Finally someone does a reaction to Steve Hillage! Dive into the rabbit hole my friend, the opening two tracks from the album 'Green' called 'Sea Nature' and 'Ether Sips' which really need to be played together are just brilliant, what a way to start an album! P.S. It would be great to have some Hawkwind too, Levitation from the album with the same name or Lighthouse from Live '79 are a couple of my favourites (but there is just so much Hawkwind out there!)
I saw Steve Hillage do this Donovan track live, superb guitarist. I agree that his "Green" album is a must for an in depth listen, it remains one of my most prized vinyl albums.
Please please do a full album reaction to Hillage’s “Green.” Produced in 1977 by Floyd’s Nick Mason, it’s as celestial as Yes. I promise ❤️❤️ Absolute gem of an album
I approve ! Green is an excellent album, mixing space rock and progressive rock without digressing too much, allied to more electronic and ethereal passages, and even with a slightly funky rhythm section on the track "Unidentified (Flying Being)" (which foreshadows the 4th side recorded in studio of the double album Live Herald and the follow-up album, Open).
@@grega8586 Ooh lovely. I only ever had it on cassette. But that meant I could listen in dark forests on smoky dark nights. Simply amazing sounds. Funky too!
Funny thing, I told an old friend that The Steve Hillage Band is going on tour in Britain early next year, it's called The Golden Vibe Tour, and seems to cover songs from most of his career.
So amazing that you've discovered Steve Hillage!!!! It's like you're going through my teenage music years 30 years after I did. His album 'Green' is truly awesome and I thoroughly recommend it. Phil
I've never heard him do this live. That was pretty cool, I must say. My buddy stumbled on his "L" album back in '77, so we played the hell out of it. This was the opening song, and everyone just loved it. Thanks for a fun video!
Might be running the guitar through a synth: on the album he used a pitch to voltage converter synth (EMS lent to him by former Utopia synthesizer player M Frog Labat) to run his guitar through
I don't know if on stage Steve Hillage ran his guitar through a synth, but what is certain is that he had multi-effects and also used his volume pedal to sound like a violin bow & so on. That's probably what makes Justin think it's a synth.
Hillage was my favourite guitarist in the 70s - saw him live twice which cemented this opinion. Have seen him twice more since - as guitarist with Gong about a dozen years ago, then 'solo' but with the current Gong as his backing band. All marvellous and to be repeated next March as long as Covid/Putin/lightning strike doesn't get me first!
You'd know there is 2 ex GONG members in this line up , it gave a nod to GONG'S YOU album. The album L , which, if memory serves me, contains this song, a fine album!
Steve Hillage was the coolest uncool guy around.....he was way out there musically.......check out the album"Motivation Rado"....it is a spiritual affair!!!!!!
saw Steve on the green tour at Dunstable Queensway hall. superb. what i recall is that the power to the amps etc. failed after they started the first number. Steve apologised and said their were gremlins or something in the system so he was sending in some pixies to sort it out. he then entertained us with an acoustic improvisation. wonderful. and yes Green is superb.
I still prefer the Donovan version. When it first came out I recorded it on a reel-to-reel tape recorder and discovered how to listen to music played backwards. I twisted the tape and played it through the back of the tape. This was the first song I ever listened to that way and it is incredible. I love listening to drums and guitars played in reverse. I saw Steve Hillage playing with Gong back in 1975. A concert with Hawkwind, Man, Magma and Henry Cow. It lasted about 6 hours and the ticket cost 25 French Francs (about $4 in today's money). Absolutely amazing!
It's all feel good vibes from these guys and I love it!. Next up..."Green" - a must listen album - there was a little tease of a riff from that album in this performance. Then the album, "Motivation Radio". But first things first. They have to be full album reactions too, for the necessary continuity that Steve's work brings...It's all very flowy, like a cosmic river. Cheers Justin. 😊😺
Thanks Justin. I've heard the studio numerous times, but this is a first listen/see to any live version. I loved it...and, of course, your reaction. Take care.
Lots more great Hillage out there for you to react to. You simply must get to Gong's "You" album. And you definitely should react to "Motivation" from his album "Motivation Radio". Blessings.
I think this is from Canterbury (Yes, he's from the "Canterbury Scene" LOL). A great song I love he made the song his own. There were little snippets of the song "Hurdy Gurdy Glissando" slipped in there too. JP I have a technical question is possible to make the video screen less transparent? Or alternatively move the CTTE album whilst you are playing a video as it obscures the view of the video.
Fish rising is definitely worth a listen. I think you should definitely explore the Canterbury scene much more in general especially caravan, soft machine and Hatfield and the north
If you are going to be doing covers of Donavan songs make sure you do Season of the Witch, Super Session, Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills. Stills plays guitar on this cut. I've been a fan of Donavan since he came on the scene. Not sure what to make of this... Hurdy Gurdy Man.
I watched your reaction to Donovan's version. It caused me to look up what a hurdy gurdy actually is. I found the following video that you may find very interesting Reverse Dance. Medieval Dance. Hurdy-Gurdy, Organ & Drum by Andrey Vinogradov enjoy The music of the hurdy gurdy reminds me of the Uilleann Pipe. I found the following video that you may find very interesting Caoineadh Cu Chulainn by Davy Spillane
SH, ace guitarist, does a great cover of this tune. I prefer it to the original, sacrilege some might say, but there it is. There's quite a few live versions of this by him actually, not all with video. And though this was good, maybe not the best. I felt the vid grainy and the sound muddy. Still a fine rendition though. However, the definitive SH version, imho, is the one that appears on the Live Herald (double live) album recorded at the Rainbow. That version's superb.
You should check out what a Hurdy Gurdy is. One of the oddest looking & sounding instrument ever conceived. One has to wonder (at least I do) what the inventor was thinking. And ifn (s)he was same when constructed.
Have you done the Fish Rising album JP ?? Also the Gong album YOU is a must...... Hillage up until 1979 ish is awesome. Those live performances had a really awesome lineup
Overall I don't really like covers, but after all it depends if the artist puts his own mark on it, and fortunately Steve Hillage always puts his stamp on them when he does covers and luckily they are generally successful just like here ! Justin, try watching this whole Steve Hillage concert recorded at the University Of Kent, Canterbury, UK, on 28th February 1979 because it's good even if short (just 43mn).
I just found a video from a tv show in which Bill Nelson, Gary Kemp and a woman i don't recognize opined about Brilliant Trees and Perspectives shortly after their release. You may find it interesting, though the segment is quite short. ua-cam.com/video/YlywVi4Zx2E/v-deo.html
If you want to hear some hurdy gurdy (the instrument), try the BBC sessions of *William D Drake* . I don't know if *Ornamental Hermit* is the best example, but the hurdy gurdy is an important part of the song. ua-cam.com/video/3GScxeEn_HE/v-deo.html (It might get a bit too intense. I get the idea it's a very personal song, remembering Tim Smith as he was before the stroke, so creative control is abandoned at some points. You might like that; you might find it's poor form.)
I think my favourite hurdy gurdy based song (which also has lots more theremin than you'll get in most other songs) is the interpretation of *Beowulf* by *Peter Pringle* ua-cam.com/video/G4BUkOjxuZo/v-deo.html (The lyrics are straight from the English translation of the poem, but just an excerpt, otherwise it would go on a bit long.)
I've been following the music of Steve hillage since 77. And also his other group of his system 7 I'm now 60
Steve Hillage is such an underrated guitarist, Would love to hear a reaction to his album "Motivation Radio"... One of my all time favourite albums.
Fantastic cover, Well worth checking out Steve's cover of "It's All Too Much" (Original by The Beatles).
Simply the best. MORE HILLAGE JUSTIN, please :-))))
Finally someone does a reaction to Steve Hillage! Dive into the rabbit hole my friend, the opening two tracks from the album 'Green' called 'Sea Nature' and 'Ether Sips' which really need to be played together are just brilliant, what a way to start an album!
P.S. It would be great to have some Hawkwind too, Levitation from the album with the same name or Lighthouse from Live '79 are a couple of my favourites (but there is just so much Hawkwind out there!)
I saw Steve Hillage do this Donovan track live, superb guitarist.
I agree that his "Green" album is a must for an in depth listen, it remains one of my most prized vinyl albums.
That was the first time for me it was really enjoyable Thanks for sharing
love steve
That's how to do a cover!
Entirely different interpretation, you wouldn't even think it was the same song.
Exactly! :D
Please please do a full album reaction to Hillage’s “Green.” Produced in 1977 by Floyd’s Nick Mason, it’s as celestial as Yes. I promise ❤️❤️ Absolute gem of an album
I approve ! Green is an excellent album, mixing space rock and progressive rock without digressing too much, allied to more electronic and ethereal passages, and even with a slightly funky rhythm section on the track "Unidentified (Flying Being)" (which foreshadows the 4th side recorded in studio of the double album Live Herald and the follow-up album, Open).
I have that on green vinyl 🙂
Definitely an album for a dark room ;-)
@@grega8586 Ooh lovely. I only ever had it on cassette. But that meant I could listen in dark forests on smoky dark nights. Simply amazing sounds. Funky too!
"Green" is a great LP, as is "Motivation Radio", "Fish Rising" & "L".
Seriously, Green is one of the best albums ever made. The genesis of the Ozric Tentacles, way back in '77.
Amazing guitarist and musician.
Funny thing, I told an old friend that The Steve Hillage Band is going on tour in Britain early next year, it's called The Golden Vibe Tour, and seems to cover songs from most of his career.
Far Out Man!... Just brilliant... Happy Days..
Check out Salmon Song from tha same gig... Mind Blowing
“L” was my first listen to Steve Hillage, great album, worthy of a reaction.
This track you have to immerse youre whole being into ..if you dont reach the stars youve missed out ...on the drop 😂
I LOVE this cover, studio version was produced by Todd Rundgren with Utopia as the backing band
So amazing that you've discovered Steve Hillage!!!! It's like you're going through my teenage music years 30 years after I did. His album 'Green' is truly awesome and I thoroughly recommend it. Phil
I've never heard him do this live. That was pretty cool, I must say.
My buddy stumbled on his "L" album back in '77, so we played the hell out of it. This was the opening song, and everyone just loved it.
Thanks for a fun video!
Might be running the guitar through a synth: on the album he used a pitch to voltage converter synth (EMS lent to him by former Utopia synthesizer player M Frog Labat) to run his guitar through
I don't know if on stage Steve Hillage ran his guitar through a synth, but what is certain is that he had multi-effects and also used his volume pedal to sound like a violin bow & so on. That's probably what makes Justin think it's a synth.
I think it's just a soft attack pedal or a volume rocker as Fleetwood Mac used
Violin sound, they do it with volume pedal or guitar's potentiometer, adding up after picking the note thus creating a fade in attack.
That was a cool cover version. It would also be a thing to do a cover version series.
Hillage was my favourite guitarist in the 70s - saw him live twice which cemented this opinion. Have seen him twice more since - as guitarist with Gong about a dozen years ago, then 'solo' but with the current Gong as his backing band. All marvellous and to be repeated next March as long as Covid/Putin/lightning strike doesn't get me first!
You'd know there is 2 ex GONG members in this line up , it gave a nod to GONG'S YOU album. The album L , which, if memory serves me, contains this song, a fine album!
Never heard this version but it’s GOOD.
Wow - very nice cover! I love it when someone can take a classic song and reimagine it so well.
Steve Hillage was the coolest uncool guy around.....he was way out there musically.......check out the album"Motivation Rado"....it is a spiritual affair!!!!!!
Agreed, Amazing album!
Correct - on the Open tour it was the final encore when I saw them in Southampton UK
Really great rendition from Donavan’s hit. And fabulous guitar work 🎸
saw Steve on the green tour at Dunstable Queensway hall. superb. what i recall is that the power to the amps etc. failed after they started the first number. Steve apologised and said their were gremlins or something in the system so he was sending in some pixies to sort it out. he then entertained us with an acoustic improvisation. wonderful. and yes Green is superb.
The Glorious Om Riff makes a brief appearance at 5:25
Fantastic, now 'It's All Too Much' Beatles cover.
I still prefer the Donovan version. When it first came out I recorded it on a reel-to-reel tape recorder and discovered how to listen to music played backwards. I twisted the tape and played it through the back of the tape. This was the first song I ever listened to that way and it is incredible. I love listening to drums and guitars played in reverse.
I saw Steve Hillage playing with Gong back in 1975. A concert with Hawkwind, Man, Magma and Henry Cow. It lasted about 6 hours and the ticket cost 25 French Francs (about $4 in today's money). Absolutely amazing!
Two covers you'll love - it's all too much and not fade away
It's all feel good vibes from these guys and I love it!. Next up..."Green" - a must listen album - there was a little tease of a riff from that album in this performance. Then the album, "Motivation Radio". But first things first. They have to be full album reactions too, for the necessary continuity that Steve's work brings...It's all very flowy, like a cosmic river. Cheers Justin. 😊😺
Thanks Justin. I've heard the studio numerous times, but this is a first listen/see to any live version. I loved it...and, of course, your reaction. Take care.
Ty Gene :)
LOVE THIS!!!!!!!
Lots more great Hillage out there for you to react to. You simply must get to Gong's "You" album.
And you definitely should react to "Motivation" from his album "Motivation Radio".
Blessings.
Brilliant stuff thanks for sharing
Happily :D
I think this is from Canterbury (Yes, he's from the "Canterbury Scene" LOL). A great song I love he made the song his own. There were little snippets of the song "Hurdy Gurdy Glissando" slipped in there too.
JP I have a technical question is possible to make the video screen less transparent? Or alternatively move the CTTE album whilst you are playing a video as it obscures the view of the video.
Fish rising is definitely worth a listen. I think you should definitely explore the Canterbury scene much more in general especially caravan, soft machine and Hatfield and the north
Ty 123, I've actually done all of Fish Rising :D
If you are going to be doing covers of Donavan songs make sure you do Season of the Witch, Super Session, Bloomfield, Kooper, Stills. Stills plays guitar on this cut. I've been a fan of Donavan since he came on the scene. Not sure what to make of this... Hurdy Gurdy Man.
I watched your reaction to Donovan's version. It caused me to look up what a hurdy gurdy actually is.
I found the following video that you may find very interesting
Reverse Dance. Medieval Dance. Hurdy-Gurdy, Organ & Drum
by Andrey Vinogradov
enjoy
The music of the hurdy gurdy reminds me of the Uilleann Pipe. I found the following video that you may find very interesting
Caoineadh Cu Chulainn
by Davy Spillane
The Ultimate version
SH, ace guitarist, does a great cover of this tune. I prefer it to the original, sacrilege some might say, but there it is. There's quite a few live versions of this by him actually, not all with video. And though this was good, maybe not the best. I felt the vid grainy and the sound muddy. Still a fine rendition though. However, the definitive SH version, imho, is the one that appears on the Live Herald (double live) album recorded at the Rainbow. That version's superb.
Check out the companion piece Hurdy Gurdy Glissando, where things really go crazy! ua-cam.com/video/phrbFTQHNHI/v-deo.html
You should check out what a Hurdy Gurdy is. One of the oddest looking & sounding instrument ever conceived. One has to wonder (at least I do) what the inventor was thinking. And ifn (s)he was same when constructed.
Search for the YT video of Hurdy Gurdy Glissando from OGWT. You will see Miquette playing a Hurdy Gurdy
Have you done the Fish Rising album JP ?? Also the Gong album YOU is a must...... Hillage up until 1979 ish is awesome. Those live performances had a really awesome lineup
Ty Zal :) Yup, I've done Fish Rising already; good album!
Hi, JP. Love your channel. But...I hate the transparency on the window showing the live performance. It's very hard to see anything.
Yeah, it needs to be opaque if possible in future Justin!
I know; unfortunately I had to edit it so it wouldnt be blocked :(
This is great but Steve’s cover of It’s All Too Much is even better.
Greatness!! Gotta get back to Gong.
Overall I don't really like covers, but after all it depends if the artist puts his own mark on it, and fortunately Steve Hillage always puts his stamp on them when he does covers and luckily they are generally successful just like here ! Justin, try watching this whole Steve Hillage concert recorded at the University Of Kent, Canterbury, UK, on 28th February 1979 because it's good even if short (just 43mn).
Cool stuff. You'll never find another song that's so fixated on the hurdy gurdy! Well, not in English, anyway.
Quite surprised there aren't many more, I must be honest. It seems like it ought to be a rich mine to excavate for inspiration.
I just found a video from a tv show in which Bill Nelson, Gary Kemp and a woman i don't recognize opined about Brilliant Trees and Perspectives shortly after their release. You may find it interesting, though the segment is quite short. ua-cam.com/video/YlywVi4Zx2E/v-deo.html
Oh no! Steve Hillage….
This was pretty good, but I've got to go with the Butthole Surfers version as my favorite of the Hurdy Gurdy's, including the original.
If you want to hear some hurdy gurdy (the instrument), try the BBC sessions of *William D Drake* . I don't know if *Ornamental Hermit* is the best example, but the hurdy gurdy is an important part of the song. ua-cam.com/video/3GScxeEn_HE/v-deo.html
(It might get a bit too intense. I get the idea it's a very personal song, remembering Tim Smith as he was before the stroke, so creative control is abandoned at some points. You might like that; you might find it's poor form.)
I think my favourite hurdy gurdy based song (which also has lots more theremin than you'll get in most other songs) is the interpretation of *Beowulf* by *Peter Pringle* ua-cam.com/video/G4BUkOjxuZo/v-deo.html
(The lyrics are straight from the English translation of the poem, but just an excerpt, otherwise it would go on a bit long.)
Pretty good cover but can't beat the Donovan original. Was it ever figured out whether or not Jimmy Page played on the original?
Listen to Godspeed you black emperor…. Please
Interesting. I have to say I prefer Donovan's original version.
I think I'm done with all of this...much as I love this channel, I guess that reactions are played out for me. Keep having fun, the rest of you. 🙃
Ty as always for watching :) Come back and say hi every once in a while
@@JustJP highly likely. 😁
That's not the best version Hillage did. There are a few better ones. (Sound wise, I mean!) Clive Bunker made it heavier.