Hawkwindforum

I was surprised I couldn't find a QSC re-release thread. Knights of Space got lots of attention, by way of contrast. Maybe one slight drawback about a multiple release approach is that individual albums don't get quite the same level of attention as they otherwise might. Not that I'm really complaining about multiple release, though!

I got the Quark re-release as an online product a couple of weeks ago. Ever since my switch from vinyl purchasing I've paid scant attention to packaging - usually read it once and then ignore it - so the final break from having anything physical by way of purchased product is OK by me. And on the sound quality thing, well, the files are 320 kilobits per sec (the normal MP3 maximum) and that's good enough for my ageing ears and ageing speakers.

Released in March by Atomhenge (Cherry Red)

DISK 1

The original album

My impression is that the sound's been crisped-up a bit, compared to the 1977 release... but I've no means of comparing like-with-like. It wouldn't surprise me if they'd optimised the EQ for modern digital equipment, though.

BONUS STUFF

Damnation Alley - with Brock guitar in the middle bit, instead of House on violin. This version's much murkier than the 'take' that became track 2 of the original album. I still like it, although Calvert sounds a bit sluggish compared to the version on the second CD. It amused me to note that the "anti-radiation machine" that Calvert sings about received a hardware upgrade before the final take, as here it only has six wheels!

A Minor Jam - initially, I played this one five times in succession! Probably my fav on the whole album, nearly 10 mins of grunge in 1977 style, which starts much the same tempo and riff style as Steppenwolf but just swirls and grinds away in that Hawkwind way that a lot of us secretly wish they'd do more often. After a couple of tempo and intensity variations it relaunches into some drum-galloping and keyboard-noodling space-prog. Personally, I think this track alone justifies much of the album price.

SOTA (exerpt) - bit of a damp squib after the last track.

HASH CAKE CUT - same as 'Cake Out' from Weird 103 (Weird Tapes 3) - the one that has vox sounding like "cha-cha-cha-cha chower" in the middle.


DISK 2

Damnation Alley - yep, another one! And Bob's much livlier on this take. Also, this version contains one of my favourite Hawkwind features: a chant! Well, actually, two chants. The first is "Craters coming at me" and gets the backing vox treatment too. Yay! The middle bit has a Brock riff again, and he gives it some wellie too! And at the end is a mellow chant consisting of (so far as I can tell) "I did not know / Now here I go / etc." This track is over 10 mins long. Wow, I really like this version!

SOTA - this full-length version starts with the rare lyrics about "men in white coats / holding test tubes to the light" that those familiar with the Lewisham 1976 bootleg might have been puzzled by. However, we soon enter familiar QSC territory. At the end, the first 'standard' verse is repeated.

DAYS OF THE UNDERGROUND - a strummety-strum version! Calvert's vox are all over the place on this one, but it's an interesting "work in progress" and ok it's a bit shambolic but what the heck.

QUARK / UNCLE SAM - To me, this sounds like the QSC that was on the 1977 album. But it doesn't fade out... it's bizarre hearing it drift into USOM. Was "Uncle Sam" a candidate for the QSC album at one point? It's quite a melodic non-thrashy version, with low-key Calvert vox.

FABLE - One of my long-standing Hawkwind fav's, so a version that's nearly seven minutes long is a bit of a culture shock! Nothing really new, as such... just more of various bits.

DAMNATION ALLEY - This sounds like the 'take' that made the album, but has alternative harmonies.

SOTA & ROBOT - same as Weird 102 / Weird Tapes 2
HIGH RISE - same as Weird 103 / Weird Tapes 3

--

While looking online to try to find out more about the "Minor Jam" I found that Starfarer had already reviewed this album. I avoided reading what he'd said, until I'd written the above! Now I have read it, I propose to put a link to it, as it's a fine review and in some places contrasts with what I've said.

Lacking a musical ear, I was unaware of the Rudolph factor to which he alludes. Cheers, Steve!

http://www.starfarer.net/qkatomcd.html

I liked that "Jam" too, never mind it's not a 'song' it's good noise. The release is excellent IMHO. My only suggestion for improvement would be to have less alternate takes of the same on the first CD, so that you get a single CD which can be listened to right the way through without repetition. Maybe less SOTA!

Thanks for the review.

Its a top album. One of my favourite Hawkwind ones.

Can anybody help me as to the origin of the bonus tracks on the 2005 Sunrise Records reissue of Q,S&C (i.e. not the current Atomhenge one).
It's a very nicely put-together package, but with no details on the extras (very good quality recordings) other than "Tracks 9-17: Live 1977".

Featured are Q,S&C // MOTU // Welcome TTF // SOTA // High Rise // Damnation Alley // USOM // Iron Dream // Robot

Cheers.

If they're the tracks originally from Weird 2 / Weird 3, then I don't think anybody knows the origin? I've seen Leicester and Stonehenge cited as sources.

It's a fantastic reissue, surprising to hear that SOTA seems to have been chopped out of a much longer version and that Quark went straight into a version of Uncle Sam.

With A Minor Jam, is it just me or does the end section sound like it could have been the origin of Night of the Hawks?

This is probably the best reissue for me so far, though can't wait to hear the live stuff on Levitation.

Dunno, but it's a great disk!

Great is putting it mildly.
The original QS&C remastered is worth it's weight in gold.
Disc 2 leaves me in a transcendental state.
It's almost the same feel as first hearing the original lp in the late seventies.
The Days Of The Underground is an amazing offshoot of the album take.
What the hell is Dave playing...spanish guitar????
It keeps getting better.

I'm pretty sure QS&C was originally intended to be a segue for Uncle Sam.


QS&C has always been a great album but this Atomhenge release is greater still.

I hadn't listened to QS&C for over 20 years since I only had it on vinyl and ditched my turntable back then. What a joy to hear it again!

I absolutely love A Minor Jam session but everything else has its moments too. Top Notch

This might be the one then

I see what you mean, when Brock starts that juh-juh-juh-juh-juh-juh-juh guitar riff at 6:42... dunno how to describe it in musical terms.

Oh wait a minute, yes I do: it's Dave Brock kicks ass

Anyway, I had a fun time listening to the 'minor jam' three times tonight, just to check on that! Yay!

Hi all

I think 'A minor Jam' is excellent too. It sounds familiar because it's part of 'Angels Of Death' from Sonic Attack.

Now, is there a complete, killer live disc of the Quark/PXR5 period which has the same SQ as the tracks on 'PXR5'?

Andy

This is another Hawkwind album i had never got around to buying. I first heard this back in the mid-to-late 80's, again borrowed from a friend. My impression back then was that i didn't really care for it.
Now though.... this is a great album! The majority of the original album is awesome.

As for all the bonus tracks... most of those were as good as the originals.

I'm glad i waited so long to get this!

I can't stop playing the Rockfield Sessions cd. The 1st track the long version of Damnation Alley with the different middle section with Bob and Dave doing the Craters coming at me bit and the Brock guitar solo, Adrian Shaw pumping away on bass like only he can, Simon House briliiant as ever on keys, and Simon King drumming like only he could drum. Then onto the 2nd track Spirit Of The Age with the different intro by Bob telling us the meaning of the spirit of the age men in white coats holding test tubes to the light, and the longer ending. The longer version of Fable Of A Failed Race with the harmonies and the extra long Brock guitar solo make this a much better version.The version of Quark running into Uncle Sams On Mars is also brilliant different vocal on Uncle Sam by Bob and the guitar intro from Dave is also great.
I am really glad this was released a truly brilliant time in the history of Hawkwind, one of their best ever line ups. It would have been ever better if we could have had a dvd of the band in the studio recording The Rockfield Sessions.Looking back to those heady Rockfield days it was certainly a Hawkwind i loved.