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Cherry Red’s Esoteric Recordings imprint has recently released a new box set that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the debut from British prog-rockers Van Der Graaf Generator.  Their first album, The Aerosol Grey Machine has been released in an expanded, 2-CD/LP/7″ box set.

The progressive pioneers originally formed in 1967 with Peter Hammill on vocals and guitar, Chris Judge Smith on drums and vocals, and Nick Pearne on keyboards.  By the time their debut was released on Mercury in September 1969, their lineup had shifted to include Hugh Banton on keyboards, percussion, and vocals; Keith Ellis on bass; Gil Evans on drums.  The ever-present Hammill wrote nearly all the tracks on the album (the lone exceptions being “Into A Game,” a group effort.)  In fact, The Aerosol Grey Machine had originally been intended as a Hammill solo record but was released in the group’s name for contractual reasons.

Fifty years on, Esoteric’s new box set arrives as a large-format, four-disc deluxe box set.  The enclosed 180-gram LP features a new remaster of the album cut at Abbey Road, which is housed in a gatefold sleeve replicating the original withdrawn UK artwork.  The two CDs include the remaster and a disc of previously unreleased tracks and other rarities.  Among them are demos for “Firebrand” and “Sunshine” from 1967; four tracks from a November 1968 session at the BBC (including the once-lost and previously unreleased “Octopus”); and single edits of “People You Were Going To” and “Firebrand.”  Also included is a 7″ single featuring those two single edits.  The set also features a Peter Hammill-designed poster from 1968 and book with a new interview with Hammill, liner notes by prog authority Sid Smith, and a wealth of unseen and rare photographs.

The 50th anniversary celebration of Van Der Graaf Generator’s The Aerosol Grey Machine is out now.  You can find a full track listing, Amazon order links, and an unboxing video from Cherry Red below!

Van Der Graaf Generator, The Aerosol Grey Machine [Expanded] (Esoteric, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

LP: The Aerosol Grey Machine, originally released Mercury LP SR 61238, 1969

Side 1:

1. Afterwards
2. Orthentian Street (Parts 1 and 2)
3. Running Back
4. Into a Game

Side 2:

1. Aerosol Grey Machine
2. Black Smoke Yen
3. Aquarian
4. Octopus
5. Necromancer

CD 1 (follows sequence of Fie! Records CD FIE 9116, 1997)

1. Afterwards
2. Orthentian Street (Parts 1 and 2)
3. Running Back
4. Into a Game
5. Ferret and Featherbird
6. Aerosol Grey Machine
7. Black Smoke Yen
8. Aquarian
9. Giant Squid
10. Octopus
11. Necromancer

CD 2:

1. Firebrand (previously unreleased 1967 demo)
2. Sunshine (previously unreleased 1967 demo)
3. People You Were Going To (BBC Session, November 1968)
4. Afterwards (BBC Session, November 1968)
5. Necromancer (BBC Session, November 1968)
6. Octopus (previously unreleased BBC Session, November 1968)
7. People You Were Going To (single edit)
8. Firebrand (single edit)

Tracks 1, 2, and 6 previously unreleased.
Tracks 3-5 previously released on The Aerosol Grey Machine, Lumpy Gravy Records CD LGR 109, 2015.
Tracks 7 and 8 previously released on The Aerosol Grey Machine, Repertoire Records CD REP 4647-WY, 1997.