If was Great Britain's contribution to the
jazz-
rock movement begun and popularized in the late '60s/early '70s by Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago. Formed in 1969 by Melody Maker
jazz poll winners Dave Quincy, Dick Morrissey, and Terry Smith, the band never found popular success in the United States. However, If produced several albums noteworthy for placing
jazz players in a
pop/
rock band context and producing a true
fusion of the two genres without diluting the players' improvisational skills. Unlike most of their horn-band contemporaries, If had no brass players in the band, relying solely on the saxophones of Dick Morrissey and the flute and saxophones of Dave Quincy. But what really gave If its unique sound were the vocals of J.W. Hodgkinson and the guitar of Terry Smith. Hodgkinson's vocal timbre was unusual -- smooth, flexible, and strong in the high end, sounding like no other vocalist. Smith's trebly guitar sound was also unique, combining a rocker's use of sustain with the
jazz fluency of Wes Montgomery and Django Reinhardt. The original incarnation of If produced five excellent albums between 1970 and 1972, but these albums failed to find an audience. Morrissey soldiered on with the If name for two more albums with a totally different lineup and a more generic
rock-type sound, but these, too, went nowhere. Drummer Dennis Elliott was later a member of the platinum-selling
rock band Foreigner..
Tracks:-------
01. Your City Is Falling (Dave Quincy) - 3:57
02. I Couldn't Write And Tell You (Dave Quincy) - 7:07
03. Sunday Sad (Dick Morrissey) - 6:55
04. Tarmac T. Pirate And The Lonesome Nymphomaniac (John Mealing, Trevor Preston) - 3:10
05. Upstairs (B. Morrissey, Dick Morrissey) - 3:49
06. Sweet January (Dave Quincy, Trevor Preston) - 5:31
07. Forgotten Roads (Dave Quincy, Trevor Preston) - 3:58
08. Fibonacci's Number (Dave Quincy) - 7:52
09. Seldom Seen Sam (Terry Smith, J.W. Hodkinson) - 4:33
10. Far Beyond (John Mealing, Trevor Preston) - 4:57
11. The Light Still Shines (Live) (Dave Quincy) - 6:36
12. What Did I Say About The Fox, Jack? (Live) (Dick Morrissey) - 8:18
13. Waterfall (Live) (Dick Morrissey, B. Morrissey) - 5:39
14. Seldom Seen Sam (Live) (Terry Smith, J.W. Hodkinson) - 7:19
Personnel:---------
Dennis Elliott - Drums
J.W. Hodkinson - Vocals
John Mealing - Keyboards (Tracks 1-10)
Dick Morrissey - Saxophones, Flute
Dave Quincy - Saxophones
Jim Richardson - Bass (Tracks 1-10)
Terry Smith - Guitar
Dennis Elliott - Drums (Tracks 1-10)
Dave Wintour - Bass (Tracks 11-14)
Cliff Davies - Drums (Tracks 11-14)
Notes:Recorded In London Between December 1970 And July 1972
1-4 December 1970
5-8 June 1971
9-10 September 1971
10-14 Live July 1972
High Quality Soundboard Recording
All thanks to original releaser