H to He, Who Am the Only One

Infobox Album |
Name = H to He, Who Am the Only One
Type = Album
Artist = Van der Graaf Generator


Released = December 1970
Recorded = 1970
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 47:15
Label = Charisma Records
Producer = John Anthony
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ercm964o3ep1 link] |
Last album = "The Least We Can Do Is Wave To Each Other"
(1970)
This album = "H to He, Who Am the Only One"
(1970)
Next album = "Pawn Hearts"
(1971)

"H to He, Who Am the Only One" is the third album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1970. The mid-priced "Charisma Classics" re-issue from the early 1980s had a blue cover. The first U.S. issue of the album was on the Dunhill Records division of ABC Records. It featured a revised cover with a white background instead of purple.

During the recording of the album, Nic Potter quit the band. Organist Hugh Banton offered to play bass guitar on the two tracks that had not yet been finished. In concert, Banton would play bass pedals to substitute for the lack of a bassist. "H to He, Who Am the Only One" also featured Robert Fripp of King Crimson playing lead guitar on one track.

The album contains several references to modern physics: "H to He" in the title refers to "the fusion of hydrogen nuclei to form helium nuclei"; "c" in 'Pioneers over c.' refers to the speed of light.

A re-mastered version of this album added bonus tracks and was released in 2005. One of the additions is a rough studio version of "Squid / Octopus", a song that had been a staple of early Van der Graaf Generator concerts.

Track listing

All songs written by Peter Hammill except as noted
# "Killer" (Peter Hammill, Chris Judge Smith, Hugh Banton) – 8:24
# "House With No Door" (Peter Hammill, David Jackson) – 6:37
# "The Emperor In His War Room" – 8:15, including:
#* "The Emperor"
#* "The Room"
# "Lost" – 11:17, including:
#* "The Dance in Sand and Sea"
#* "The Dance in the Frost"
# "Pioneers Over c." (Peter Hammill, David Jackson) – 12:42
# "Squid 1" / "Squid 2" / "Octopus" – 15:24 (bonus track on 2005 reissue)
#*"Recorded during the sessions for Pawn Hearts."
# "The Emperor in His War Room" (first version) – 8:50 (bonus track on 2005 reissue)

Personnel

*Guy Evans – drums, tympani, percussion
*Hugh Banton – Hammond and Farfisa organs, piano, oscillator, vocals; bass guitar on 2 and 5
*Peter Hammill – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano on 2
*David Jackson – Alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone, flute, and vocals
*Nic Potter – Bass guitar on 1, 3, 4, and 7
*Robert Fripp – Guitar on "The Emperor In His War Room"

External links

* [http://www.sofasound.com/vdgcds/htohelyrics.htm Lyrics at Sofasound]
* [http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/htohe.htm Scans of H to He releases]