Harry's Bar

Gordon Haskell | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 10, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Compass Records
• ASIN: B00006GOEB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #506,625 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2002 album for the artist who inspired the Christmas feel good story of last year. Taking a friend's challenge to try & make a record 'the old fashioned way', with a budget of less than 200 pounds, Haskell wrote & recorded 'How Wonderful You Are' which drew unprecedented listener response after being played on British radio, later becoming Radio 2's single of the week & one of the station's most requested records in the stations history. Haskell began his career in the 1960s with cult band The Fleurs De Lys. He was also part of King Crimson, played bass for Cliff Richard, jammed with Hendrix & played with Otis Redding. 12 tracks. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars an escapee from king crimson, May 21, 2005

By 

Peter Baklava (Charles City, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Harry's Bar (Audio CD)

Gordon Haskell is a musician who has shown true grit and perseverance. It took 35 years for anyone to notice his talent, but he has a very interesting history in the business. He contributed to a 'freakbeat' band called 'Les Fleur de Lys' in the 60's that has since obtained a cult status. Then he was invited by an old school chum (Robert Fripp) to take over the bass guitar duties in King Crimson. This was something of a brush with success for Haskell, because King Crimson was a huge band in the progressive rock fold. But Haskell didn't take to having his voice mangled by synthesizer effects while he tried to enunciate ponderous lyrics (early King Crimson was sometimes the aural equivalent of Ray Harryhausen movies.)

Haskell left the band and made a gentle, whimsical King Crimsonish album called "It Is and It Isn't". It tanked, and Haskell went into obscurity for many years.

He resurfaced in 2001 with this effort, "Harry's Bar", and joined the company of other ex-Crimsonites who have made good, like Bill Bruford and Keith Tippett.

This album is very smooth and sentimental, and well, er, 'adult'. Haskell is a warm singer with a romantic streak a mile wide. I would hope that all music lovers who remember Haskell's days in King Crimson would now give him a shot. His approach is very literate and tasteful, and he's accomplished something Robert Fripp has never managed to do: making a grown up album with jazz musicians.

Unfortunately, Haskell's solo albums--and he's made many--are not easy to find in the United States. This is ironic, because Haskell, although a Britisher, was born to an American father. His music is definitely worth seeking out. I recommend you do so.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an unexpected treasure, November 6, 2004

By 

chicAna (northern california) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Harry's Bar (Audio CD)

I heard a bit of 'How Wonderful You Are' on my NPR station and fortunately they identified the artist- I immediately(I was at my desk at work), got on Amazon and ordered 'Harrys Bar'. This CD has become a favorite- His voice, his songwriting are evocative, beautiful and elegant- I plan to order the rest of his CDs- This is romantic, wistful music- I recommend this CD to anyone who loves a well crafted love song- you won't be disappointed- The whole CD is fabulous

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hidden gem!, September 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Harry's Bar (Audio CD)

I was in London on vacation last Autumn and, while there, discovered the Haskell sensation that had taken the country by storm. Gordon is almost 60, a veteran rocker (ex- Fleur De Lys, King Crimson, jammed with Hendrix and Otis Redding, etc) who has eeked out a living playing in bars and and pubs for the past thirty years or so...he cut this one tune, "How Wonderful You Are," and it became a huge hit. And it deserves to be. Elegant, jazzy, smart but not pretentious, it's the kind of tune you just don't hear anymore. I missed my chance to buy the CD in the UK, but I heard it everywhere -- pubs, coffee bars, car stereos, the music video was all over. I can't say how happy I am to see it being released in the States...hopefully Americans will see a poignancy in Gordon's story, as well as in his songs...