Spirit of the Age

Infobox Single
Name = Spirit of the Age


Type = Single
Artist = Hawkwind
from Album = Take Me to Your Leader
B-side = Angela Android; Assassins of Allah; Paradox 2005
Recorded = 2004
Released = August 2004
Format = CD
Genre = Space Rock
Length =
Label = Voiceprint Records - HAWKVP55CD
Writer = Robert Calvert/Dave Brock
Producer = Hawkwind
Certification =
Chart position =
Last single = "Love In Space"
(1997)
This single = "Spirit of the Age"
(2004)
Next single =

"Spirit of the Age" is a 1977 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind. It was originally recorded and issued on the album "Quark, Strangeness and Charm".

The lyrics of the song are composed of two of Robert Calvert's science fiction poems, the first verse being the "The Starfarer's Despatch", which he had recited at shows whilst being the "resident poet" in the band in 1971, and the second being the "The Clone's Poem". Both of these poems were published amongst a collection of his poetry issued as "Centigrade 232", published by Quasar in 1978.

The song was a popular addition to the band's live set and even remained after Calvert's departure from the band in 1979. A more aggressive version of the song with vocals by Brock was issued on the "Live Seventy Nine" album in 1980.

1993 Mixes

The song was subject to various remixes and issued as the "Spirit Of The Age - Solstice Mixes" EP in June 1993 on 4-Real Records (4R1). Mixes were by Astralasia (Marc Swordfish, Nosmo) and produced by Salt Tank (David Gates & Malcolm Stanners).

12"

#"Spirit Of The Age" "Full Vocal Mix" (Calvert/Brock) – 9:56
#"Spirit Of The Age" "Hard Trance Mix" (Calvert/Brock) – 8:43
#"Spirit Of The Age" "Cyber Trance Mix" (Calvert/Brock) – 9:52
#"Spirit Of The Age" "Flesh To Phantasy Mix" (Calvert/Brock) – 12:06

CD

#"Spirit Of The Age" "Radio Edit" (Calvert/Brock)
#"Spirit Of The Age" "Full Vocal Mix" (Calvert/Brock)
#"Spirit Of The Age" "Cyber Trance Mix" (Calvert/Brock)
#"Spirit Of The Age" "Flesh to Phantasy Ambient Remix" (Calvert/Brock)

2004 single

In 2004 the band recorded a new studio version of the song which was issued as a single in two different formats. The first verse featured a vocal by tabloid journalist Matthew Wright who, while interviewing the band on a London radio show, had revealed that he was a big fan of the band. This version was included on their "Take Me to Your Leader" album.

CD1

#"Spirit Of The Age" (Calvert/Brock) – Radio Edit
#"Angela Android" (Chadwick) – Live Version
#"Assassins of Allah" [aka "Hassan-i Sabbah"/"Space is Their (Palestine)"] (Calvert/Rudolph/Brock) – Live Version

CD2

#"Spirit Of The Age" (Calvert/Brock) – Live Version
#"Paradox" (Brock) – New studio version