Most probably the best song in rock history. No kidding. We have everything in it... Wisdom, musicianship, moods, emotions, uniqness, deep... What a vocal, melody instruments. Calling this "Masterpiece" is underrating it.
It´s so great to hear that you have the exact same reaction that I had so long ago. I was 17 in 1973 and this song helped me a lot to realize that my thoughts on life wasn´t just me. It feels great that more than 50 years later it still can awake this emotions. Thank you.
Legendary VDGG !! They never put a foot wrong. What an album too. Guy Evans... such an underrated drummer. Lemmings is another must-hear from Pawn Hearts and of course A plague of lighthouse keepers so often mentioned in the same (long) breath as Suppers Ready and Close to the Edge. And justifiably so. Essential for all Prog lovers who aren't acquainted as yet. Cheers Lee.. awesome band VDGG !!!! 😍
Cheers Peter! So glad you enjoyed it. This was a powerhouse of a track. I love these guys so much... so much intensity and passion! It shines through! Guy Evans is amazing here.
I was a 16 Yr old, in 19970, when "H to HE, Who Am The Only One" opened my mind to prog - then came Pawn Hearts, and this - WOW!!! ❤😅😊😱😘 I recall reading at the time they were the loudest live band in the world at that time... Incredible!
And here's Van der Graaf Generator performing the same song live in 2022. Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton and Guy Evans all original members. So privileged to have been there. ua-cam.com/video/ztnAIgbpVdI/v-deo.html
@@Chentinno Of course, David Jackson's contribution to the early VdGG sound cannot be dismissed, but they still put on one hell of a show without him. I'd much rather hear them without him than noe hear them at all.
Thank God I was in college from 1970-75 and I experienced what is now regarded as PROG. Of all the quintessential bands of this ilk (Gentle Giant - my favorite, Genesis, YES, ELP, King Crimson, etc) Van Der Graaf's "Man-Erg" epitomizes PROG rock. This sound is PROG! I never saw them live (they toured with Genesis in the early years because they were on the Charisma label) but saw Happy The Man (a band that formed at my school) perform this live and it was unbelievable! Pete Hammill takes a back seat to no other singer. If this recording doesn't give one goose bumps, I recommend they be checked for a pulse.
@@L33Reacts Lemmings&Cog is incredible, stunning track. So unique, with great transitions. Hard to believe that any band could make album with such a quality of all the tracks. Even if there were only three tracks. Lemmings&Cog are must listen to. There are many great albums in prog, but Pawn Hearts is maybe the only one with no weak moments.
One of the best prog tracks of all time imo, can easily stand with the best of them. Pawn Hearts is one of the most Proggy of Prog albums for sure. Not an easy listen for those newish to prog but it grows on you. Another good track is Killer from H to He Who Am The Only One album.
IMHO VDGGs greatest moment. A cerebral masterpiece. Even after listening to it for over 40 years, I always feel exhausted by the end - it's SO emotionally draining......
The final verse and the transition from the last line (the repetition of "Dictators, saviors, refugees") to the massed vocals and Mellotron gives me chills every single time. And the strange thing is, as a complete album _Godbluff_ is even better.
Of course now you need to listen to Lemmings, from the same side of the Pawn Hearts album. Plague will always be the highlight of the album for me, but the whole album is fantastic. Peter Hammill is far and away my favorite singer and lyricist.
P.S. I forgot to mention, I was fortunate to see them at the Beacon Theatre in N.Y. when they did their one and only show with this line-up. I've since seen them a few times as a trio, but the Beacon show will always be special to me.
Music like this is why I love your channel. I get exposed to songs I never heard that are incredible or get to rehear old favorites that I wouldn’t think of playing. The people making requests give us a great variety of music. Your subscribers are a diverse group that always come up with something interesting. Thanks for putting this together L33.
Glad you enjoyed Richard! I love the variety and unexpected jams as well. It does wonders for the soul! I'm glad we have such an awesome community here.
I think you would like the Peter Hammill solo tracks (In The) Black Room and A Louse is not A Home. My own favourite Peter Hammill album is Over, but you need to be in the right mood before listening because these songs were written at about the same time Peter broke up with his girlfriend and VDGG started to fall apart; allegedly, I don't know any of this for a fact. And I always like to link these songs on Over with the VDGG song La Rossa. This song describes Peter's infidelity and then on Over songs like (On Tuesdays She Used to do) Yoga and Lost And Found describe Alice leaving and Peter looking back on the course that brought him to this point. Of course I have no idea how much of the lyrics are true or just artistic licence.
With this track you can see how Peter Hammill's unique vocals influenced David Bowie (song: Candidate from his Diamond Dogs album) and also John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) of the Sex Pistols.
Yes. Very heavy. Need to show this to my IRL metal friends. Peter Hammill most versatile living male rock singer, par with the most versatile living female Rock singer, Tatiana Shmayluk. Btw, me being VdGG devotee for nearly 40 years now.
I heard it was So called, as the band switched letters so that album title changes from Horn parts to Pawn Hearts. They did feature lots of sax/ horns on their album.
I can only say ….welcome to my youth….this was just good music to us….and we so appreciated it….new, inspiring, radical, We listened, absorbed, appreciated, went to the concerts for the live versions….and then looked forward to the next album. Such a deprived youth…lol lol lol
Hey, dude. Just got to your channel and started going through almost all of your VDG videos. I just wanted to recommend "Grails". I hope you don't know them. And hope even more that you see the same beautiful strangeness, chaotic, even grotesque, qualities. Just life VDGDespite being "only instrumental", . :) It's also a kind of difficult band to get into, just like VDG², [...] I typed a lot of other shit, but whatever... haha was just describing the musical similarities, despite Grails being an "only instrumental" band haha. Just wanted you to have the mesmerizing experience of the first 3 to 4 songs from the 2023, "Anches En Maat". Also, "Deep Politics" is impossible not to mention. "Almost Grew My Hair" aswell. hahah Cheers!
This as also one hell of a live act. Seen them many time in the very early 70's lot of times at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm London. They played live many times in the Bristol area, which is where Mr Hammall lived. Peter Hammall has also many solo albums out, I think about 30ish. If you wish to get closer to his younger self it is well worth having a listern to his solo album called "Over" an album he released to try and win back his lady after she choose another member of the band. Many David Bowie fans finally became aware of him and became followers. This solo work is all over the place as far as type, from Ambient, electric, guitar rock but always engaging. Please enjoy his music as he is a wonderful man with many'a hangup.
Saw Hammill perform this live on solo piano in Cleveland around 1973 in a crappy little bar. Incredible that he did this entire piece solo!! VDGG highly influenced me and my fellow band mates at the time. Our band covered a few VDGG tunes (including this one) and the crowd reaction was always WTF??!! Lee, I can't believe you pulled this one off the shelf. Man-Erg has been a long time favorite of mine. Thank you very much for the reaction. God bless you, my friend. I do hope your teeth are doing better.
Dude that's awesome you got to see this in their heyday. I would have loved to have seen everyone's faces at that breakdown. They predicted and helped invent so many genres in this one song. It's crazy lol. I'm glad you enjoyed my friend! I certainly did.
Hardcore prog, so hard to believe it was from 1971. Then again, most of their output sounds either otherworldly, proto-goth, or as if it was written by the last survivor of some terrifying future apocalypse. Or all three. Saw them live almost 20 years ago, just after "Present" came out, and seeing this now makes me wonder if they still occasionally perform...
Heard this album on my hike this morning, it's a top 5 prog album of all time. The modern CD extended versions are even better, this was a band at it's peak power, with arguably the best lyricist in prog (even better than Sinfield)
@@L33Reacts These people were all friends. Robert Fripp had sold his old mellotron to Tony Banks (genesis). VDGG often played as opening act for Genesis...
Sounds like Journey took some clues from these guys. How on earth did I miss out on this stuff? Yeah, music does affect us all, some actually admit it.
Here is a weird song request. In 1980, my back door childhood neighbor asked me to play the weirdest album I had at that time. The album was “Not Available”, by the band, The Residents. The album was recorded in 1974, but released in 1978. The requested song is “Part One: Edweena”.
hah... awesome. thanks for this - one of my ATFs. first track, Lemmings, is a great song too. imagine following that up with Man-Erg, then flipping the record over and being deluged by A Plague... overwhelming. one of the most intense records I know. up there with Larks'-Starless-Red, Cryme-Foxtrot-Selling-Lamb, Fragile-Close. not for everyone, to be sure. but I'll take all you got of this. there was a time, long ago maybe, when Peter Gabriel secretly wished he was Peter Hammill. ;-)
You should try "Superuomo" from a italian band name Museo Rosenbach. What a track. From 1973. The whole album is just fantastic, Zarathustra, the name of it.
It's true, you reacted to Arrow. Godbluff has two aspects, one more melodic (Undercover man, Sleepwalkers) and another more powerful (Arrow, Scorched Earth). Arrow being a great song, it is probably my least favorite on the album. On the one hand, you will love Guy Evans' performance in Scorched Earth, on the other, the development of the more melodic themes is wonderful, being special for my Undercover man. Look closely at David Jackson, who plays two saxophones at the same time in several passages on the album, or the tremendous work on the organ by Hugh Banton, who also plays the bass with the organ pedal board. As a keyboard player he is one of my great influences, along with Thijs Van Leer (remember to check out La cathédrale de Strasbourg), Dave Stewart (whom you know from the Bruford group, and who composed one of the most memorable pieces of the Avant/Progressive Rock (Mumps, from Hatfield and the North) and Tim Hodgkinson (Henry Cow, who you should listen to, if you'll allow the suggestion)
Most probably the best song in rock history. No kidding. We have everything in it... Wisdom, musicianship, moods, emotions, uniqness, deep... What a vocal, melody instruments. Calling this "Masterpiece" is underrating it.
I second that, the most amazing piece of music I have ever heard. Chills, goosebumps, teary eyes every single time
You’ve got a point there
In progrock one of three best surely
It´s so great to hear that you have the exact same reaction that I had so long ago. I was 17 in 1973 and this song helped me a lot to realize that my thoughts on life wasn´t just me. It feels great that more than 50 years later it still can awake this emotions. Thank you.
This track has Robert Fripp from King Crimson on it playing guitar.
Such a guarantee of greatness on bonus!!
Legendary VDGG !! They never put a foot wrong. What an album too. Guy Evans... such an underrated drummer. Lemmings is another must-hear from Pawn Hearts and of course A plague of lighthouse keepers so often mentioned in the same (long) breath as Suppers Ready and Close to the Edge. And justifiably so. Essential for all Prog lovers who aren't acquainted as yet. Cheers Lee.. awesome band VDGG !!!! 😍
Cheers Peter! So glad you enjoyed it. This was a powerhouse of a track. I love these guys so much... so much intensity and passion! It shines through! Guy Evans is amazing here.
I was a 16 Yr old, in 19970, when "H to HE, Who Am The Only One" opened my mind to prog - then came Pawn Hearts, and this - WOW!!! ❤😅😊😱😘 I recall reading at the time they were the loudest live band in the world at that time... Incredible!
Fuck, how old are you?
This old dog is learning something new! These guys were about back in 72? How did I not know?
Great stuff!
one of the best songs i've ever heard...in gral
Just like side two, side one of this album is best heard as one continuous piece. That said, however, I'm glad you've reacted to this prog classic.
Woops my bad! I didn't know. This was fantastic as is. Absolutely incredible at points. 1971... insane
@@L33Reacts That's okay, it just may be a personal preference since that's the way I was introduced to it.
And here's Van der Graaf Generator performing the same song live in 2022. Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton and Guy Evans all original members. So privileged to have been there. ua-cam.com/video/ztnAIgbpVdI/v-deo.html
Missing Jackson, though. Without him, the band lacks that particular sound that defined it 😔
@@Chentinno Of course, David Jackson's contribution to the early VdGG sound cannot be dismissed, but they still put on one hell of a show without him. I'd much rather hear them without him than noe hear them at all.
@@1630revelloify Sadly, it's true
Thank God I was in college from 1970-75 and I experienced what is now regarded as PROG. Of all the quintessential bands of this ilk (Gentle Giant - my favorite, Genesis, YES, ELP, King Crimson, etc) Van Der Graaf's "Man-Erg" epitomizes PROG rock. This sound is PROG! I never saw them live (they toured with Genesis in the early years because they were on the Charisma label) but saw Happy The Man (a band that formed at my school) perform this live and it was unbelievable! Pete Hammill takes a back seat to no other singer. If this recording doesn't give one goose bumps, I recommend they be checked for a pulse.
I like "I Walk The Line" but this is eye opening ❤
The Greatest.
Arguably the greatest Progressive music album of them all by the greatest band of that genre.
Yeah this and lighthouse so far make one hell of a Duo. Now, for lemmings to finish it out 😌👍
It's certainly my number 1 favourite of all time!
@@L33Reacts Lemmings&Cog is incredible, stunning track. So unique, with great transitions. Hard to believe that any band could make album with such a quality of all the tracks. Even if there were only three tracks. Lemmings&Cog are must listen to. There are many great albums in prog, but Pawn Hearts is maybe the only one with no weak moments.
Best album of the genre.No debate!!
I saw them do this live in 1972, and was amazed, and bought the album soon after.
My favorite song from them
At times, Pete's vocal has a quality that reminds me both of The Nice's Lee Jackson & David Bowie....
🚬😎👍
VDGG and Hammill have like 20 great albums. the man is prolific.
The VDGG drum sound is something else.
And Peter Hammill was 23 years old at the time ...
Really hard to believe... This song seems to be so mature in every aspect. Real genius.
One of my favourite songs...ever.
One of the best prog tracks of all time imo, can easily stand with the best of them. Pawn Hearts is one of the most Proggy of Prog albums for sure. Not an easy listen for those newish to prog but it grows on you. Another good track is Killer from H to He Who Am The Only One album.
IMHO VDGGs greatest moment. A cerebral masterpiece. Even after listening to it for over 40 years, I always feel exhausted by the end - it's SO emotionally draining......
The final verse and the transition from the last line (the repetition of "Dictators, saviors, refugees") to the massed vocals and Mellotron gives me chills every single time. And the strange thing is, as a complete album _Godbluff_ is even better.
Of course now you need to listen to Lemmings, from the same side of the Pawn Hearts album. Plague will always be the highlight of the album for me, but the whole album is fantastic. Peter Hammill is far and away my favorite singer and lyricist.
I've been listening to this song for 40 years and I still react the same way as you.
My Favourite song ever, Lyrics music emotion madness and redemption. Love it
Oh! My favorite VDGG song! Thank you Lee. Amazing presentation of the endless battle in the human mind...
Glad you enjoyed it bro! Thank you for watching. I LOVED this. So much. These guys were madmen and psychic somehow.. they predicted a whole genre!
I've been a VDGG fan since '71. If I had to pick my favorite song of all time, it would be this one.
P.S. I forgot to mention, I was fortunate to see them at the Beacon Theatre in N.Y. when they did their one and only show with this line-up. I've since seen them a few times as a trio, but the Beacon show will always be special to me.
Such a great reaction, this video made my day!
This song changed my life when I heard it as an 18 year old. The most brutal and beautiful prog band of the 70s.
Absolute Masterpiece. Still sends shivering to my spine after all these years. Immortal.
Some standout early Hammill solo songs:
Vision
(In The) Black Room
Modern
The Comet, The Course, The Tail
Music like this is why I love your channel. I get exposed to songs I never heard that are incredible or get to rehear old favorites that I wouldn’t think of playing. The people making requests give us a great variety of music. Your subscribers are a diverse group that always come up with something interesting. Thanks for putting this together L33.
Glad you enjoyed Richard! I love the variety and unexpected jams as well. It does wonders for the soul! I'm glad we have such an awesome community here.
I think you would like the Peter Hammill solo tracks (In The) Black Room and A Louse is not A Home.
My own favourite Peter Hammill album is Over, but you need to be in the right mood before listening because these songs were written at about the same time Peter broke up with his girlfriend and VDGG started to fall apart; allegedly, I don't know any of this for a fact.
And I always like to link these songs on Over with the VDGG song La Rossa. This song describes Peter's infidelity and then on Over songs like (On Tuesdays She Used to do) Yoga and Lost And Found describe Alice leaving and Peter looking back on the course that brought him to this point.
Of course I have no idea how much of the lyrics are true or just artistic licence.
With this track you can see how Peter Hammill's unique vocals influenced David Bowie (song: Candidate from his Diamond Dogs album) and also John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) of the Sex Pistols.
the prog of the 70s influenced many groups. ✌
Peter Hammill does death metal so well.
lots of insane breakdowns! the choices are endless
Hahaha it's so awesome. I love it. I can't wait to hear more.
The song White Hammer has as insanely heavy breakdown on it for 1970.
And a history lesson thrown in too.
I will definitely be checking that one out. This was crazy lol
Thanks for doing this one Lee.......so brilliant. Did you know it's Bob Fripp on guitar on this track....yeah try Lemmings, that's good too
No problem bro thank you got watching! I found out afterwards. Craziness. Small world lol I will be doing lemmings for sure 👍
GOAT
Yes. Very heavy. Need to show this to my IRL metal friends. Peter Hammill most versatile living male rock singer, par with the most versatile living female Rock singer, Tatiana Shmayluk. Btw, me being VdGG devotee for nearly 40 years now.
I heard it was So called, as the band switched letters so that album title changes from Horn parts to Pawn Hearts. They did feature lots of sax/ horns on their album.
I'm so glad you loved it.. it's stunning
I can only say ….welcome to my youth….this was just good music to us….and we so appreciated it….new, inspiring, radical, We listened, absorbed, appreciated, went to the concerts for the live versions….and then looked forward to the next album. Such a deprived youth…lol lol lol
Hey, dude. Just got to your channel and started going through almost all of your VDG videos.
I just wanted to recommend "Grails". I hope you don't know them. And hope even more that you see the same beautiful strangeness, chaotic, even grotesque, qualities. Just life VDGDespite being "only instrumental", . :)
It's also a kind of difficult band to get into, just like VDG², [...]
I typed a lot of other shit, but whatever... haha was just describing the musical similarities, despite Grails being an "only instrumental" band haha. Just wanted you to have the mesmerizing experience of the first 3 to 4 songs from the 2023, "Anches En Maat".
Also, "Deep Politics" is impossible not to mention. "Almost Grew My Hair" aswell. hahah
Cheers!
This as also one hell of a live act. Seen them many time in the very early 70's lot of times at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm London. They played live many times in the Bristol area, which is where Mr Hammall lived. Peter Hammall has also many solo albums out, I think about 30ish.
If you wish to get closer to his younger self it is well worth having a listern to his solo album called "Over" an album he released to try and win back his lady after she choose another member of the band.
Many David Bowie fans finally became aware of him and became followers. This solo work is all over the place as far as type, from Ambient, electric, guitar rock but always engaging.
Please enjoy his music as he is a wonderful man with many'a hangup.
Saw Hammill perform this live on solo piano in Cleveland around 1973 in a crappy little bar. Incredible that he did this entire piece solo!! VDGG highly influenced me and my fellow band mates at the time. Our band covered a few VDGG tunes (including this one) and the crowd reaction was always WTF??!! Lee, I can't believe you pulled this one off the shelf. Man-Erg has been a long time favorite of mine. Thank you very much for the reaction. God bless you, my friend. I do hope your teeth are doing better.
Dude that's awesome you got to see this in their heyday. I would have loved to have seen everyone's faces at that breakdown. They predicted and helped invent so many genres in this one song. It's crazy lol. I'm glad you enjoyed my friend! I certainly did.
Robert fripp (King Crimson and Guitar God) on guitar here.
Great track from a great album, indeed! Btw, the guitar was played by mr. Fripp himself as a very welcome guest! Kudos
That sax note 8:32 of your video gets me there e-ve-ry-time
Reminds me a little bit of Bowie.
Hammill's solo records are also great.
want to know where hammell gets his lyrics from...... solvent abuse
has to be.
Hardcore prog, so hard to believe it was from 1971. Then again, most of their output sounds either otherworldly, proto-goth, or as if it was written by the last survivor of some terrifying future apocalypse. Or all three. Saw them live almost 20 years ago, just after "Present" came out, and seeing this now makes me wonder if they still occasionally perform...
Heard this album on my hike this morning, it's a top 5 prog album of all time. The modern CD extended versions are even better, this was a band at it's peak power, with arguably the best lyricist in prog (even better than Sinfield)
I bet that was one hell of a hike! Ended up in another dimension 🤣🤣
Many riifs of VDGG and KC make me think that black metal is some sort of lullaby... They invented metal.
by the way, if you listen carefully you will hear guitar, it is a studio participation by Robert Fripp
Someone else mentioned that too! That's crazy I had no idea. I didn't see a credit on wiki so I didn't say anything lol that's awesome.
@@L33Reacts These people were all friends. Robert Fripp had sold his old mellotron to Tony Banks (genesis). VDGG often played as opening act for Genesis...
Sounds like Journey took some clues from these guys. How on earth did I miss out on this stuff? Yeah, music does affect us all, some actually admit it.
Maybe my favorite from VDGG. Along with a Plague of Lighthouse Keepers and Sleepwalkers.
Here is a weird song request. In 1980, my back door childhood neighbor asked me to play the weirdest album I had at that time.
The album was “Not Available”, by the band, The Residents. The album was recorded in 1974, but released in 1978. The requested song is “Part One: Edweena”.
hah... awesome. thanks for this - one of my ATFs. first track, Lemmings, is a great song too. imagine following that up with Man-Erg, then flipping the record over and being deluged by A Plague... overwhelming. one of the most intense records I know. up there with Larks'-Starless-Red, Cryme-Foxtrot-Selling-Lamb, Fragile-Close. not for everyone, to be sure. but I'll take all you got of this. there was a time, long ago maybe, when Peter Gabriel secretly wished he was Peter Hammill. ;-)
A tip: Fallin' Off The Edge by The Seeds. Spaced out country 🤯❤
Listen to the song Still Life from VDGG
You should try "Superuomo" from a italian band name Museo Rosenbach. What a track. From 1973. The whole album is just fantastic, Zarathustra, the name of it.
👍👍👍👍
Sleepwalkers is the best VdGG song you haven't heard yet.
I'll add it to the list. I'm always down for more!!
look closely at the album cover. took me a while to realize what it was. a bunch of people like light houses strewn about the earth and the heavens.
Pawns!
yes, I remember that we recognized John Lennon among others
what are the albums behind you in the background? Are they just your favourites?
Just random albums from my collection that I change every few videos. Most of them are albums I quite enjoy, yes. Not all of them though. Lol
The only albums I truly like in this thumbnail are the great misdirect and the yes collection
Get ready for Godbluf and Still Life. The top of the group. I wouldn't know to tell you which one is my favorite!
I've done a track from godbluff. But I need to finish thank you for reminding me :)
It's true, you reacted to Arrow. Godbluff has two aspects, one more melodic (Undercover man, Sleepwalkers) and another more powerful (Arrow, Scorched Earth). Arrow being a great song, it is probably my least favorite on the album. On the one hand, you will love Guy Evans' performance in Scorched Earth, on the other, the development of the more melodic themes is wonderful, being special for my Undercover man. Look closely at David Jackson, who plays two saxophones at the same time in several passages on the album, or the tremendous work on the organ by Hugh Banton, who also plays the bass with the organ pedal board. As a keyboard player he is one of my great influences, along with Thijs Van Leer (remember to check out La cathédrale de Strasbourg), Dave Stewart (whom you know from the Bruford group, and who composed one of the most memorable pieces of the Avant/Progressive Rock (Mumps, from Hatfield and the North) and Tim Hodgkinson (Henry Cow, who you should listen to, if you'll allow the suggestion)
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