Pioneering British jazz rock outfit IF compromise some of the finest musicians in England, including tenor sax virtuoso Dick Morrissey and guitar star Terry Smith. They were well received in America and hugely popular throughout Europe during their heyday in the early seventies.
If was unusual in writing original songs and arrangements, giving their music a much broader appeal than most instrumental jazz groups. With powerful singer J. W. Hodkinson at the helm, and a rich variety of styles from soul to funk, the band had the opportunity to shine an exotic range of settings.
Despite their success as a “Live” act, a hit single eluded them and this didn’t help the band’s long term future. Indeed their fourth album “IF4” was the last by their original line up. Thereafter, If underwent conclusions that led to their break up. While IF4 is a diverse collection of performances, every track has its delights and surprises. Some of the tracks on IF4 were included on the now legendary “Waterfall” album that was released in the US by Metro Media Records.
The end of the first chapter of IF came after a strenuous European tour in August 1972. They were schedule to fly to L.A. the following September to play at the Whiskey A Go Go. However Dick ended up in hospital, and the whole tour was cancelled. That’s when the band split up. Dave Quincy and Terry Smith got involved in a group called Zzebra, later Dick reformed IF with Cliff Davies and did some more albums.
In transpired that Dick was under contract to Lew Futterman for five years, which didn’t run out until 1975. Once he gained his freedom, Dick went to New York and was involved with the Average White Band for a while. That’s where he met Jim Mullen and they formed a band, which played together for many years. Sadly Dick-a much- admired musician- died after a long illness in the year 2000 aged 60.
by Chris Welch, February 2007
1. Sector 17 (Quincy) – 10:34
2. The Light Still Shines (Quincy, Humphrey) – 5:06
3. You In Your Small Corner (Quincy, Humphrey) – 3:49
4. Waterfall (D. Morrissey, B. Morrissey) – 5:27
5. Throw Myself To The Wind (D. Morrissey, B. Morrissey) – 4:51
6. Svenska Soma (Jonsson, Smith) – 7:09
If
*Dennis Elliott - Drums
*J.W. Hodgkinson - Vocals, Percussion
*John Mealing - Keyboards
*Dick Morrissey - Saxophones, Flute
*Dave Quincy - Saxophones
*Jim Richardson - Bass
*Terry Smith - Guitar
1970 If - If 2 (Repertoire remaster)
1971 If - If 3 (Repertoire remaster)
Related Acts
1968 Terry Smith - Fall Out
1974 Zzebra - Zzebra
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The history of the fourth album of If is somewhat complicated , but the recordings are made to have been published in more or less three different albums . The fourth LP of If should be a kind of live album , recorded live in the studio, in front of a selected audience . The band was convinced that she was "alive" to some powerful and virtuoso to swing. In February 1972 If went into the Command Centre in London to "live" some of their new compositions. Additional recordings were made at a "real" performance at the Marquee Club . Also part of a European tour in April 1972 ( mostly in Germany ) were banned to phonograms . Finally, a slightly different cast of If went into the studio in July 1972 to more pieces , this time without an audience , inputs play . After that, the albums were compiled .
ReplyDeleteIn Europe, the fourth LP of If , under the title "If 4" (the top of the cover shown above) and included mainly live recorded through the numbers. In the U.S., the disc came out under the title " Waterfall " and was a mix of live and studio recordings numbers in July . A portion of the remaining live recordings appeared finally in 1997 repertoire on the CD " Europe '72" .
"If 4" I have on LP, as part of the double album " The classic British rock scene - If" In fact - already noted above - most of the songs on the album recorded live in the studio - for a small audience. Only for " You in your small corner" , which disappears towards the end , I 'm not sure. The piece was used as the B - side of " Waterfall " -single and therefore could be a result of his studio session of July 1972 .
Musically, here is a rousing , very brilliantly carried forward Jazz is offered , occasionally certain similarities with the Canterbury scene can not be denied . The rhythm section , organ and electric piano provide a tight , jazzy, rockin ' skeleton over which guitarist Smith and the two wind instrument players let off steam ( various saxophones and flute) . In addition , the characteristic , cutting - bluesy vocals of Hodkinson . Highlights of the disc are the long " Sector 17 " and the final ( to be found only on this album ) , " Svenska Soma " , two diverse jazz-rock jams that are the best that the genre has produced in the UK. " Waterfall " , the original U.S. version of the material has appeared in repertoire in the beautiful digi-pack in 2003 and has also been remastered from Eroc . So if you want to know the fourth album by If should probably resort to this disc! LP CD reissue of Repertoire !
another i don't have! thanks!
ReplyDeleteSuperb posting Marios
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
Albert
I'm curious if someone knows anything about the track 'Svenska Soma'..."svenska" means "Swedish" in - Swedish..."soma" is Sanskrit for an old, Indian drug. Weird, huh?
ReplyDeleteThanks still,
J. (still in Alicante)