Iain Matthews - Shake It

profdiogodionizio

Review by Prof Diogo Dionizio

Shake It by Iain Matthews: A Soft Rock Gem from 1978 Iain Matthews’ Shake It is one of those albums that sneaks up on you. Released in 1978 under Mushroom Records, this Canadian soft rock project doesn’t scream for attention but instead wraps itself around you like a warm blanket on a chilly night. It’s not flashy, but it’s got soul—and sometimes, that’s all you need. The title track, “Shake It,” kicks things off with a groove that feels effortless. The rhythm is infectious, blending laid-back guitar riffs with Matthews’ smooth vocals. You can almost picture yourself cruising down a sun-drenched highway in some small Canadian town when this tune comes on. It’s the kind of song that makes you wanna roll down the windows and let the wind mess up your hair. What sticks with me about this track isn’t just its catchiness—it’s how unpretentious it feels. There’s no over-the-top production or forced drama; it’s just good, honest music. Another standout is “Somebody’s Gonna Get Hurt” (yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s one of the tracks). This one digs a little deeper emotionally. The lyrics hit harder than you’d expect from a soft rock album, tackling themes of love gone wrong without getting too sappy. The melody has this bittersweet vibe, and Matthews’ delivery gives it weight. I remember listening to it late at night once, and it felt like he was singing directly to me. Maybe that’s cheesy to admit, but hey, sometimes music does that. One thing worth noting is how cohesive the album feels. Matthews clearly wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel here—he just wanted to make something real. And honestly? That’s what makes Shake It so endearing. In an era filled with bigger-than-life rock anthems, this record reminds us that subtlety can be powerful too. Looking back, it’s kinda wild to think this came out nearly 45 years ago. Listening to it now, it still holds up—maybe because soft rock never really goes out of style, or maybe because Matthews nailed the formula so perfectly. Either way, Shake It deserves more credit than it gets. Fun fact: rumor has it Matthews recorded most of this album in a barn-turned-studio somewhere in Canada. If that doesn’t scream “authentic,” I don’t know what does. So if you’re hunting for something nostalgic yet fresh, give Shake It a spin—you might just find yourself shaking along.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: iain-matthews-shake-it.zip
  • MP3 size: 7.4 mb
  • FLAC size: 46.8 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Shake It3:10

Video

Ian Matthews - Stealin' Home (1978)
Ian Matthews-Shake It

Images

last ned album Iain Matthews - Shake It
baixar álbum Iain Matthews - Shake It

Catalog Numbers

M-7039 DJ

Labels

Mushroom Records

Listen online

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  • online anhören
  • lytte på nettet
  • ouvir online
  • ascolta in linea
  • online luisteren
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • lyssna på nätet
  • écouter en ligne

Formats

  • Vinyl
  • 7"
  • 45 RPM
  • Promo

About Iain Matthews

Born 16 Jun 1946, in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England. Changed name to Ian Matthews, then to Iain Matthews, both names are used for releases. Matthews is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He was an original member of the British folk rock band Fairport Convention from 1967 to 1969 before leaving and forming his own band, Matthews Southern Comfort, which had a UK number one in 1970 with a cover version of Joni Mitchell's song "Woodstock". In 1971, Matthews recorded two solo albums on Vertigo and in 1972, under the sponsorship of former Yardbird Paul Samwell-Smith, and surrounded by likeminded British semi-folkies (notably another ex-Fairporter, Richard Thompson), he formed Plainsong. After Plainsong collapsed due to a bandmate's alcohol problem, and with his career now based in Los Angeles, Matthews released several more albums with ad hoc bands. In 1979 his cover of Terence Boylan's "Shake It" reached No. 13 on the US charts. In 2000 Matthews moved to Amsterdam, where he became involved in independent music projects and collaborations, including the Sandy Denny tribute band No Grey Faith (an anagram of "Fotheringay"). Since 2003 Matthews has worked with Dutch pianist and composer Egbert Derix. In January-February 2015 Matthews and Derix toured in California to promote the US releases of their albums; Dutch filmmakers Peter Jong and Olivier Hamaker made a documentary about the making of In The Now. In a career spanning over fifty years he has featured on over 100 albums and in 2018 published an autobiography co-written with author and broadcaster Ian Clayton, "Thro My Eyes: A Memoir, about his life in the music industry.

Real Name

    • Ian Matthews MacDonald

Name Vars

  • I Matthews
  • I. MacDonald
  • I. Mathews
  • I. Matthews
  • I.Matthews
  • IM
  • Iain Matthews Band
  • Iain Matthewsby
  • Ian
  • Ian M. Matthews
  • Ian MacDonald
  • Ian Macdonald
  • Ian Mathews
  • Ian Matthews
  • Ian McDonald
  • J. Matthews
  • Mac Donald
  • MacDonald
  • Mathews
  • Matthews
  • Matthrws
  • Mattthews

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The album *Shake It* by Iain Matthews, released in 1978, blends soft rock with a laid-back vibe. It’s a hidden gem from Canada, released under Mushroom Records. The title track, "Shake It," perfectly captures the mellow spirit of the late '70s. Not many people know this record today, but it’s a sweet slice of rock history.

Comments

aaronbernard
2025-03-13
Another great song from my favorite singer, Ian Matthews.
coyote8nt
2025-03-13
it's a song for a sweet and cold night
happytestingweb
2025-03-12
Another beautiful song with Ian Matthews, this time with Stealin' Home. I really like these songs from the 70s you are introducing in videos, as somehow I must have missed them in Sweden during a decade that gave us loads of beautiful music. This one is wonderfully soft.
catrinegyllensten
2025-03-12
one of my all time favourite records thanks very much Im glad I found it again
auntreneexo
2025-03-12
@Hitchhikeroftheyear - Appreciate the comment and for the record, I agree.
thenathoy
2025-03-12
I was living in Morro Bay, California when this song was released as part of the album. I was 32 years of age and madly in love with 23 year old Susan Bowman. It's so very hard to (just) be thankful for the love we had rather than to be bitter and sad because those moments with her have now been gone for, well, for a lifetime.
gyrevkostya1
2025-03-12
why didn't you tell me Ena , I would have come
pablomorablog
2025-03-12
Sweet song!!!
mohal63789779
2025-03-11
JSB's
nnnixxx
2025-03-10
That is one beautiful pig