Formed in 1969, “space rock” group Hawkwind recorded its debut album in 1970.  Forty-five years later, an iteration of the band is still performing, but Parlophone’s U.K. division is turning the clock back with a new box set to celebrate Hawkwind’s earliest years.   This Is Your Captain Speaking…Your Captain Is Dead: The Albums and Singles 1970-1974 arrives on March 23 in the U.K. and one week later in the U.S., and brings together the band’s entire United Artists catalogue on 11 CDs in replica sleeves.  The set encompasses the following releases: Hawkwind, In Search of Space, Greasy Truckers’ Party (2 CDs), Doremi Fasol Latido (2 CDs), The Space Ritual Alive in Liverpool and London (2 CDs), Hall of the Mountain Grill, and The 1999 Party (2CDs) plus a bonus disc of single versions and mixes, Of Time and Stars – The Singles.

Hawkwind, In Search of Space, Doremi Fasol Latido and Hall of the Mountain Grill are all newly-remastered.  Also, note that Greasy Truckers’ Party was the name of a 1972 various-artists album also featuring Brinsley Schwarz, Man and Magic Michael; two Hawkwind tracks were included on the original LP.  In 2007, the album was expanded into a 3-CD box set featuring the band’s full set in newly-mixed form.  That sequence is reprised here, along with the original LP mixes of the original two tracks.  Fifteen rare tracks are featured on Of Time and Stars, making in total for a comprehensive chronicle of Hawkwind’s UA period.

One week later, on March 30 in the U.K., Universal U.K. releases Nothing More: The Collected Fotheringay.  Sandy Denny formed Fotheringay in 1970 upon her exit from Fairport Convention, and although the folk-rock quintet formed of Denny, Gerry Conway, Trevor Lucas, Jerry Donahue and Pat Donaldson released just one album during their time together, further recordings surfaced in the ensuing years.  This 3-CD/1-DVD box looks to be the most comprehensive collection yet of the memorable music the group left behind.

Nothing More, as the title might indicate, brings together original album tracks, demos, alternate takes, previously unreleased live recordings and, for the first time, the official release of the seven existing tracks which Fotheringay recorded in session for BBC radio. The final disc, a DVD, has the four songs recorded by the group for German TV show Beat Club, effectively doubling the existing footage of Sandy Denny in performance. Two of the songs included here, “Nothing More” and “John the Gun,” weren’t even broadcast originally.  This hardcover book-style box also features rare and previously unseen photographs of the band plus previously unseen original sketches by Marion Appleton, Trevor Lucas’s sister.

Finally, on April 27 in the U.K. (and the obligatory “one week later in the U.S.”), Universal U.K. has another offering: a 9-CD collection of the Island Records albums recorded by English group Spooky Tooth.  The Gary Wright-led band got its start when Wright joined the band Art (formerly The V.I.P.s) following the release of their album Supernatural Fairy Tales; renamed Spooky Tooth, the group debuted with 1968’s It’s All About and with some lineup changes, recorded through 1974 and The Mirror.

The Island Years: An Anthology 1967-1974 contains the band’s complete original albums (a reunion effort, sans Gary Wright, arrived in 1999) – most in expanded editions - plus Supernatural Fairy Tales and a never-before-released April 1972 concert.  In total, the box boasts more than 30 previously unissued tracks.  In addition to the CD box set, The Island Years will also be released on vinyl.  The vinyl iteration presents straight reissues of the eight proper albums in replica original packaging. It also includes a full-size repro of Art’s Island promotional poster (designed by psychedelic artists Hapshash and the Coloured Coat) and a download card entitling the purchaser to all the tracks, including the CD version’s bonus tracks and live concert.

All three of these box sets can be pre-ordered at the links below!

Hawkwind, This Is Your Captain Speaking…Your Captain Is Dead: The Albums and Singles 1970-1974 (Parlophone U.K., 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: Hawkwind

1.       Hurry on Sundown
2.       The Reason Is?
3.       Be Yourself
4.       Paranoia – Part 1
5.       Paranoia – Part 2
6.       Seeing It As You Really Are
7.       Mirror of Illusion

CD 2: In Search of Space

1.       You Shouldn’t Do That
2.       You Know You’re Only Dreaming
3.       Master of the Universe
4.       We Took The Wrong Step Years Ago
5.       Adjust Me
6.       Children of the Sun

CDs 3 & 4: Greasy Truckers Party

1.       Announcement/Apology
2.       This Is Your Captain Speaking (breakdown)
3.       This Is Your Captain Speaking
4.       You Shouldn’t Do That
5.       The Awakening
6.       Master of the Universe
7.       Paranoia

1.       Earth Calling
2.       Silver Machine
3.       Welcome to the Future
4.       Born To Go
5.       Brainstorm (Jam)
6.       End Announcement
7.       Master of the Universe (Original 1972 LP mix)
8.       Born to Go (Original 1972 LP mix)

CD 5: Doremi Fasol Latido

1.       Brainstorm
2.       Space Is Deep
3.       One Change
4.       Lord Of Light
5.       Down Through the Night
6.       Time We Left This World Today
7.       The Watcher

CDs 6 & 7: The Space Ritual Alive

1.       Earth Calling
2.       Born To Go
3.       Down Through The Night
4.       The Awakening
5.       Lord Of Light
6.       Black Corridor
7.       Space Is Deep
8.       Electronic No. 1

1.       Orgone Accumulator
2.       Upside Down
3.       10 Seconds of Forever
4.       Brainstorm
5.       Seven By Seven
6.       Sonic Attack
7.       Time We Left This World Today
8.       Master of the Universe
9.       Welcome to the Future

CD 8: Hall of the Mountain Grill

1.       The Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke)
2.       Wind of Change
3.       D-Rider
4.       Web Weaver
5.       You’d Better Believe It
6.       Hall of the Mountain Grill
7.       Lost Johnny
8.       Goat Willow
9.       Paradox

CDs 9 & 10: 1999 Party

1.       Intro/Standing On The Edge
2.       Brainbox Pollution
3.       It’s So Easy
4.       You Know You’re Only Dreaming
5.       Veterans of a Thousand Psychic Wars
6.       Brainstorm
7.       Seven By Seven

1.       The Watcher
2.       The Awakening
3.       Paradox
4.       You’d Better Believe It
5.       Psychedelic Warlords
6.       D-Rider
7.       Sonic Attack
8.       Master of the Universe
9.       Welcome to the Future

CD 11: Of Time and Stars – The Singles

1.       Hurry On Sundown (Mono single version)
2.       Mirror of Illusion (Mono single edit version)
3.       Silver Machine (Original single mix)
4.       Seven By Seven (Original single mix)
5.       Lord of Light (Single mix)
6.       Born to Go (Live single version edit)
7.       Urban Guerilla (1973 Non-LP single)
8.       Brainbox Pollution (1973 Non-LP single)
9.       You’d Better Believe It (Single version edit)
10.   Paradox (Remix single edit)
11.   Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear In Smoke) (Edit)
12.   It’s So Easy (B-side of “Psychedelic Warlords”)
13.   Seven By Seven (Live Space Ritual single edit)
14.   Silver Machine (Roadhawks single mix)
15.   Seven By Seven (Remixed single version)

Fotheringay, Nothing More: The Collected Fotheringay (Universal U.K., 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1

1.       Nothing More
2.       The Sea
3.       The Ballad of Ned Kelly
4.       Winter Winds
5.       Peace in the End
6.       The Way I Feel
7.       The Pond and the Stream
8.       Too Much of Nothing
9.       Banks of the Nile
10.   The Sea – Demo Version
11.   Winter Winds – Demo Version
12.   The Pond and The Stream – Demo Version
13.   The Way I Feel – Original Version
14.   Banks of The Nile – Alternate Take
15.   Winter Winds – Alternate Take

CD 2

1.       John the Gun
2.       Eppie Moray
3.       Wild Mountain Thyme
4.       Knights of the Road
5.       Late November
6.       Restless
7.       Gypsy Davey
8.       I Don’t Believe You
9.       Silver Threads and Golden Needles
10.   Bold Jack Donahue
11.   Two Weeks Last Summer
12.   Late November – Joe Boyd Mix
13.   Gypsy Davey – Joe Boyd Mix
14.   Two Weeks Last Summer – Joe Boyd Mix
15.   Silver Threads and Golden Needles – 2004 Alternate Version
16.   Bruton Town – Rehearsal Version
17.   Bruton Town – 2015 Version

CD 3

1.       The Way I Feel – Live in Rotterdam
2.       The Sea – Live in Rotterdam
3.       Too Much of Nothing – Live in Rotterdam
4.       Nothing More – Live in Rotterdam
5.       I’m Troubled – Live in Rotterdam
6.       Two Weeks Last Summer – Live in Rotterdam
7.       The Ballad of Ned Kelly – Live in Rotterdam
8.       Banks of the Nile
9.       Memphis Tennessee
10.   Interview / The Sea – BBC Top Gear
11.   The Lowlands of Holland – BBC Folk on One
12.   Eppie Moray – BBC Folk on One
13.   John The Gun – BBC Sounds of the Seventies
14.   Bold Jack Donahue – BBC Sounds of the Seventies
15.   Gypsy Davey – BBC Sounds of the Seventies
16.   Wild Mountain Thyme – BBC Sounds of the Seventies

DVD: Beat Club

1.       Nothing More (never broadcast)
2.       Gypsy Davey
3.       John the Gun (never broadcast)
4.       Too Much of Nothing

Spooky Tooth, The Island Years: An Anthology 1967-1974 (Island/Universal U.K., 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1: Supernatural Fairy Tales - Art (Island ILP 967, 1967) plus stereo bonus tracks

1.       I Think I’m Going Weird 3:18
2.       What’s That Sound (For What It’s Worth) 2:48
3.       African Thing 4:05
4.       Room with a View 3:40
5.       Flying Anchors 2:42
6.       Supernatural Fairy Tales 3:36
7.       Love is Real 3:19
8.       Come on Up 3:02
9.       Brothers, Dads and Mothers 3:30
10.   Talkin’ to Myself 1:40
11.   Alive, Not Dead 2:14
12.   Rome Take Away Three 2:59
13.   Love is Real 2:43
14.   I Think I’m Going Weird 3:16
15.   Room with a View 3:37
16.   Flying Anchors 2:49
17.   Supernatural Fairy Tales 3:36
18.   Talkin’ to Myself 1:42

CD 2: It’s All About (Island ILPS 9080, 1968) plus bonus tracks

1.       Society’s Child 4:30
2.       Love Really Changed Me 3:33
3.       Here I Lived So Well 5:06
4.       Too Much of Nothing 3:57
5.       Sunshine Help Me 3:02
6.       It’s All About a Roundabout 2:43
7.       Tobacco Road 5:33
8.       It Hurts You So 3:03
9.       Forget It, I’ve Got It 3:26
10.   Bubbles 2:49
11.   Sunshine Help Me (previously unreleased original version) 3:18
12.   Weird 4:10 (B-side of Island WIP 6022, 1967)
13.   The Weight 3:08 (Island WIP 6046-A, 1968)
14.   Do Right People 4:45 (Island WIP 6046-B, 1968)
15.   Love Really Changed Me (single version) 3:17 (Island WIP 6037-A, 1968)
16.   Luger’s Groove 3:56 (Island WIP 6037-B, 1968)
17.   It Hurts You So (previously unreleased mono mix) 3:02
18.   Sunshine Help Me 2:08 (Top Gear, February 21, 1968 - previously unreleased)
19.   Too Much of Nothing 3:57 (Top Gear, February 21, 1968 - previously unreleased)
20.   The Weight 3:15 (Top Gear, September 30, 1968 - previously unreleased)

CD 3:  Spooky Two (Island ILPS 9098, 1969) plus bonus tracks

1.       Waitin’ for the Wind 3:29
2.       Feelin’ Bad 3:17
3.       I’ve Got Enough Heartaches 3:24
4.       Evil Woman 9:00
5.       Lost in My Dream 5:03
6.       That Was Only Yesterday 3:51
7.       Better by You, Better Than Me 3:36
8.       Hangman, Hang My Shell on a Tree 5:40
9.       Feelin’ Bad 2:53 (Top Gear, September 30, 1968 - previously unreleased)
10.   I Can’t Quit Her 3:00 (Top Gear, September 30, 1968 - previously unreleased)
11.   Blues Town 3:32 (Top Gear, September 30, 1968 - previously unreleased)
12.   When I Get Home 4:17 (previously unreleased mono version)
13.   Something Got into Your Life 3:28 (1968)
14.   Waitin’ for The Wind (previously unreleased first mix) 3:35
15.   Lost in My Dream (previously unreleased first mix) 5:47
16.   Better by You, Better than Me (previously unreleased first mix) 4:07
17.   When I Get Home (previously unreleased extended stereo version) 5:24
18.   Pretty Woman 3:28 (Island WIP 6058-B, 1969) (Mono)

CD 4: Ceremony: An Electronic Mass - Spooky Tooth & Pierre Henry (Island ILPS 9107, 1969) plus bonus tracks

1.       Have Mercy
2.       Jubilation
3.       Confession
4.       Prayer
5.       Offering
6.       Hosanna
7.       That Was Only Yesterday (Mono Single Version) (Island WIP 6058-A, 1969)
8.       Waiting for the Wind (Mono Single Version) (Island 388 862 UF-A, 1969)
9.       Feelin’ Bad (Mono Single Version) (Island 388 862 UF-B, 1969)
10.   Have Mercy (previously unreleased first version)
11.   Shine a Light on Me (previously unreleased)

CD 5: The Last Puff (Island ILPS 9117, 1970) plus bonus tracks

1.       I Am the Walrus 6:22
2.       The Wrong Time 5:07
3.       Something to Say 5:49
4.       Nobody There at All 3:58
5.       Down River 4:47
6.       Son of Your Father 3:52
7.       The Last Puff 3:37
8.       Son of Your Father (Single Version) (Island WIP 6060-A, 1969) 3:36
9.       I Am the Walrus (Mono Single Version) (Island 6014 023-A, 1970) 5:22
10.   Hangman Hang My Shell on a Tree (Mono Single Version) (Island 6014 023-B, 1970) 5:41
11.   Nobody There at All (Mono Single Version) (Island WIP 6084, 1970) 3:45
12.   The Wrong Time (previously unreleased first mix by Glyn Johns)
13.   The Wright (included on Tobacco Road, A&M SP-4300, 1971)

CD 6: You Broke My Heart…So I Busted Your Jaw (Island ILPS 9227, 1973)

1.       Cotton Growing Man
2.       Old As I Was Born
3.       This Time Around
4.       Holy Water
5.       Wild Fire
6.       Self-Seeking Man
7.       Times Have Changed
8.       Moriah

CD 7: Witness (Island ILPS 9255, 1973) plus bonus track

1.       Ocean of Power
2.       Wings on My Heart
3.       As Long As the World Keeps Turning
4.       Don’t Ever Stray Away
5.       Things Change
6.       All Sewn Up
7.       Dream Me a Mountain
8.       Sunlight of My Mind
9.       Pyramids
10.   All Sewn Up (previously unreleased alternate mix)

CD 8: The Mirror (Island ILPS 9292, 1974)

1.       Fantasy Satisfier
2.       Two Time Love
3.       Kyle
4.       Woman and Gold
5.       Higher Circles
6.       Hell or High Water
7.       I’m Alive
8.       The Mirror
9.       The Hoofer

CD 9: Spooky Tooth Live in Germany (rec. 1972, all tracks previously unreleased)

1.       Waiting for the Wind
2.       I Am the Walrus
3.       The Wrong Time
4.       Cotton Growing Man
5.       Old As I Was Born
6.       Better By You, Better Than me
7.       Tobacco Road
8.       Evil Woman
9.       Sunshine Help Me

All tracks on this disc recorded at the Wesser-Ems Halle, Oldenburg, Germany on April 7, 1973 with the Island Mobile Studio