Van der Graaf Generator Live

There is also a guide to live Peter Hammill recordings


A Review of Official and Unofficial Recordings, incorporating the original Pawn Hearts guide.


INDEX


This is a review of all the live VdGG and VdG recordings in LP or CD format that I know of. Many of us are sufficiently avid aficionados to own recordings beyond the realm of commercial releases, and I have drawn no distinction. Often they are astoundingly good, particularly when it comes to performance. Examining the 30 odd items that comprise this discography, one can find plenty of intriguing items as well as, unfortunately, a few of poor quality. The good ones are the majority, though. I should point out by the way that I am not involved in selling or producing live CDs in any way. I'm just interested in listening to the contents.

These days of course, a lot of stuff is shared on P2P networks. I've found Emule and BTeasytree especially good places to find VdGG and Peter Hammill. However, there's a lot more about that never gets shared online.

Since CD-Rs are now wonderfully easy to use, I've included several CDRs. Some are clearly intended for circulation. Others are private versions, traded between collectors rather than sold. These have become very common, and have pretty much replaced boots altogether. For information, we now host a copy of the Screaming Plasma list, since they are not active any more. A good place to look is The Famous PH/VdGG Pants. However, it remains the case that the number of actual VdGG recordings does not change and is very limited, although the technology for cleaning up those which survive is improving.

In these reviews there are at least two I's by the way, the original Pawn Hearts and your own ManErg. Beware schizophrenia!

Sadly, there are unlikely to be many major new appearances in the repertoire, since recording techniques weren't that good way back then... (but I'd love to be proved wrong). A few gems do keep on turning up hovever. And maybe after May 2005 we can hope for a whole New Generation!

 {short description of image}

All comments are entirely subjective.

For some recordings a ManErg seal of approval, is awarded, for more or less arbitrary reasons!

There is also a list of all the live Hammill recordings I know of,
and thePAWN HEARTS list of live tapes and live segments, and a complete tourguide. Also a list of all the PH/VdGG gigs I've been to .

Information from many places, principally Pawn Hearts, Fred's Book "The Stereo Sonic Smack" and various places on the Web. Thanks to all.

Back to ManErg

Amsterdam Paradiso, (Van Der Graaf)   CDR
Recording: ?
Performance: ?
Van Der Graff
Amsterdam Paradiso , 6 October 1977
 
Comfort (2CD - 2000)

Not Known

This concert was shortly after the loss of Banton and Jackson, and contained a couple of rarities, like Rock and Role . Good tape, haven't heard the CDR yet.
ARC VITAL, (Van Der Graaf)   2CDRs
{short description of image} Recording: 5
Performance: 6
VdG
Marquee Club, London, 4 June 1978
 
Comfort (2CD - 1998)

Cat's Eye/Yellow Fever
The Sphinx in the Face
Lizard Play
Pioneers Over C
Ship of Fools
Sci-Finance
Plague of Lighthouse Keepers
Door
Last Frame
Urban
Still Life
Nadir's Big Chance

I'll try very hard to say something nice about this. The version of Last Frame is rather good. There, I tried. The sound is poor. There are bizare lapses in SciFi and Urban, although it sounds as though these might be the band. The performance is otherwise unremarkable. Even Vital is preferable. Printed CD inserts and CD-Rs with plain white labels
ARC VITAL 2, (Van Der Graaf)   CDR
Recording:
Performance:
VdG
Marquee Club, London, 5 June 1978
 
LIZARD PLAY/ MEDLEY: CAT'S EYE~ YELLOW FEVER/ THE SPHINX IN THE FACE/ SHIP OF FOOLS/ MIRROR IMAGES/ SCI-FINANCE Never heard this, and on the basis of Arc Vital I don't want to. Printed CD inserts and CD-Rs with plain white labels
THE BAND OF MILLIONS OF YEARS   CD, LP
 {short description of image} Recording: 6-10
Performance:
Various  
Side one: Squid 1 (VdGG studio)/ Refugees (VdGG BBC 5/25/70)/ An Epidemic of Father Christmas (VdGG BBC 4/3/70)/ Theme One (VdGG Milano 2/8/72)/ PH KROQ Los Angeles 3/14/79 interview clips mixed in Side two: Still Life (PH Paris 1/28/80)/ Flight (PH poetry reading Amsterdam 10/18/83)/ Again (PH a cappella Brussels 3/24/85)

There were apparently 200 LP copies made of this one. Now available as a Japanese CD transfer. As you can see, it's a collection of clips from various eras. Sports a nicely conceived four colour cover. PH's reading of a commercial for the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" in one of the KROQ clips is hilarious. The version of "Still Life" is not, shall we say, particularly inspired. The version of Epidemic appears to be the one which resurfaced on Time Vaults!

BLACK ICE   2 CDR
  Recording: 8
Performance:EX
Live In London
Imperial College
14.10.1975
{short description of image}
Screaming Plasma

CD 1:
The Undercover Man
(In The) Black Room
Arrow
Faint-Heart And The Sermon
La Rossa
Lemmings
CD 2:
Scorched Earth
Gog
The Sleepwalkers
Man-Erg
A Louse Is Not A Home
Urban

The Best VdGG Gig I Ever saw! The encore of Louse/Urban is increadible.

BLESS THE BABY BORN TODAY (CD)   CD
 {short description of image} Recording: 10
Performance:ex
VdGG BBC 6/10/71 (1-2) & 4/1/76 (3-4)  
Kiss No. 10
Man-Erg, Darkness, La Rossa, Still Life

A nicely packaged European CD with colour photos and excellent sound quality, probably taken from BBC rebroadcasts. Downside is its under 40 minutes, and now made completely redundant by Maida Vale .

THE BOX   4 CD
Recording: 10
Performance:ex
VdGG Live tracks, BBC Sessions, and Studio tracks, 68-78 {short description of image}
Released Virgin 13 Nov 2000

Disc 1 - Bless the Baby Born Today includes:

  • People you were going to ( BBC Top Gear 18-Nov-1968)
  • Afterwards ( BBC Top Gear 18-Nov-1968)
  • Necromancer ( BBC Top Gear 18-Nov-1968)
  • Refugees (John Peel 14-Dec-1971)
  • Darkness ( BBC Top Gear 27-Jan-1970)
  • After the Flood ( BBC Top Gear 27-Jan-1970)

Disc 2 - The Tower Reels includes:

  • Theme 1 (BBC 10-June-1971)
  • Black Room (live Rimini - 9-Aug-1975)
  • Lemmings (live Rimini - 9-Aug-1975)
  • Man-Erg (live Rimini - 9-Aug-1975)

Disc 3 - One More Heaven Gained includes

  • Scorched Earth (live in Rimini - 9-Aug-1975)

Disc 4 - Like Something Out of Edgar Allan Poe includes

  • Cat's Eye (John Peel 24-Oct-1977)
  • Door (Previously un-released)
  • Sphinx in the Face (John Peel 24-Oct-1977

What can you say. A leviathan. Actually you could carp and ask for all the things that were left out, but I'm not going to. The tracklist is a mix of rare and live stuff and greatest hits from the core albums. See separate page on "The Box", for a complete tracklist. The sound, remixed by Hammill himself in conference with Jackson, Banton and Evans, is superb. A great book of memoirs and pics is included. Most of the "rare" tracks were already widely available, the majority being BBC Sessions. But the sound is far far better. To celebrate the occasion, I've attempted to produce a definative list of radio and tv sessions (but I bet its still full of mistakes). All in all, therefore, wonderful. When are they producing the next one?

Four live tracks are from the Rimini Concert the whole of which is on the Worldly Men and Strangers boot . The Rimini concert appears to be a soundboard recording , but with quite a lot of PA hum. Hammill has done a reasonable job on the sound, but the hum remains. Perhaps they will release a cleaned up version of the entire concert in the future (after we've all paid for the box)

Chameleons   CDR
Bologna 28.05.1973 Recording: 6
Performance: vg
Live In Bologna
28.05.1973
{short description of image}
Screaming Plasma

The Lie (Bernini's Saint Theresa)
Slender Threads
German Overalls
Dropping The Torch
In The End
Easy To Slip Away
What's It Worth
Rock And Rôle
(In The) The Black Room
Refugees
Theme One
The "Secret" VdGG concert, including the only live version of Rock n Role by the classic line-up
CONFUSED BEYOND REDEMPTION (CD)   CD
{short description of image}  Recording: 7-9
Performance:ex
VdGG BBC Sessions
6/10/71 (1-4), BBC 5/25/70 (5-6), BBC 5/5/69 (7)
 
Darkness/Vision/Theme One/Man-Erg/Refugees/After the Flood /Afterwards

Nice collection of excellent BBC performances but shaky sound quality in places, and now largely replaced by VDGG Is On The Air. The pitch of PH's voice, for instance, sounds decidedly wrong on parts of "Man-Erg", which is the only track not available eleswhere. The source information is not quite complete.Identical to Vision-Erg. which has a nicer cover.

Darkness '76   2 CDR
{short description of image} Recording: 8
Performance: vg
Toronto Massey Hall, 15/10/1976
Beacon Theatre, New York 10/18/76,
Reims 8/12/76 (The Last VDGG Concert)
Southampton Gaumont, 9/11/1976
{short description of image}
Kiss The Tit
Disc one:
When She Comes, Masks, La Rossa, Still Life (Toronto)
Man-Erg, Killer, Arrow (NY).
Disc two: Meurglys III / Gog (Toronto),
Sleepwalkers, Childlike Faith in Childhood's End, Darkness, (Reims)
Wondering. (Gaumont)

Excellent compilation from the Pawn Hearts people. This includes most of Satan God and Nemo, plus some extra stuff from the same era, including the awesome final number ever played (Darkness of course!). The sound quality is as good as you have any right to expect, and the setlist is representative, although lacks Place to Survive and Lemmings, which was a regular fixture during the endgame. Strongly recommended.

Health Warning. My copy stopped working after a year.

Day Dawns Dark

 
2 CDR
{short description of image} Recording: 8
Performance: vg
Van Der Graff Generator Live at the BBC on 29/12/68 (1, 13), 8/2/70 (2,3,4) , and 5/10/71(15)
Eyewitness Soundtrack (5-12),
Weeley Festival 28/8/71 (14).
{short description of image}
Screaming Plasma

1 Necromancer
2 Killer
3 Whatever Would Robert Have Said?
4 Squid1, Squid2, Octopus .
Sudden Terror
5 Eyewitness
6 Have a Look for Yourself I
7 A Short Ride in a Fast Machine
8 Well I Do
9 Have a Look for Yourself II
10 Nothing Here
11 A Fast Ride on a Short Machine
12 God Will Punish You
13 Octopus
14 I One Wrote Some Poems
15 The Dambusters

Excellent compilation

FELLOW TRAVELLERS   LP
{short description of image} Recording: 7-10
Performance:ex
VdGG BBC 10/5/71,
Hammill and Jaxon, BBC 1974
First Single
 
Takrl 1927
Side one: Man-Erg/W/Killer/Firebrand
Side two: Rubicon/A Louse Is Not a Home/Red Shift/People You Were Going To

There are two versions of this: one with a printed black and white cover, the other with an attached cover sheet with orange print on pale yellow paper (same info in both cases). Both versions, on all copies I've seen, have skips in "Man-Erg" which seem to have been on the transcription disc used for a master. All the live in the studio performances are quite good, although the sound could have been much better.

FELLOW TRAVELLERS   CD
 {short description of image} Recording: 7-10
Performance:ex
VdGG BBC 10/5/71,
Hammill and Jaxon, BBC 1974
First Single
{short description of image} 
Chapter One 25136
Man-Erg/W/Killer/Rubicon/A Louse is Not a Home/Red Shift/People You Were Going To/Firebrand

Transferred directly from a copy of the bootleg LP. Nice full cover cover which doesn't have anything to do with the band, however. Since the 10/5/71 session appears without the skips in "Man-Erg" on VDGG Is On The Air this is only strictly essential for tracks 4-8 (which mean that its essential anyway!). However, the sheer adrenalin of the sound quality on the 10/5/71 session remains supreme (and staggering) . The 90 second instrumental break in Killer represents the all time high point of live VDGG recordings, and in fact the greatest achievement of Western civilisation to date!

FRAGMENTS OUT OF TIME/IN STILL LIFE Cassette
 {short description of image} Recording: 7-10
Performance:ex
Definitive live versions by PH or VdGG versions of just about everything up to 1986. {short description of image} 
Everything!

Pawn Hearts contribution to the unofficial sweepstakes. The concept was originally something for private listening pleasure, but it grew into a monster which took months to put together. A labour of love, of course. Twelve cassettes, 18 hours, all with black and white printed covers with photos, artwork, advertisements, liner notes, etc., limited edition of 100 copies, a massive compilation of almost every song performed live by the band and PH solo from 1971-1986. Listening to the songs sequentially like this is a revelation! Highlights include Tapeworm, This is me dreaming, etc, etc ,etc.

GENERATORS (CD)   CD
{short description of image} Recording: 5-9
Performance: ex
Belgian TV 1971 (1-2), BBC 10/5/71 (3-4), Verona, Italy 6/3/72 (5-6)  
Microphone 04
A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers (incomplete)/ Theme One/ Killer/ W/ Darkness/ Lemmings

Carefully packaged with brief liner notes in English and Italian in the CD booklet. "Lighthousekeepers" is missing the first five minutes for some reason. The BBC session is the same one as "Lost Live Tapes" and "Fellow Travellers" , without "Man- Erg." Thus the Verona tracks are the only reason to have this; they are terrible sound, but stupendous performances. In fact I've just been listening to them (Darkness/ Lemmings) again. Through the appalling recording emerges what I think are the finest performances of these songs ever captured. Perhaps in twenty years the technology will exist to make them listenable!

I PROPHESY DISASTER   LP
{short description of image} Recording: 7
Performance: ex
Cinema Mascotte, Basel 5/6/72 {short description of image}

Transworld VDG 279

Side one: Theme One/After the Flood

Side two: Killer/Lemmings Side three: W/Lost
Side four: Darkness/Octopus

This is a good representative of the better of the early VdGG live recordings, and is thus utterly essential, although pretty rough in quality compared to present standards. The cover, easily the best from the LP era, is printed black and white, a femme fatale on the front, lyrics to "Killer" on back. The band played their usual set (the second of the day) in reverse order.

THE KILLER LIVES   2 CD
{short description of image} Recording: 8
Performance: ex
Travagliato, Brescia, Italy
21 May 1972
{short description of image}
Exposure EX-006-2VD (2CD) 

White Hammer 
Darkness 
Lemmings 
Man-Erg 

Killer 
Lost 
Octopus Pt.1 
Theme One 
Octopus Pt. 2 
Aquarian 
plus tracks dubbed from a vinyl copy of "Aerosol Grey Machine", Necromancer not Squid. 

This is the best representative of the early VdGG live recordings; enough said. It contains White Hammer and Aquarian, unrecorded live otherwise. The playing is superb, and the recording fine. Shame that it is padded out with a now superfluous transcript of AGM, but worth every penny anyway. Essential.

Lighthousekeepers   CD
{short description of image} Recording: ?
Performance: ?
Claims: London 7 Jan 1971
Likely: Track 1,3: Belgian TVH
Track 2,4: '71 BBC Live
 
Oil Well RSC 141 CD  (Italy) (CD - 4/1995)
  1. Theme One
  2. Killer
  3. A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers
  4. W

Some uncertainty here. This is the same content as Theme One. Some claim it is new material, but Pawn Hearts and Jim both say that Lost is in fact the Lighthousekeepers of track 3 repeated, minus its first few minutes, and that all material is copied from Lost Live Tapes. I've never heard it.

Live at the Black Bottom of the Sea  CD
Recording: 7
Performance: ex
Cinema Mascotte, Basel 5/6/72

Screaming Plasma


Theme One
After The Flood
Killer
Lemmings
W
Lost
Darkness
Octopus

Superior (and complete) transfer from I Prophesy Disaster LP . Pretty rough in quality compared to present standards, but neverthelss essential. The band played their usual set in reverse order, not the order they appear here. Disappointing version of a great LP

Live in Basel 72   CD
{short description of image} Recording: 7
Performance: ex
Cinema Mascotte, Basel 5/6/72

Italy 72

Killer
After the flood
Lemmings
W
Theme One

Rather a strange transfer from I Prophesy Disaster LP with a lot of cuts and rearrangements. Get Live at the Black Bottom of the Sea instead. Pretty rough in quality compared to present standards. The band played their usual set in reverse order, not the order they appear here. Disappointing version of a great LP

THE LOST LIVE TAPES (LONDON 1970-71) (CD)   CD
{short description of image} Recording: 7-8
Performance: ex
Belgian TV 1971 (1-2), BBC 10/5/71 (3-5)

AULICA  A.106 (Italy) (CD)

Theme One
A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers
Man-Erg
W
Killer

This is now made irrelevant by the excellent VDGG Is On The Air, which contains all these tracks and more. Nicely done cover shows lightning, inside of booklet has colour photos of individual band members. The cover incorrectly identifies "Lighthouse" (which is complete) as "Lost," and "Man-Erg" (which doesn't have any skips!) as "Refugees. The ManErg recommendation for the BBC stuff remains Fellow Travellers which is unbeaten for the sheer adrenalin rush of the sound on Killer.

Maida Vale   CD
{short description of image} Recording: 10
Performance: ex
BBC Sessions {short description of image}

BBC

Darkness
Man-erg
Scorched Earth
Sleepwalkers
Still Life
La Rossa
When She Comes
Masks

Just simply wonderful. These are tremendous performances, almost live in feel (they are official BBC sessions). Sound is excellent, Hammill sleeve notes. Recommended without reservation, this is as good as it gets.

Manchester Opera House   2CDR
{short description of image} Recording: 9
Performance: ex
Manchester Opera House
2/11/1975
{short description of image}
CD 1:
The Undercover Man
Scorched Earth
Black Room
Arrow
Faint-Heart And The Sermon
CD 2:
La Rossa
Lemmings
Gog
The Sleepwalkers
Man-Erg
Darkness
Urban

Recently appeared and excellent. Just simply wonderful. These are tremendous performances, and, amazingly for the era, the sound is excellent, Recommended without reservation, this is as good as it gets.

Van Der Graaf Generator
Manchester Opera House
2 CDRs
CD 1:
The Undercover Man
Scorched Earth
Black Room
Arrow
Faint-Heart And The Sermon

CD 2:
La Rossa
Lemmings
Gog
The Sleepwalkers
Man-Erg
Darkness
Urban
All songs:
Manchester Opera House

2/11/1975
Recording: Phenomenal for period
Stunningly excellent performance and sound!

MONTREAL 77   LP
{short description of image} Recording: 7-8
Performance: vg
Quebec City 10/7/76 (Side one)
Beacon Theatre New York 10/18/76 (Side two)

Armco 24357

Side one: The Undercover Man/When She Comes/Masks
Side two: La Rossa/Meurglys III, The Songwriters Guild

The cover is a simple graphic design, blue print on white. Side two is identical to side two of "New York 78." The cover lists incorrect date, source and contents for side two. OK quality, but "The Undercover Man" is marred by dropouts and shifting around of the recording microphone.

The Necromancer   CDR
Recording: ?
Performance: ?
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR
Tracks 1-3 : BBC TOP GEAR 11.18.1968(?)
Tracks 4-6 : BBC TOP GEAR 1.27.1970
Track 7 : Belgium TV 1971
Track 8 : BEAT CLUB 1971
Tracks 9-11 : Singles
 
ComfortC991006C HEAD (CDR - 2000)
  1. People You Were Going To
  2. Afterwards
  3. The Necromancer
  4. Darkness
  5. Refugees
  6. After The Flood
  7. A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers
  8. Whatever Would Robert Have Said
  9. Boat Of Millions Of Years
  10. Theme One
  11. W
Various BBC sessions: Haven't heard the CDR, but all the tracks are well known. Its interesting to speculate that this was the source for the first six tracks on "The Box".
NEW YORK (NY) 78   LP
Recording: 8
Performance: ex
Beacon Theatre, New York 10/18/76 {short description of image}

Reno 5578

Side one: When She Comes/Lemmings Side two: La Rossa/Meurglys III, The Songwriters Guild

"Well, at last!"! PH's triumphant cry, when the band steps onstage for their first American concert. Also of this ManErg when he finally procurred a copy of this excellent album. 56 minutes is not bad for an LP, the sound is pretty good, and the performances are excellent. The band are clearly on a high. The dreadful brown on white printed cover also lists incorrect contents and date. Side two is identical to side two of "Montreal 77", but the sound is better. Possibly the best late period boot.

ONE MORE HEAVEN GAINED   CD
{short description of image} Recording: 8
Performance: vg
New Victoria Theatre, London
30 Aug 1975
{short description of image}

AGM 001

Arrow (9:04) 
Faint Heart and the Sermon (7:52) 
Lemmings  (13:41) 
La Rossa (10:22) 
A Louse Is Not A Home (12:13) 
Scorched Earth (10:00) 
Man-Erg  (10:26) 

This was the first unofficial VdGG CD to be released. It takes about 73 minutes of music from the middle of the second VdGG London comeback show. The cover is from the original edition of the book "Killers, Angels, Refugees," while the booklet reproduces two promo photos, two reviews of the gig and an advertisement. A nice package overall, although the booklets were folded sideways (the "KAR" drawing should be oriented properly). There is a bit of hiss, but the sound excellent for the period. The performance was pretty good, although not as good as the first Victoria reformation gig. They really got into form towards the end, with a majestic Pilgrims as encore, but that's not here, sadly. Still wins its seal of approval comfortably!
Out of Control   2 CDR
Recording: ?
Performance: ?
LIVE IN ZUG , SWITZERLAND 5/5/72 6600Y
Comfort C000202B 

Unknown

Fred still hasn't given me the tape of this concert he owes me, so I've no idea.

PARIS 1975   2CDR
{short description of image} Recording: 7
Performance: 7
La Mutualite, Paris
24 Nov 1975
C980609B (2CD-R)

Disc one
Faint Heart and the Sermon
Arrow
A Louse is Not A Home
La Rossa

Disc two
Lemmings
Gog
The Sleepwalkers
Man-Erg
Scorched Earth

Really not that compelling a release. There are good bits, for example a fine Louse, but the recording is dull, and the performances are less than electric. If you want a recording from this era, Worldly Men and Strangers or One More Heaven Gained or Poppyfields of France are all better bets (and cheaper!). And I'm still waiting for a recording of the mighty Imperial College gig. Production not that good; printed CD inserts and CD-Rs with plain white labels. Wot, still no live recording of Urban? Shame
PILGRIMS   2 LP
{short description of image} Recording: 4-7
Performance:
The Roundhouse, London
19 Apr 1976

Side one: Undercover Men/Scorched /Arrows

Side two: The Black Room/Pilgrims (begin)

Side three: Pilgrims (end)/Still Life/La Rossa

Side four: Childlike Face, Grog (cut)/The Sleepwalker (cut)

Tacky packaging award: The two LPs come in a grey envelope with a single pale-pink photocopied insert which misspells or completely missnames most of the song titles. It's a numbered edition of 500 copies. Many (all?) copies are poorly pressed, and the editing is crap; the sound quality is erratic. Once this was the only live version of Childhood's End available, but now you can find one on Darkness '76. There is some good stuff on here though.

Pilgrimage 12 CDRs
 {short description of image} Recording: 7-10
Performance:ex
The 21st century remake of FRAGMENTS OUT OF TIME/IN STILL LIFE, ie definitive live versions by PH or VdGG versions of just about everything up to 1986. {short description of image} 
Everything!

An update of the original Pawn Hearts contribution to the unofficial sweepstakes. Material which has subsequently come out as commercial releases has been removed, and new stuff added. A massive compilation of almost every song performed live by the band and PH solo from 1971-1986. Listening to the songs sequentially like this is a revelation! Highlights include Tapeworm, This Is Me dreaming, etc, etc ,etc.

Poppyfields of France   2 CDR
Recording:
Performance:
Colmar Parc Des Expositions,
27 May 1975
{short description of image}
Comfort C990311
  1. The Undercover Man
  2. Scorched Earth
  3. Man-Erg
  4. Forsaken Gardens
  5. Black Room incl. The Tower
  6. Lemmings
  7. La Rossa
  8. Arrow
  9. A Louse is Not a Home
  10. Faint-Heart and the Sermon
  11. Gog
  12. The Sleepwalkers
This Japanese CD-R from French minitour prior to "Reformed" Victoria Gig is an excellent contribution. The recording is good, and the band are in great form, obviously still enjoying reforming. The set is the usual for the period, but the encores are missing. Recommended.
Regeneration   2 CDR
Recording: 7
Performance: ex
Live in Victoria Palace Theatre, London
27/7/1975
{short description of image}
Screaming Plasma
CD 1:
The Undercover Man
Scorched Earth
Man-Erg
Forsaken Gardens
Black Room
Lemmings
CD 2:
La Rossa
Arrow
A Louse Is Not A Home
Faint-Heart And The Sermon
Gog
The Sleepwalkers
Urban
Pilgrims
This was the first high profile 2comeback" concert, and was wonderful. The atmosphere was stupendous, and the encores brilliant. One of the all time great VdGG Concerts. There is a bit of hiss, but the sound excellent for the period.
SATAN GOD AND NEMO   2 CD
{short description of image} Recording: 8-10
Performance:
Toronto Massey Hall, 15/10/1976
The Siren Song TSSVD 2005/6
Disc one: When She Comes, Masks, La Rossa, Still Life
Disc two: Meurglys III / Gog / Sleepwalkers

This has now been largely superceded by Darkness '76, which puts right most of the complaints below!

Pretty good quality recording, performance maybe slightly jaded. The band near the end of its life. Annoying fade for last minute of Sleepwalkers. I suppose the Meurglys/Gog/Sleepwalkers epic was just too long for one side of a C-90! Cover unexciting, with standard PR photos of band. Also very expensive. Although actually its much better than my preceding remarks suggest! The La Rossa is a highlight, a different feel to usual.

Theme One   CD
Recording: ?
Performance: ?
London 7 Jan 1971 ?  
 
1. Theme One 
2. Killer 
3. A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers 
4. Lost 
5. W

Some uncertainty here. This is the same content as Lighthousekeepers. Some claim it is new material, but Pawn Hearts says that track 4 (Lost) is in reality a repeat of track 3 (Plague) minus the first few minutes, and all material is copied from Lost Live Tapes. I've never heard it.

The Union Chapel Concert   CD
{short description of image} Recording: 9
Performance:ex
Guy Evans & Peter Hammill
plus Banton, Jackson, the Hammill Quartet and Echo City, in various permutations, including a "one song, one-off reformation of Van der Graaf Generator"
{short description of image} 

Disc One
Introduction, Fireworks , A Forest of Pronouns ,Anatol's Proposal, After the Show , Roger and Out [3:18]
Accidents , Four Kinds of Rice/Hello/Resolution , Woman of Ireland , Ship of Fools

Disc Two
Hamburg Station , Seven Wonders , Adagio for Strings, Red Shift, Lemmings , Outroduction , Traintime

The Holy Grail!
VDGG Is On The Air   2CDR
{short description of image} Recording: 7-8
Performance: ex
Radio: BBC 5 Oct 71 (1-3)
BBC 5 Oct 77 (4-6)
BBC 25 May 70 (7-9)
BBC 10 Jun 71 (10)
TV: Belgian TV 10 Jun 1975 (1-4),
Bremen Beat Club 5 April 70 (5)
Belgian Rock of the 70's 1971 (6-7)
{short description of image}

Kiss The Tit  A.106 (Italy) (CD)

Disk 1: Radio
Man-Erg, W, Killer
Cats Eye/Yellow Fever, Sphinx in the Face, Plague of Sleepwalkers
Darkness, Refugees, After the Flood, Theme One
Disk2 TV:
Undercover Man, Arrow,Scorched Earth, Sleepwalkers,
Theme One A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers

Two disks, first is radio sessions, second TV. Nothing actually new here, but its nice to have everything in one place. Many of these are outstanding, both in performance and sound (although Fellow Travellers still has the edge for sheer adrenalin on Killer, and remains essential). Darkness is especially fine.

VISION-ERG (CD)   CD
 {short description of image} Recording: 7-9
Performance:ex
VdGG BBC Sessions
6/10/71 (1-4), BBC 5/25/70 (5-6), BBC 5/5/69 (7)
 
Lost Rose 03 Darkness/Vision/Theme One/Man-Erg/Refugees/After the Flood /Afterwards

Nice collection of excellent BBC performances but shaky sound quality in places, and now largely replaced by VDGG Is On The Air. The pitch of PH's voice, for instance, sounds decidedly wrong on parts of "Man-Erg", which is the only track not available eleswhere. The source information is not quite complete. Identical to Confused Beyond Redemptionbut has a better cover.

VITAL, (Van Der Graaf)   2LP, CD, 2CDs in Japan
{short description of image} Recording: 8-10
Performance:ex
VdG
Marquee Club, London, 16 January 1978
JAPANESE CDs ONLY!!{short description of image}

Virgin CVLD 101 (UK) (2LP - 1978); Virgin CVLCD 101 (CD - 1989)

Ship of Fools 
Still Life 
Last Frame 
Mirror Images 
Medley (Parts of "APlague of Lighthouse Keepers" and "The Sleepwalkers") 
Pioneers Over C 
Sci-Finance 
Door 
Urban 
Nadir's Big Chance 

This is of course the only officially available live concert recording of the band (well VDG anyway). It has a glorious front cover. A number of songs from the night have been omitted, even from the LP , but this is probably a merciful release. The English CD misses out even more. The Japanese has them all on 2 CDs, along with a transcription of the words so garbled as to be an entertainment in its own right. This is the best version if you can find it. (Elitist or what?).
I never liked this line-up, and the recording was botched; Jaxon's channel failed, so all you can hear is his bleed through onto the other channels. Still, the set is genuinely different from the studio material, with many of the songs unavailable elsewhere. Full marks for spirit, none for execution!
WORLDY MEN AND STRANGERS (A Day in the Life of VDGG)   2CD
 {short description of image} Recording: 8
Performance:ex
Rimini L'Altro Mondo,
9/8/1975
{short description of image} 
Reel Tapes
Disc one: Louse is not a Home, Faint Heart and the Sermon, In the Black Room, Arrow, Forsaken Gardens, Lemmings
Disc two: La Rossa, Pilgrims, Sleepwalkers, Undercover Man, Scorched Earth, Man Erg, Man Erg (afternoon performance)

Mixing desk tape of Godbluff era, slightly marred by PA hum. Fine performances by the band at its peak. The cover with band photos is nicer inside out!

Information from many places, principally Pawn Hearts, Fred's Book "The Stereo Sonic Smack" and various places on the WWW and Internet. Thanks to all.

Several excellent sites include:

Peter Hammill in Australia - Marcel Safier's excellent VdGG/PH live site, now happily back online!
A nice, encyclopaedic site Koen Vyverman's Refugee's Home
The original complete collection of Ph7/VdGG FAQ

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