Collection of 20 discs, entitled "The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971 - 1986," will be unveiled by Peter Hammill in September.
Peter Hammill, the prolific British musician known for his work with Van der Graaf Generator and his solo career, is set to release a new box set titled The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971 - 1986. This 20-disc collection includes all 13 of Hammill's solo albums released on the Charisma and Virgin labels, along with rare BBC sessions, live recordings, and European television performances.
The set features 18 CDs and 2 Blu-rays with newly remastered audio from the original master tapes. Each disc includes every solo album from Hammill's debut Fool's Mate (1971) through to And Close As This (1986), fully remastered. Notably, the box set includes new 5.1 surround sound and stereo mixes of The Future Now and pH7 by Stephen W Tayler.
For fans of Hammill's visual artistry, the set also includes a Blu-ray video disc with previously unreleased European television performance footage. A 76-page, 12-inch squared hardback book with extensive commentary on each album by Hammill, plus rare images, is also included. A limited edition version of the box set comes with an exclusive postcard.
Hammill launched his solo career while still with Van der Graaf Generator, who also contributed to his early album Fool's Mate. After the band's second split in 1972, he continued releasing acclaimed solo works throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
The upcoming box set represents a meticulous archival project capturing Hammill’s artistic output during his tenure with Charisma and Virgin Records. It offers fans both aural and visual archival materials along with rich liner notes.
Following the release of this box set, Hammill will be performing solo shows in the UK for the first time since its release. The dates are as follows: September 29 at Edinburgh's Queen's Hall, October 1 at Manchester's RNCM, and October 2 at London's Royal Festival Hall.
Some of Hammill's most acclaimed albums, such as The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage and In Camera (both released in 1974), are expected to be featured in these shows. Fans of punk rock may also be interested to know that Nadir's Big Chance, released in 1975, has been cited as an influence on the genre.
Peter Hammill is currently pre-selling The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971 - 1986. For more information, visit Hammill's official website.
[1] https://www.progmagazine.com/news/peter-hammill-announces-charisma-virgin-recordings-1971-1986-box-set/ [2] https://www.songfacts.com/facts/peter-hammill/nadirs-big-chance [3] https://www.discogs.com/release/1954956-Peter-Hammill-The-Charisma-Virgin-Recordings-1971-1986 [4] https://www.progarchives.com/albums/Peter+Hammill/The+Charisma+Virgin+Recordings+1971-1986
- The 20-disc box set titled The Charisma & Virgin Recordings 1971 - 1986 from Peter Hammill includes all his solo albums released on the Charisma and Virgin labels.
- The box set features 18 CDs and 2 Blu-rays with newly remastered audio from original master tapes.
- The set includes every solo album from Hammill's debut Fool's Mate (1971) through to And Close As This (1986), fully remastered.
- Notably, the box set includes new 5.1 surround sound and stereo mixes of The Future Now and pH7 by Stephen W Tayler.
- For fans of Hammill's visual artistry, the set also includes a Blu-ray video disc with previously unreleased European television performance footage.
- A 76-page, 12-inch squared hardback book with extensive commentary on each album by Hammill, plus rare images, is also included.
- Following the release of this box set, Hammill will be performing solo shows in the UK for the first time since its release.
- Some of Hammill's most acclaimed albums, such as The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage and In Camera (both released in 1974), are expected to be featured in these shows, potentially appealing to fans of punk rock who may find influence from Nadir's Big Chance, released in 1975.
