Gordon Haskell
Gordon Haskell (born 27 April 1946 near Bournemouth; died 16 October 2020) … Read Full Bio ↴Gordon Haskell (born 27 April 1946 near Bournemouth; died 16 October 2020) was an English musician and songwriter. Haskell first gained recognition as bassist for the British band Les Fleur de Lys , and subsequently spent a short period in King Crimson (singing one of the songs on their second album and both singing and playing bass on their third album). After departing King Crimson, he continued his musical career as a solo musician, gaining international recognition in 2001 with his hit song "How Wonderful You Are", followed by his platinum-selling album Harry's Bar.
In his time in the transitional King Crimson line-up of 1970, he appeared on the album Lizard, but quit the group during rehearsals for live work. A school friend with Robert Fripp, they previously worked together in an earlier version of League of Gentlemen. Haskell's more folk oriented interests were in conflict with Crimson's sound, so he elected to leave.
Subsequently, he released a series of solo albums, including -
It Is And It Isn't (1972) Atlantic, No.8 Radio Luxembourg chart
Serve At Room Temperature (1979) RCA (un-released until 1997)
In the 80s, after getting into some debt, he decamped to Denmark where he played in bars six nights a week . His voice became a lot stronger, and he paid off his debt. In the 1990s he continued to make more albums, and even released some singles. The "Almost Certainly" single, released in 1990, went to number one in South Africa. An album called Hambledon Hill followed this. It did well on airplay with BBC Radio 1's DJ, Bob Harris saying "he loved it". A single of the same name was planned. Alas the distributor went bankrupt, and so the deal fell through. However in 1994 the Voiceprint record label re-issued the album, and more followed like -
It's Just A Plot To Drive You Crazy (1994) Voiceprint
Butterfly In China (1996) Wilderness Records (A single from Butterfly In China was planned called "More Yin Than Yang", but only promo copies were available).
All In The Scheme Of Things (1999) Wilderness Records
Look Out (2001) Flying Sparks
Look Out contained a song entitled "How Wonderful You Are". This was given to Johnnie Walker of BBC Radio 2 the day before 9/11, and he liked the song, so he played it to listeners, who made it the most requested song in the radio station's history. Due to public demand, this was released as a single for the UK Christmas number one chase. Despite only 25% TV & radio publicity, it still crashed in to the Christmas number two spot in the UK Singles Chart, selling 400,000 copies. It was narrowly beaten by Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman's cover of "Something Stupid", which had 95% publicity.
Warner Bros. signed Gordon for a long-term album deal, and Harry's Bar was released under the East West record label on 7 January 2002. It also crashed into number 2 in the UK Albums Chart, making Haskell's comeback a great success. European audiences also embraced Harry's Bar and it became more successful.
Later on that year Shadows On The Wall was released, but only made Number 44 in the UK Albums Chart.
Then Haskell decided to write his autobiography with David Nobbs author of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. His next album The Lady Wants To Know comprises eleven tracks and was produced by Hamish Stuart and featured Tony O'Malley and Robbie McIntosh (Stuart and McIntosh were formerly members of the Scottish rock band, Average White Band). The album reached Number 14 in the Polish album charts.
A DVD, "The Road To Harry's Bar", was released in 2005 and Haskell also published his autobiography under the same title, with the foreword written by David Nobbs, creator of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
After commuting from the Greek island of Skopelos for eight years he returned to the UK in 2017 for a British tour with Hannah's Yard.
In his time in the transitional King Crimson line-up of 1970, he appeared on the album Lizard, but quit the group during rehearsals for live work. A school friend with Robert Fripp, they previously worked together in an earlier version of League of Gentlemen. Haskell's more folk oriented interests were in conflict with Crimson's sound, so he elected to leave.
Subsequently, he released a series of solo albums, including -
It Is And It Isn't (1972) Atlantic, No.8 Radio Luxembourg chart
Serve At Room Temperature (1979) RCA (un-released until 1997)
In the 80s, after getting into some debt, he decamped to Denmark where he played in bars six nights a week . His voice became a lot stronger, and he paid off his debt. In the 1990s he continued to make more albums, and even released some singles. The "Almost Certainly" single, released in 1990, went to number one in South Africa. An album called Hambledon Hill followed this. It did well on airplay with BBC Radio 1's DJ, Bob Harris saying "he loved it". A single of the same name was planned. Alas the distributor went bankrupt, and so the deal fell through. However in 1994 the Voiceprint record label re-issued the album, and more followed like -
It's Just A Plot To Drive You Crazy (1994) Voiceprint
Butterfly In China (1996) Wilderness Records (A single from Butterfly In China was planned called "More Yin Than Yang", but only promo copies were available).
All In The Scheme Of Things (1999) Wilderness Records
Look Out (2001) Flying Sparks
Look Out contained a song entitled "How Wonderful You Are". This was given to Johnnie Walker of BBC Radio 2 the day before 9/11, and he liked the song, so he played it to listeners, who made it the most requested song in the radio station's history. Due to public demand, this was released as a single for the UK Christmas number one chase. Despite only 25% TV & radio publicity, it still crashed in to the Christmas number two spot in the UK Singles Chart, selling 400,000 copies. It was narrowly beaten by Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman's cover of "Something Stupid", which had 95% publicity.
Warner Bros. signed Gordon for a long-term album deal, and Harry's Bar was released under the East West record label on 7 January 2002. It also crashed into number 2 in the UK Albums Chart, making Haskell's comeback a great success. European audiences also embraced Harry's Bar and it became more successful.
Later on that year Shadows On The Wall was released, but only made Number 44 in the UK Albums Chart.
Then Haskell decided to write his autobiography with David Nobbs author of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. His next album The Lady Wants To Know comprises eleven tracks and was produced by Hamish Stuart and featured Tony O'Malley and Robbie McIntosh (Stuart and McIntosh were formerly members of the Scottish rock band, Average White Band). The album reached Number 14 in the Polish album charts.
A DVD, "The Road To Harry's Bar", was released in 2005 and Haskell also published his autobiography under the same title, with the foreword written by David Nobbs, creator of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
After commuting from the Greek island of Skopelos for eight years he returned to the UK in 2017 for a British tour with Hannah's Yard.
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Gordon Haskell Lyrics
01. How wonderful you are I go out most nights Attracted by the lights Listen to the…
03. Voodoo dance [Chorus: ] Whenever you do that voodoo It puts me in a…
Al Capone I'm gonna be your jack of diamonds Never leave you all…
All In The Scheme Of Things All the Pharaons got together When things went on the skids …
All Since You Went Away Oh, what a life we lived then - loving most…
All The Time In The World What does it matter if it's a quarter to two? The…
Better By Far You can't change the world No matter how hard you try So…
Boat Trip Made me a man from crush-ed rock Gave me a shepherd…
Born To Be Together Though we face, These difficult times, If we have faith, …
Could Be I could dig living in a cave by the sea And…
Flying Home Tomorrow Flying home tomorrow Yes I'm gonna be there soon Money I sha…
How Wonderful You Are I go out most nights Attracted by the lights Listen to the…
Just a Lovely Day Once upon a time There was a windmill by a stream The…
Lawbreaker Lawbreaker Can I join your band I've just had my fill Of …
No Meaning Sittin' by streams Diggin' my dreams My eye on a stickleba…
No Need She made me look mild She was kinda wild Nobody had to…
Oo La Di Doo Da Day Wishing well, oh wish me well this morning Blackbird, won't…
Slow Boat It's a slow boat But our sails are set, It's a straight…
Someone I Knew These are sunny days in many ways I'm sailing on through…
Sunshine In the Night Super Souls and golden hearts sure are hard to find In…
The Right Time Way up on the mountain Where the rivers too cold to…
There Goes My Heart Again And I don't know where I'm going now Where to start…
Time Only Knows Oh such a funny boy, growing out of every toy Seems…
Voodoo Dance [Chorus: ] Whenever you do that voodoo It puts me in a…