Van der Graaf Generator - The Charisma Years - 5.1 Blu-ray / DVD surround release

In September 2021, Van der Graaf Generator will reissue eight of their classic albums as part of a super deluxe limited edition box set. Four of the albums will contain new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes on Blu-ray, along with bonus material across the CD’s.

The 20 disc (17 CD / 3 Blu-ray) box set covers Van der Graaf Generator’s entire recorded works for Charisma Records. That is all 8 unique and uncompromising albums remastered from the first generation master tapes plus much more between the years 1970 thru 1978. This limited super deluxe edition also includes a postcard signed by Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton, Guy Evans, and David Jackson. Of greatest interest to high resolution surround enthusiasts, “H to He Who Am the Only One,” “Pawn Hearts,” “Godbluff,” and “Still Life” have been remixed from the original multi-track tapes in both stereo and 5.1 surround sound by Stephen W Tayler and are found across 2 of the 3 Blu-rays. Also featured are two CDs of a recently discovered and previously unreleased entire concert recorded in Paris in December 1976 by French radio and all of the surviving BBC sessions recorded by the band. Plus, the third Blu ray disc features all of the surviving VdGG television footage and promotional films, including the band's appearance on German TV’s “Beat Club” in 1970, a filmed appearance at The Bataclan in Paris in 1972 for the French TV show “Pop Deux”, the 1972 appearance on “Pop Shop” for RTBF Belgium, a live performance shot by Belgian TV in Chaleroi in September 1975, the promotional films of “Wondering” and “Cat’s Eye”, and a 20 minute documentary with live footage shot by Austrian television at The Kohfidisch Open Air Festival, Austria in June 1978.

Certainly, this is a desirable set for the all-in VdGG fan, and the super deluxe box is packaged with a 68 page book and rare photos. Aptly named “The Charisma Years” this edition is a definitive account of the group’s career on Charisma.

But, if that is all just too much, surround fans can scale back and pick up individual 2 CD / 1 DVD editions of the newly mixed albums. The first in this set is their 1970 studio release “H to He Who Am the Only One”, remastered from the first-generation master tapes and features 2021 stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes by Stephen W Tayler, plus additional bonus tracks from the album sessions, housed in a digipak.

Followed by their astonishing 1971 release “Pawn Hearts,” which has been heralded as one of the groundbreaking albums of the prog-rock era and now has been remastered from the first-generation master tapes and also features 2021 stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes by Stephen W Tayler, along with additional bonus tracks from the album sessions, nicely housed in a digipack.

The third album is their brilliant 1975 studio release “Godbluff” which has also been remastered from the first-generation master tapes and features 2021 stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes by Stephen W Tayler, plus additional live bonus tracks, housed in a digipack.

And the last one to receive the deluxe treatment is their ambitious 1976 studio release “Still Life” which has been remastered from the first-generation master tapes and also features 2021 stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes by Stephen W Tayler, plus additional live bonus tracks from 1975 and 1976, along with a 1976 John Peel BBC session, all housed in a digipack.

It is also worth noting that the four titles noted above are bundled together and sold at a discount at Burning Shed.

Scheduled for release September 3, 2021.

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 About the Author

Wesley is a lifelong music enthusiast. He started his career in the recording industry in New York City as an audio engineer, producer, and studio manager. Subsequently he toured across America as a guitarist with the short-lived band Land's Crossing. After many years in the technology sector and amassing a substantial vinyl and CD collection, he delved into immersive audio and created Hi-Res Edition to share with other listeners about the sound quality and discrete mixes available on many formats. He recently upgraded his system to 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos and continues to seek out and share about the best sounding releases.