H to He Who Am the Only One
by Van der Graaf Generator
- Type: Album
- Released: December 1970
- Label: Charisma, UK, Dunhill, US
- Country: United Kingdom
- Length: 2:09:51
- Community rating: 3.99/5 from 7 ratings
Artists on this release: Nic Potter, Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton, Guy Evans, David Jackson
Album Notes & Community Reviews
'H to He, Who Am the Only One' is characterized by its bleak and complex sound, eschewing a traditional rock format for thick layers of Hugh Banton's organ and David Jackson's electronically treated saxophones. The album's lyrical narratives, penned by Peter Hammill, delve into themes of science-fiction isolation, loneliness, and tyranny, with King Crimson's Robert Fripp providing a guest guitar performance on 'The Emperor In His War Room'. The mid-recording departure of bassist Nic Potter was a pivotal moment, forcing Banton to cover bass duties on organ pedals and studio bass guitar, a change that would define the group's subsequent sound.
Genres
Descriptors: progressive, conceptual, uncommon-time-signatures, virtuosic, male vocalist
Tracklist
- Killer (8:18)
- House With No Door (6:32)
- The Emperor In His War Room (8:14)
- Lost (11:11)
- Pioneers Over C (12:41)
- Killer - First Version (8:18)
- The Emperor In His War Room - First Version (8:14)
- Killer - Live BBC Radio One "Top Gear Session" / 1970 (7:32)
- Lost - Live BBC Radio One "Top Gear Session" / 1970 (11:32)
- Killer - New Stereo Mix 2021 (8:22)
- House With No Door - New Stereo Mix 2021 (6:34)
- The Emperor In His War Room - New Stereo Mix 2021 (8:14)
- Lost - New Stereo Mix 2021 (11:24)
- Pioneers Over C - New Stereo Mix 2021 (12:44)
Credits
- Peter Hammill - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, piano on "house with no door", lyrics by [all]
- Hugh Banton - hammond and farfisa organs, piano, oscillator, vocals, bass guitar on "house with no door" and "pioneers over c."
- David Jackson - alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone and devices, flute, vocals
- Nic Potter - bass guitar on "killer", "the emperor in his war room", "lost"
- Guy Evans - drums, tympani, percussion
- Robert Fripp - guitar on the emperor in his war-room, Electric Guitar Guest
- John Anthony - producer, Producer
- Robin Cable - engineer
- David Hentschel - assistant engineer
- Paul Whitehead - front and back cover ("birthday"), middle cover ("checkmate")