our Holidays (his last record with the band). If You Saw Thro' My Eyes, his previous album, reunited him with members of his old band, as well as others from the revolving Fairport/Fotheringay cast, but this time out, with the exception of Richard Thompson's accordion on a couple of tunes (credited as Woolfe J. Flywheel), he opts for the backing of the English rock band Quiver. And while it may lack some of the cohesive personality of its predecessor, Tigers Will Survive still shares its primarily acoustic sound, augmented by a strong rhythm section and touches of electric guitar. Also, as was the case with that album, the toughest moment is courtesy of Richard Farina, whose "House of Unamerican Blues Activity Dream" brings an edginess and anger to Matthews' characteristically pretty and reflective tone, though his self-penned title track is close behind. Elsewhere, the beautiful "Morning Song" and Phil Spector's "Da Do Ron Ron" (without a change in gender) are high points for Ian Matthews, the songwriter and interpreter, respectively. The former is among the two or three best songs he'd written, while the latter, a wonderful a cappella rendition of the Crystals' classic, bolstered only by hand claps, brings a lightness and energy to the record. Tigers Will Survive, though just a rung below If You Saw Thro' My Eyes, is another fine effort for Matthews. The two recordings were later teamed together on one CD. ~ Brett Hartenbach, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Tigers Will Survive		Ian Matthews	(4:07)
Midnight on the Water		Ian Matthews	(2:50)
Right Before My Eyes		Ian Matthews	(2:16)
Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)		Ian Matthews	(2:14)
Hope You Know		Ian Matthews	(3:26)
Please Be My Friend		Ian Matthews	(5:40)
Never Again		Ian Matthews	(3:16)
Close the Door Lightly		Ian Matthews	(3:09)
House of Unamerican Blues Activity Dream		Ian Matthews	(3:22)
Morning Song		Ian Matthews	(3:49)
The Only Dancer		Ian Matthews	(4:18)

Credits

Pat Thomas (Reissue Producer), Andy Roberts (Guitar), Patrick Roques (Design), Bruce Thomas (Bass), Ian Matthews (Producer), Richard Thompson (Accordion), Ian Matthews (Memorabilia), Tim Renwick (Guitar), Gary Hobish (Remastering), Robin Black (Audio Engineer), Timi Donald (Drums), Woolfe J. Flywheel (Accordion), Bob Ronga (Bass), John Wilson (Drums), Robin Black (Engineer), Bob Ronga (Keyboards), Bruce Thomas (Piano), Ray Warleigh (Saxophone), Ian Whitman (Piano), Richard Thompson (Guitar), Ian Whiteman (Keyboards), Bob Ronga (Piano), Gary Hobish (Reissue Mastering), Ian Matthews (Guitar), Ian Matthews (Vocals), Desmond Strobel (Art Direction), Ray Warleigh (Sax (Alto)), Jim Renwick (Guitar), Ian Matthews (Photo Courtesy), John Youssi (Design), Gilbert Kong (Mastering), Ian Matthews (Liner Notes), Ian Matthews (Audio Production), Patrick Roques (Reissue Art), Cal Batchelor (Guitar), Filippo Salvadori (Reissue Producer)