Hawkwind – Parallel Universe

Here's some detail on the 3CD Hawkwind anthology due out from EMI in August, courtesy of their publicity department who've kindly allowed me to repost the detail here. I'll be reviewing this one in due course for Record Collector but will also write something up here in due course since this is a significant release that contains a good selection of previously unreleased United Artists-era material including studio takes of 'It's So Easy' and 'You'd Better Believe It', a very different studio cut of 'Wind of Change', alternative vocals on a studio 'Seven By Seven' and what's noted as being a previously unreleased track, 'Take What You Can', which actually appeared on a Weird Tapes release under the title 'Make What You Can' (I don't have the original of that to refer to, so can't say at this point if it is the same recording or another previously unknown version). This anthology also pulls together a slew of stuff that's previously been available as bonus tracks on the EMI remasters from a few years back. Sleevenotes by Nik Turner. Here's the press detail I received from EMI:

'PARALLEL UNIVERSE'

A Liberty/U.A. Years Anthology 1970 – 1974

3CD journey through the mind-altering space-rock of

Hawkwind

- 12 Previously Unreleased Tracks -

Release Date: 22 August 2011

Following the release last year of Hawkwind at the BBC 1972, EMI will release a 3CD extensive journey through Hawkwind's mind-altering space rock.

'Parallel Universe' is a 3CD journey through the four years Hawkwind spent on the Liberty/U.A. labels. This package of great tracks is something that no serious Hawkwind fan or collector should be without. These are the seminal recordings of the band, the essence of what Hawkwind was at that time, and was all about.

As well as containing a good cross-section of the band's output over the first five years, (the band was actually formed in 1969), the album also features previously unreleased different versions of some songs, as well as a couple of previously unreleased new songs, 'Hog Farm', and 'Take What You Can'. All add to and sit alongside the known recorded history.

Initially the band was psychedelic, musicians from a variety of musical genres, of very different stripes. Mick Slattery, blues guitarist, who played in the band at the conception, but left before the first album was produced; Dave Brock, a blues guitarist and busker; Nik Turner, a free-jazz saxophonist; John Harrison, a big-band bassist; Huw Lloyd-Langton, a classical guitarist; Dik Mik Davis, a primitive Concrete Music Electronics exponent, and Terry Ollis, a primitive drummer. They put together the first album, simply titled, Hawkwind - which was basically a live studio-recording of their live performance; a lot of jamming and free-form music, as well as a couple 'songs': 'Hurry on Sundown', and Mirror of Illusion'. The whole thing was recorded twice and the best of the two versions chosen for the album, with some guitar added by the producer Dick Taylor, guitarist with that band 'The Pretty Things'. The two songs on the album were released as the band's first single.

Their second album, Xin Search of Space, was a little more structured than the first, with more songs, and influence from Nik's friend Robert Calvert, the 'space poet', who he grew up with in Thanet, Kent. With Barney Bubbles, who had designed the album cover, Robert composed the 'Hawkwind Log', the logbook of the 'Space-Ship Hawkwind', and gave the band a whole science fictional emphasis. The concept took the form of the 'Space-Ship Hawkwind,' which had crashed-landed on earth, and become 2-dimensional, the vinyl was the remaining 2-dimensional remnants of the crew, and the logbook was the Ship's log, describing the Ship's adventures.

The band were now Dave Anderson, ex-bassist from Amon Duul, Dave Brock, Nik, Terry, Dik Mik on his Dik-Mikator, and Del Dettmar, ex-roadie from The Pretty Things and Hawkwind, on synthesizer and Delatron. They were definitely moving into space. In their live work, they were joined by the fabulous statuesque dancer and mime artist, Miss Stacia.

Robert then became more involved in the creative writing of songs, and performance ideas, and devised his Meisterwerk, the concept epic, 'The Space Ritual', the spectacular mixed media show, which would feature the song 'Silver Machine'. At this point, exit Dave Anderson, enter 'Lemmy' [Ian Kilmister], a friend of Dik Mik, and ex-guitarist from Opal Butterfly, Sam Gopal's Dream, and ex-roadie with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Lemmy played loud deep Space-bass. On the drum front, exit Terry Ollis, and enter Simon King, also ex-Opal Butterfly. The band recorded the song 'Silver Machine' live at the Roundhouse at the 'Greasy Truckers Party'with Robert singing.

The show was compared by the resident D.J. extraordinaire, the very Awesome Mr Andy Dunkley, the thoroughly lovable guy, [who very sadly, lately passed on to the next world, we miss him]. At this time Robert was a very delicate chap, a manic-depressive, subject to regular nervous breakdowns, and unfortunately all the creative activity and excitement was too much for him; he had a nervous breakdown. His vocals needed replacing, on the recording of 'Silver Machine' as they were deemed not strong enough, so Lemmy stepped in and replaced Robert's vocals. The single went to number 3 in the UK, and gave the band the finance to produce Robert's 'Space Ritual' extravaganza, which proved wildly successful.

A live recording was made of the show, and released as a double album to great acclaim.

Tracklistings:Hawkwind – Parallel Universe Great tracks, great artists. Simon House, the violin virtuoso, ex- High Tide, Third Ear Band, and latterly David Bowie, joined the band, and featured on the following album, The Hall Of The Mountain Grill, and on the fourth single 'Psychedelic Warlords'/'It's So Easy'. After which the band had two drummers. And the beat still goes on… As a belated follow up to 'Silver Machine', 'Urban Guerrilla'/'Brainbox Pollution' were recorded, but the BBC refused to play the 'A' side, the police visited Nik's flat and tore up the floorboards looking for armaments and explosives, and the band were stopped frequently by Her Majesty's Constabulary. Their next album was Doremi Farsol Latido.

(A Liberty/U.A. Years Anthology 1970 – 1974)

CD 1:
Hurry On Sundown (original mono single)
Mirror Of Illusion (mono single edit)
You Know You're Only Dreaming (original 1970 version) (previously unreleased)
The Reason Is (alternate version) (previously unreleased)
Be Yourself (alternate mix) (previously unreleased)
Seeing It As You Really Are (from the album Hawkwind)
Hog Farm (previously unreleased)
Kiss Of The Velvet Whip (aka Sweet Mistress Of Pain) (1971 version) (previously unreleased)
You Shouldn't Do That (from the album In Search Of Space)
Master Of The Universe (original vocal take) (previously unreleased)
Children Of The Sun (from the album In Search Of Space)
Paranoia (Greasy Truckers Party version – live)

CD 2:

Brainstorm (from the album Doremi Fasol Latido)
Space Is Deep (from the album Doremi Fasol Latido)
Lord Of Light (from the album Doremi Fasol Latido)
Take What You Can (previously unreleased)
Silver Machine (original single mix)
Seven By Seven (original single alternate vocal mix) (previously unreleased)
Born To Go (Space Ritual version - live)
Down Throught The Night (Space Ritual version - live)
Orgone Accumulator (Space Ritual version - live)
Sonic Attack (Space Ritual version - live)

CD 3:
Ejection
Urban Guerilla (original single)
Brainbox Pollution (Full length version) (previously unreleased)
It's So Easy (original studio version) (previously unreleased)
You'd Better Believe It (Rockfield Studios version) (previously unreleased)
Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear In Smoke) (single version)
Wind Of Change (alternate version) (previously unreleased)
Paradox (remix single edit)
Hall Of The Mountain Grill (from the album Hall Of The Mountain Grill)
Lost Johnny (from the album Hall Of The Mountain Grill)
D-Rider (1999 Party version - live)
The Watcher (1999 Party version - live)

Hawkwind Zoo - Sunshine Special E.P. (digital download only)

1. Kiss Of The Velvet Whip (aka Sweet Mistress Of Pain) (1969 mix) * (Previously unreleased)
2. Cymbaline *
3. Hurry On Sundown (1969 mix) * (Previously unreleased)
4. Kiss Of The Velvet Whip (aka Sweet Mistress Of Pain) (1972 stereo remix)
5. Hurry On Sundown (1972 stereo remix)
* mono