| Matchbook | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Ian Moss |
| Cover: | Matchbook_Ian_Moss.jpg |
| Released: | 1 August 1989 |
| Recorded: | September 1988 – January 1989 |
| Studio: | Rhinoceros Studios, Sydney and Oceanways Studios, Los Angeles |
| Genre: | Rock, pop rock, blues rock |
| Label: | Mushroom |
| Producer: | Chris Lord-Alge, Ian Moss |
| Next Title: | Worlds Away |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
Matchbook is the debut solo studio album by Australian singer-guitarist, Ian Moss, a member of pub rockers, Cold Chisel. Six of its ten tracks were written by fellow Cold Chisel bandmate, Don Walker, and three were co-written by Moss and Walker. The album was released in August 1989 and peaked at number 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart; it remained in the Top 10 for 14 weeks and shipped more than 200,000 copies.[1] It also reached the Top 20 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.[2]
Moss described the album's sound to Beryl Cook of The Canberra Times, "it's definitely fairly R&B with a white soul edge to it, with a hint of rock and roll and plenty of big guitar over the top."[3]
Matchbook provided four singles, "Tucker's Daughter" (November 1988, which reached No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart), "Telephone Booth" (June 1989, No. 7), "Out of the Fire" (September, No. 29) and "Mr. Rain" (December).[4] "Tucker's Daughter" also peaked at No. 6 in New Zealand, where "Telephone Booth" got to No. 29.[2]
At the ARIA Music Awards of 1990 the album was nominated for and won three categories: Album of the Year, Best Male Artist and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Moss.[5] At the same ceremony, for "Tucker's Daughter", Moss won Breakthrough Artist – Single and Song of the Year (shared with Walker), as well as nominated for Single of the Year.[5]
A limited edition white vinyl version of Matchbook was released on 1 June 2018.[6]
A 30th Anniversary edition was released in August 2019.[7]
Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, found the album displayed Moss' "exemplary, controlled guitar technique, but also highlighted his soulful voice ... [he] handled all lead vocals with considerable style and authority".[8] The Canberra Times Penelope Layland opined, "It is faultless at what it does... The music on the album is mainly blues-influenced rock, although some tracks, such as the funky 'Mr Rain', break away from the mould."[9]
| Chart (1989) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[10] | 22 |
| Australian Artist Albums (ARIA) | 6 |