Vital (album)

Infobox Album | Name = Vital
Type = Live album
Artist = Van der Graaf Generator


Released = July 1978
Recorded = January 16, 1978
Genre = Progressive rock
Length =
Label = Charisma Records
Producer = Guy Evans
Reviews =
Last album = "The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome"
(1977)
This album = "Vital"
(1978)
Next album = "Present"
(2005)

"Vital" is Van der Graaf Generator's first live album. Except for one-off reunions, it marked the end of Van der Graaf Generator as a band until their 2005 reunion. The U.S. release was on PVC Records, PVC 9901.

The album was credited under the truncated name Van der Graaf. It had the same line-up as on the previous year's "The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome" (also credited to Van der Graaf), plus newcomer cellist Charles Dickie. Original saxophonist David Jackson re-joined the band for this recording.

The album is noted for its sometimes radical reworking of the older VdGG material. Although VdGG were seldom less than intense on stage, the set recorded here is remarkable for its ferocity.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Peter Hammill except where indicated.

# "Ship of Fools" – 6:43
# "Still Life" – 9:42
# "Last Frame" – 9:02
# "Mirror Images" – 5:50
# "Medley: A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers/Sleepwalkers" – 13:41
# "Pioneers over c" (Peter Hammill and David Jackson) – 17:00
# "Sci-Finance" – 6:16
# "Door" – 6:00
# "Urban/Killer/Urban" – 8:20
# "Nadir's Big Chance" – 7:00

Personnel

*Graham Smith – Violin
*Charles Dickie – Cello, electric piano, synthesizer
*David Jackson – Saxophones and flute
*Nic Potter – Bass guitar
*Peter Hammill – Voice, piano, and guitars
*Guy Evans – drums