Recently saw Space Ritual at Guilfest. They were one of the week-end's highlights along with Simple Minds and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain who got a standing ovation for their soundcheck!. They, Space Ritual that is, played a storming set, after a slightly dodgy opener and finished on a cracking version of 'Silver Machine'. We were all invited to a a party at Nik Turner's place in deepest Wales though, sadly we were not able to attend...

Also, last Sunday, 'Mild Man' Quinten (an occasional Local Person) walked into the Local Pub (Moorhouse's Pendle Witches Brew was on by special request from Malcolm) wearing a Hawkwind t-shirt. A rare interesting conversation with him ensued (he was previously viewed as one of the dullest people in the Local Pub usually bemoaning the lack of a decent Mild on offer). He said he'd seen them 93 times, so I guess he's a fan, I can only recall seeing them once back in the 70's.

It struck me that there is a major gap in my collection. I did have 'Quark, Strangeness and Charm' aeons ago but that seems to have disappeared.

I guess that they are/were best seen live but any suggestions for where to start with Hawkwind?

Seagull

Best place to start with the 'Wind is with the 1972 live double SPACE RITUAL. Lots of endlessly repeated riffs, spacey "poetry" from Moorcock and Calvert, weird synth noises and ace bass from Lemmy.

Also recommended are DOREMI FASOLATIDO, IN SEARCH OF SPACE, ASTOUNDING SOUNDS and the compilation MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE.

I thiink the 1978 Hawklords' albuum 25 YEARS ON is pretty good too. Man.

Kevin

Simon,

I have been on a mission rediscovering the Hawkwind missing years after Hawklords as well.

If the search was working I could point you to a thread with Michael C, listing the best and the dross, as there are several dozen repackages of the live shows.

For a starter, what about Space Ritual II, and the Friends and Relatins Series, The Chronicles Series, the Independent Daze Series etc.

DS

OTD - Dalek I Love You - Ambition

Where to start?
You buy In Search of Space and play it endlessly. After a couple of weeks delay, get Do Re Mi..
Give it a while and get Space Ritual.
Still sounds as fresh today as it did then. Excellent stuff.

Where to start?
You buy In Search of Space and play it endlessly. After a couple of weeks delay, get Do Re Mi..
Give it a while and get Space Ritual.
Still sounds as fresh today as it did then. Excellent stuff. (Don't forget your incense sticks)

quote:

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Originally posted by seagull:
I guess that they are/were best seen live but any suggestions for where to start with Hawkwind?

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Well, get some Rizla rolling papers, a little loose tobacco, and some Nepalese...

[ahem] Just kidding, that sort of thing doesn't go on in the Naim Forum. Instead, brew a strong cup of tea and listen to the one with "Sonic Attack" on it.

I got a 3 disker - Epocheclipse, an anthology (obviously) off Amazon last year. Lots of holes in it but a good quick fix. Quality's pretty good too.

Cheers

Harry

Just been listening to Brainstorm and noticed the rather "Spinal Tap" backing vocals.
Still good though.

Hawkwind

Quite a lengthy catalogue but a few suggestions:

To start with "classic" Hawkwind I would suggest starting with

• Space Ritual - the seminal live album
  
• In Search of Space
  
• Doremi Fasol Latido - worth it alone for the track "Lord of Light" but also look out for the Lemmy penned "The Watcher"
  
• Hall of the Mountain Grill - one of the very best in as far as all the tracks are strong and includes the Lemmy penned "Lost Johnny"
  
• Warrior on the Edge of Time - need I say any more other than it includes the concert favourites Assault & Battery/The Golden Void and Magnu
  

Early period compilations of "Roadhawks" particulalry for the track "Urban Guerilla" and "Masters of the Universe".

I would also add "Hawkwind", their first.

Turning to the Calvert era the stand out album for me is "Quark Strangeness & Charm" - the stand out tracks include "Spirit of the Age" (which has become substantially heavier when performed live), "Damnation Alley" and of course "QS&C".

What I would suggest for the Calvert era is to track down a copy of the cd compilation "Spirit of the Age" - this may have to be an Ebay search but it contains almost all the essentials.

Post Calvert recommendations from the eighties include:

• Live 79
  
• Levitation
  
• Sonic Attack - although it has it's share of weaker filler tracks
  
• Church of Hawkwind - for me this is a good album although not to everyone's tastes - this is where Dave Brock really makes heavy use of synths etc
  
• Choose Your Masques
  

From the nineties to date heralds further changes in the line up and the arrival of Alan Davey and recommendations include:

• Space Bandits - includes a superb track entitled "Wings"
  
• White Zone under the band name of Psychedelic Warlords due to contractual problems - this is very synth driven and is what I would describe as quasi club/ambient music
  
• Alien 4 - concept album
  
• Distant Horizons - again following the quasi club/ambient music style interspersed with rockier tracks
  
• Spacebrock - similar in style to to Whitezone
  

Other recommendations include:

• Zones - a superb collection of studio/live ttacks, stand out tracks include "Dangerous Vision", "The Island" leading into a good version of "Motorway City"
  
• Live Chronicles
  
• Out & Intake - a superb compilation of alternative versions
  
• Yule Ritual - truly historic live album - enough said AND listen out for a monumental version of Sonic Attack with Mike Moorcock on a telephone link
  
• Canterbury Fayre - another recent live recording with a good mix of tracks
  

I could go on but I guess this should be enough for starters.

To narrow choice down. If I had to choose five they would possibly be:

1. - Space Ritual - no argument
2. - Quark Strangeness & Charm
3. - White Zone
4. - Yule Ritual
5. - and one of the rest!!!

Hope this helps.

Mike

Excellent replies chaps, plenty of good suggestions there

Thanks, I guess Space Ritual is the place to start, quite appropriate really given the initial post...

Make sure you catch em live if you can. Last time for me was at Aldershot three or so years ago. I hink they were the loudest band I've ever hear, ever ever!

Alan Davey's Bedouin were the support band - so I guess it was like double fun plus time.

Magnificent stuff - am I alone or is Ron Tree a potential to disturb small children?

I caught them earlier this year at Brighton - really enjoyable gig (albeit somewhat short). Played as a threesome (Brock, Davey, Chadwick) - superb versions of amongst others Spirit of the Age, Brainbox Pollution, Wings and finishing with a barnstorming version of Brainstorm. Superb projections as a back drop for the band and a great atmosphere.

Ron Tree is a marvellous vocal clone for Bob Calvert - enough said.

Mike

No one ever mentions the Greasy Truckers compilation album :-(
Took me ages to find a decent copy.

Regards

Richard

Or Glastonbury Fayre!!!

Mike

Well, get some Rizla rolling papers, a little loose tobacco, and some Nepalese...

[ahem] Just kidding, that sort of thing doesn't go on in the Naim Forum. Instead, brew a strong cup of tea and listen to the one with "Sonic Attack" on it.[/QUOTE]

YOU'RE RIGHT! Why would you ruin perfectly good hash with tobacco!!! Silly Brits!

I dusted down my copy of "The 1999 Party" over the weekend and it has not left the cd player.

A recording from 1974 and I have to say it is almost as strong as Space Ritual. Some different tracks including:

*Brainbox Pollution - Hawkwind playing a good old fashioned rock song in err Hawkwind style

*It's So Easy - marvellous track with a fearsome driving bass line from Lemmy

*Brainstorm - Nick Turner gets a bit carried away with his vocals

*The Watcher - Lemmy again

*You'd Better Believe It

*Psychedelic Warlords

*D-Rider

So I would have to add this to my five recommendations - seek out, you will not be disappointed.

Mike

I bought Space Ritual a couple of weeks ago (this being my second ever Hawkwind album, having had In search of Space for years), And while the music is superb, what is all the pretentious talkie twaddle between lengthy tracks? The version of Sonic Attack on this album is just someone talking rubbish for a couple of minutes, is that it!! or is there another version of Sonic Attack that is actually any good?

Back to the music. The bass on this ablum is superb (musically) Every track is built around driving propulsive bass rhythmns. I didn't realise Lemmy was quite that good.

Well I finally got my hands on Space Ritual. Kept getting out-bid for mint vinyl copies with the fold out sleeve so I resorted to the silver disc version.

I ordered from Amazon but Mrs S had hijacked it when it arrived and didn't give it to me until the week-end (my birthday was on Saturday). I've played it a couple of times and it sounds very good but I suspect I need to crank it up to near Riders' volumes (i.e. the volume music is played at during a visit from the Riders) to hear it at its best.

Like Greeny I didn't realise that Lemmy was that good

Thanks once again for the recommendations, I shall start working my way through the rest of the list now...

Seagull

Lemmy's bass playing is often overlooked and certainly during his Hawkwind stint he was actually rather musical.

Check out "The 1999 Party" for more live stuff recorded in 1974.

I am off to see Hawkwind on Sunday 19 December up in town - there may be guest appearances.

Mike