2010 release on BBC Records
Disc 1:
Tracks 1 & 2 were recorded at Maida Vale Studio 5 on 2nd August 1972 and broadcast on Johnnie Walker's BBC Radio 1 show on 14th August 1972 (previously unreleased)
Tracks 3 to 13 were recorded at The Paris Theatre, London on 28th September 1972 and broadcast on BBC Radio 1's In Concert programme on 14th October 1972
Disc 2:
Tracks 1 to 11 were recorded at The Paris Theatre, London on 28th September 1972 and broadcast on BBC Radio 1's In Concert programme on 14th October 1972 (previously unreleased in a stereo mix)
Sleeve Notes:
"Hawkwind At The BBC 1972" captures the band just after the surprise of the UK no. 3 hit single in July with the classic "Silver Machine," and before their live experience was captured on one of the all-time great live albums, "Space Ritual," recorded on tour later the same year.
Whilst the bulk of this double CD release is made up of the live set recorded for the BBC "In Concert" programme, it opens with a previously unreleased session recorded for Johnnie Walker featuring a shortened version of the "Doremi Fasol Latido" album classic "Brainstorm," and a version of the then hit single "Silver Machine," featuring Lemmy on vocals as per the single. "Silver Machine" itself features on the "In Concert" recording, but was not featured on the seminal "Space Ritual," so to that extent it is something of an official live rarity for this line-up.
The "In Concert" itself, a hypnotic continuous performance, is presented in both mono and stereo versions.
The mono version was previously released by Windsong on CD in 1991, and has been remastered and re-indexed to include all of the pieces originally performed, and features the concert itself in it's entirety. The stereo version has long been in the domain of the bootleggers as an off-air recording known as the "Broadcast" version. This mix was in fact distributed by the BBC for broadcast internationally, and features an edited "Brainstorm," missing approximately 4 minutes from the front of the song, a shorter "Welcome To The Future" and "Electronic No. 1" (not indexed on the previous CD release), but a longer "Countdown" introduction. Officially released for the first time, apart from being in stereo, the sound quality is superior to the mono version, and the mix is generally more exciting. The line-up for the "In Concert" recording is lacking Robert Calvert, who was "missing in action" and whose role as Poet/Swozzle was taken up by Nik Turner alongside his usual role on sax, flute and vocals.
Whilst the CD racks and on-line listings are full of unofficial and poor quality Hawkwind live recordings, this set is a prime chunk of space rock from the band at the peak of their powers, and is an essential addition to the group's huge discography.
As is often said about a band who are still going after 41 years, through many line-up and sonic changes, "Long may they fly"
The Musicnauts were:
In Session:
Dave Brock - guitar and vocals
Robert Calvert - poet and swozzle
Nik Turner - sax, flute and vocals
Lemmy - bass and vocals
Del Dettmar - synthesiser
Dik Mik - audio generator
Simon King - drums
In Concert:
Dave Brock - guitar and vocals
Nik Turner - sax, flute and vocals
Lemmy - bass and vocals
Del Dettmar - synthesiser
Dik Mik - audio generator and synthesiser
Simon King - drums
Stacia - dancer and announcements on "Countdown"
Andy Dunkley - MC