When it comes to all-encompassing mega-sets celebrating the oft-overlooked talents of British prog, UMC has delivered the goods. They're following up their already impressive lineup with a new, 12-CD/1-DVD box set that covers the legendary psychedelic surrealists Gong and their tenure at Virgin. Entitled Love From the Planet Gong: The Virgin Years, 1973-1975, the new box offers all their studio albums from the era, plus a wealth of rare, previously unreleased recordings. It's all set to hit shelves tomorrow, September 27.

Led by Daevid Allen and Steve Hillage and a revolving door lineup of other talented musicians, Gong raised the bar for '70s psychedelia. Their first three studio efforts for Virgin - Flying Teapot (1973), Angel's Egg (1973), and You (1974) - introduced listeners to a mythological universe of creatures in an intoxicating spacey context. The Nick Mason-produced Shamal (1975) presents a diverse range of progressive rock.

Timed to coincide with Gong's 50th anniversary, Love From the Planet Gong takes the listener on a deep dive into those albums and more, and it's all curated by Gong's own Steve Hillage. The stunning box includes all four of their Virgin albums, newly remastered by original engineer Simon Heyworth. Each is supplemented with bonus tracks including single edits, early versions, alternate mixes, and outtakes. There's the official CD debut of the original, unedited Flying Teapot tapes (newly remastered) and the first CD release of Shamal in over three decades. It's also been remastered and given the bonus track treatment.

If that's not enough, Love From the Planet Gong features a treasure trove of live material, including complete John Peel sessions from 1973 and 1974, plus full gigs from Club Arc En Ciel, The Bataclan, and Edinburgh Festival in 1973; complete sets from Hyde Park in 1974; and an unreleased show at The Marquee Club in 1975. The latter set sees the band premiering tracks from Shamal and songs that would later be released on Steve Hillage's solo effort, Fish Rising.

Surround sound aficionados are treated to not one, but two unreleased quadraphonic mixes of the You album on DVD: one completed at Westlake Studios and the other at Pye. These vintage mixes have been reformatted to 5.1. The disc also includes a trio of quadraphonic upmixes sourced from the 2018 stereo remasters that promise to be just as engrossing.

In all, 70% of the material on Love From the Planet Gong has never seen the light of day. And if that weren't enough to get you clicking "pre-order," the packaging is just as impressive! The discs are kept in a deluxe slipcase that houses two fold-out folios for the discs, a collection of lyrics called "The Green Book," and a 64-page hardback book that's full of photos, unseen artwork, and detailed liner noted by Gong archivist Jonny Greene of the Gong Appreciation Society.

If 13 discs is a bit too much to chew on, UMC has you covered.  The label has also announced 2-CD Deluxe Edition versions of Flying Gnome (supplemented with rough mixes and the Bataclan concert), Angel's Egg (featuring single edits and alternate versions plus the Roanne show), You (with outtakes, alternate versions and the Hyde Park '74 concert) and Shamal (including outtakes and the Marquee 1975 concert).  Each standalone deluxe edition is housed in an 8-panel digipak with an illustrated booklet.  These sets are also available on September 27.

All told, Love From the Planet Gong: The Virgin Years, 1973-1975 is the most comprehensive Gong collection yet - a one-stop-shop of studio recordings, rarities, live material, and unheard surround mixes that's a must for any prog fan. To whet your appetite, take a listen to the unreleased Hyde Park performance of "A Sprinkling of Clouds" below and secure those pre-orders!  The set is due tomorrow, September 27!

Gong, Love From Planet Gong: The Virgin Years, 1973-1975 (UMC/Virgin EMI, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

* denotes previously unreleased track
** denotes first official release of track

CD 1: Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 1)  (originally Virgin LP V2002, 1973)

1. Radio Gnome Invisible **
2. Flying Teapot **
3. The Pot Head Pixies **
4. The Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine **
5. Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell **
6. Witch's Song / I Am Your Pussy **
   BONUS TRACKS (all previously unreleased):
7. Radio Gnome Invisible (Rough Mix) *
8. Radio Gnome Premix (Story Narration) *
9. Flying Teapot (Mix 21) *
10. The Pot Head Pixies (Second to Last Mix) *
11. Flying Teapot (Rough Mix) *

CD 2: Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 2) (originally Virgin LP V2002, 1973)

1. Other Side Of The Sky
2. Sold To The Highest Buddha
3. Castle In The Clouds
4. Prostitute Poem
5. Givin' My Luv To You
6. Selene
7. Flute Salad
8. Oily Way
9. Outer Temple
10. Inner Temple
11. Percolations
12. Love Is How Y Make It
13. I Never Glid Before
14. Eat That Phone Book Coda
    BONUS TRACKS:
15. Other Side Of The Sky (Single Version)
16. Ooby-Scooby Doomsday Or The D-Day DJ's Got The D.D.T. Blues
17. Love Is How Y Make It (1973 Vocal Mix)
18. Eat That Phone Book Coda (Early Version)

CD 3: You (originally Virgin LP V2019, 1974)

1. Thoughts For Naught
2. A PHP's Advice
3. Magick Mother Invocation
4. Master Builder
5. A Sprinkling Of Clouds
6. Perfect Mystery
7. The Isle of Everywhere
8. You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever ( 11:31 )
   BONUS TRACKS:
9. A PHP's Advice (Alternate Version)
10. Where Have All the Flowers Gone

CD 4: Shamal

1. Wingful Of Eyes
2. Chandra
3. Bambooji
4. Cat In Clark's Shoes
5. Mandrake
6. Shamal
   BONUS TRACKS (all previously unreleased):
7. Bambooji (Outtakes Edit) *
8. Chandra (Alternate Mix) *
9. Wingful of Eyes (Outtakes Edit) *

CD 5: BBC Radio 1 Sessions & Live in Edinburgh

BBC Radio 1 Session, 1973:

1. You Can't Kill Me
2. Radio Gnome Direct Broadcast
3. Other Side of the Sky
4. Zero The Hero and the Witch's SpellBBC Radio 1 Session, 1974:
5. Flute Salad *
6. Oily Way
7. Outer Temple
8. Inner Temple
9. Castle In The Clouds
10. 6/8 Tune
11. Radio Gnome InvisibleLive at Edinburgh Festival, 1973:
12. Zero The Hero And The Witch's Spell *
13. Flying Teapot

CD 6: Live At The Bataclan, Paris, France, 1973 - part 1

1. Other Side of the Sky **
2. Dynamite / I Am Your Animal **
3. 6/8 Tune **
4. I Never Glid Before **
5. Zero The Hero And The Witch's Spell **
6. Ooby-Scooby Doomsday Or The D-Day DJ's Got The D.D.T. Blues *
7. Est-ce Que Je Suis? **
8. I've Bin Stone Before **
9. Mr Longshanks / Oh Mother **
10. I Am Your Fantasy **
11. You Can't Kill Me *

CD 7: Live At The Bataclan, Paris, France, 1973 - part 2

1. Flute Salad **
2. Oily Way **
3. Outer Temple **
4. Flying Teapot **
5. Fohat Jam / Dynamite - Reprise **
6. You Can't Kill Me - Reprise **
7. I Never Glid Before - Reprise **

CD 8: Live At Club Arc En Ciel, Roanne, France, 1973 - part 1

1. Other Side Of The Sky *
2. Dynamite / I Am Your Animal
3. 6/8 Tune
4. I Never Glid Before *
5. Zero The Hero And The Witch's Spell *
6. I Am Your Pussy - Prelude *

CD 9: Live At Club Arc En Ciel, Roanne, France, 1973 - part 2

1. I Am Your Pussy *
2. You Can't Kill Me *
3. Ooby-Scooby Doomsday Or The D-Day DJ's Got The D.D.T. Blues *
4. Flute Salad *
5. Oily Way *
6. Outer Temple *
7. Inner Temple *
8. Radio Gnome Invisible *

CD 10: Live In Hyde Park, London, UK, 1974

1. A Sprinkling of Clouds *
2. I Never Glid Before *
3. I've Bin Stone Before *
4. Mr Longshanks / Oh Mother *
5. The Isle Of Everywhere *
6. I Am Your Fantasy *
7. Master Builder *

CD 11: Live At The Marquee, London, UK, 1975 - part 1

1. Aftaglid *
2. Flute Salad *
3. Oily Way *
4. 6/8 Tune *
5. Solar Musick Suite *
6. Bambooji *

CD 12: Live At The Marquee, London, UK, 1975 - part 2

1. Bambooji *
2. The Isle Of Everywhere
3. A Wingful Of Eyes *
4. The Salmon Song *
5. Master Builder
6. Drum Solo *
7. Flying Teapot *
8. I Never Glid Before *

DVD: You (unreleased quad mixes, 1974)

Westlake Quad Mixes:

1. Thoughts For Naught *
2. PHP's Advice *
3. Magick Mother Invocation *
4. Master Builder *
5. A Sprinkling Of Clouds *
   
   Pye Quad Mixes:
6. Thoughts For Naught *
7. PHP's Advice *
8. Magick Mother Invocation *
9. Master Builder *
10. A Sprinkling of Clouds *Quad Upmixes from 2018 Stereo Remasters:
11. Perfect Mystery *
12. The Isle Of Everywhere *
13. You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever *

 

Gong, Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 1) - Deluxe Edition (originally Virgin LP V2002, 1973 -- reissued UMC/Virgin EMI, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1:

1. Radio Gnome Invisible
2. Flying Teapot
3. The Pothead Pixies
4. The Octave Doctors and The Crystal Machine
5. Zero The Hero and The Witch's Spell
6. Witch's Song / I Am Your Pussy
7. Radio Gnome Invisible (Rough Mix)
8. Radio Gnome Premix (Story Narration)
9. Flying Teapot (Mix 21)
10. The Pot Head Pixies (Second To Last Mix)
11. Flying Teapot (Rough Mix)

Disc 2: Highlights from The Bataclan - May 20th 1973

1. Zero The Hero and The Witches Spell
2. Ooby-Scooby Doomsday or The D-Day Dj's Got The D.D.T Blues
3. Est-ce Que Je Suis?
4. I've Bin Stoned Before
5. Mr Longshanks / Oh Mother
6. I Am Your Fantasy
7. You Can't Kill Me
8. Flying Teapot
9. Dynamite (reprise)

Gong, Angel's Eyes (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 2) - Deluxe Edition  (originally Virgin LP V2007, 1973 -- reissued UMC/Virgin EMI, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1:

1. Other Side Of The Sky
2. Sold To The Highest Buddah
3. Castle In The Clouds
4. Prostitute Poem
5. Givin My Lov To You
6. Selene
7. Flute Salad
8. Oily Way
9. Outer Temple
10. Inner Temple
11. Percolations
12. Love Is How Y Make It
13. I Never Glid Before
14. Eat That Phone Book Coda
15. Other Side Of The Sky (single version)
16. Ooby-Scooby Doomsday Or The D-day Dj's Got The D.D.T Blues
17. Love Is How Y Make It (1973 Vocal Mix)
18. Eat That Phone Book Coda (early version)

Disc 2: Highlights from Roanne, France - 17th August 1973

1. Other Side of The Sky
2. Dynamite / I Am Your Animal
3. 6/8 Tune
4. I Never Glid Before
5. You Can't Kill Me
6. Ooby-Scooby Doomsday Or The D-day Dj's Got The D.D.T Blues
7. Flute Salad
8. Oily Way
9. Outer Temple
10. Inner Temple

Gong, You (originally Virgin LP V2019, 1974 -- reissued UMC/Virgin EMI, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1:

1. Thoughts For Naught
2. A PHP's Advice
3. Magick Mother Invocation
4. Master Builder
5. A Sprinkling Of Clouds
6. Perfect Mystery
7. Isle of Everywhere
8. You Never Blow Your Trip Forever
9. A PHP.'s Advice (Alternate Version)
10. Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Disc 2: Highlights from Hyde Park - 28th June 1974

1. A Sprinkling Of Clouds
2. I Never Glid Before
3. I've Bin Stoned Before
4. Mr Longshanks / Oh Mother
5. The Isle of Everywhere
6. I Am Your Fantasy
7. Master Builder

Gong, Shamal (originally Virgin LP V2046, 1975 -- reissued UMC/Virgin EMI, 2019) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

Disc 1:

1. Wingful Of Eyes
2. Chandra
3. Bambooji
4. Cat In Clark's Shoes
5. Mandrake
6. Shamal
7. Bambooji (Outtakes Edit)
8. Chandra (Alternate Mix)
9. Wingful of Eyes (Outtakes Edit)

Disc 2: Highlights from The Marquee, September 10th 1975

1. Bambooji
2. The Isle of Everywhere
3. Wingful of Eyes
4. Master Builder
5. Drum Solo
6. Flying Teapot
7. I Never Glid Before