Original_To:  BITNET%"allmusic@auvm"
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.allmusic
Date:         Wed, 26 Aug 1992 12:42:00 EST
From:         MCINTYRE@MSUPA.BITNET
Subject:      Hawkwind starter kit

>From:         Gary Hanley <ghanley@DG-WEBO.WEBO.DG.COM>

>       This is one (of many) groups I've been wanted to check out
>but haven't got around to it yet. From the sound of John's description,
>I don't think I should have a problem with them. As with any band, some
>albums are better "starter" albums than others, so any suggestions for
>my first Hawkwind album???

There are a few difficulties involved in collecting Hawkwind.  Not many
CDs have been released in the US, some of their best albums are not on
CD yet even in England (some lame excuse like the master tapes being
lost), and there are about a zillion compilation and live albums, most
of which do not indicate which version of a particular song is included.
And then there's the tendency of the compilations/live albums to mistitle
a song or two.  And I've got at least two Hawkwind CDs of albums I already
own where one song on the CD is *not* the version that was on the album.
And there's two compilations on different labels with different songs but
the same name for the compilation.  Fun, fun, fun.

However, as for just getting started...

Well, my absolute favorite Hawkwind album (in fact a likely candidate for
my absolute favorite album of all time) is _Hall Of The Mountain Grill_.
Classic Hawkwind.  Arguably the best personnel.  (Hawkwind tends to mutate
frequently, hence the proliferation of live albums as the songs tend to
change with the personnel changes.)  Alas, it has not been released on CD
in America.

But by some miracle, the second and third Hawkwind albums _In Search Of
Space_ and _Doremi Fasola Tido_ were released in the US within the last
year and distributed by Capitol, so you should be able to get those.
_In Search Of Space_ is their masterpiece (the first album was a bit of
an apprenticeship) and is highly recommended.  It's what you point to
when you say "this is what space rock is".

It has been rumored that their classic live album _Space Ritual_ is
coming out on CD in America, but I have yet to find it.  Or hear of
anyone who has.  If it does come out, that would be another good
starting point.  There is an import CD entitled _Space Ritual II_
but most of the Hawkwind list-members don't seem to be too fond of it,
so as a starter you should probably stick to _Space Ritual_.  (Which
might bear the official title _Space Ritual Alive_.)

Some of the more recent releases have come out in the US.  _Xenon Codex_
and _Space Bandits_ are studio.  _Palace Springs_ is a live recording of
the Space Bandits tour.  _Hawklords Live 1978_ is a previously unreleased
concert.  _Out and Intake_ is a collection of odds and ends, so it's
probably not the best place to start.

So my suggested starting album would be _In Search Of Space_ or _Space
Ritual_ if the rumors prove true.

John McIntyre
Physics - Astronomy Dept
Michigan State University
concert as is _California Brainstorm_.  _Out and Intake_ is a compilation
of various obscurities and would probably not be the best place to
start.

If you can find it, there is an import CD entitled _Stasis The Charisma
Years_ that is a good compilation from their Charisma albums.

And in the last poll of the Hawkwind list, _Quark


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