{"title":"Van Der Graaf Generator","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVan Der Graaf Generator is a UK band that was formed in 1967 by Peter Hammill, Chris Judge Smith, and Nick Pearne. After a period of activity during the 1970s, the band broke up in 1978. However, the \"classic\" line-up of Hammill, Guy Evans, Hugh Banton, and David Jackson reformed the band again in 2004 and released the studio album \u003ci\u003ePresent\u003c\/i\u003e. Since September 2006, Van Der Graaf Generator has worked as a trio without David Jackson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir music can be described as progressive rock with elements of art rock and experimental rock. They have been influential to many similar artists such as Caravan, Gentle Giant, Curved Air, Gryphon, Renaissance, Peter Hammill (as a solo artist), Hatfield \u0026amp; The North, Triumvirat Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM), Nektar U.K., Focus Greenslade Emerson Lake \u0026amp; Palmer Camel The Nice Aphrodite's Child Eloy Beggars Opera Anthony Phillips.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith their unique sound and enduring legacy in the progressive rock genre,Van Der Graaf Generator continues to captivate audiences worldwide with their innovative music.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"godbluff","title":"Godbluff","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGodbluff\u003c\/strong\u003e is the fifth album released by \u003cstrong\u003eVan der Graaf Generator\u003c\/strong\u003e. It was the first album after the band reformed in 1975 and was recorded after a European tour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the musical structures continued to be complex and dense, there seemed to be far less accent on the demonstration of musical skill than had formerly been the case. Indeed, the album opened with daring quietness, with David Jackson's flute echoing across the stereo space, joined by Hammill's voice as he whispered the opening lines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere was sturm und drang to come, but the music had been opened up and the lyrics had developed more focus, often abandoning metaphor in favour of statement. \u003cstrong\u003eGodbluff\u003c\/strong\u003e was a bravura comeback - only four cuts, but all were classics.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"UMC","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50382489223499,"sku":"1149034","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/99a4601d-8634-4a63-b724-3438ef1825f4_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726251198"},{"product_id":"the-charisma-years","title":"The Charisma Years","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lavish deluxe 20 disc boxed set comprising 17 CDs and 3 Blu Ray discs covering Van der Graaf Generator’s entire recorded work for Charisma Records. Between the years 1970 – 1978 the band released 8 albums (two under the name Van der Graaf) for the legendary Charisma label. Each record was ground breaking and the influence of the band’s unique music would be felt in the ensuing decades by artists of many different musical genres. This boxed set features all of their Charisma albums newly re-mastered from the first generation master tapes and much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe albums \u003ci\u003eH to He Who Am the Only One, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eStill Life\u003c\/i\u003e have been stunningly remixed from the original multi-track tapes in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound by Stephen W Tayler. These feature on 4 additional CDs and two Blu ray discs. Also featured are two CDs of a recently discovered and previously unreleased entire concert recorded in Paris in December 1976 by French radio and all of the surviving BBC sessions recorded by the band. In addition there is a Blu ray disc featuring all of the surviving VdGG television footage and promotional films including their appearance on German TV’s “Beat Club” in 1970, their filmed appearance at The Bataclan in Paris in 1972 for the French TV show “Pop Deux”, the 1972 appearance on “Pop Shop” for RTBF Belgium, a live performance shot by Belgian TV in Chaleroi in September 1975, the promotional films of “Wondering” and “Cat’s Eye”, and a 20 minute documentary with live footage shot by Austrian television at The Kohfidisch Open Air Festival, Austria in June 1978.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLavishly packaged with a 68 page book and rare photos, \u003ci\u003eThe Charisma Years \u003c\/i\u003eis the definitive collection of work by Van der Graaf Generator.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eH to He Who Am the Only One – 2 CD \/ 1 DVD – 00602508960727\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 3-disc edition of the classic album from Van der Graaf Generator. Newly remastered from the original first-generation master tapes featuring a new stereo mix and 5.1 Surround sound mix by Stephen W Tayler and additional bonus tracks. One of the defining progressive rock releases of its era.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePawn Hearts 2 CD \/ 1 DVD – 00602508960864\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 3-disc edition of the classic 1971 album from Van der Graaf Generator heralded as one of the groundbreaking albums of the progressive era. Newly remastered from the original first-generation master tapes featuring a new stereo mix and 5.1 Surround sound mix by Stephen W Tayler and additional bonus tracks from the album sessions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eGodbluff 2 CD \/ 1 DVD – 00602508960987\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 3-disc edition of the classic 1975 album from Van der Graaf Generator newly remastered from the original first-generation master tapes featuring a new stereo mix and 5.1 Surround sound mix by Stephen W Tayler and additional live bonus tracks from 1975.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStill Life 2 CD \/ 1 DVD – 00602508961090\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 3-disc edition of the classic 1976 album from Van der Graaf Generator newly remastered from the original first-generation master tapes featuring a stunning new stereo mix and 5.1 Surround sound mix by Stephen W Tayler and additional live bonus tracks from 1975 and 1976 and a 1976 John Peel BBC session\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Virgin","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50388999307595,"sku":"1124866","price":139.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/474a4010-4843-494b-bf45-ddd511833fde_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726352829"},{"product_id":"vital-van-der-graaf-live","title":"Vital – Van Der Graaf Live","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe album \u003cem\u003eThe Quiet Zone \/ The Pleasure Dome\u003c\/em\u003e was the final release of the 1970s by \u003cstrong\u003eVan der Graaf Generator\u003c\/strong\u003e, who by 1977 had abbreviated their name to Van der Graaf and featured a line-up of Peter Hammill (vocals, piano, guitars), Guy Evans (drums), Nic Potter (bass), and Graham Smith (violin) who added Charles Dickie (cello) to the band mid-way through the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing a long year of touring and recording, the band greeted 1978 with two concerts at the Marquee Club in London on 15 and 16 January which were recorded. The concerts featured a guest appearance by former member David Jackson on saxophone and flute.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVital\u003c\/strong\u003e was a brutal sonic assault and featured Van der Graaf at their most powerful and impassioned. The record proved to be their swansong of the 1970s, as by the time of the album’s release in July 1978, the band had broken up due to financial difficulties.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"Black LPx2.","offer_id":50401539490123,"sku":"2173438","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50401539948875,"sku":"2173439","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/VDG-Vital-Cover-LRG_cf4ce532_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726524725"},{"product_id":"pawn-hearts","title":"Pawn Hearts","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003ePawn Hearts\u003c\/i\u003e is the fourth album by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, released in October 1971 on Charisma Records. The original album features just three tracks, including the side-long suite \"A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers\". The album was not commercially successful in the UK, but reached number one in Italy. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe songs for the album were worked out while on tour in 1971, with further development and arranging at manager Tony Stratton-Smith's house in Crowborough, Sussex over a two-month period. The original plan had been to release more material, making up a double album, but Charisma vetoed the idea. A non-album single, \"Theme One\" was included on some releases in the US and Canada. The album's strong commercial showing in Italy resulted in a number of lucrative promotional tours there, but the resulting pressure led to the band's split in August 1972.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"UMC","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50448959570251,"sku":"1149033","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50448960258379,"sku":"1011034","price":7.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/894ecd3e-29cd-4be4-978a-1d19277a0ec5_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727097727"},{"product_id":"live-at-rockpalast-3","title":"Live At Rockpalast","description":"\u003cp\u003e1n 2003, the four members of Van der Graaf Generator had toyed with the idea of getting back together again. Following Peter Hammill’s heart attack also in in 2003, he was not the only one feeling the urge to get that planned project to finally happen. “There had been a strong feeling of unfinished business”, David Jackson remembers. Live At Rockpalast was recorded at the formal setting of the Leverkusen jazz festival in 2005, which suited the group well; always brilliant when playing to a musically aware audience. It is a classic capture of the reformed band on great form.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAvailable for the first time on vinyl as a first pressing of 1000 individually numbered copies on purple coloured vinyl. The package includes an insert. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Music On Vinyl","offers":[{"title":"Purple | LP | x3","offer_id":50452669235531,"sku":"1092065","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/03c9a94f-563d-4327-892f-70993301fb74_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727160188"},{"product_id":"a-grounding-in-numbers","title":"A Grounding In Numbers","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn April 2010 \u003cstrong\u003ePeter Hammill\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eHugh Banton\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eGuy Evans\u003c\/strong\u003e met up for intensive tracking sessions in Cornwall, arranging, rehearsing, and recording the album in a week. Some of the pieces were already fully-formed songs; others, even at this stage, remained more sketches than fully realized works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOver the next months, the tracks were overdubbed, edited, and adapted by the band in their own studios. By September, the project was ready to be mixed. Legendary producer \u003cstrong\u003eHugh Padgham\u003c\/strong\u003e agreed to take on this part of the process - the first time anyone outside the band had been entrusted such responsibility.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cherry Red","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50460826665291,"sku":"2015376","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_c129a692_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727238849"},{"product_id":"the-bath-forum-concert","title":"The Bath Forum Concert","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn February 2022 \u003cstrong\u003eVan der Graaf Generator\u003c\/strong\u003e embarked on a UK tour which had been rescheduled several times due to the Covid pandemic. The final show on these dates took place at The Forum in Bath on March 1st and the event was captured by a film and recording crew.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Bath Forum Concert\u003c\/em\u003e is the first live CD and film fully controlled by the band and it captures \u003cstrong\u003ePeter Hammill\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eHugh Banton\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003eGuy Evans\u003c\/strong\u003e at their finest performing vintage tracks such as \u003cem\u003eMasks\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eChildlike Faith In Childhood's End\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLa Rossa\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMan Erg\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHouse With No Door\u003c\/em\u003e along with newer pieces such as \u003cem\u003eInterference Patterns\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eEvery Bloody Emperor\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eGo\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAlfa Berlina\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eRoom 1210\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis release features the entire concert, mixed by Stephen W Tayler, and includes two CDs and a region free High-Definition Blu Ray video with 5.1 Surround Sound and an NTSC \/ Region Free DVD of this stunning concert film.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50469106319691,"sku":"2003586","price":37.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/VdGG_Forum_1000x1000_de05859b_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727356351"},{"product_id":"the-aerosol-grey-machine-50th-anniversary-edition","title":"The Aerosol Grey Machine - 50th Anniversary Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003eA re-mastered special 50th anniversary deluxe 2CD, 1LP and 1x7-inch single limited edition boxed set of the classic 1969 debut album by \u003cstrong\u003eVan Der Graaf Generator\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing a CD of rare and previously unreleased tracks including two previously unreleased demos from 1967, the BBC Top Gear session from 1968 (including the \"lost\" previously unreleased version of \u003cem\u003eOctopus\u003c\/em\u003e) and the single tracks \"\u003cem\u003ePeople You Were Going To\u003c\/em\u003e\" and \"\u003cem\u003eFirebrand\u003c\/em\u003e\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlso included is a facsimile 180 gram vinyl LP of \u003cem\u003eThe Aerosol Grey Machine\u003c\/em\u003e housed in the withdrawn UK gatefold sleeve design (cut at Abbey Road Studios) and a 7-inch single of the very rare withdrawn release \"\u003cem\u003ePeople You Were Going To\u003c\/em\u003e\" \/ \"\u003cem\u003eFirebrand\u003c\/em\u003e\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe set comes with a book containing many previously unseen photos and cuttings, and an essay by Sid Smith featuring an exclusive interview with \u003cstrong\u003ePeter Hammill\u003c\/strong\u003e. Additionally, a 1968 poster designed by \u003cstrong\u003ePeter Hammill\u003c\/strong\u003e is included.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Esoteric Recordings","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50486574186827,"sku":"1057535","price":54.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/test_1eb4ae94_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1731567367"},{"product_id":"h-to-he-who-am-the-only-one","title":"H To He Who Am The Only One","description":"\u003cp\u003eA facsimile LP edition of the classic album from Van der Graaf Generator. Newly remastered from the original first-generation master tapes. One of the defining progressive rock releases of its era. Van der Graaf Generator's second album, the wonderfully inventive \u003ci\u003eH to He Who Am the Only One\u003c\/i\u003e, sounds as fresh and new today as when it was released. Opening with the brilliant 'Killer', the album is a wonderful mix of rock, jazz and modern classical influences. Peter Hammill's lyrics, as usual, are superb but it is the band's music making that makes this the wonderful album that it is. The instrumentation arrangements are outstanding: in particular the way that David Jackson weaves his saxophones and flutes into the songs is absolutely magic. Hugh's playing of various keyboard instruments and an \"Oscillator\" is equally inventive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"UMC","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50491447705931,"sku":"354741","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/b1f1ed85-747d-4414-8c13-6dc705ce0eea_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1727686606"},{"product_id":"the-least-we-can-do-is-wave-to-each-other","title":"The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other\u003c\/i\u003e is the second album by Van der Graaf Generator, released in February 1970 on Charisma Records. 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