The Space Ritual Alive in Liverpool and London | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | 11 May 1973 | |||
Recorded | 22 December 1972 at Liverpool Stadium 30 December 1972 at Brixton Sundown, London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 86:55 (original album) 132:59 (2007 expanded and remastered edition) | |||
Label | United Artists (most of the world) Liberty (Japan) Parlophone (2015 & 2016 reissues) | |||
Producer | Hawkwind | |||
Hawkwind chronology | ||||
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Space Ritual (officially known as The Space Ritual Alive in Liverpool and London) 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. [1] [2] It reached number 9 in the UK Albums Chart and briefly dented the Billboard Hot 200 , peaking at number 179.
The album was recorded during the tour to promote their Doremi Fasol Latido album, which comprises the bulk of this set. In addition there are new tracks ("Born To Go", "Upside Down" and "Orgone Accumulator") and the songs are interspersed by electronic and spoken pieces, making this one continuous performance. Their recent hit single "Silver Machine" was excluded from the set, and only "Master of the Universe" remains from their first two albums.
The Space Ritual show attempted to create a full audio-visual experience, representing themes developed by Barney Bubbles and Robert Calvert entwining the fantasy of starfarers in suspended animation traveling through time and space with the concept of the music of the spheres. [3] The performance featured dancers Stacia, Miss Renee and Tony Carrera, stage set by Bubbles, [4] lightshow by Liquid Len and poetry recitations by Calvert. On entering the venue, audience members were given a programme [5] (reproduced on the 1996 remaster CD) featuring a short sci-fi story by Bubbles setting the band in a Starfarers scenario returning to Earth. [nb 1]
The original release featured edits and overdubs, the sleeve notes explaining that "We had to cut a piece out of Brainstorm and Time We Left because they were too long", but the 1985 Space Ritual Volume 2 album contains the full unedited versions. A previously unheard edited version of "You Shouldn't Do That" (segued with an unlisted "Seeing It As You Really Are") from this concert was included on the 1976 Roadhawks compilation album, then subsequently included as a bonus track on the 1996 remaster CD. The full unedited version of the track can be found on the Hawkwind Anthology album. June 2007 saw another EMI 2CD remaster issue with different bonus tracks and DVD-audio - this remaster would be reissued in 2013, minus the DVD-audio.
"Sonic Attack" had been written by science fiction author Michael Moorcock, who often performed with the band when convenient and Calvert was unavailable. Here it is recited by Calvert and it was scheduled for single release, promotional copies being distributed in a cloth sleeve, but it never did receive a full release.
The album was recorded at Liverpool Stadium, 22 December 1972 and Brixton Sundown, 30 December 1972 by Vic Maile and the Pye Mobile. It was produced by Hawkwind, then mixed by Vic Maile and Anton Matthews at Olympic Studios, Barnes. The bonus track "You Shouldn't Do That" was recorded at Brixton Sundown, 30 December 1972, and originally released on the Roadhawks compilation album. "Master Of The Universe" and "Born To Go", bonus tracks on the 1996 2CD release, were recorded at The Roundhouse, 13 February 1972, and originally released on the Greasy Truckers Party various artists album.
This section possibly contains original research .(October 2023) |
The sleeve was designed by Barney Bubbles and came in 3x2 panel foldout, the outer 6 panels being colour, the inner 6 panels being monochrome, the discs in psychedelic patterned orange & yellow inner sleeves were folded into this. [7] It made Q Magazine's 100 greatest album covers list.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [8] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [9] |
Head Heritage | (positive) [10] |
LouderSound | [11] |
Pitchfork Media | (8.6/10) [12] |
In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, the album came number 8 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums". [13] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die at number 276. [14]
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tracks are in both DTS 96/24 and 24 bit/48 kHz Stereo format
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Space Ritual Volume 2 | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | May 1985 | |||
Recorded | 22 December 1972 | |||
Venue | Liverpool Stadium | |||
Genre | Space rock | |||
Label | American Phonograph – APK8 | |||
Hawkwind chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [9] |
Space Ritual Volume 2 is an archive live album by Hawkwind released in 1985 consisting of a live performance from 1972. The tapes were licensed by Dave Brock to former Hawkwind bass player Dave Anderson for release. Recorded at Liverpool Stadium
This recording is part of the performance that was processed for disc 2 of Space Ritual. Here it is in its original state, with no edits or overdubs, notable differences being a different middle section to "Orgone Accumulator", "Paranoia" included as the middle section of "Time We Left This World Today" and the end portion of "Brainstom" (Often mistakenly stated as "Wind of Change") leading into "7 By 7". "Space Is Deep" and "You Shouldn't Do That" / "Seeing It As You Really Are" from this tape were released on Hawkwind Anthology .
Space Ritual Live 2014 | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | 30 March 2015 | |||
Recorded | 22 February 2014 | |||
Label | Gonzo Multi Media | |||
Hawkwind chronology | ||||
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On 22 February 2014, Hawkwind performed a one-off show at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London in conjunction with Rock 4 Rescue in aid of various animal charities (Wet Nose Animal Aid, Animals Asia Foundation, Team Badger and Doris Banham Dog Rescue). [15] The night consisted of two sets, the second being an almost entire run-through of the original Space Ritual album - "Electronic Number 1" being replaced by a new electronic instrumental piece titled "A Step into Space". The event was compered by TV presenter Matthew Wright, and the group were joined by former Soft Machine guitarist John Etheridge on "Down Through The Night" and "Space Is Deep", while "Sonic Attack" was recited from a pre-recording by Brian Blessed who had been involved in other Team Badger projects including the "Save the Badger Badger Badger" single with Brian May. Silver Machine was performed as the encore (unlike the original 1972/3 shows where "You Shouldn't do That" was the encore.) Paradoxically, the single of Silver Machine that helped to finance the original Space Ritual tour, but wasn't actually performed on that tour.
The recording was released by Gonzo Media on 30 March 2015 in three formats: 2CD, 2CD/DVD-Video (set 2), and 2CD/2DVD-Video (both sets).
Chart (1973-1974) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) [16] | 46 |
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) [17] | 27 |
UK Albums (OCC) [18] | 9 |
US Billboard 200 [19] | 179 |
Chart (2023) | Peak position |
---|---|
Scottish Albums (OCC) [20] | 22 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [21] | 11 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [22] | 4 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI) [23] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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 regarded as an influential proto-punk band. Their lyrics often cover themes of urban life and science fiction.
In Search of Space is the second studio album from Hawkwind, released in 1971. It reached No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart.
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.
Quark, Strangeness and Charm is the seventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1977. It spent six weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at number 30.
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.
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.
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.
25 Years On is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Hawkwind, released in 1978. The band released it under the name "Hawklords" for legal reasons, as there was a dispute over ownership of the name "Hawkwind" at the time. It reached No. 48 on the UK album charts. It was originally titled 25 Years On and the first 25000 were pressed as this until the band decided to simply call it Hawklords. Subsequent re-releases have reverted to the name 25 Years On and the band also now use this name on their website.
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.
Masters of the Universe is a 1977 compilation album by Hawkwind covering the years 1971 to 1974 while the group were contracted to United Artists Records. It is the group's second compilation album, after the previous year's Roadhawks, and was compiled and released without the band's input or approval.
Epocheclipse is a 1999 compilation set by Hawkwind covering their entire career. It was released in two formats, a triple CD box set 30 Year Anthology and a single disc The Ultimate Best of.
Yule Ritual is a 2001 live album by Hawkwind.
Love in Space is a 1996 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It was recorded during the group's 1995 tour to promote the Alien 4 album.
Bring Me the Head of Yuri Gagarin is a live album by English rock group Hawkwind released in 1985 consisting of a performance at the Empire Pool, Wembley on 27 May 1973. This is a poor sound quality audience recording licensed by Nik Turner. The recording has been released numerous times under different names, with different covers and bundled into box sets.
The Earth Ritual Preview is a 1984 EP by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It spent two weeks on the UK singles chart peaking at #86. The EP is included on the remastered version of The Chronicle of the Black Sword album.
Undisclosed Files was released by Hawkwind to promote their new label, The Emergency Broadcast System in 1993, catalogue number "HAWKWIND·1".
Knights of Space is a live album by Hawkwind recorded at their annual London Christmas gig at the Astoria on 19 December 2007 and released in August 2008. It is released as an audio (2xCD) and video (2xDVD)
The British space rock group Hawkwind have been active since 1969, but their earliest video release is Night Of The Hawk from their Earth Ritual Tour recorded at Ipswich on 9 March 1984. Since then, there have been numerous video releases covering the evolution of the band; some are professional broadcast shoots, others commercial, and a few are amateur.
Spirit of the Age and The Dream Goes On are two triple CD anthologies released in 2008 covering the periods 1976-84 and 1985-97 of the British rock group Hawkwind.
Space Ritual Live is a live album by Hawkwind recorded at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London on 22 February 2014 and released in March 2015. It is released as an audio (2xCD) and video (2xDVD). The concert was in aid of various animal rights groups.
Footnotes
Citations
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