Described as “the finest harmony pop psych offering in the entire Verve catalogue”, The Gordian Knot’s self-titled debut (and one and only release) is some way from the classy jazz roster that was instrumental in putting the label on the map.
Originally released in 1968, the story goes that The Gordian Knot had arrived in LA, via the University Of Mississippi and then New York, and found themselves playing local clubs and the celebrity party circuit in Hollywood. A chance meeting with Nancy Sinatra led to them accompanying her on a United Service Organisations tour of South Vietnam and ultimately landed them a recording deal with Verve.
Produced by Clark Burroughs of The Hi-Lo’s, everything about this well-crafted fusion of sunshine pop and gentle psychedelia is geared towards accenting all things melodic, as is ably demonstrated by the standout tracks, The World Keeps Spinning, Year Of The Sun, and Broken Down Old Merry-Go-Round.
Although the 11 tracks comprise the sum total of The Gordian Knot’s known recorded output, this wasn’t to be the last that was heard of the band’s personnel. Frontman and songwriter Jim Weatherley later picked up a Grammy for his 1973 composition for Gladys Knight, Rainy Night In Georgia.
