Puneet Varma (Editor)

The Aerosol Grey Machine

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Released
  
September 1969

Artist
  
Van der Graaf Generator

Producer
  
John Anthony

Length
  
46:58

Release date
  
September 1969

Label
  
Mercury Records

The Aerosol Grey Machine httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenthumb2

Recorded
  
January 1969, 31 July – 1 August 1969

Studio
  
Marquee and Trident Studios, London, England

The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969)
  
The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (1970)

Genres
  
Progressive rock, Psychedelic rock

Similar
  
Van der Graaf Generator albums, Progressive rock albums

V d g g the aerosol grey machine 01 afterwards


The Aerosol Grey Machine is the debut studio album by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1969 by record label Mercury.

Contents

Van der graaf generator the aerosol grey machine 01 afterwards


Content

The album was originally intended as a solo album by the band's lead singer and main songwriter, Peter Hammill. When the band signed with Charisma Records, a deal was worked out whereby The Aerosol Grey Machine would be released under the Van der Graaf Generator name, in return for Mercury Records releasing Hammill from his earlier contract with it.

Release

The Aerosol Grey Machine was released in September 1969 by record label Mercury. The initial edition contained the song "Giant Squid", later pressings removed this track and replaced it with the single b-side "Necromancer".

The album was reissued on CD in 1997 by the German company Repertoire Records, using the second-edition running order of the album and featuring the first single as bonus tracks. Another 1997 release, by Peter Hammill's own UK record label FIE! Records utilizes the original running order (taken from the original master tape) and adds the "Necromancer" b-side as a bonus track, along with a previously unreleased early version of "Ferret And Featherbird".

Reception

In his retrospective review, Steven McDonald of AllMusic called it "A raw, energetic effort that sometimes did little to show off the young Hammill's talents" that "nevertheless has some fine moments that hint at the possibilities for future releases".

Track listing

All tracks written by Peter Hammill, except as indicated.

Personnel

Van der Graaf Generator
  • Peter Hammill – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Hugh Banton – organ, backing vocals, piano, percussion
  • Keith Ellis – bass
  • Guy Evans – drums, percussion
  • Chris Judge Smith – slide-saxophone and harmony vocals on "People You Were Going To", chorus vocals on "Firebrand"
  • Additional personnel
  • Jeff Peach – flute on "Running Back"
  • Songs

    1Afterwards4:53
    2Orthenthian St Part I2:23
    3Orthenthian St Part II3:53

    References

    The Aerosol Grey Machine Wikipedia