Best Place to Start with Hawkwind ?

[MikeyT]

Allright, they have a huge catalogue, hence the question.

I view their comp, PSYCHEDELIC WARLORDS, as a viable choice to start with for the uninitiated, especially if you think you may not want more than one of their recordings. Another good (& popular) choice would be their double live LP, SPACE RITUAL. It has strong versions of many Hawkwind classics.

If you're ready to jump in, then I recommend starting at the beginning, and working your way through all first five albums:



1. Hawkwind

2. In Search of Space

3. Doremi Fasol Latido

4. Space Ritual [live]

5. Hall of the Mountain Grill




And possibly # 6, which is WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME.

What do you know, what do you say ?

[MikeyT]

 I'm taking the liberty of quoting a post from Mooseblaster from FuzzRock.com, because it's somewhat informative:


"The first six divide up quite nicely into three pairs. Elements of their overall sound remain throughout but the development it quite a nice progression:

In Chronological order:

Act 1: 'Hawkwind'/'In Search of Space' -
Hawkwind finding their feet and beginning to fly. Hurry on Sundown off the s/t is a classic but probably not what you'd expect... sounds like a remnant from Dave Brock's busking days.

On In Search of Space they stretched out... long instrumental passages. Excellent stuff but not crushing.

Act 2: 'Doremi Fasol Latido'/'Space Ritual' -
Lemmy joins. Hawkwind blast off into space. These two are much harder than the previous excursions. The guitars and rhythm are brought to the fore... huge mindexpanding/numbing riffs. Space is Deep, Brainstorm, Time we Left This World Today off Doremi.... all classics.

Act 3: 'Hall Of The Mountain Grill'/'Warriors on the Edge of Time'-
Exploring the Galaxy, possibly whilst having a particularly bad trip. Keeping the hard rhythms but also featuring Simon House on Keyboards and Violin... which add a new dimension to the sound that is slightly darker and more expansive. Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke), Yu'd Better Believe it, Lost Johnny... off HOTMG, and Assault and Battery, Opa Loka, Magnu... off WOTEOT, all classics.

I'd recommend Doremi as the point of entry... to me it's the most Hawkwind like Hawkwind album but hopefully the above might give you a better idea depending on your tastes."
-- Mooseblaster

[The Shocker]

I'd recommend Doremi as the point of entry... to me it's the most Hawkwind like Hawkwind album but hopefully the above might give you a better idea depending on your tastes."
-- Mooseblaster

I agree with this.

[GodShifter]

I'm more about Space Ritual and Hall Of The Mountain Grill than anything else.

My .2 cents.

[El Zombre]

Space Ritual for earlier Hawkwind, Quark Strangeness and Charm for slightly later Hawkwind.

[black_out]

I really dig Warrior on the Edge of Time but it's really the only Hawkwind album I've ever listened to. I'll definitely have to check the first five out.

[Lumpy]

I really dig Warrior on the Edge of Time but it's really the only Hawkwind album I've ever listened to. I'll definitely have to check the first five out.

"Warrior on the Edge of Time" is a solid album - if you like that, you'll certainly like the earlier ones, and maybe like them even more.

"Space Bandits" is a good one too, from the mid-period...

[Doommantia]

Space Ritual is a like a "best of the early stuff"  but live so it is a good starting point. Hall Of The Mountain Grill for a studio album, it is a little more assessable compared to some of their other records.

[colonic rocker]

           Weirdest intro to Hawkwind: Nik Turners Space Ritual!
           This was my first exposure, went to see the US tour because Helios Creed was playing guitar, this happen to anyone else?

[jibberish]

IMO their earliest album sounds nothing like what we commonly know as hawkwind

all the rest listed in OP are great and i recommend all of them ,ya up to quark, but i never heard the one right before quark w/e it was..if i recall correctly anyway...

[Woody]

Doremi Fasol Latido and Space Ritual are my 2 faves. Also a big fan of the live one called The 1999 Party (recorded in Chicago 1974).

I wouldn't recommend starting with this one, but Robert Calvert's album Captain Lockheed & The Firefighters is pretty cool. As far as I know, it's the only recording to feature both Lemmy and Eno. 

[The Shocker]

Hawkwind is a "mood" band for me.  When I'm in the mood for them I love em, but a lot of the time I'm not in the mood.  If I listen to them when I'm not in the mood I can't take more than 5 minutes of it.

[GodShifter]

I'd agree with that but, for me, there are certain Hawkwind songs I'm always in the mood for. "Born To Go" is a good example, for instance. Certain songs catch me; most others do not (most of the time).

[The Shocker]

I'd agree with that but, for me, there are certain Hawkwind songs I'm always in the mood for. "Born To Go" is a good example, for instance. Certain songs catch me; most others do not (most of the time).

Well, I should have indicated that I still listen to albums.  Not much of a shuffle guy & lord knows they never got any radio play here.  If they were on a comp like those Heavy 70's ones I'd have no problem with a song or 2.

[EddieMullet]

My introduction was "Sonic Attack" I was maybe 13 or 14 years old and knew enough that it was the band Lemmy was in before Motorhead, it had a pretty cool cover and it was $1.99 in the cut out bin.

I think its a good one, but many consider it to be one of their worst albums.

But if you're looking for the most "metal" sounding Hawkwind I guess that's the one.

[Eyehatehippies]

The first thing I got from Hawkwind was the U.A. Years compilation.

That's excellent, and leaves out an important part of Hawkwind history that hasn't really been mentioned here, the song "Urban Guerilla."

Another excellent starting point is the 3 volume Acid Daze compilation, which features some early material, and some that's a little later than the first six albums.

If you really want to start from a weird perspective, get introduced to Hawkwind by reading the Michael Moorcock novel, "Time Of The Hawklords."  That's some pretty out there shit.  Not Moorcock's best novel by any means, but it's interesting reading about one of my favourite bands as the protagonist of a sci-fi novel.

[mortlock]

space ritual live is the correct answer..

[middlebeer]

Levitation is another good one that hasn't been mentioned yet. But the best places to start are in search of through warrior.

[The Shocker]

Damn, that's impressive.

[Woody]

The new issue of Classic Rock has reviews of the first batch of Hawkwind tapes re-issued on heavy duty vinyl. They're all doubles to include the bonus tracks that were on the CD's. Space Ritual is now split between 2 doubles. Not sure how I feel about that. I'm sure it sounds great but the original Barney Bubbles fold out sleeve has not been recreated. My copy is pretty trashed so I guess I could listen to the new LP's while staring at the old sleeve if I can afford them.

[Lumpy]

Damn, that's impressive.

Indeed. Recommend some mid-period or later Hawkwind, for somebody who likes the early stuff. I already have (and enjoy) "Space Bandits"

[Discö Rice]

I like blue.

[Dunedin]

I'm jealous of anyone who's just discovering Hawkwind for the first time. I'd recommend Space Ritual as a great starter for what's considered their classic sound but faves of mine include Warrior, Do Re Mi, and
Live Chronicles. Guess no-one likes Astounding Sounds!

[GeeZa]

Great advice and vinyl porn. The log book that came with the original In Search Of Space is well worth a read. Crazy fucks.

[The Shocker]

Hall Of The Mountain Grill, where have you been my whole life?  I love you.