line-up 1: (1973)

- Bill Atkinson -- drums, percussion

- Alan Barry -- lead guitar, acoustic guitar

- Gordon Haskell (aka Gordon Hionides) (RIP 2020) -- vocals, 

  guitar

- David Kaffinetti -- keyboards

- John Wetton -- bass, keyboards, backing vocals

  supporting musicians (1973)

- David Brigati -- backing vocals

- Eddie Brigati -- backing vocals

- Arif Mardin -- keyboards

- Neal Rosengarden -- keyboards

- David Spinoza -- rhythm guitar

- Cupid's Inspiration

- East Side Shuffle

- Graffiti House Band

- The Fleur de Lys

- Joe

- King Crimson

- The League of Gentlemen

- The Quotations

- Rupert's People

- Shyster

- The Soundtracks

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  It Is and It Isn't

Company: ATCO

Catalog: SD 33-376

Year: 1973

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: includes lyric insert

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4522

Price: $30.00

Cost: $66.00

Genre: rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  It Is and It Isn't

Company: ATCO

Catalog: SD 33-376

Year: 1973

Country/State: UK

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: promo copy; sticker on cover

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4522

Price: $25.00

Okay, okay I was on a trip to see my wife's parents and in return the wife agreed to let me stop at a Salvation Army store to scrounge for used records.  This was one of two items I copped that day.   Interestingly, I knew nothing about Gordon Haskell, rather purchased the album for the funky cover and the label (ATCO).

Well it turns out that I did know quite a bit about Haskell.  Somewhat of a rock journeyman, he was the voice of The Fleur de Lys, played with Robert Fripp in The League of Gentlemen, headed Cupid's Inspiration (whose LP is a criminally overlooked gem), as well as participating on a pair of early-1970s King Crimson albums that I happen to own ("In the Wake of Poseidon" and "Lizard").  

With such a varied background I wasn't sure what to expect from this album - Crimson-styled progressive moves, or Cupid's Inspiration pop.  Well, it turns out 1973's "It Is and It Isn't" offered up a mix of the two.  Produced by Arif Mardin (who contributed keyboards to several tracks), the set was far more commercial than anything Crimson ever did, but the folk and rock moves were something Haskell's earlier pop groups never would have attempted.  Haskell had a great voice; warm and omfortable that's was perfectly suited for the radio, meaning that most of these twelve tracks would have sounded great on mid-1970s airwaves; not that the album generated any attention.  With backing from guitarist Alan Berry (who got a cool bell sound out of his guitar) and King Crimson alumnus/keyboardist John Wetton, Haskell was at his best on up-tempo rockers such as the opener 'No Meaning,' 'Could Be' and 'Sitting By the Fire.'  Surprisingly he was equally impressive on the outright pop stuff like 'xxx.'  Curiously, a couple of on-line reviews label the effort as being Gordon Lightfoot-styled folk.  Other than the fact tracks such as 'Upside Down' and 'Just a Lovely Day' were pretty acoustic numbers, the comparison didn't have much merit to my ears.  Anyhow, in total it made for an impressive debut album.  My favorite tracks were the should've-been-a-hit 'No Meaning' and the completely bizarre 'Worms.'  It's not an album that initially overwhelmed me and there are too many singer-songwriter acoustic ballads, but it's one that I've grown to enjoy and appreciate over the years.  One of two fewer ballads and this one would have rated four stars.

I'm not sure why, but virtually every copy of this LP seems to be a promo copy.  Also, the UK version (issued on Atlantic), seems to fetch a higher resale price.  I think the two releases are identical, so I'd suggest you buy the US pressing.

"It Is and It Isn't" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) No Meaning (Gordon Haskell) - 3:25 rating: **** stars

I'll me the first to admit I was surprised by what a commercial sound 'No Meaning' exhibited.  Haskell's warm and comfortable voice was perfectly suited to the tune's breezy, charming rock melody.  Add Alan Barry's awesome lead guitar and you were left to wonder why ATCO didn't tap this one as a single.

2.) Could Be (Gordon Haskell) - 3:16 rating: **** stars

Opening with kind of a jazzy vibe, 'Could Be' was another tune with a great melody; catchy chorus and interesting lyrics seemingly about detaching from mainstream life - Haskell briefly moved to Greece late in his life.

3.) Upside Down (Gordon Haskell) - 4:38 rating: *** stars

Normally I'm not a big folk fan.  Showcasing a pretty acoustic melody and some intriguing lyrics "Everything is upside down and turned around;  And like the fly that's settled on the ceiling I'll get by" 'Upside Down' was one of the exceptions.  Always like John Wetton's electric bass on this one.

4.) Just a Lovely Day (Gordon Haskell) - 4:56 rating: *** stars

'Just a Lovely Day' is one of those songs that makes me wish I'd had the talent to learn acoustic guitar.  It's the perfect tune to hear on a lazy summer day ...  Not sure I can explain that, other than Haskell's easy-going vocal couples perfectly with the sweet, stream-of-conscious lyrics.  Pass the cold wine.

5.) Sitting By the Fire (Gordon Haskell) - 3:41 rating: **** stars

After two ballads the edgy rocker 'Sitting By the Fire' came as sort of a shock. With the Bill Atkinson - John Wetton rhythm section kicking the tune along, this may have been Haskell's best vocal performance.  It certainly seemed to reflect Haskell's disappointment with the human condition.  Barry also kicked in one of his most impressive solos.  The chorus was pure ear candy.  Nice that ATCO tapped the song as a promotional single in the States, but they did  little to actually push the track::

- 1973's 'Sitting By the Fire' (stereo) b/w 'Sitting By the Fire'(mono)  (ATCO catalog number 45-6889)

6.) When I Lose (Gordon Haskell) - 0:18 rating: *** stars

Well, 'When I Lose' was certainly short.  The lyrics were also pretty funny.  

(side 2)

1.) No Need (Gordon Haskell) - 2:46 rating: **** stars

Another pretty pastoral melody ...  Imagine an English James Taylor.   Haskell had a lovely voice and when doubled tracked it sounded even better.  Those harmony vocals !!!

2.) Worms (Gordon Haskell) - 4:40 rating: **** stars

My favorite song on the album, I've contemplated the lyrics dozens of times and still don't have a friggin' clue what this one's about. "So one day when yellows and greens and blues are all over Lay me 'neath the last square inch of clover No one's more important than the earthworm ..."  The track featured another awesome Barry guitar solo.  In the mid-'70s Haskell was invited to join the band Stackridge.  He actually rehearsed with them, but ultimately elected to turn the offer down.  That didn't stop Stackridge from appropriating this songs for their 1975 "Extravaganza" album.  Their version was retited 'No Ones More Important Than The Earthworm' and sounded quite a bit different than the original.  It was also one of the album highlights.

3.) Spider (Gordon Haskell) - 4:15 rating: *** stars

Opening up with Wetton providing some church organ fills, 'Spider' offered up kind of a jazzy shuffle.  Another one where Haskell's eccentric lyrics left me wondering what the song was about.

4.) Learning Not To Feel (Gordon Haskell) - 2:33 rating: *** stars

Haskell's disdain for the music industry was something that stuck with him throughout his entire career and I'm guessing the fragile, acoustic ballad 'Learning Not To Feel' reflected one of the ways he learned to cope with the ongoing frustrations and disappointments. 

5.) Benny (Gordon Haskell) - 4:46 rating: ** stars

Nothing wrong with a pretty ballad, but after awhile the genre can overwhelm you - certainly the case with 'Benny.'  With such a good backing band you had to wonder why he didn't include a couple more up-tempo rockers ...

6.) When I Laugh (Gordon Haskell) - 0:25 rating: ** stars

Blink and this one's over ...  Another acoustic ballad.

Suffering from lung cancer, Haskell passed on in October, 2020.  

There's a nice Haskell  website at: Home - Gordon Haskell Gordon Haskell 

There's also a nice biography/tribute to be found at: Gordon Haskell – Bournemouth Beat Boom (wordpress.com)

I've never tracked down a copy, but in 2006 Haskell wrote and published an autobiography The Road to Harry’s Bar: Forty Years on the Potholed Road to Stardom (Mainstream Publishing ISBN-13 978-1840189872)

© Scott R. Blackerby November, 2023