I was working in the City of London with all the suits and bowler hats in the late 60s and early 70s as a 17 year old and we used to go to a record shop nearby and got to know the owner (renter) and he loved playing 'our' music. Upstairs they played classical music but when 'The least we can do is wave to each other' came out we played it over and over again. Even the suits came down to listen. Refugees and White Hammer are brilliant.
One of the few good things of being 65 in this f*****g today's world, is the opportunity our generation had to grow up with this music. I bought this vinyl in 1973 (basically after having listened to 20 seconds of the bass lines of this song) at age 14, and of course, among many others, it's still priceless to me. Enjoy it live at https//th-cam.com/video/48tU3P8f46Y/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qrvZPscbp4M2FQ-Y Marco from Italy
At the age of 17 as a budding musician this album completely changed my musical direction. You are correct, Lee. The early prog music was so distinct that I think most listeners were like WTF and didn't really hear the wonder of these compositions. My band back then covered Refugees and Man-Erg and the crowds at the clubs had no idea what to make of it. Thank you very much for your deep dive into VDGG. Stay groovy, my friend. Peace and love to all here and may God bless us all.
I feel that the prog that was made in UK in the 60s/70s will never be surpassed. They were in many cases classically trained on their instruments, or in Peter Hammill's case an eclectic, f*****g genius. That was reflected in the music (Hugh Banton, David Jackson and Guy Evans are amazing as well, don't get me wrong). There are of course exceptions, but I often feel that today's prog very rarely can reach the hights of the golden era.
VDGG has a groove to every song. each part adds to the groove and sometimes they take turns. maybe thats what you mean adding your own part to the song in your head. theyre all playing around that main emotional journey.
Thanks for the Van der Graaf! I have been sleeping on this band but I have heard a few tracks. Its true this is very impressive for 1969. Was this their debut? King Crimson and Gentle Giant each came leaping out of tbe box, fully formed and confident. It sounds like these guys were in the same prog-park. The others; YES, Genesis, Pink Floyd, tbey were still trying to find strong identities at the end of the sixties..
Me fucking too.... they are just the best of the best if you are into them. I imagine they are like what Rush or Yes is to there purest fans... but for me. I feel so much of my own self in their music it's kinda crazy. Chaotic, strange, beautiful, and ferocious. That's my life. So I just really connect with them lol
Yes, Yes, Yes. The album was actually recorded in 1970, released in November of that year, so it was right there with KC, etc. In the book for the box set, there is no mention of Nic Potter playing electric guitar. The only credited electric guitarist on the album was Robert Fripp on "Emperor". So he may have copped a couple of ideas from VHGG. This is from their third album. The first one was "Aerosol Gray Machine: on Mercury records, so it is not in this box set. The second one was "The Lease We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other" which started as a Hamill solo record but turned into VDGG album.You mentioned it sounding a bit like Genesis. The producer for the first four VDGG was John Anthony, who was also the producer for Genesis on "Nursery Crimes' and "Foxtrot" (along with early Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, Queen, Flash, etc) and the engineer on "Least...", "H to He" and "Pawn Hearts" was Robin Geoffrey Cable who also engineered "Nursery Crimes" and "Foxtrot" (was well as "Elton John" and "Tumbleweed Connection'. A great engineer who was badly hurt in a car accident and never returned to recording again. The box set also has video of VDGG doing "Darkness" live and they were able to mostly recreate their recorded sound on stage. I Most people did not like this because it is depressing sounding music, so you need to be able to manage that emotional process. I once played this song for a young woman I worked with at the time and she said she was deeply depressed for a week afterwards. She did not want to hear any more of VDGG. I have a couple of suggestions: almost anything from this album (H to He), and also Soft Machine, almost anything off of "Third". From this same time and part of what was considered the Canterbury Sound (along with Caravan, Hatfield and The North, Egg, National Health, etc which had people bounding in and out of group lineups). More, More. More.
they recently remastered a ton of VDGG greatest hits that sound great, so thats why the newest versions all have this weird album cover! might have to look up the original.
VDGG may not get a great many views but, as you say, it hardly matters - they didn't really get great sales either at the time. I believe Charisma's top sellers (apart from Monty Python!) were Genesis and Lindisfarne. I doubt many people who weren't in the UK at the time even know Lindisfarne... Since I've mentioned Rahsaan Roland Kirk recently, I'll just add that David Jackson's doubled-up sax work on this track was apparently inspired by Kirk.
Such a shame that Nic Potter couldn't have continued with the band after H to He as he was a great guitarist and gave the band extra dimensions. Probably too good just to be a bassist which I believe is why he left to feature more prominently.
no rush dude 🤙 Hammill is so dissonant and dense that people cant get into the band. Peter Hammill, with VDGG and solo, has like 12 top tier prog albums. Hammill invented punk rock in 1975! as a response to... prog... like, how is that even possible?
even tho the album Nadir's Big Chance is the first to be called Punk Rock, I still consider it prog haha. I mean it has time signature changes and sax so...
I see Van Der Graaf Generator, I click Like. I'm a simple Man-Erg.
4 view but 18 likes. I guess I'm not the only one!
You need to see a live VDGG video.
I was working in the City of London with all the suits and bowler hats in the late 60s and early 70s as a 17 year old and we used to go to a record shop nearby and got to know the owner (renter) and he loved playing 'our' music. Upstairs they played classical music but when 'The least we can do is wave to each other' came out we played it over and over again. Even the suits came down to listen. Refugees and White Hammer are brilliant.
Love your reactions 👍
Welcome to the world of VDDG
One of the few good things of being 65 in this f*****g today's world, is the opportunity our generation had to grow up with this music. I bought this vinyl in 1973 (basically after having listened to 20 seconds of the bass lines of this song) at age 14, and of course, among many others, it's still priceless to me.
Enjoy it live at
https//th-cam.com/video/48tU3P8f46Y/w-d-xo.htmlsi=qrvZPscbp4M2FQ-Y
Marco from Italy
The actual closer from this album, After the Flood, will blow your mind.
At the age of 17 as a budding musician this album completely changed my musical direction. You are correct, Lee. The early prog music was so distinct that I think most listeners were like WTF and didn't really hear the wonder of these compositions. My band back then covered Refugees and Man-Erg and the crowds at the clubs had no idea what to make of it. Thank you very much for your deep dive into VDGG. Stay groovy, my friend. Peace and love to all here and may God bless us all.
Refugees is really moving. I think it was probably the first song I heard by VDGG - thanks to John Peel, of course.
Love VDGG! Will always tune in.
I love this song. Reminds me of being a 15 year old in 88 and discovering VDGG. I'm instantly back there.
In '70 music was produced by musicians, today's businessman.
Superb..simply superb..l was lucky enough to see them live during this period..After 50yrs ..'Least We Can Do...' is still one of my favorite albums.
wow indeed!
they are really on a different level whooh
Beyond another level. They aren't even playing music at points. It defies description.
@@L33ReactsHammill is the OG emo rocker
I feel that the prog that was made in UK in the 60s/70s will never be surpassed. They were in many cases classically trained on their instruments, or in Peter Hammill's case an eclectic, f*****g genius. That was reflected in the music (Hugh Banton, David Jackson and Guy Evans are amazing as well, don't get me wrong). There are of course exceptions, but I often feel that today's prog very rarely can reach the hights of the golden era.
VDGG has a groove to every song. each part adds to the groove and sometimes they take turns.
maybe thats what you mean adding your own part to the song in your head. theyre all playing around that main emotional journey.
there´s also a great version from a TV show in 1970 you might want to check out
Thanks for the Van der Graaf! I have been sleeping on this band but I have heard a few tracks. Its true this is very impressive for 1969. Was this their debut? King Crimson and Gentle Giant each came leaping out of tbe box, fully formed and confident. It sounds like these guys were in the same prog-park. The others;
YES, Genesis, Pink Floyd, tbey were still trying to find strong identities at the end of the sixties..
It wasn't technically their first but the previous line-up was a very different band.
Nice Potter,talented
I love Van der Graaf Generator.
Me fucking too.... they are just the best of the best if you are into them. I imagine they are like what Rush or Yes is to there purest fans... but for me. I feel so much of my own self in their music it's kinda crazy. Chaotic, strange, beautiful, and ferocious. That's my life. So I just really connect with them lol
after Godbluff, i think some tracks from "In camera" might be interesting: Faint-heart, The comet, Gog
Yes, Yes, Yes. The album was actually recorded in 1970, released in November of that year, so it was right there with KC, etc. In the book for the box set, there is no mention of Nic Potter playing electric guitar. The only credited electric guitarist on the album was Robert Fripp on "Emperor". So he may have copped a couple of ideas from VHGG. This is from their third album. The first one was "Aerosol Gray Machine: on Mercury records, so it is not in this box set. The second one was "The Lease We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other" which started as a Hamill solo record but turned into VDGG album.You mentioned it sounding a bit like Genesis. The producer for the first four VDGG was John Anthony, who was also the producer for Genesis on "Nursery Crimes' and "Foxtrot" (along with early Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, Queen, Flash, etc) and the engineer on "Least...", "H to He" and "Pawn Hearts" was Robin Geoffrey Cable who also engineered "Nursery Crimes" and "Foxtrot" (was well as "Elton John" and "Tumbleweed Connection'. A great engineer who was badly hurt in a car accident and never returned to recording again. The box set also has video of VDGG doing "Darkness" live and they were able to mostly recreate their recorded sound on stage. I Most people did not like this because it is depressing sounding music, so you need to be able to manage that emotional process. I once played this song for a young woman I worked with at the time and she said she was deeply depressed for a week afterwards. She did not want to hear any more of VDGG. I have a couple of suggestions: almost anything from this album (H to He), and also Soft Machine, almost anything off of "Third". From this same time and part of what was considered the Canterbury Sound (along with Caravan, Hatfield and The North, Egg, National Health, etc which had people bounding in and out of group lineups). More, More. More.
I had the original LP, CD and remastered CDs.
He sings out of the left side.
STRAWBERRY BRICK. for the all go rhythm.
There's an excellent live in studio video of this song. Check it out.
BBC Maida Vale. Tore me to shreds on first listen. Recommended, indeed.
they recently remastered a ton of VDGG greatest hits that sound great, so thats why the newest versions all have this weird album cover! might have to look up the original.
Ahhhh ok that makes sense. I was wondering wtf was that cover lol the original is awesome
VDGG may not get a great many views but, as you say, it hardly matters - they didn't really get great sales either at the time. I believe Charisma's top sellers (apart from Monty Python!) were Genesis and Lindisfarne. I doubt many people who weren't in the UK at the time even know Lindisfarne... Since I've mentioned Rahsaan Roland Kirk recently, I'll just add that David Jackson's doubled-up sax work on this track was apparently inspired by Kirk.
Haha you should just listen to track 6, i bet youll love it ;)
I'm not a big fan of the voice but the music is brilliant
Such a shame that Nic Potter couldn't have continued with the band after H to He as he was a great guitarist and gave the band extra dimensions. Probably too good just to be a bassist which I believe is why he left to feature more prominently.
no rush dude 🤙
Hammill is so dissonant and dense that people cant get into the band.
Peter Hammill, with VDGG and solo, has like 12 top tier prog albums.
Hammill invented punk rock in 1975! as a response to... prog... like, how is that even possible?
even tho the album Nadir's Big Chance is the first to be called Punk Rock, I still consider it prog haha. I mean it has time signature changes and sax so...
Yeah, this mix is weird. I don't like it. Lacks impact. Hammill's vocals are supposed to grab you by the throat.