Steve Hillage Box Set

[Colin Sanction]

Searching For The Spark is a 22 cd deluxe box set containing all the work guitar great and electronic music innovator Steve Hillage recorded from his studio debut (1969's Arzachel) to the first System 7 album in 1991.

The set includes:

* Arzachel.

* Khan's Space Shanty, 1972.

* All eight of Hillage's classic Virgin Records solo albums - Fish Rising, L, Motivation Radio, Green, Live Herald, Rainbow Dome Music, Open (and Studio Herald), For To Next (and its companion And Not Or) - plus bonus tracks.

* System 7's debut from 1991.

* Live in Deeply Vale, 1978.

* Two BBC performances from The Paris Theatre recorded in December 1976 and November 1979.

* Eight CDs featuring recordings taken from Steve's personal archive, including four superb concert performances (Brighton Dome November 1977, Munich April 1979, Hammersmith Odeon November 1979, The Steve Hillage Band Live At The Gong Family Unconvention 2006) and four discs (Sparks Volumes 1-4) packed with previously unheard and unreleased tracks, demos and alternate takes.

Accompanying the recordings is a magnificent 188 page - 32,000 word - coffee table book. Written and assembled by Steve Hillage and Gong family expert Jonny Greene, the book contains hundreds of rare and previously unseen photographs and cuttings.

In addition there are three reproduction promo posters, two lyric booklets, a high quality enamel badge, a 60 page scrap book containing more photographs and cuttings, and a certificate of authenticity signed by Steve Hillage and his creative partner Miquette Giraudy.



CD 1 - Arzachel - Arzachel (1969):

1. Garden Of Earthly Delights [02:48]
2. Azathoth [04:26]
3. Soul Thing [04:32]
4. Leg [05:49]
5. Clean Innocent Fun [10:34]
6. Metempsychosis [16:58]

CD 2 - Khan - Space Shanty (1972):

1. Space Shanty [08:59]
2. Stranded [06:35]
3. Mixed Up Man Of The Mountains [07:14]
4. Driving To Amsterdam [09:22]
5. Stargazers [05:32]
6. Hollow Stone [08:16]

Bonus Tracks:
7. Break the Chains [03:31]
8. Mixed Up Man of the Mountains (First Version) [04:28]

CD 3 - Fish Rising (1975):

1. Solar Musick Suite [16:55]
2. Fish [01:23]
3. Meditation Of The Snake [03:10]
4. The Salmon Song [08:45]
5. Aftaglid [14:46]

Bonus Tracks:

6. Pentagrammaspin (2006 Remix) [07:46]
7. Aftaglid (Power Trio Backing Track) [13:00]

CD 4 - L (1976):

1. Hurdy Gurdy Man [06:32]
2. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando [08:54]
3. Electrick Gypsies [06:54]
4. Om Nama Shivaya [03:33]
5. Lunar Musick Suite [11:59]
6. It's All Too Much [06:26]

Bonus Tracks:

7. Eight Miles High (Backing Track) [04:34]
8. Maui (Early Version of 'Palm Trees') [04:41]
9. Shimmer [03:50]

CD 5 - Motivation Radio (1977):

1. Hello Dawn [02:48]
2. Motivation [04:07]
3. Light In The Sky [04:12]
4. Radio [06:13]
5. Wait One Moment [03:25]
6. Saucer Surfing [04:28]
7. Searching For The Spark [05:35]
8. Octave Doctors [03:38]
9. Not Fade Away (Glid Forever) [04:00]

Bonus Tracks:

10. Leylines To Glassdom (T.O.N.T.O. Version) [02:50]
11. The Salmon Song (Power Trio Backing Track) [09:12]
12. The Golden Vibe (Alternate Mix) [02:50]

CD 6 - Green (1978):

1. Sea Nature [06:42]
2. Ether Ships [05:07]
3. Musik Of The Trees [04:54]
4. Palm Trees (Love Guitar) [05:21]
5. Unidentified (Flying Being) [04:31]
6. U.F.O. Over Paris [03:10]
7. Leylines To Glassdom [04:07]
8. Crystal City [03:36]
9. Activation Meditation [01:03]
10. The Glorious Om Riff [07:53]

Bonus Tracks:

11. Unidentified (Flying Being) [Live at Glastonbury 1979] [04:54]
12. Not Fade Away (Glid Forever) [Live at The Rainbow Theatre 1977] [07:28]
13. Octave Doctors [Live at Glastonbury 1979] [03:40]
14. Meditation Of The Snake (Alternative Mix) [03:17]

CD 7 - Live Herald (1978):

1. The Salmon Song [Live at The Rainbow Theatre March 1977] [07:38]
2. The Dervish Riff [Live at The Rainbow Theatre March 1977] [04:24]
3. Castle In The Clouds/Hurdy Gurdy Man [Live at The Rainbow Theatre March 1977] [07:00]
4. Light In The Sky [Live at Oxford Poly May 1978] [05:16]
5. Seaching For The Spark [Live at The Marquee Club August 1978] [11:15]
6. Electrick Gypsies Solar Music Suite [Live at The Rainbow Theatre November 1977] [06:00]
7. Radiom/Lunar Musick Suite/Mediation Of The Dragon [Live at The Rainbow Theatre March 1977] [15:23]
8. It's All Too Much/The Golden Vibe [Live at Oxford Poly May 1978] [07:17]

Bonus Tracks:

9. Solar Music Suite [Live at The Rainbow Theatre March 1977] [14:37]

CD 8 - Rainbow Dome Music (1979):

1. Garden Of Paradise [23:15]
2. Four Ever Rainbow [20:30]

CD 9 - Studio Herald (1978) / Open (1979) :

Studio Herald:

1. Talking To The Sun [06:00]
2. 1988 Aktivator [02:29]
3. New Age Synthesis (Unzipping The Zype) [08:52]
4. Healing Feeling [06:07]

Open:

5. Earthrise [08:35]
6. Open [05:17]
7. Definite Activity [04:44]
8. Getting Better [02:59]
9. Day After Day [06:19]
10. Getting In Tune [03:16]
11. Don't Dither Do It [05:06]
12. The Fire Inside [06:18]

Bonus Tracks:

13. Don't Dither Do It (1974 Power Trio Backing Track) [04:47]
14. Four Ever Rainbow (Part 3 Alternative Mix) [08:55]

CD 10 - For To Next / And Not Or (1983):

For To Next:

1. These Unchartered Lands [05:39]
2. Kamikaze Eyes [04:50]
3. Alone [05:22]
4. Anthems For The Blind [04:30]
5. Bright Future [05:08]
6. Frame By Frame [05:53]
7. Waiting [05:24]
8. Glory [06:28]

And Not Or:

9. Before The Storm [07:07]
10. Red Admiral [06:12]
11. Serotonin [05:37]
12. And Not Or [06:27]
13. Knights Templar [04:33]
14. Still Golden [05:54]

CD 11 - System 7 - System 7 (1991):

1. Sunburst [07:25]
2. Freedom Fighters [05:21]
3. Habibi [06:10]
4. Altitude [05:59]
5. Bon Humeur [07:27]
6. Fractal Liaison [02:10]
7. Dog [05:53]
8. Thunderdog [02:26]
9. Listen [06:24]
10. Strange Quotations [06:36]
11. Miracle [07:09]
12. Over And Out [03:28]

CD 12:

1. The Salmon Song [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1976] [09:14]
2. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1976] [12:31]
3. Meditation Of The Dragon [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1976] [07:40]
4. It's All Too Much [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1976] [09:52]
5. Encore: Not Fade Away (Glid Forever) [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1976] [10:09]
Bonus Tracks
6. Aftaglid [Live at The Rainbow Theatre March 1977] [06:41]
7. Electrick Gypsies [Live at The Rainbow Theatre March
1977] [06:00]
8. Not Fade Away (Glid Forever) [Live at The Rainbow Theatre
March 1977] [08:05]

CD 13:

1. Electrick Gypsies [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [06:04]
2. New Age Synthesis (Unzipping The Zype) [BBC Radio 1 in
Concert 1979] [08:33]
3. Light In The Sky [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [05:12]
4. Unidentified (Flying Being) [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [07:56]
5. Radio [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [10:15]
6. 1988 Aktivator [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [02:32]
7. Crystal City [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [04:32]
8. The Glorious Om Riff [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [07:03]
9. It's All Too Much [BBC Radio 1 in Concert 1979] [07:02]

CD 14 - Live At Deeply Vale, July 1978:

1. Saucer Surfing [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [07:51]
2. Searching For The Spark [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July
1978] [10:29]
3. Octave Doctors [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [04:20]
4. The Salmon Song [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [10:23]
5. Crystal City [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [05:00]
6. Radio [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [07:17]
7. Palm Trees [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [05:37]
8. Light In The Sky [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [05:04]
9. Hurdy Gurdy Man [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [07:26]
10. Lunar Musick Suite [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [03:58]
11. Sun Song (Reprise) [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [01:30]
12. Activation Meditation [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [04:11]
13. The Glorious Om Riff [Live at Deeply Vale Festival July 1978] [04:48]

CD 15 - Live At The Brighton Dome, November 1977:

1. Octave Doctors [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [04:06]
2. It's All Too Much [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [06:30]
3. Light In The Sky [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [04:27]
4. Radio [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [07:01]
5. Aftaglid [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [05:07]
6. Electrick Gypsies [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [05:47]
7. The Salmon Song [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [03:08]
8. Solar Musick Suite (Part 2) [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [06:41]
9. Motivation [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [06:47]
10. Saucer Surfing [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [07:38]
11. Searching For The Spark [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [14:43]
12. Hurdy Gurdy Man [Live at the Brighton Dome, November 1977] [05:26]

CD 16 - Live In Munich, April 1979:

1. The Salmon Song [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [06:28]
2. New Age Synthesis (Unzipping The Zype) [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [08:28]
3. Hurdy Gurdy Man [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [09:35]
4. Unidentified (Flying Being) [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [09:15]
5. The Dervish Riff [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [03:23]
6. Hurdy Gurdy Man [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [06:24]
7. Motivation [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [05:39]
8. 1988 Aktivator [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [02:28]
9. Crystal City [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [03:18]
10. Activation Meditation [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [01:31]
11. The Glorious Om Riff [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [06:09]
12. Meditation Of The Dragon [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [02:44]
13. It's All Too Much [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [07:08]
14. Encore: Electrick Gypsies [Live at Schwabinger Brau, Munich April 1979] [05:21]

CD 17 - Live At The Hammersmith Odeon November 1979:

1. The Fire Inside [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [05:35]
2. 1988 Aktivator [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [02:24]
3. Crystal City [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [03:15]
4. Activation Meditation [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [00:43]
5. The Glorious OM Riff [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [06:18]
6. Day After Day [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [06:13]
7. Getting In Tune [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [03:41]
8. Palm Trees [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [04:51]
9. New Age Synthesis (Unzipping The Zype) [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [08:30]
10. Healing Feeling [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [02:15]
11. Open [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [07:17]
12. Saucer Surfing [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [06:51]
13. Searching For The Spark [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [06:17]
14. It's All Too Much [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [05:48]
15. Encore: The Salmon Song [Live at the Odeon, Hammersmith November 1979] [06:36]

CD 18 - Live At The Gong Family Unconvention, November 2006:

1. Hello Dawn [Live at the Gong Family Unconvention November 2006] [03:45]
2. It's All Too Much [Live at the Gong Family Unconvention November 2006] [05:57]
3. Aftaglid [Live at the Gong Family Unconvention November 2006] [08:44]
4. Solar Musick Suite Part 1 [Live at the Gong Family Unconvention November 2006] [11:53]
5. The Salmon Song [Live at the Gong Family Unconvention November 2006] [07:41]
6. These Unchartered Lands [Live at the Gong Family Unconvention November 2006] [10:58]
Bonus Tracks
7. Palm Trees [Live at the Sonesta Koepelkerk December 1979] [04:50]
8. New Age Synthesis (Unzipping The Zype) [Live at the Sonesta Koepelkerk December 1979] [08:15]
9. Healing Feeling [Live at the Sonesta Koepelkerk December 1979] [02:04]
10. Solar Musick Suite (Early Version) [Live with Gong at Hammersmith Palais October 1974] [08:32]

CD 19 - Sparks Volume 1:

1. Goblin [1970 Demo made in Canterbury] [06:17]
2. Escape Of The Space Pirates [1971 Khan Demo and Early Versions] [01:35]
3. Hollow Stone (Acoustic Demo) [1971 Khan Demo and Early Versions] [06:50]
4. Stargazers (Guitar Demo) [1971 Khan Demo and Early Versions] [06:04]
5. Canterbury Sunrise [1972 Rehearsal Recording from Khan Mk II with Dave Stewart] [08:16]
6. Madman's Rap [1972 Rehearsal Recording from Khan Mk II with Dave Stewart] [04:00]
7. Wiring Out The Ground Loosely Now [1972 Rehearsal Recording from Khan Mk II with Dave Stewart] [03:21]
8. Five Piece [1972 Rehearsal Recording from Khan Mk II with Dave Stewart] [04:46]
9. The Dervish Riff [1973 at the Gong House, Sens - a Cappella Echo Guitar Recording] [01:49]
10. The Golden Vibe [1973 at the Gong House, Sens - a Cappella Echo Guitar Recording] [03:39]
11. Water Trip [1973 at the Gong House, Sens - a Cappella Echo Guitar Recording] [01:52]
12. Leyline Drips [1973 at the Gong House, Sens - a Cappella Echo Guitar Recording] [05:11]
13. Pre-Glid [1973 at the Gong House, Sens - a Cappella Echo Guitar Recording] [02:28]
14. Hanging Lead [1973 at the Gong House, Sens - a Cappella Echo Guitar Recording] [04:35]
15. Melting Leadatron [1973 at the Gong House, Sens - a Cappella Echo Guitar Recording] [04:51]

CD 20 - Sparks Volume 2:

1. Don't Dither Do It [1974 Pre-Fish Rising Home Demo] [02:40]
2. All The Time In The World [1974 Pre-Fish Rising Home Demo] [03:44]
3. Beginning To See The Light [September 1974 Fish Rising Sessions and Additional Tracks] [06:04]
4. Fish [September 1974 Fish Rising Sessions and Additional Tracks] [01:07]
5. Light In The Sky [September 1974 Fish Rising Sessions and Additional Tracks] [07:25]
6. Electrick Gypsies [September 1974 Fish Rising Sessions and Additional Tracks] [05:20]
7. Aftaglid (Tambura Backing Track Mix) [September 1974 Fish Rising Sessions and Additional Tracks] [12:42]
8. Pentagrammaspin [September 1974 Fish Rising Sessions and Additional Tracks] [06:21]
9. Hurdy Gurdy Man (Early Version) [1976 L Demo in the Chicken Loft] [04:08]
10. It's All Too Much [1976 L Demo in the Chicken Loft] [05:58]
11. Om Nama Shivaya [1976 L Demo in the Chicken Loft] [03:31]
12. Electrick Gypsies [1976 L Demo in the Chicken Loft] [04:26]
13. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando [1976 L Demo in the Chicken Loft] [08:00]
14. Lunar Musick Suite (Part 2) [1976 L Demo in the Chicken Loft] [08:28]

CD 21 - Sparks Volume 3:

1. Hurdy Gurdy Glissando (Gliss a Cappella) [1976 Rough from Todd Rundgren's Studio] [01:56]
2. Hurdy Gurdy Man (Backing Track First Take) [1976 Rough from Todd Rundgren's Studio] [06:20]
3. Light In The Sky [Spring 1977 Red Demo] [03:42]
4. Radio [Spring 1977 Red Demo] [04:10]
5. Searching for The Spark [Spring 1977 Red Demo] [06:01]
6. Saucer Surfing [Spring 1977 Red Demo] [03:59]
7. Hello Dawn [Spring 1977 Red Demo] [02:54]
8. Not Fade Away (Glid Forever) [Spring 1977 Red Demo] [05:48]
9. Don't Dither Do It [Spring 1977 Red Demo] [01:47]
10. Sea Nature [Spring 1977 Green Demo] [03:08]
11. Ether Ships [Spring 1977 Green Demo] [02:45]
12. Unidentified (Om Orgoniser) [Spring 1977 Green Demo] [01:49]
13. Leylines To Glassdom [Spring 1977 Green Demo] [03:46]
14. Musick Of The Trees [Spring 1977 Green Demo] [05:29]
15. Beginning To See The Light [Spring 1977 Green Demo] [03:55]
16. Healing Feeling [Spring 1977 Green Demo] [01:42]
17. The Fire Inside [Summer 1979 Open Demo at Crofton Cottage] [05:08]
18. Getting In Tune [Summer 1979 Open Demo at Crofton Cottage] [03:08]
19. Give It Some Heft [Summer 1979 Open Demo at Crofton Cottage] [04:03]
20. The Snakecharmers Ball [Summer 1979 Open Demo at Crofton Cottage] [02:07]

CD 22 - Sparks Volume 4:

1. Time Lines [1983 Single B-Side (Studio Pre-Mix)] [06:16]
2. Before The World Was Made [1983 Single B-Side (Studio PreMix)] [03:36]
3. Explosion [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [03:56]
4. Rescue Mission [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [04:23]
5. Infomaniac [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [02:39]
6. Forgotten Pleasure [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [03:35]
7. No Fret [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [05:23]
8. Never Let You Go [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [04:22]
9. Everest [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [05:43]
10. Congo Glide [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [02:46]
11. Bird's Eye View [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [02:24]
12. Crystaline [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [03:05]
13. The Aperture [1980-82 Unfinished Track] [02:15]
14. Set The Controls To The Heart Of The Sun [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [01:36]
15. Spanish Castle Magic [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [02:43]
16. Bon Humeur (Demo) [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [03:17]
17. Strange Quotations (Demo) [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [02:16]
18. Floating World [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [03:21]
19. Work It Out [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [02:52]
20. Glid [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [01:58]
21. Future Fifths [1989-90 System 7 Demo] [05:41]

Box set overview - https://youtu.be/dDCUv5JWjVA

Steve talking about a few of the tracks - https://youtu.be/_v8-bXwxsMI

All yours for £200

[Serge]

Why? Why? Why would you tell me this? It's bad enough that I can't afford the Pink Floyd box, but now this? These are hard times to be a prog rock fan.

[BlodwynPig]

It's getting ridiculous now - as Serge says, two bumper packages well outside of my pocket money range.

Really disappointing

[mobias]

Yeah I've been following this boxset announcement on Steve Hillage's twitter feed. Its one epic box set. Thats a serious amount of money you'll have to fork out for it though. I didn't realise it would cost that much.

I'll just add that his guitar solo on the System 7 track Planet 7 is one of my all time favourites https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4U7B_ctnJM&index=1&list=WL

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Did an absolutely superb version of Hurdy Gurdy Man on one of his albums.  About a million times better than the original.  Love the mad ending, when the sound speeds up until it goes off the scale completely.

[mobias]

I remember reading an interview with Tom Rowlands from the Chemical Brothers and he was saying what a huge inspiration Steve Hillage was. The Glorious Om Riff being a particular favourite.

When you listen to it it does sound very like a kind of proto Chemical Brothers track. So ahead of its time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arBpeSCKhX8

Good interview with the great man here. He talks a bit about working with Mike Oldfield.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wHm4AXk7iI

[BlodwynPig]

Did an absolutely superb version of Hurdy Gurdy Man on one of his albums.  About a million times better than the original.  Love the mad ending, when the sound speeds up until it goes off the scale completely.

Live Herald is one of the best live albums for me. Such a good sound.

My favourite album of his is Green, particularly Palm Trees, which was a lovely side step as a young prog head. Also Rainbow Dome Musick on clear vinyl. Incredible stuff.

Fuck it, i'm going to have to get divorced to get this, aren't I. Jesus, LOOK AT IT!

[Ptolemy Ptarmigan]

I love Hillage, and was excited when I first heard about the box set, but on reflection I don't see much value in it. I've already bought the 70s stuff for a second or third time with the CD remixes with bonus extras, and all of those CDs' booklets had newly published photos and new Hillage interviews. Is the book that comes with the box set going to add that much more? As for the previously unreleased material, new live recordings of tours that have already had official releases isn't particularly inspiring, and the most intriguing aspect - the rehearsal recordings and nascent songs that never were - is unlikely to include anything fully realized or (to be cynical), anything that won't eventually be uploaded to youtube etc. Just seems a steep price considering Hillage fans will already have most of it. And unlike, say, the Sandy Denny limited edition box, I don't see this one having enough cachet to be worth buying as an investment.

[BlodwynPig]

Looks good on a shelf though. I tell you what, I will happily give you 20 quid for your copy after you've done with it :)

[mobias]

Are many of these big expensive box sets for artists value for money? They're obviously aimed at hard core fans who will generally have everything anyway. Most of the time you're simply paying for the nice packaging and perceived fact its a 'collectors item'. If I was being extra cynical I'd also say they're always aimed at people who are of a certain age who the marketing departments know will be in a certain earnings bracket and are priced accordingly. Most Steve Hillage fans will be of a certain age and a lot of them probably work as IT contractors. £200 is nothing to them, thought the record company.

[Ptolemy Ptarmigan]

Looks good on a shelf though. I tell you what, I will happily give you 20 quid for your copy after you've done with it :)

If you're a Bruford/Holdsworth fan, for £30 I'll throw in next month's 16-disc U.K. box-set: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Collectors-UK/dp/B01BHFPUT2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1474203705&sr=1-1 ... a band that only ever released 2 studio albums!

[BlodwynPig]

Waiting for the T2 30 disc boxed set now.

[Colin Sanction]

Is it me or are box sets getting a bit silly now?

Last year Yes released a 14 disc set of seven shows during a 1972 American tour. King Crimson have released a 15 disc Larks Tongue box, a 27 disc Starless box, 21 disc 72-74 live tour box, 16 disc THRAK box and are about to release a 19 disc set of 81-84 live stuff not forgetting Pink Floyd are releasing a 27 disc set....I don't know about you but I need a good half a dozen listens to one album to absorb it. To get through one of these box sets would take me months.

I can understand an entire artists work in one box, everything in one nice package and I understand listening to demos to hear the evolution of your favourite works but mono mix, stereo mix, quad mix, 5.1 mix, 2016 Jocky Wilson remastered mix, single mix, radio edit, 12" mix, tracking version, live version, radio session, restored bootleg, instrumental, vocal only, 4 track demo, dance remix....then there's the DVD/Blu Ray of album version, videos, promos, interviews, slideshows, downloads, live shows shot from multiple angles, commentary, games, interactive content...

It's all getting too much for me.

[BlodwynPig]

It's all too much for me to take
The love that's shining all around you
Everywhere, it's what you make
For us to take, it's all too much

(Hillage version of course)

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Did an absolutely superb version of Hurdy Gurdy Man on one of his albums.  About a million times better than the original.  Love the mad ending, when the sound speeds up until it goes off the scale completely.

Electric Gypsy & Om Nama Shivaya were on the same album and were pretty awesome too.

[the science eel]

Why? Why?

Exactly what I said.

I suppose it'll look nice alongside y'all's Steve Hackett 23-CD outtakes box.

[greenman]

The Floyd boxset at least you could argue doesn't include much in the way of existing official releases(just Obscured by Clouds and Live in Pomeii remixed) and neither does it go vastly into depth offering multiple complete shows on audio for the same tours.

I'd guess I'm a good target for the Hiliage boxset though as dispite being a fan I don't own very much of his stuff on CD myself so would have very little replication.

[Shit Good Nose]

Are many of these big expensive box sets for artists value for money?

These box sets ARE expensive, but if you break down what you're getting, they do actually represent reasonably good value, assuming you're a fan and don't already have most of it of course.

If you assume an average of a tenner for an album length CD (actually, it's often a bit more these days), and then remember you're getting a decent sized proper book, with posters and other bits as well, that £200 all of a sudden becomes quite a good price.

Just to take that King Crimson Larks' set as an example, it would cost about twice the Real Rip-off Price of the box set to purchase the same stuff individually, and you'd still be short of things like the booklet and peripheral non audio items.

[Serge]

I have just remembered that I'd also like to get the Wolfgang Voigt 'Gas' box set due out soon, too. I don't think I could do enough overtime to cover one of these bastards, let alone all of them.

[Colin Sanction]

Get ready to jizz in your loons - https://youtu.be/ago-e4nLmmI

[BlodwynPig]

Who are those old fogies :)

[BlodwynPig]

You fucks...makes me want this now and the golden willy wonka stained glass window ticket

[Roy*Mallard]

Awww fuck, i really want one of those!!!!!

[Colin Sanction]

New interview about the box https://youtu.be/w73WFLuPTc8

[Ptolemy Ptarmigan]

I love Hillage, and was excited when I first heard about the box set, but on reflection I don't see much value in it. I've already bought the 70s stuff for a second or third time with the CD remixes with bonus extras, and all of those CDs' booklets had newly published photos and new Hillage interviews. Is the book that comes with the box set going to add that much more? As for the previously unreleased material, new live recordings of tours that have already had official releases isn't particularly inspiring, and the most intriguing aspect - the rehearsal recordings and nascent songs that never were - is unlikely to include anything fully realized or (to be cynical), anything that won't eventually be uploaded to youtube etc. Just seems a steep price considering Hillage fans will already have most of it. And unlike, say, the Sandy Denny limited edition box, I don't see this one having enough cachet to be worth buying as an investment.

Very well said.

It arrived last Thursday.

[BlodwynPig]

Very well said.

It arrived last Thursday.

Bastard - what are the Sparks CDs like?

[Ptolemy Ptarmigan]

Bastard

I know. I wanted it as soon as it was announced, then gradually talked myself out of it as a silly extravagance, but it kept nagging at me, and the promo videos didn't help. Luckily, my wife said she'd contribute something as an advance Christmas/birthday gift, and I earmarked a pile of stuff that could defray the costs if they sold on eBay... and here we are. It is too much, but I don't regret buying it. It's the limited edition status that did it for me. The books are superb, very high quality, 250 LP-cover-sized glossy pages, loads of superb photos and lots of text. I could have done without the 3 posters, but they are good repros if that's your thing.
The unreleased live albums are pretty fine - I prefer the 1976/7 era (superb March 1977 version of Aftaglid), and then the Nov 1977 Brighton show, with his transition to a funk rhythm section with Blocker and Robertson. Not the best sound quality on the latter, but a very tight band.

- what are the Sparks CDs like?

From quite interesting to ace. I need to listen in more depth, but:
Sparks 1, 1970-73 - the most hippyish, guitar-heavy one, which is my thing. Understandably the sound quality isn't great, but these demos are nascent genius. A highlight is the Khan II Canterbury Sunrise demo featuring Dave Stewart - obviously became part of Solar Musick Suite on Fish Rising. Interesting to hear 1973's Leyline Drips, which became Leylines To Glassdom on Green.
Sparks 2, 1974-76 - the most interesting part is the L demos recorded in Oxford. All 6 tracks played presumably by Hillage alone (perhaps with Miquette), and similar arrangements to the album versions, although very basic. These were the tapes presented to Todd Rundgren before the US recording sessions I suppose.
Sparks 3 1976-79 - this has an amazing first-take backing track of Hurdy Gurdy Man from the Rundgren Woodstock sessions. To me it's the least interesting track on the album, but I'll listen to it with fresh ears now, the Wilcox/Sulton rhythm section in particular.  Really funky demo for The Fire Inside, Anderson/Francis 1979.
Sparks 4 1983-1990 - this isn't my favourite Hillage era, For To Next/And Not Or to System 7 (although I like the instrumentals on ANO), but this is the Sparks disc with the best sound quality, and it's more appealing than I thought it would be - eg The Aperture sounds like a short Satriani track, and there's an excellent track called No Fret - did that ever come to anything?

The above are just random highlights - I've only skimmed the surface, and haven't read the books yet.


PS I've heard enough different versions of Don't Dither Do It now to know that I'm never going to like it.

[BlodwynPig]

Do you like Moerlen's Time is the Key?

I'd buy an expanded box set of that.

Anyway, thanks for the run down on the sparks CDs....doesn't help at all!! I guess they won't be released separately and I will have to resort to illegal means of downloading.

[Ptolemy Ptarmigan]

Do you like Moerlen's Time is the Key?

I'd buy an expanded box set of that.

He's a grey area for me and I probably haven't done him justice. I love the sound of vibraphone (I know there's more to him than that, but I love MO's Incantations), but I didn't warm to his version of Gong. I remember thinking some compositions were a bit bland, like test-card music. That's going back a few years though. I'll give Time is the Key a listen, I see it's on youtube.

Decent article on Hillage in the new issue of Shindig, by the way.

[Colin Sanction]

This, along with the Floyd box set has been leaked