Hawkwind (album)

Last updated

Hawkwind
Hawkwindalbum.jpg
Studio album by
Released14 August 1970
RecordedApril 1970
Studio Trident Studios, London
Genre
Length39:35
Label Liberty (UK & Europe)
United Artists (US)
One Way (1992 US reissue)
Repertoire (1994 German reissue)
Parlophone (2015 UK reissue)
Producer Dick Taylor, Hawkwind
Hawkwind chronology
Hawkwind
(1970)
In Search of Space
(1971)
Singles from Hawkwind
  1. "Hurry on Sundown"
    Released: 26 June 1970

Hawkwind is the debut album by Hawkwind, released in 1970, originally on Liberty Records, later reissued on Sunset Records. This album is historic since it is one of the first space rock LPs.

Contents

Recording

Dick Taylor of The Pretty Things, who was looking for a new venture after leaving the band, was pulled into Hawkwind by playing some gigs and producing this album. After several unsuccessful attempts in the recording studio, where the band disliked recording their parts separately, they opted to simply record live in the studio. [2]

Songs

The bulk of the album is composed of a freeform instrumental piece that the band named "Sunshine Special" but it was separated into different tracks on this album. On the LP, "Paranoia" ends after the first minute with the music slowing down as though the turntable is stopping, and then picks up as the first cut on Side 2. Lyrics are scant, but those that are present and the song titles are a reference to the drug experience, as the sleeve notes explain:

This is the beginning. By now we will be past this album. We started out trying to freak people (trippers), now we are trying to levitate their minds, in a nice way, without acid, and ultimately a completely audio-visual thing. Using a complex of electronics, lights and environmental experiences.

The two bookend pieces of "Hurry on Sundown" and "Mirror of Illusion" are more of a nod to Brock's alternative activity of busking and were released as a single in edited form.

Sleeve

The cover is a fantasy painting that shows several dragon figures emerging from piles of leaves that also spell out the name of the band. On the front cover, the dragons are shown with human arms, while the reverse cover shows a dragon's head as an automobile with a driver wearing sunglasses. [3]

Adverts for the album proclaimed Hawkwind Is Space Rock.

Critical reaction

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Head Heritage (positive) [1]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Mark Plummer from Melody Maker reviewed the album in the context of electronic music as "interesting and exciting. The reason for this is that the group never goes too mad, and they keep within musical bounds, using sound discriminatingly, and only when they are needed to convey a feeling." adding that "Seeing It As You Really Are" is a lesson in electronic music itself. Any group thinking of using weird sounds should listen to this album, it's tremendous." [7]

Members of the band warmly regard the album, many feeling that it was the band's best. Various reactions include:

Track listing

Track 1 copyright Essex Music, Ltd. All others copyright United Artists Music Ltd.

All tracks are written by Brock/Hawkwind, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Hurry On Sundown"4:50
2."The Reason Is?"3:30
3."Be Yourself"8:09
4."Paranoia — Part 1"1:04
Side two
No.TitleLength
5."Paranoia — Part 2"4:11
6."Seeing It as You Really Are"10:43
7."Mirror of Illusion"7:08
1996 remastered CD bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
8."Bring It On Home" Willie Dixon 3:18
9."Hurry On Sundown" (Hawkwind Zoo demo)Brock5:06
10."Kiss of the Velvet Whip" (aka "Sweet Mistress of Pain")Brock5:28
11."Cymbaline" Roger Waters 4:04

Personnel

Hawkwind

Credits

Charts

Chart (1984)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [14] 75

Release history

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkwind</span> English rock band

Hawkwind are an English rock band known as one of the earliest space rock groups. Since their formation in November 1969, Hawkwind have gone through many incarnations and have incorporated many different styles into their music, including hard rock, progressive rock and psychedelic rock. They are also regarded as an influential proto-punk band. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes.

<i>Space Ritual</i> 1973 live album by Hawkwind

Space Ritual is a 1973 live double album recorded in 1972 by UK rock band Hawkwind. It is their fourth album since their debut, Hawkwind, in 1970. It reached number 9 in the UK Albums Chart and briefly dented the Billboard Hot 200, peaking at number 179.

<i>Levitation</i> (Hawkwind album) 1980 studio album by Hawkwind

Levitation is the tenth studio album by English rock group Hawkwind, released in 1980. It peaked at No. 21 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>In Search of Space</i> 1971 studio album by Hawkwind

In Search of Space is the second studio album from Hawkwind, released in 1971. It reached No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Hall of the Mountain Grill</i> 1974 studio album by Hawkwind

Hall of the Mountain Grill is the fourth studio album by space rock band Hawkwind, released in 1974. It is regarded by many critics as a career highlight.

<i>Warrior on the Edge of Time</i> 1975 studio album by Hawkwind

Warrior on the Edge of Time is the fifth studio album by the English rock band Hawkwind. Many of the lyrics are by Michael Moorcock, and the album is loosely based on the concept of Moorcock's novel The Eternal Champion. It was the band's highest-charting studio album on the UK Albums Chart, where it peaked at number 13, and was their third and last album to make the U.S. Billboard chart, where it peaked at number 150. Reviews have been mixed, with Melody Maker panning the album and particularly criticizing the vocal work while the All Music Guide has praised the album for features such as the songwriting. This would also be the last album to feature the band's bassist Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, who was fired from the band one day before the album's release.

<i>Doremi Fasol Latido</i> 1972 studio album by Hawkwind

Doremi Fasol Latido is a 1972 album by English space rock band Hawkwind. Recorded at Rockfield Studios and released on United Artists Records, it was their third album since their debut, Hawkwind, in 1970. It reached No. 14 on the UK album charts.

<i>Sonic Attack</i> 1981 studio album by Hawkwind

Sonic Attack is the eleventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1981. It spent five weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #19.

<i>The Chronicle of the Black Sword</i> 1985 studio album by Hawkwind

The Chronicle of the Black Sword is the fourteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1985. It spent two weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #65. The album is based upon the adventures of Elric of Melniboné, a recurring character in the novels of science fiction author Michael Moorcock, a long-standing associate of the group, who contributes lyrics to one track on the album.

<i>The Xenon Codex</i> 1988 studio album by Hawkwind

The Xenon Codex is the fifteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1988. It spent two weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #79.

<i>Live Seventy Nine</i> 1980 live album by Hawkwind

Live Seventy Nine is a 1980 live album by Hawkwind recorded on their Winter 1979 UK tour. It reached #15 on the UK album chart.

<i>Space Bandits</i> 1990 studio album by Hawkwind

Space Bandits is the sixteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1990. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #70.

"Hurry On Sundown" is a 1970 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was the band's first record release, issued as a single in the UK on 26 June 1970, being an edit of the version that appeared two months later on the debut album Hawkwind. The song is inspired by Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell's version of "Hurry Down Sunshine ", written by Mary Fix and Will Shade, originally recorded in 1934 and issued on the album Blues Before Sunrise.

<i>Choose Your Masques</i> 1982 studio album by Hawkwind

Choose Your Masques is the thirteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1982. It spent five weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 29.

<i>Roadhawks</i> 1976 compilation album by Hawkwind

Roadhawks is a 1976 compilation album by Hawkwind covering the years 1970-1975, and it peaked at #45 on the UK album charts. It is the first compilation release from the group, marking the end of the group's tenure with United Artists Records. The music was compiled and mixed by the group's Dave Brock.

<i>This Is Hawkwind, Do Not Panic</i> 1984 live album by Hawkwind

This is Hawkwind, Do Not Panic is a 1984 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. The album consisted of two discs: an LP which was recorded during the group's 1980 Levitation tour; and a 12" EP recorded at their June 1984 appearance at the Stonehenge Free Festival.

<i>Out & Intake</i> 1987 compilation album by Hawkwind

Out and Intake is a 1987 live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Machine</span> 1972 song by Hawkwind

"Silver Machine" is a 1972 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally released as a single on 9 June 1972, reaching number three on the UK singles chart. The single was re-issued in 1976, again in 1978 reaching number 34 on the UK singles charts, and once again in 1983 reaching number 67 on the UK singles charts. The original mix has been re-released on the remasters version of In Search of Space.

<i>Greasy Truckers Party</i> 1972 live album by Various artists

Greasy Truckers Party is a 1972 live album by various artists recorded at a February 1972 Greasy Truckers concert at the Roundhouse in London. The concert featured three bands, Man, Brinsley Schwarz, and Hawkwind, and musician Magic Michael. Originally a double vinyl album, in a limited edition of 20,000 and sold at just £1.50, it rapidly sold out, and became a collector's item.

In the world of British underground rock, the Greasy Truckers Party ... ... looms about as large as the Monterey International Pop Festival does in American rock lore; it wasn't the biggest gig ever played by the bands involved, but for reasons of exposure, and resulting word-of-mouth, and the excerpted live album that followed, it came to define what they were capable of.

References

  1. 1 2 "Head Heritage review". Headheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  2. "Pretty Thing Dick Taylor recalls his production of Hawkwind's debut album". Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  3. Collectable Records – Original gatefold cover
  4. Mike DeGagne. "Allmusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  5. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  6. Dome, Malcolm (8 March 1980). "Hawkwind: Hawkwind". Record Mirror . p. 14.
  7. Melody Maker; 29 August 1970 – HAWKWIND (Liberty)
  8. Starfarer. "Record Collector, May-2002". Starfarer.net. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  9. "Ptolemaic Terrascope, 1992". Hawkwindmuseum.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  10. Starfarer (1 September 1973). "Sounds, 1-Sep-1973". Starfarer.net. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  11. Planet Gong Forum, 18-Feb-2005
  12. Pete Frame's Hawkwind Family Tree, 1979
  13. Clerk, Carol (4 November 2009). The Saga Of Hawkwind (Carol Clerk). ISBN   9780857120175.
  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.