Van Der Graaf Generation: Discography 1969 - 1977

 

In England, 1967 Chris Judge SMITH formed 'VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR', but after his departure it was up to Peter HAMMILL (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Hugh BANTON (organ, bass on organ), David JACKSON (sax, flute) and Guy EVANS (drums) to become one of progressive

rock most proliferate and unique bands as well as the first band to be signed to the Famous Charisma Label. The band was named after the scientific instrument 'the Van de Graaff generator', which is used for accumulating high voltage bolts. VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR (VdGG for short) is known for its extrovert dynamics (ranging from slow, calm & peaceful to fierce & heavy), its intense and emotional 'love it or hate it' vocals by Peter HAMMILL, its celebrated contribution to extended progressive songwriting and its combination of psychedelic, jazz, classical and avant-garde or even acid influences. Moreover, VdGG can be seen as the first band that was to combine the very progressive with the very personal, whereas other bands used to work with abstractions and fantasy.
                                                   

Writing in Record Collector, Toby Manning said the music was "philosophical, even intellectual, complex .. at times, terrifying". While the music on The Aerosol Grey Machine (September 1969) has a

more pastoral, hippie feel, with prominent use of Hammill's acoustic guitar, later work featured more complex instrumentation and arrangements. Hammill thinks the style of the band evolved due to the culture of music in the late 1960s, stating "the whole of music was laid out in front of you ... it was the blues in wonky time signatures." Both Hammill and Banton have stated that Jimi Hendrix was an influence on the band's sound, with Hammill remarking that "there'd been distortion before, but there hadn't been that real out-there attitude to sound in itself". The group's experimental style has also been compared to Krautrock bands such as Can.
                                     

Peter HAMMILL has a talent for singing out intense graving, anger, panic and confusion whilst still being able to sing warm and caring in other passages. The band never really fitted in the symphonic progressive rock subgenre because of its widespread influences and unique style, though the band would have symphonic leanings throughout it's career. Unusual for the time was the focus on organ, drums and sax,

whereas in the sixties the guitar and the bass guitar had played a major role.  The band had a leading role in the very first progressive phase releasing high-rated albums from 1970 to 1975. The strong conceptual 'H to He Who am the only one' (1970), the intense and highly innovative and daring 'Pawn Hearts' (1971), the bleak and ever evolving 'Godbluff' (1975) and the matured 'Still Life' (1976) are often cited as masterpieces of the progressive genre. Alongside VdGG there would be a very interesting solo-career for Peter HAMMILL who frequently invited members of the band to come and join on his seventies recordings, some of which are seen as 'lost VdGG albums'. The band stopped performing in its classic line-up after 1976, not to return until 2005. 
                              

Retrospection. VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR has always remained too small to be a widely recognized act (like for instance Genesis or Yes), yet it was too big to get an illustrious title as '

underground band'. The band acquired some devoted following over the years and is nowadays considered to be one of the biggest acts of progressive rock history, as the amount of reviews and debates on PA can underline. For lot of us their music has proven to be very hard to get into, but it is even harder to live without it once you've acquired a taste for the band. The way the band combines the very personal with the abstract sound of progression creates a fascination that lives on and the way Peter HAMMILL puts his soul in the music seems to be untouchable for other musicians. 

                                   

ALBUMS ON THIS POST

01. The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969)
02. The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (1970)
03. H to He, Who Am the Only One (1970)
04. Pawn Hearts (1971)
05. Godbluff (1975)
06. Still Life (1976)
07. World Record (1976)
08. The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977)

01. VDGG - THE AEROSOL GREY MACHINE 1969
                        

Van Der Graaf Generator – The Aerosol Grey Machine
Label: Esoteric Recordings – ECLEC42661
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Box Set, Deluxe Edition May 3, 2019
Country: UK
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Art Rock

CD1. THE AEROSOL GREY MACHINE 1969

                         

    
01. Afterwards
02. Orthenthian Street (Parts 1 & 2 )
03. Running Back
Voice [Sa Sa Ka] – Guy Randolph Evans
04. Into A Game
Talking Drum – Guy Randolph Evans
Voice [Chant] – Keith Ian Ellis, Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill
Voice [Sa Sa Ka] – Hugh Robert Banton
Written-By – Evans, Banton, Ellis, Hammill
05. Ferret And Featherbird
06. Aerosol Grey Machine
Other [Dissent] – Hugh Robert Banton
Other [Hype] – Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill
Voice [Croon] – Keith Ian Ellis
07. Black Smoke Yen
Written-By – Evans, Bantin, Ellis
08. Aquarian
09. Giant Squid
Written-By – Evans, Banton, Ellis, Hammill
10. Octopus
11. Necromancer
Bass [Wah Wah], Vocals [Added] – Keith Ian Ellis
Vocals – Hugh Robert Banton

Flac Size: 346 MB

CD2. 1967 DEMOS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED        

                     

   
01. Firebrand
02. Sunshine

BBC RADIO TOP GEAR SESSION 18th November 1968

    
03. People You Were Going To
04. Afterwards
05. Necromancer
06. Octopus

A & B SIDE OF SINGLE RELEASED IN January 1969

    
07. People You Were Going To
08. Firebrand 

Flac Size: 152 MB

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Hugh Banton / piano, organ, percussion, backing vocals
Keith Ellis / wah-wah bass, backing vocals
Guy Evans / drums, percussion

With:

Jeff Peach / flute (4)
Judge-Smith / slide-saxophone (10), lead (11) & backing vocals (10) - Repertoire bonus tracks

NOTES

RE-MASTERED SPECIAL 50th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE 2CD.
Album recorded at Trident Studios, London July 31 / August 1, 1969 & Marquee Studios, London January 1969 (CD1-1, CD1-11, LP-A1, LP-B4)

02. THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS WAVE TO EART OTHER 1970
                 

Van Der Graaf Generator – 1970 - The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
Label: Virgin – 7243 4 74889 2 4, Virgin – 7243 474889 2 4, Charisma
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1970    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                         

01. Darkness (11/11)    7:28
02. Refugees   6:23
Cello – Mike Hurwitz
Piano – Peter    
03. White Hammer   8:15
Cornet – Gerry Salisbury
04. Whatever Would Robert Have Said?    6:07
05. Out Of My Book   4:08
Written-By – Jackson, Hammill
06. After The Flood    11:12

BONUS TRACKS        

    
07. Boat Of Millions Of Years    3:50
08. Refugees (Single Version)    5:24
09. Darkness (11/11)  6:52
10. After The Food   10:58

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano (2)
Hugh Banton / Farfisa organ, piano, backing vocals
David Jackson / tenor & alto saxophones, flute, backing vocals
Nic Potter / bass, electric guitar
Guy Evans / drums, percussion

With:

Mike Hurwitz / cello (2)
Gerry Salisbury / cornet (3)

NOTES

Original album released as Charisma CAS 1007 in February 1970.
Recorded at Trident Studios, London, on the 11/12/13/14 December 1969.

Flac Size: 406 MB

03. H TO HE, WHO AM THE ONLY ONE 1970

                                  

You can find this post Here

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano (2)
Hugh Banton / Hammond & Farfisa organs, piano, oscillator, bass (2,5), vocals
David Jackson / alto, tenor & baritone saxes, flute, Fx, vocals
Guy Evans / drums, timpani, percussion

With:

Nic Potter / bass (1,3,4)
Robert Fripp / electric guitar (3) 

04. PAWN HEARTS 1971
                         

Van Der Graaf Generator – 1971 - Pawn Hearts
Label: UMC – 089 608-6, UMC – 00602508960864, Charisma – 089 608-6
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo Sep 3, 2021
Country: Europe
Released: 1971    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

CD1. THE ORIGINAL STEREO MIX REMASTERED        

                         

   
01. Lemmings (Including Cog)    11:39
02. Man Erg    10:23
03. A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers    (23:10)
03-1. Eyewitness    
03-2. Pictures / Lighthouse    
03-3. Eyewitness    
03-4. SHM    
03-5. Presence Of The Night    
03-6. Kosmos Tours    
03-7. (Custard's) Last Stand    
03-8. The Clot Thickens    
03-9. Land's End (Sineline)    
03-10.We Go Now

    

BONUS TRACKS (BBC Radio One "Sounds Of The Seventies" Session 10th June 1971)

    
04. Man Erg    11:12
05. Theme One    2:59
06. Vision    3:15
07. Darkness    7:18

Flac Size: 428 MB

CD2. THE NEW STEREO MIX        

                           

   
01. Lemmings (Including Cog)    11:40
02. Man Erg    10:24
03. A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers    (23:24)
03-1. Eyewitness    
03-2. Pictures / Lighthouse    
03-3. Eyewitness    
03-4. SHM    
03-5. Presence Of The Night    
03-6. Kosmos Tours    
03-7. (Custard's) Last Stand    
03-8. The Clot Thickens    
03-9. Land's End (Sineline)    
03-10.We Go Now
    

BONUS TRACKS (NEW STEREO MIXES)        

04. Theme One    3:13
05. W    4:36

Flac Size: 328 MB

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / lead vocals, acoustic & slide guitars, piano, electric pianos
Hugh Banton / Hammond (E & C) & Farfisa Professional organs, piano, Mellotron, bass & bass pedals, ARP synthesizer, Fx, backing vocals
David Jackson / tenor, alto & soprano saxophones, flute, Fx, backing vocals
Guy Evans / drums, timpani, percussion, piano

With:

Robert Fripp / electric guitar

05. GODBLUFF 1975
                 

Van Der Graaf Generator - 1975 – Godbluff
Label: Virgin – 00946 3 11393 2 1, Charisma – CASCDR 1109
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK
Released: Jun 27, 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                     

01. The Undercover Man    7:34
02. Scorched Earth    7:21
03. Arrow    9:48
04. The Sleepwalkers    7:59

BONUS TRACKS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED        

    
05. Forsaken Gardens    12:23
06. A Louse Is Not A Home    10:26

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / vocals, guitars, piano, Hohner clavinet D6
Hugh Banton / organs, bass, bass pedals
David Jackson / saxes, flute
Guy Evans / drums, percussion

NOTES

Recorded and mixed at Rockfield Studios, Monmouthshire, between 9th and 29th June 1975.
Tracks 5 & 6 recorded live at L'Altro Mondo, Rimini, Italy on August 9th 1975, previously unreleased.

Flac Size: 434 MB

06. STILL LIFE 1976
              

Van Der Graaf Generator – 1976 - Still Life
Label: UMC – 089 610-9, UMC – 00602508961090, Charisma – 089 610-9, 
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered Sep 3, 2021
Country: Europe
Released: 1971    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

CD1. THE ORIGINAL STEREO MIX REMASTER

                     

        
01. Pilgrims    7:12
02. Still Life    7:26
03. La Rossa    9:52
04. My Room (Waiting For Wonderland)    8:08
05. Childlike Faith In Childhood's End    12:29

BONUS TRACKS (Live At The Theatr Gwynedd, Bangor, Wales, 10th May 1975)

    

06. Gog    10:32

BBC RADIO ONE (John Peel Session, 1st April 1976)    

07. Still Life    7:21
08. La Rossa    10:00

Flac Size: 442 MB

CD2. THE NEW STEREO MIX

                       

   
01. Pilgrims    7:10
02. Still Life    7:27
03. La Rossa    9:51
04. My Room (Waiting For Wonderland)    8:14
05. Childlike Faith In Childhood's End    12:27

BONUS TRACKS            

LIVE IN PARIS 1976        

    
06. Still Life    10:07
07. Childlike Faith In Childhood's End    14:04

Flac Size: 411 MB

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / vocals, guitar, piano
Hugh Banton / organs, bass & bass pedals, Mellotron, piano
David Jackson / alto, tenor & soprano acoustic & electric saxophones, flute
Guy Evans / drums & percussion

07. WORLD RECORD 1976
                   

Van Der Graaf Generator – 1976 - World Record
Label: Virgin – 00946 3 32957 2 8, Charisma – CASCDR 1120
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2005
Country: UK
Released: 1976    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                   

01. When She Comes    8:03
02. A Place To Survive    10:05
03. Masks    6:57
04. Meurglys III (The Songwriters Guild)    20:52
05. Wondering    6:39

BONUS TRACKS        

    
06. When She Comes    8:10
07. Masks    7:24

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / vocals, guitar, piano
Hugh Banton / organs, bass pedals, Mellotron
David Jackson / alto, tenor & soprano saxes, flute
Guy Evans / drums, cymbal, percussion

NOTES

Recorded and mixed at Rockfield Studios 1 & 2, between May 10-30, 1976 and rehearsed at Headley Grange through April 1976. 
Tracks 6 and 7 are bonus tracks and are from a session recorded for the BBC Radio One "The John Peel Show", November 11th 1976.

Flac Size: 468 MB

08. THE QUIET ZONE/THE PLEASURE DOME 1977
                            

Van Der Graaf – 1977 - The Quiet Zone / The Pleasure Dome
Label: Virgin – 00946 3 32974 2 5, Charisma – CASCDR 1131
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2004
Country: Europe
Released: 1977
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

THE QUIET ZONE        

                         

01. Lizard Play    4:11
02. The Habit Of The Broken Heart    4:19
03. The Siren Song    5:43
04. Last Frame    5:52

THE PLEASURE DOME        

                           

   
05. The Wave    3:01
06. Cat's Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)    5:04
07. The Sphinx In The Face    5:40
08. Chemical World    5:52
09. The Sphinx Returns    1:10

BONUS TRACKS            

10. Door    3:23
11. Ship Of Fools    3:46
12. The Wave (Demo)    3:14

LINE - UP

Peter Hammill / vocals, guitars, keyboards, producer
Graham Smith / violin, viola
Nic Potter / bass
Guy Evans / drums, percussion

With:

David Jackson / saxophones (7,9)

NOTES

Originally released as Charisma CAS 1131 in September 1977.
Analog to Digital transfers at Abbey Road Studios, October 2004.
Track 11: B-side of single, originally released as Charisma 6837 441 in France only, September 1977.
Track 12: Demo version - Previously unreleased.

Flac Size: 359 MB