The Box (Van der Graaf Generator album)

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The Box is a four CD box set by Van der Graaf Generator, containing recordings that had been released before, but also BBC-recordings and some live recordings that were never officially released before. It was released in 2000 by Virgin Records. Included in the sleeve notes are introductions by Guy Evans and Tony Banks from Genesis, a timeline of Van der Graaf Generator events from 1967 to 1978 (including a list of dates and places for every then-known concert by the band), an essay about the organs by Hugh Banton, an essay about Van der Graaf Generator compositions by Peter Hammill, an essay about saxophones by David Jackson and an essay about being a Van der Graaf Generator-aficionado by Ian Laycock. [1]

Van der Graaf Generator rock band from England

Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester by singer-songwriters Peter Hammill and Chris Judge Smith and the first act signed by Charisma Records. They did not experience much commercial success in the UK, but became popular in Italy during the 1970s. In 2005 the band reformed, and are still musically active with a line-up of Hammill, organist Hugh Banton and drummer Guy Evans.

Virgin Records UK record company

Virgin Records Ltd. is a British record label founded by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman in 1972. It grew to be a worldwide phenomenon over time, with the success of platinum performers such as George Michael, Paula Abdul, Janet Jackson, Roy Orbison, Devo, Tangerine Dream, Genesis, Keith Richards, the Human League, Culture Club, Simple Minds, Lenny Kravitz, dc Talk, the Smashing Pumpkins, Mike Oldfield, Gorillaz, and Spice Girls, among others.

Guy Evans British musician

Guy Randolph Evans is an English drummer, percussionist and composer. He is a member of the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator.

Contents

Each of the CDs has its own title taken from a Hammill lyric for a song contemporaneous to the band period each particular disc represents. "Bless the Baby Born Today" is a line from "Darkness (11/11)", "The Tower Reels" is from "(In The) Black Room/The Tower", "One More Heaven Gained" is from "La Rossa", and "Like Something Out Of Edgar Allen Poe"[ sic ] is from "When She Comes".

The Latin adverb sic inserted after a quoted word or passage indicates that the quoted matter has been transcribed or translated exactly as found in the source text, complete with any erroneous, archaic, or otherwise nonstandard spelling. It also applies to any surprising assertion, faulty reasoning, or other matter that might be likely interpreted as an error of transcription.

Track listing

CD 1 – "Bless the Baby Born Today" (71:06)

  1. "People You Were Going To" – BBC Top Gear 18/11/68 (3:28)
  2. "Afterwards" – BBC Top Gear 18/11/68 (4:42)
  3. "Necromancer" – BBC Top Gear 18/11/68 (4:08)
  4. "Refugees" – BBC Peel Session 14/12/71 (6:16)
  5. "Darkness (11/11)" – BBC Top Gear 27/01/70 (6:50)
  6. "After the Flood" – BBC Top Gear 27/01/70 (10:56)
  7. "White Hammer" (from The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other , 1970) (8:13)
  8. "House with No Door" (from H to He, Who Am the Only One , 1970) (6:28)
  9. "Killer" (from H to He, Who Am the Only One) (8:17)
  10. "Lost" (from H to He, Who Am the Only One) (11:09)

CD 2 – "The Tower Reels" (70:22)

  1. "Theme 1" – BBC Black Session (2:58)
  2. "W" – B-side of "Theme One", 1973 (4:26)
  3. "A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers" (from Pawn Hearts , 1971) (23:03)
  4. "(In The) Black Room/The Tower" – Live Rimini 09/08/75 (11:43)
  5. "Lemmings" – Live Rimini 09/08/75 (16:38)
  6. "Man-Erg" – Live Rimini 09/08/75 (11:10)

CD 3 – "One More Heaven Gained" (73:58)

  1. "La Rossa" (from Still Life , 1976) (9:50)
  2. "Arrow (Edit)" (from Godbluff , 1975) (8:51)
  3. "Still Life" (from Still Life) (7:22)
  4. "My Room (Edit)" (from Still Life) (7:25)
  5. "Sleepwalkers" (from Godbluff) (10:25)
  6. "Pilgrims" (from Still Life) (7:08)
  7. "Childlike Faith In..." (from Still Life) (12:24)
  8. "Scorched Earth" – Live Rimini 09/08/75 (10:14)

CD 4 – "Like Something Out of Edgar Allen Poe"[ sic ] (68:11)

  1. "Masks" (from World Record , 1976) (6:57)
  2. "Meurglys III (Edit)" (from World Record) (16:44)
  3. "When She Comes" (from World Record) (7:58)
  4. "Wondering" (from World Record) (6:35)
  5. "The Wave" (from The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome , 1977) (3:11)
  6. "Cat's Eye/Yellow Fever" – BBC Peel Session 24/10/77 (4:45)
  7. "Chemical World" (from The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome) (6:10)
  8. "Door" – Virgin Vault 25/07/77 (3:23)
  9. "Sci-Finance" (from Vital , 1978) (6:16)
  10. "The Sphinx in the Face" – BBC Peel Session 24/10/77 (5:33)

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References

  1. ↑ Album notes in the booklet of the CD "The Box" (2000). Virgin Records.
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