Matchbox are an English rockabilly band that formed in 1971, and who are still active (as of 2011, at least). Their most successful phase was easily the (very) late '70s / early '80s when the band's biggest hits included 'Rockabilly Rebel' (1979), 'Midnite Dynamos' (1980) and 'Over The Rainbow,' an adapted version of the original also from 1980.

Indeed, their last single, 'I Want Out' from their album, Crossed Line (produced along with the late, and still-missed Kirsty MacColl), was poetic in that they did indeed get out (of the business).

However, in 1989, Graham Fenton put together a band with Iain Terry, Bob Burgos, Howard Gadd and Greg Gadd. They called themselves Graham Fenton's Matchbox. They recorded six albums in the early 1990s.

The original Matchbox actually line-up reformed in 1995 though. And the band has been playing live all over Europe since their comeback, especially in Germany, France, Holland, Spain, Finland and Sweden. (On a side note, on some occasions Iain Terry and Dave Dix were used as replacements for Bloomfield and Poke).

And on to this newly-expanded release. Flying Colours (1981) was the third studio album by rockabilly rebels, Matchbox and actually marks it's debut on CD. The album includes the hit singles 'Love’s Made A Fool Of You' (#63 on the UK charts) and 'Babes In The Wood' (# 46 on the UK charts). Indeed, this remastered deluxe edition also comes complete with three hard-to-find B-Sides, which were not released on albums at the time:

1. Love's Made A Fool Of You
2. Heartaches By The Number
3. Angels On Sunday
4. Lone Star Dreamers
5. Bonaparte's Retreat
6. Whiplash
7. Babe's In The Wood
8. Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
9. You're The One
10. 24 Hours
11. Wish I'd Never (Said Hello)'
12. Arabella's On Her Way
13. Tokyo Joe
14. Springheel Jack
15. City Women

FYI - The wonderful booklet, as always contains detailed liner notes and pictures of all relevant 7" singles, all alongside the iconic original LP artwork.

CD Purchase Link