Few artists of the rock generation can boast as diverse a C.V. as Iain (sometimes Ian) Matthews.  The Fairport Convention founder went on to front Matthews' Southern Comfort and Plainsong as well as record under his own name in the pop, folk, country, and rock idioms, often blending those styles together.  In his first decade alone, Matthews recorded for the Deram, Polydor, Island, Uni, Vertigo, Elektra, and CBS/Columbia labels - and at virtually every label, material was left behind.  Between 1991 and 1999, the artist collected some of those outtakes, demos (of songs released and unreleased), alternates, radio performances, and live tracks on three limited edition volumes of Orphans and Outcasts.  Cherry Red has recently brought those three installments back into print in a new clamshell-cased collection which premieres Volume Four of the series.  These four discs trace not only Matthews' songwriting and performing evolution, but offer further evidence of his eclectic tastes and wide musical knowledge.

The first volume covers the period of 1970-1979, beginning with a clutch of rich, harmony-laden, country-rock outtakes from Matthews Southern Comfort's third album Later That Same Year and closing with a spare "songwriting memo" of Matthews' composition "New Shirt."  Along the way, there's a session with Richard Thompson, Gerry Conway, Andy Roberts, Pat Donaldson, and Ian Whiteman (highlighted by a bluesy take on Dylan's "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"), a Vertigo-era rarity (a fine, buoyant version of The Flying Burrito Brothers' "Christine's Tune"), a quartet of songs performed on the radio by Plainsong, and even two expectedly shimmering tunes recorded with the enigmatic Emmit Rhodes: the power pop-esque "So Sad" and breezy Young Rascals cover "Groovin'."

Volume Two picks up in 1981, and ends with the decade in 1989.  Two demos from his work with the band Hi-Fi first show Matthews adapting to the 1980s: the rhythmic, steely "S.O.S." and slick rock of "Better Not Stay."  Subsequent demos here, as Matthews admits in the liner notes, found him continuing on the path he first explored with Hi-Fi, and the acoustic sound of the past was replaced by a sleek, rhythmic sound.  The back-to-back sequencing of "We Don't Talk Anymore" and "Rains of '62" offers some insight into his songwriting, as he experimented with lyrics to the same melody.  Matthews ultimately reconnected with his own, purest muse by tackling the songs of others, and strong, sharp demos produced by collaborator Mark Hallman are included of songs by Jules Shear (whose work Matthews championed) and even Peter Gabriel.

Matthews opted to make Volume Three a true career retrospective, spanning 1966-1997.  The earliest track, Alan Gordon and Garry Bonner's "Me About You," is familiar from The Turtles' hit rendition.  Here is the shelved second single from the group Pyramid, consisting of Steve Hiet, Al Jackson, and Iain Matthews.  Though the arrangement is a bit lackadaisical compared to The Turtles', Matthews was in fine fettle for his very first lead vocal.  Other early tracks on this disc show off his beautiful, early acoustic folk sound and lush harmonies, including an a cappella version of "I'll Fly Away" by Plainsong.  The eight-track demo of Matthews Southern Comfort's biggest hit - Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" - is suitably fascinating, capturing the essence of the song as powerfully as the final recording. The outtake "Sing Senorita," recorded for the West Coast-inspired 1978 Stealin' Home album (which yielded the hit "Shake It"), epitomizes Matthews' countrified yacht rock style of the era.  This disc almost completely overlooks the '80s save for a Cliff Richard cover mooted for 1983's Shook (a modernized "On the Beach") and a pair of 1986 demos, jumping to the '90s for solo and Plainsong demos (reuniting Matthews with Andy Roberts) as well as the tropically-flavored "Jaques and Tambo."

18 tracks comprise the newly-compiled Volume Four of Orphans and Outcasts, mostly from the latter period of the artist's career.  The oldest track is 1978's "Let Me Live Until I See You Again," written by Rachel Faro and recorded with Matthews' duo partner Bill Lamb.  Even as a demo, the pop sheen of the track is evident.  A 1988 live version of Steve Young's "Seven Bridges Road" impresses as do many of the further demos, some for Plainsong, which Matthews has shared here.  While some of the demos are more fully produced than others, all put the spotlight squarely where it should be, on Matthews' gifts as an incisive songwriter.  A one-take 1998 cover of Neil Young's "Mr. Soul" is happily ragged.  Bringing the collection full circle, the country influence present on his early recordings is richer than ever on his most recent ones.

Given the archival nature of this project, it's unsurprising that sound quality is variable from track to track, but the set is eminently listenable and many of the older tracks sound surprisingly great.  Oli Hemingway has mastered for this release.  Matthews has penned informative and often pithy track-by-track liner notes for every song here as well as a new introduction for Volume Four; his introductions for the previous volumes have all been reprinted, too, in the deluxe 36-page booklet.

Orphans and Outcasts, in this top-notch presentation designed by John Sellards, is essential listening for any fan of Matthews, in any era.  It's not an ideal introduction to his oeuvre, and longtime fans will appreciate comparing the demos to the finished versions.  But the set is a fascinating and worthwhile alternative history of an artist who's never stopped exploring and honing his craft.

Iain Matthews, Orphans & Outcasts: A Collection of Demos, Outtakes, and Live Performances Vols. I-IV (Cherry Red CRCDBOX72, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Volume 1: Out of the Egg

1. Touch Her If You Can
2. Yankee Lady
3. Belle
4. Later On
5. I Believe In You
6. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
7. Not Much at All
8. Baby Ruth
9. Hearts
10. Christine's Tune
11. Seeds and Stems
12. Spanish Guitar
13. Tigers Will Survive
14. Any Day Woman
15. Poor Ditching Boy
16. Even the Guiding Light
17. So Sad
18. Groovin'
19. Let There Be Blues
20. New Shirt

Volume Two: Learning to Fly

1. O.S.
2. Better Not Stay
3. What Do You Wish You Could Be
4. Perfect Timing
5. Voices
6. Action
7. Change
8. Rendezvous
9. What the Wanter Wants
10. Action and Intent
11. Too Hard Too Soon
12. Steady
13. Your Heart Again
14. Still I See You
15. We Don't Talk Anymore
16. Rains of '62
17. Mercy Street
18. Perfect Timing

Volume Three: Three's a Charm

1. Me About You
2. Woodstock
3. Hearts
4. Home
5. Never Ending
6. I'll Fly Away
7. Sing Senorita
8. On the Beach
9. This Fabrication
10. Except for a Tear
11. Next Time Around
12. God's Empty Chair
13. Jaques and Tambo
14. Sing Sister Sing

Volume Four: From a Hidden Pocket

1. Let Me Live Until I See You Again
2. Seven Bridges Road
3. Nothing's Changed
4. Voices
5. Living in Reverse
6. Restless Wings
7. Leaving Alone
8. Ballad of Gruene Hall
9. Rooted to the Spot
10. Even If It Kills Me
11. Horse Left in the Rain
12. Anchor Me
13. Something Mighty
14. Your Own Way of Forgetting
15. Soul
16. Stranded