Personnel:
Dick Morrissey, Dave Quincy, J.W. Hodkinson, Terry Smith, John Mealing, Jim Richardson, Dennis Elliott
Reference: BHR-902
Contains The Complete 1971 Album: If3
Includes Two Bonus Track Versions of: What Did I Say About The Box Jack? from Ifs 1970 debut album If, and a 20-minute version from a 1972 live European recording.
Featuring multi-reed instrumentalists Dick Morrissey and Dave Quincy, vocalist J.W. Hodkinson, guitarist Terry Smith, keyboardist John Mealing, bassist Jim Richardson and drummer Dennis Elliott.
Great Britians response to Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago was a group called If, whose relative anonymity in the U.S. never prevented them from developing into one of the finest exponents of the jazz-rock genre. Founded by Melody Maker jazz poll winners Dick Morrissey and Terry Smith in 1969, the group created their own unique synthesis of jazz and rock, characterized by tight arrangements for the saxophones and guitar, the complete absence of brass, the incomparable improvisational skills of the soloists, and the nakedly honest, raw emotional power of both the vocalist and the group as a whole.
This release features the album If3 in its entirety as well as two versions of the groups most emblematic composition What Did I Say About The Box Jack? as bonus tracks. The first version was recorded in the studio, and was released on the groups debut album If. The second version was recorded live in Europe in 1972. The intensity and extended length (20:23) of the track, exemplify the groups unparalleled live performances at their best.
Total Time: 70:09
