••• Van der Graaf Generator albums poll 1970–2012•••

H to He was the first VDGG album I purchased and is still my favorite. The Least We Can Do is a very close second. Both are superb.

I never cared that much for the albums post H to He, but I probably should give them another listen, as it was years ago that I listened to those.

 

I’ve picked up Pawn Hearts, Aerosol Grey Machine and Least We Can Do...,

I’ve put the most time in on Pawn Hearts and I love the vibe... I’m still trying to connect with the vocals. The music is outrageously creative.

I do miss the bass guitar at times, though the keys seem to cover pretty well.

This is challenging stuff.

 

My 1980s mastering 3 disk collection -works like a box set!





Tracks:
I Prophesy Disaster
1. Afterwards (4:57)
2. Necromancer (3:36)
3. Refugees (Single Ver., 5:24)
4. The Boat of Millions of Years (3:50)
5. Lemmings(including Cog) (11:37)
6. W (4:26)
7. Arrow (9:46)
8. La Rossa (9:50)
9. Ship of Fools (3:46)
10. Live Medley (Parts of "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" and "The Sleepwalkers") (13:32)

First Generation
1. Darkness (11/11) (7:27)
2. Killer (8:07)
3. Man-Erg* (10:21)
4. Theme One* (4:00)
5. Pioneers over C. (12:05)
6. A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers* (23:04)
a) Eyewitness
b) Pictures / Lighthouse
c) Eyewitness
d) S.H.M.
e) Presence of the Night
f) Kosmos Tours
g) (Custard's) Last Stand
h) The Clot Thickens
i) Land's End
j) We Go Now
7. Refugees (Album Ver., 6:22)

Second Generation
1. The Undercover Man (7:25)
2. Scorched Earth (9:46)
3. The Sleepwalkers (10:32)
4. Pilgrims (7:12)
5. Still Life (7:20)
6. When She Comes (7:58)
7. The Siren Song* (6:04)
8. Cat's Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)* (5:20)
9. Wondering (6:33)

 

I found 'After The Flood - At The BBC' at HMV today, £7.99.

Also started getting the Nic Potter releases that I missed out on at the time they came out.

 

I think Nic Potter, as great of a musician as I believe he was, didn’t really fit in with what is now the classic lineup of Hammill, Jackson, Banton, and Evans. To me, it seemed once he left, they were able to fully flesh out their ideas with considerable prowess and felt, in some way, musically freer. Like, for example, listen to H to He, Who Am The Only One, is Potter’s bass playing really needed here? Perhaps for other listeners, but not for this one.

 

I’m actually rather surprised that someone like Steven Wilson hasn’t been asked to do a 5.1 remix of Pawn Hearts. Imagine how awesome that would be! I’d like to get a proper deluxe edition of this album, but it probably won’t happen.

 

I love Pawn Hearts & H to He. This music came from a different planet. Godbluff is a fantastic record. 4 tracks which go together seamlessly. Still Life also fantastic. Must admit I was iffy about World Record at first but it is also awesome in its own way.
Hammill & VDGG are unbelievable artists, so other-worldly & such a rewarding listen. Of all the Charisma bands, & I include Genesis, they are the tops.

 

I agree. I think Potter was a big player in Hammill's solo work. Especially in the K group.

 

I must say i used to hate Alt but it grew on me in time. Only think I hate still is that awful mastering errror on Sackbutt (loud tick about 0:24, there is also lesser one but also audible in Collosus). I wonder if all pressings have this?

 

I was recently reminded that the celebrated filmmaker/composer Sally Potter is Nic's big sister!
And I've always been amazed that Nic could go from VdGG to Chuck Berry's 'My Ding-a-Ling'. What versatility!

 

Godbluff is my favourite.

I'd rank the rest of the titles I've heard in this order:
Pawn Hearts
World Record
Trisector
Present
H To He Who Am The Only One
The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other
The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
Grounding In Numbers

 

H to He, "House With No Door", maybe the most beautiful and melancholic melody in prog rock

 

Pawn and H are about equal, but have to give the nod to Pawn.
Never really gelled with the later albums.

 

For me its:
Godbluff
Pawn Hearts
He to He
Still Life
Quiet Zone
Least We Can Do
AGM
World Record
World Record is still brilliant!! The quality of the originals is consistently high. Also I love Maida Vale.
The recent ones have not really been as essential to me.

 

Really difficult to choose a favourite, but Still Life is the one I pull off the shelf most. But what an incredible run this is:

The Least We Can Do etc (1970)
H to He etc (1970)
Fool's Mate - Peter Hammill (and the rest of the group) (1970)
Pawn Hearts (1971)
Chameleon in the Shadow etc - PH (plus members of VdGG) (1972)
The Silent Corner etc - PH (+) (1974)
In Camera - PH (+) (1974)
Nadir's Big Chance - PH (+) (1975)
Godbluff (1975)
Still Life (1976)
World Record (1976)
Over - PH (+) (1976)
The Quiet Zone etc (1977)
Vital (1978)

Hammill deserves a bloody medal!

 

Couldn’t agree more.

 

Its an heroic set of albums & so unlike anyone/anything else.

 

Totally, and PH carried on being brilliant as well. I feel biased about him and VdGG - there are very few albums I don't like by them and I'm a big fan of the later stuff too - hope we get another before they retire.

 

Right up there with 'My Room (Waiting for Wonderland)'

 

Pawn Hearts

 

It sounds like it influenced Wuthering Heights as well. Kate's brother was a big prog fans she probably heard his copy of H to He

 

Is After the Flood good?

 

My absolute favorites are "H To He" and "Pawn Hearts."

I would probably agree that "Pawn Hearts" is their best, but I think my favorite is "H To He," despite usually skipping over the opening track.

 

Anyone hoping to see any of these gigs?

Sofa Sound - Latest News

 

Oh lord... I couldn't possibly pick a favourite as I love H to He, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff, Still Life and The Quiet Zone equally. The album that I have listened to the most is definitely H to He, as most days I'd probably say The Emperor In His War Room is my favourite VDG track.