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Van Der Graaf Generator: H to He, Who Am the Only One | Extended Play Lounge Ep. 77 (Patreon)

Published:
2024-10-08 22:54:31
Imported:
2026-06
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After a very close vote, it's the first time on the Extended Play Lounge for Van Der Graaf Generator. Today, I'm listening to their third album from 1970, but this is the remastered version from 2021. These songs are quite powerful and still resonate today...even as I hear them for the first time! I hope you enjoy!

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Van Der Graaf Generator: H to He, Who Am the Only One | Extended Play Lounge Ep. 77

Comments

Ray Sincere

HERE IT IS HERE IT IS HERE IT IS!!!!! It's pronounced "Aitch to Aitch Ee", Doug! And far-FEE-sa.

Jason Stockwell

nice!!! this is a true classic prog masterpiece

Ford H. Cotton III

When I first heard this album (which was my first ever listen to VDGG), I couldn't make sense of it. Then I got back to it a few years later, and I was absolutely floored. Been a huge fan of VDGG ever since. House With No Door always brings me to the verge of tears - not just because of the emotional delivery, but also because I can relate to it so well. I love the spacious feeling of the whole album - it especially makes sense on theat least part of last track. And the emotionally vulnerable delivery of Peter Hammill - WOW WOW WOW. He is my favorite singer/songwriter of all time. If you can find the original album cover, and look at the back, the explanation for the album title (at least part of it) is on the top.

David Kuhn

I would totally recommend the album "Still Life" as a future exploration from 1976. Their sound became much more direct (less "reverby"). Lyrics and music are still amazing. One of my fav bands and you have seen why.

Mark J Moerman

Listen to Peter Hammill's 1977 solo album "Over" to hear his chronicle of his heart being crushed. His long time ladyfriend left him, and the result is one of the most downbeat albums you'll ever hear. It's exquisite in capturing harrowing feelings of loss (particularly "On Tuesdays She Used To Do Yoga"), but don't listen to it if you're already feeling down!

Keith Bosler

If you enjoyed the intimacy of the theme in this album, then I would highly recommend Hammill’s solo album “And Close as This” from 1986. The album contains deeply personal music featuring just Hammill playing keyboards. One of the songs even has a cowriting credit to Keith Emerson!

Hetfield Ninno Davide

Love VDGG , their sound is incredibly fascinating almost alien in some parts. I'm glad you're finally paying attention to them , it's totally deserved (and Peter's solo carreer too at some point is well deserving). From "The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other" to "Godbluff" they've got a collection of excellent albums if not masterpieces (this and Pawn Hearts in particular) so at some point I am confident you're gonna get to all of them Doug ;D . The acoustic part in "Pioneers Over C" with the timpani and the woodwind playing almost overtones is one of my favorite musical moments in this album , I also resonate a lot with Peter's sentimental lyrics , that kind of vulnerability could only lead to such great art.

Jason Stockwell
>>151789159

technically it might be called "Hydrogen to Helium". the chemical symbols for nuclear fusion inside a star.

Tom (the soggy one)

Kill-er shark! Do-do-do-do-do-do, Kill-er shark! Do-do-do-do-do-do! I'll see myself out...

Tom (the soggy one)

What Ray said, regarding the pronunciation of the album title. It's the chemical reaction (H to He), and a not-subtle loneliness reference (He who am the only one). And since the Paul Whitehead cover art is space motif, that ties i, too. Yes, Paul Whitehead also did several Genesis covers (like the little girl on Nursery Cryme with heads laying around).

Tim van der Leeuw

"Killer" the most commercial song? Hm, to my ears, "House with no Doors" sounds the most commercial / accessible!

Jean-Michel LaFontaine

This album means so much to me for many reasons. I got into Prog music when I started doing college radio. I was still a metalhead teenager listening to Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, etc. I met other people who were more into prog and this was one of the first prog album I really loved. I guess, because it was so weird and out there. I was also living my first failed love. The lyrics on this just hit me. I could relate to the music and the lyrics. Godbluff has to be an extended play lounge someday. Musically, it's their masterpiece IMHO. But this one is special to me.

John Sawyer

Thanks I enjoyed this despite my trepidations. :D Can I ask a small favour though? Any chance of some details of the tracks and timings in the detail? Vimeo seems to flake out a lot on me and loose where I am up to so this would make getting back to where we where much easier.

Ralph Darvill

Love watching and hearing you react and analyse this album. I first bought the LP in about '79. I always found it challenging musically- most of the other Prog I was listening to was much more accessible (Yes, Genesis etc). The lyrics and Peter's delivery were so alienated. John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten is always cited as having been a fan of VDGG...so perhaps the alienation fuelled his ideas in music? Still recommending you hear Godbluff.

Klaus B

I’ve been waiting for this since I heard Doug on A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers! Thanks Ray for pushing it, thanks Doug for a great EPL episode. And I finally realized the name “Pioneers Over C” - C as constant of speed of light…

Ray Sincere
>>151798587

Got to seek out the pre-remaster for that one. The remaster was tinny and distorted, but the original released were clean.

Ray Sincere
>>151795014

I played him "This Side of the Looking Glass" at a Doug on Demand. He loved it. "On Tuesdays..." has a great lyric in it: so very true, so very perceptive: "I never did the things that really mattered. There seemed to be some key I couldn't find, To unlock myself. I could have done it with her help, But I was too busy, scrabbling for each moment. Now I don't know what I did with all the time." Personally, I think it's great music to listen to if you're feeling down. Because a lot of times, that's what we need: music that will sit there and be sad with us, so we can process the feelings.

Mark J Moerman
>>151795014

I thought I'd listened to all the DoD's i wasn't present for, but I guess I missed that one.

grnmntl
>>151819953

Agree, my fav is Godbluff. Also love Hammill's voice on Fripp's "Exposure" disc.

Adie

This is a lovely fresh journey for me. The album is beautiful and fragile, never a sense of stridency (which, in other bands, can sometimes get between the listener and the musician). I voted for this album, but I must admit I had virtually no memory of any VdGG music from my youth in the 1970's. I supported Ray and I have come to trust his judgement, so I was more interested in this than any other of the options. So much art and inventiveness in this music, and it is of it's time - exploratory and optimistic and courageous. I loved it! It's amazing how it still connects after all this time. I will look for more from VdGG and Peter Hammill with very high expectations. BTW excellent wall decoration choices Doug! 😉 PS just to share my immediate thought on Doug's last comment re the title of the album - Passing the speed of light is the theme of the last track, transmogrifying from the trap of spiritual and emotional isolation via the album is the simile, and that compares to the chemical transformation of hydrogen to helium.

Jason Kalajian

Let's not forget, the guy played 2 saxaphones at the same time LOL.

George Davis-Stewart

I have put off listening to this band fully for decades, on the strength of a few samplings from time to time. I still can't connect with it. Sorry, Ray and Doug, but thank you for leading me to water. I am reminded of Atomic Rooster, Azriel and Egg, even patches of early Caravan, but not in a good way. The music is listenable, with enjoyable production but I struggle with the vocals as a source of music. I can happily listen to other less melodic vocalists but rarely to PH, whose themes and content of lyrics do not beckon me on.

Michael Hudson

parts like the freeform sax bit and the very ending of "Pioneers" are SUPPOSED to disorient. Might not pass muster in music school but works well as art :)