From Loudersound.
Prog pioneers Van der Graaf Generator have announced that they will release their Charisma Years box set on September 3.
The set includes 17 CDs and three Blu-rays and feature the band’s entire recorded works for Charisma Records, including previously unreleased tracks and previously unreleased footage in brand new stereo and surround sound remixes.
“Well here we are as young men, pushing away, exploring away,” says Peter Hammill. “This is about as comprehensive a documentation of that exciting time in our lives as it’s possible to get. We had the luck to be given an enormous amount of freedom by Charisma Records to find our own way – and an audience – from the outset. This meant we pushed ourselves as much as we could.
“It’s wonderful to have the whole recorded history of those years collected together as a complete set and the new mixes shed quite a different light on many of the pieces. Somewhat to our own surprise, we’ve had a later lease of life after our reunion album and concerts. And as the trio of Hugh, Guy and myself, we’re still working away and will be playing live again as soon as circumstances allow us. This remains a fun job.”
The Charisma Years Box features all their Charisma albums newly remastered from first-generation master tapes. 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.
The Charisma Years Box features all eight Charisma albums newly remastered from first-generation master tapes. Also featured in The Charisma Years are 2 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’s a Blu-ray features all of the surviving high-quality VDGG television footage and promotional films including from German TV’s Beat Club in 1970, a 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 Charleroi in September 1975, 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.
There are also remixes of the albums H to He Who Am the Only One, Pawn Hearts, Godbluff and Still Life. These have been remixed from the original multi-track tapes in both Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound by Stephen W Tayler. These four albums will also be made available separately as three-disc Sets, including Original Stereo Mixes. The set also features a 68-page book with rare photographs.
The Charisma Years will be preceded by single releases of Refugees (Single Version), Killer (New Stereo Mix), and Pilgrims (New Stereo Mix) with further singles TBA. Album releases — 4 x 3-disc Sets and 4 x Facsimile Vinyl LPs will also be released.
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- Van Der Graaf Generator - 68-71 (Sixty Eight To Seventy One) - 1st - UK - vinyl LP - £50.00, $61.00, €59.00 (New Item) (arrived 10-May-2022 15:53)on May 16, 2022 at 12:28 pm
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR 68-71 (1972 UK first press 8-track LP compilation on the pink 'scroll' Charisma label, including Necromancer that was previously unreleased in the UK plus the exceptional Killer. The picture sleeve shows only light shelfwear with just a few spots of edge wear and small imprint from a previous store sticker, otherwise remaining in Excellent shape. The vinyl on the other hand steals the show remaining in near 'as new' condition looking seldom played, not the rarest pink scroll but a great compilation in its earliest form and hard to find with vinyl in such lovely condition CS2)
- Van Der Graaf Generator - The Least We Can Do - 1st - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £75.00, $91.50, €88.50 (New Item) (arrived 08-Feb-2022 17:25)on May 16, 2022 at 12:28 pm
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other (1970 UK first press 6-track LP on the pink Charisma 'scroll' label, matte gatefold picture sleeve. The cover has a degree of scuffing/edegwear and a patch of sticker lift wear,but otherwise still holds up well, with no seam splits. The heavyweight vinyl [VG] has some paper hairlines, light scuffs and spindle marks by the centre hole which are primarily cosmetic in nature. By no means mint, this is still a respectable starter copy of this rare first issue now well over fifty years on! CAS1007)
- Van Der Graaf Generator - H To He, Who Am The Only One - 1st - VG - UK - vinyl LP - £95.00, $115.90, €112.10 (New Item) (arrived 22-Oct-2021 14:17)on May 16, 2022 at 12:28 pm
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR H To He, Who Am The Only One (Very Rare 1970 UK first issue 5-track vinyl LP on the pink 'scroll' Charisma label - This third album by the band offers up a wonderfully bleak brand of prog rock featuring solid bass from Nic Potter [The Misunderstood], twisted Hammond organ riffs a-plenty from Hugh Banton, wonderfully skronky, aggressive sax from David Jackson all coupled with the anguished lyrics and vocal delivery from Mr Hammill himself. The gatefold sleeve has the lyrics printed on the reverse and is graded VG- as it shows some scuffing to the edges, tiny paper tear to front and shelfwear creasing to the corners but remains fully intact with no obvious rips or tears while vinyl is graded VG as there are two scuffs [not affecting play, but visible], otherwise a really clean playing surface; here's your chance to grab a prog classic at an advantageous price CAS1027)
- Van Der Graaf Generator - The Aerosol Grey Machine - UK - box set - £49.99, $60.99, €58.99 (New Item) (arrived 02-Nov-2021 11:50)on May 16, 2022 at 12:28 pm
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR The Aerosol Grey Machine (2019 UK 50th Anniversary Deluxe Limited Edition multi-format box set of their classic 1969 debut album. Comprises a 2-CD set with rare unreleased tracks, 180-gram vinyl LP inside the withdrawn UK gatefold sleeve design, People You Were Going To / Firebrand 7-inch replica of the very rare withdrawn release, a 40-page book with many previously unseen photos & press cuttings, plus an essay by Sid Smith featuring an exclusive interview with Peter Hammill, a 1968 poster designed by Peter Hammill, all housed inside a heavy card slipcase. Although not sealed this example remains in a 'like new' condition. A beauty!)
- Van Der Graaf Generator - Godbluff - EX - UK - vinyl LP - £40.00, $48.80, €47.20 (New Item) (arrived 11-Dec-2021 09:32)on May 16, 2022 at 12:28 pm
VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR Godbluff (1975 UK first press 4-track LP on the small Madhatter label with 'Marketed & Distributed by Phonogram' perimeter text, housed in a picture sleeve with lyric card inner. The sleeve has a slight crease in the opening edge and a few very light storage marks, whilst the vinyl looks barely played CAS1109)
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