Voyage of the Acolyte

Last updated

Voyage of the Acolyte
Voyage--cover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1975
RecordedJune–July 1975
Studio Kingsway Recorders, Kingsway, London
Genre Progressive rock
Length40:52
Label Charisma (UK, Europe and Japan)
Chrysalis (US)
Producer
Steve Hackett chronology
Voyage of the Acolyte
(1975)
Please Don't Touch!
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Voyage of the Acolyte is the first studio album by English guitarist, songwriter, and singer Steve Hackett, released in October 1975 on Charisma Records as his only album recorded and released while he was a member of Genesis. Hackett recorded the album during a break in group activity in mid-1975 and used guest musicians, including Genesis bassist Mike Rutherford and drummer/vocalist Phil Collins, to play on the record. It has a loose concept with the title and lyrics of each track inspired by a Tarot card.

Contents

Voyage of the Acolyte reached No. 26 in the UK and No. 191 in the US. It was reissued in 2005 with bonus tracks. A surround upmix of the album is included in Premonitions: The Charisma Recordings 1975–1983 (2015).

Background and writing

By 1975, Hackett had been the guitarist in the progressive rock band Genesis for four years. He began to write sections of different songs while recording albums with Genesis, specifically at moments when his "services weren't really called upon, and I found I had a lot of spare time". [2] By this time, Hackett had become increasingly frustrated with the band's packed touring schedule, which had affected his creativity, and he had a growing desire to work with a new set of musicians. He had written pieces without any specific project in mind, including those for instruments other than the guitar and another for a female vocalist, but after a time he had assembled enough ideas to form an album. [3] Development was put on hold in late 1974 due to Genesis touring commitments with their album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974), but Hackett remained productive and continued to write in his hotel room each night which kept him "sane" and helped calm his stage nerves. [2]

When it came to the direction of the album, Hackett thought of a loose concept from his new-found interest in Tarot cards, which he used to title the album's tracks, and their lyrics, based on various cards in a deck. [3] He took the cards that had conjured the strongest feeling and "mapped out a way of working", [2] such as having "Star of Sirius" a "poppy" track to reflect the optimism that the corresponding Tarot card depicts. [3] A track left off the album, "The Fool", had Hackett play in a style similar to that of Pete Townshend to a song that was like "ELO meets The Who", but he chose not to use it. [2] Some of Hackett's material originated from his pre-Genesis days. [3] Genesis bandmate Mike Rutherford wrote the ending of "Shadow of the Hierophant" as a potential song for Foxtrot , and it was rehearsed by Genesis, but ultimately left off the album. [4] [5] Voyage of the Acolyte marked the first collaboration with his brother John on an album, which has continued through Steve Hackett's solo career. [2] Hackett is credited for co-writing the song "A Tower Struck Down" and claims he also wrote the chord pattern immediately preceding the middle section of "Ace of Wands". [6] The album also signified Hackett's first attempts at playing keyboards, [3] and aimed for an album that had a more layered sound. [7]

The album's original title was Premonitions, but management at Charisma disliked it and suggested Voyage of the Acolyte, to which Hackett agreed. [8]

Recording

Hackett recorded Voyage of the Acolyte in June and July 1975, starting one month after Genesis had finished touring their double concept album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway . Recording was completed in four weeks [2] at Kingsway Recorders, then located in Kingsway, central London.

The album's cover is a Chinese watercolour painting by Brazilian artist Kim Poor, [9] [10] whom Hackett later married and who produced many of his subsequent album covers. Hackett dedicated Voyage of the Acolyte to Poor. [9]

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Hackett, except where noted. [9]

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Ace of Wands" 5:23
2."Hands of the Priestess, Part I" 3:28
3."A Tower Struck Down"Steve and John Hackett 4:53
4."Hands of the Priestess, Part II" 1:31
5."The Hermit" 4:49
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Star of Sirius" 7:08
7."The Lovers" 1:50
8."Shadow of the Hierophant"S. Hackett, Mike Rutherford 11:44
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Ace of Wands" (Live) 6:32
10."Shadow of the Hierophant" (Extended Playout Version)S. Hackett, Rutherford17:01

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's original liner notes. [9]

Musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (1975)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [11] 26
US Billboard 200 [12] 191

Related Research Articles

<i>The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway</i> 1974 studio album by Genesis

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is the sixth studio album by the English progressive rock band Genesis. It was released as a double album on 22 November 1974 by Charisma Records and is their last to feature original frontman Peter Gabriel. It peaked at No. 10 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 41 on the Billboard 200 in the US. It is their longest album to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Hackett</span> English guitarist (born 1950)

Stephen Richard Hackett is an English guitarist who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums, seven singles and one EP before he left to pursue a solo career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010.

<i>Nursery Cryme</i> 1971 studio album by Genesis

Nursery Cryme is the third studio album by the English rock band Genesis, released on 12 November 1971 on Charisma Records. It was their first to feature drummer/vocalist Phil Collins and guitarist Steve Hackett. The album received a mixed response from critics and was not initially a commercial success; it did not enter the UK chart until 1974, when it reached its peak at No. 39. However, the album was successful in continental Europe, particularly Italy.

<i>Foxtrot</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Genesis

Foxtrot is the fourth studio album by the English progressive rock band Genesis, released on 15 September 1972 on Charisma Records. It features their longest recorded song, the 23-minute track "Supper's Ready".

<i>Genesis Live</i> 1973 album

Genesis Live is the first live album from the English rock band Genesis, released on 20 July 1973 on Charisma Records. Initially recorded for radio broadcast on the American rock program King Biscuit Flower Hour, the album is formed from the recordings of shows at Free Trade Hall, Manchester and De Montfort Hall, Leicester in February 1973 during the band's tour supporting their fourth studio album Foxtrot (1972).

<i>Selling England by the Pound</i> 1973 studio album by Genesis

Selling England by the Pound is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Genesis, released on 5 October 1973 on Charisma Records. It reached No. 3 in the United Kingdom and No. 70 in the United States. A single from the album, "I Know What I Like ", was released in February 1974 and became the band's first top 30 hit in the UK.

<i>Seconds Out</i> 1977 live album by Genesis

Seconds Out is the second live album by English progressive rock band Genesis. It was released as a double album on 14 October 1977 on Charisma Records, and was their first with touring drummer Chester Thompson and their last with guitarist Steve Hackett. The majority was recorded in June 1977 at the Palais des Sports in Paris during the Wind & Wuthering Tour. One track, "The Cinema Show", was recorded in 1976 at the Apollo in Glasgow during their A Trick of the Tail Tour.

<i>A Trick of the Tail</i> 1976 studio album by Genesis

A Trick of the Tail is the seventh studio album by English progressive rock band Genesis. It was released on 13 February 1976 on Charisma Records and was the first album to feature drummer Phil Collins as lead vocalist following the departure of Peter Gabriel. It was a critical and commercial success in the UK and U.S., reaching No. 3 and No. 31 respectively.

<i>Wind & Wuthering</i> 1976 studio album by Genesis

Wind & Wuthering is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band Genesis. It was released on 17 December 1976 on Charisma Records and is their last studio album to feature guitarist Steve Hackett. Following the success of their 1976 tour to support their previous album A Trick of the Tail, the group relocated to Hilvarenbeek in the Netherlands to record a follow-up album, their first recorded outside the UK. Writing and recording caused internal friction, as Hackett felt some of his contributions were dropped in favour of material by keyboardist Tony Banks.

<i>...And Then There Were Three...</i> 1978 studio album by Genesis

...And Then There Were Three... is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Genesis. It was released on 31 March 1978 by Charisma Records and is their first recorded as a trio of singer/drummer Phil Collins, keyboardist Tony Banks, and bassist/guitarist Mike Rutherford, following the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett. The album marked a shift in the band's sound, mixing elements of their progressive rock roots with more accessible material, and Collins contributing to more of the group's songwriting.

<i>Spot the Pigeon</i> 1977 EP by Genesis

Spot the Pigeon is the first EP by English progressive rock band Genesis, released on 20 May 1977. Its three songs were originally written for the group's eighth studio album Wind & Wuthering (1976), but were not included in the final track selection. It was the final studio release to feature guitarist Steve Hackett prior to his departure from Genesis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Hackett (musician)</span> Musical artist

John Hackett is a British musician, the younger brother of guitarist Steve Hackett. Although his primary instrument is the flute, he also plays guitar, bass, bass pedals and keyboards.

<i>Defector</i> (Steve Hackett album) 1980 studio album by Steve Hackett

Defector is the fourth studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett, released in June 1980 on Charisma Records. After touring in support of his previous album, Spectral Mornings (1979), Hackett took his band into Wessex Sound Studios to record a follow-up.

<i>Smallcreeps Day</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Mike Rutherford

Smallcreep's Day is the first studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Mike Rutherford, released in February 1980 on Charisma Records. It was recorded in 1979 during a period of inactivity from his rock band Genesis, during which Rutherford and keyboardist Tony Banks recorded their first solo albums. The 24-minute title track is based on the 1965 novel Smallcreep's Day by Peter Currell Brown which tells the story of Mr. Smallcreep and the journey of self-discovery he takes through the assembly line of the factory he has worked in for forty years.

<i>Spectral Mornings</i> 1979 studio album by Steve Hackett

Spectral Mornings is the third studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett, released in May 1979 on Charisma Records. It is his first to feature members of his touring band, which many Hackett fans consider as the "classic line-up". The musicians are his brother John Hackett, Nick Magnus, Dik Cadbury, John Shearer, and Pete Hicks.

<i>Please Dont Touch!</i> 1978 studio album by Steve Hackett

Please Don't Touch! is the second studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett. It was released in April 1978 on Charisma Records, and it is his first album released after leaving the progressive rock band Genesis in 1977. Hackett had released Voyage of the Acolyte (1975) during his time in Genesis. For his next solo release he recorded in the United States and hired various guest artists, including singers Randy Crawford, Richie Havens, and Steve Walsh, drummers Phil Ehart and Chester Thompson, bassist Tom Fowler, with Van der Graaf Generator violinist Graham Smith.

<i>Cured</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Steve Hackett

Cured is the fifth solo album from Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett.

<i>Highly Strung</i> 1983 studio album by Steve Hackett

Highly Strung is the sixth studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett. "Cell 151" was a minor hit from the album, and charted in the UK. Added to Hackett's band was drummer Ian Mosley, who would join Marillion in 1984. This was Hackett's final studio release for Charisma.

<i>Out of the Tunnels Mouth</i> 2009 studio album by Steve Hackett

Out of the Tunnel's Mouth is the 20th studio album by English guitarist and songwriter Steve Hackett, released in October 2009 by Wolfwork and EAR Music. Hackett started recording the album in 2008 while he was involved in a legal case against his ex-wife Kim Poor, which created problems regarding its release. As a result, recording took place in his living room with his touring keyboardist Roger King serving as co-producer. The album includes performances by founding Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips and Yes bassist Chris Squire.

References

  1. DeGagne (2011). "Voyage of the Acolyte – Steve Hackett | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Welch, Chris (18 October 1975). "Painter of sound pictures..." Melody Maker. p. 34. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Clarke, Steve (25 October 1975). "Are you ready for a concept LP about the Tarot?". New Musical Express. p. 32. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  4. Giammetti, Mario (2020). Genesis 1967 to 1975 - The Peter Gabriel Years. Kingmaker. p. 140. ISBN   978-1-913218-62-1.
  5. Golder, Paul (2014). "Steve Hackett talks about Genesis, touring and his new album". phoenixfm.com. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  6. Herlitschka, Paul. "The trip to Alsace was a major part of Moonspinner". Genesis France. Association Genesis France. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  7. Smith, Robin (28 April 1978). "It's all in the cards". Record Mirror. p. 22. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
  8. Powell, Mark (2015). Premonitions: The Charisma Recordings 1975–1983 (Media notes). Hackett, Steve. Universal Music Catalogue/Virgin Records. 474-141-4.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Voyage of the Acolyte (Media notes). Steve Hackett. Charisma Records. 1975. CAS 1111.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. "Kim Poor - Voyage of the Acolyte". KimPoor.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  12. "Steve Hackett Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2024.