The Aerosol Grey Machine

The Aerosol Grey Machine
Studio album by Van der Graaf Generator
Released	September 1969
Recorded	January 1969, 31 July – 1 August 1969
Studio	Marquee and Trident Studios, London, England
Genre	Progressive rock, psychedelic rock
Length	46:58
Label	Mercury (USA), Fontana (Germany), Vertigo (Italy & Netherlands)
Producer	John Anthony
Van der Graaf Generator chronology
The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969) The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (1970)

The Aerosol Grey Machine is the debut studio album by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in 1969 by record label Mercury.

Content

The album was originally intended as a solo album by the band's lead singer and main songwriter, Peter Hammill. When the band signed with Charisma Records, a deal was worked out whereby The Aerosol Grey Machine would be released under the Van der Graaf Generator name, in return for Mercury Records releasing Hammill from his earlier contract with it.

Release

The Aerosol Grey Machine was released in September 1969 by record label Mercury, in the US only. An initial edition contained the song "Giant Squid", but that was a false pressing (on the sleeve "Necromancer" was featured instead), later pressings removed this track and replaced it correctly with "Necromancer".

The album was reissued on CD in 1997 by the German company Repertoire Records, using the original running order of the album as released on LP, and featuring the first single as bonus tracks. Another 1997 release, by Peter Hammill's own UK record label FIE! Records, utilizes a new running order (probably taken from the original master tape) and adds "Giant Squid" along with a previously unreleased early version of "Ferret and Featherbird" as bonus tracks, but without explanation both tracks were integrated as part of the album (and not simply put at the end of the CD).

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

In his retrospective review, Steven McDonald of AllMusic called it "A raw, energetic effort that sometimes did little to show off the young Hammill's talents" that "nevertheless has some fine moments that hint at the possibilities for future releases".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Peter Hammill, except as indicated

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Afterwards"		4:55
2.	"Orthenthian St (Parts I & II)"		6:18
3.	"Running Back"		6:35
4.	"Into a Game"	Hammill, Hugh Banton, Keith Ellis, Guy Evans	6:57

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Aerosol Grey Machine"		0:47
2.	"Black Smoke Yen"	Banton, Ellis, Evans	1:26
3.	"Aquarian"		8:22
4.	"Necromancer"		3:30
5.	"Octopus"		8:00

1997 German CD bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
10.	"People You Were Going To"	2:44
11.	"Firebrand"	4:08

1997 FIE! CD

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Afterwards"		4:58
2.	"Orthenthian St"		6:19
3.	"Running Back"		6:36
4.	"Into a Game"	Hammill, Hugh Banton, Keith Ellis, Guy Evans	6:57
5.	"Ferret & Featherbird"		4:34
6.	"Aerosol Grey Machine"		0:46
7.	"Black Smoke Yen"	Banton, Ellis, Evans	1:27
8.	"Aquarian"		8:21
9.	"Giant Squid"	Hammill, Banton, Ellis, Evans	3:19
10.	"Octopus"		7:57
11.	"Necromancer"		3:30

Personnel

Van der Graaf Generator

• Peter Hammill – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
• Hugh Banton – Farfisa organ, backing vocals, piano, percussion
• Keith Ellis – bass
• Guy Evans – drums, percussion

Additional personnel

• Jeff Peach – flute on "Running Back"
• Chris Judge Smith – slide-saxophone and harmony vocals on "People You Were Going To", chorus vocals on "Firebrand"

External links

• Van der Graaf Generator - The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969) album review by Steven McDonald, credits & releases at AllMusic.com
• Van der Graaf Generator - The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969) album releases & credits at Discogs.com
• Van der Graaf Generator - The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com