The greatest band ever grace this planet, sounds like anything else completaly unique...utterly underated! Pawn Hearts, Godbluff and Still Life are my favs.
Very Interesting comments, I went to a concert in 1973 thinking they were a great band, and came away thinking I’d underestimated them, it was brilliant!
I liked what one 70's critic said of VDGG 'Do not play near animals or children', now that would have been a good title for one of their live albums, or a boxed set release.... If you can look out for the live version of 'Mergyls III (the song writers guild)' live in Paris in 1976 from their 20 disc collected works-it is surely the definitive reading of the song.
Vital is not only their best live album, it is an essential record and simply one of the best live albums by any band, uniquely atmospheric, original and flawless.
You know what, I definitely should have mentioned this live album too... I mentioned Real Time since it was the classic line up, but you're right Vital is amazing. I actually prefer Vital's Pioneers over c over the original.
@@Starman-zi9tl You're so right. The studio version is a bit muted and less punchy. I used to have quite a few VdGG bootlegs and they rocked live! Hamill went pre-punk in his vocals and the band were tight. The studio versions are great and often near-perfect, but VdGG live on a good night were incredible - a force of nature - plus they improvised so well live, making the performance unique. Pity there are so few VdGG boots in as good stereo as the Vital set. Cheers.
@@Starman-zi9tl Hi Starman. There aren't many old VdGG bootlegs with good sound quality, sadly (far fewer than Genesis or Floyd) but ones like 'I Prophesy Disaster' are worth finding. The VdGG 'Box' boxed set of CDs has a few decent live cuts too. If only there'd been more people with good recording equipment at VdGG gigs in Italy and elsewhere back in the 70s!
It’s better to start with the collection of the three first charisma album as it is an easier introduction to the band. My start was afterwards on Aerosol that I bought in 73
I came across VdGG in an interesting manner. I had heard of them reading up on great progressive rock albums as I was interested in further exploring the genre. Of course, Pawn Hearts was always mentioned and their epic A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers. So of course I went ahead and listened to it, and at the time I was relatively new to prog rock music and this song did not appeal to me. At that point I forgot about them and went on with my exploration. A long the way I came across a video showcasing very short clips of prog rock songs and the song Killer by VdGG was played as 5 second clip and I was like, hey I kind of like that sound. I did remember not being interested in them previously but decided to find that song and listen to it and enjoyed it. I then thought of purchasing that song online, but decided perhaps I should listen to the album and see how the rest of it is. By the 3rd song on H to He I was committed to purchasing the album, which I did. I went and decided to further explore their music and came across "Least we can do", Godbluff and Still Life. I enjoy every one of them immensely and since then VdGG has climbed the ladder as a top prog band for me. I am at a point where I can include them into my "Prog Mt. Rushmore", and they still continue to climb. I still need to listen more to Pawn Hearts and to be fair Man-Erg is an amazing song. The other 2 specially Plague is a bit daunting and hard for me to decode. I say decode because it feels like a musical puzzle for me. I know it's special and well crafted but it does not capture me like their other music. I'll keep listening to it and I'm sure it will click eventually. I enjoyed your video and hope you do one on Peter Hamill solo work eventually. I know he has a vast catalog so perhaps a top 10 of his studio albums might be more appropriate. Anyway, great work and looking forward to more.
Thank you for watching and commenting. Yeah Man-Erg is top tier VdGG for sure! Isn't it amazing how they slowly but steadily grow on you. At least that how it was for me. LOL I like the Prog Mt. Rushmore idea! and I agree, they should definitely be on there! Thank you for watching and supporting my channel!
The Quiet Zone may not be the classic line up but it is a uniquely individual and mature work, and I would place it among their best. But I was not always of that opinion.
That is true, it is a very unique and individual work with some amazing moments for sure. I actually wish that line up stuck around a bit longer to be honest. Ask me tomorrow, and I may rate it as 4 stars. lol
The Quiet Zone/PD isn't the same as earlier VdGG as Hammill inserted some more late-70s new wave influences and perhaps a more commercial sound. I was disappointed when I bought it as a youth because it was a pale shadow to the mighty early 70's run of albums and without much of the progness I loved. But more recently I bought a newer copy with bonus tracks and was hooked from the first sounds - it's a fine album and nearly as good as their earlier classics, just different.
Mostly the same ratings as I'd give the albums. I'd make H to He a five-star album like Pawn Hearts, though as there's little I could fault on either. Never found World Record that pleasing - it's good, but the previous run of albums is superior. I like The Quiet Zone/Pleasure Dome a lot more than World Record, despite it sounding more 'new wave' than the albums before it. As for the albums since they reformed, they're good albums but nowhere near the quality of the 70's VdGG. Alt is their 'Metal Machine Music' release, I'm afraid.
