Best Steve Hillage Album
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Polls
Forum Description: Create polls on topics related to progressive music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=49057
Printed Date: December 02 2024 at 04:53
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Best Steve Hillage Album
Posted By: Relayer09
Subject: Best Steve Hillage Album
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 11:21
Here he is, our hippy guitarist from space himself....Steve Hillage! 
So which album is Steve's shining moment? ------------- If you lose your temper, you've lost the arguement. -Proverb |
Replies:
Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 12:02
| I predict YOU will win, as it's such a firm favourite with Gong freaks (when it comes to the trilogy, I personally prefer 'Flying Teapot' and 'Angel's Egg', because of the many vocals-based tracks) but as far as I know FISH RISING is Steve's finest moment as a composer and soloist: one of Canterbury's most colourful albums (though recorded in Oxfordshire). |
Posted By: Leningrad
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 12:07
| That's an incredibly tough choice for me, because I love every album on this poll. It's a tie between Fish Rising, Green, Arzachel and Space Shanty. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 12:22
|
Voted for Fish Rising ... I only know a few of the albums in that list, but they're not all Steve Hillage solo albums. From the real solo albums, I think the winner can only be Fish Rising.
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to: 
|
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 12:24
|
I wont vote, as I've not all those albums, but Green is my favorite of those I have heard. I thought both Fish Rising and Motivation Radio were pretty good too.
Honourable mention for Live Herald. The version of Salmon Song is fantastic. |
Posted By: Relayer09
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 12:46
I didn't include live albums. I was just going for studio albums. Live Herald is probably my favorite Steve Hillage album though, live or studio.
On this poll I'm going with Space Shanty today. I could change my mind on any given day though. ------------- If you lose your temper, you've lost the arguement. -Proverb |
Blacksword wrote:Posted By: rushaholic
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 13:21
|
Best solo is Fish Rising. Best Gong album is You. |
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 13:52
|
Only knowing about half of these albums, I'm not qualified to vote. My favourites are Khan's Space Shanty and Gong's You -- terrific albums. I like all of the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy considerably, but You would be my top pick of that trilogy. I don't know Steve Hillage's solo work well. I was rather disappointed in Fish Rising, though
it certainly has its moments, to be cliche (okay, more than moments. Good album). Since I loved Gong's RGI
trilogy, and I'd heard that it was something of a continuation of Space Shanty (there are obvious reference points), I was just a little underwhelmed in comparison. I was heavily into Space Shanty when I got Fish Rising. If I were to vote on favourite of what I know, I think I would go for Khan's over Gong's You, though I've been obsessed with both, but I can't say what is the best album here, or what is his shining moment. If I were to go with his shining moment, then I might go for his solo debut, even though I'm not a big fan of it, since that is when he really came into the spotlight in a big way (composition and name-recognition as it is a Steve Hillage work and others were more collaborative, like Arzachel with Dave Stewart), and is his most personal album up to that point.
I would've predicted Fish Rising to win in this Steve Hillage poll. It is Steve Hillage's first "solo," as the term is used, album, and therefore more his place to shine, than former projects, plus I believe it's his most popular solo album. Of course Space Shanty and You are both very respected, and quite popular albums (Gong's You is at 48 on the most popular prog albums list, Space Shanty at 201, and Fish Rising down at 362, which means I expect You will do better than I thought). When I did a poll about forum_posts.asp?TID=45855 - Canterbury solo artists whose album one most wished to highlight, Steve Hillage got the most votes (even Wyatt only got half the votes), and Fish Rising was his most referred to album. But Hillage solo isn't as popular as Gong -- note forum_posts.asp?TID=38629 - this poll where Gong received eight votes and Steve Hillage just one (Caravan being the most popular with Soft Machine second). And forum_posts.asp?TID=23276 - this Canterbury scene album poll where Fish Rising received as many votes as all of Gong's Radio Gnome trilogy together. I see that currently Fish Rising is tied with Space Shanty (3 votes each and no votes for others, but it's early days). I'll just show the albums with rating for each of those. I hadn't known that Space Shanty, according to the ratings and number of ratings, was that much more popular than Fish Rising, but You does have more ratings than either so, even though it currently has no votes, I expect that to factor in. But then most will not know most of the albums on this list (though it's common for people to vote for favourite in best polls even when they know very few of the choices). 
1975 ../album.asp?id=4063 - Fish Rising 4.11 (49 ratings) 
1972 ../album.asp?id=5964 - Space Shanty 4.22 (72 ratings) 
1974 ../album.asp?id=4631 - Radio Gnome Invisible Vol. 3 - You 4.42 (89 ratings) ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: BaldJean
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 14:02
|
with the solo albums it is a tough choice between "Green" and "Fish Rising", and "L" is also excellent. I don't like "Motivation Radio" very much, and "For To Next", "And Not Or" and "Open" are catastrophies in my opinion. "Live Herald" is an excellent live album though. of the Gong albums "You" is the winner. and of course the live albums of Gong -------------  A shot of me as High Priestess of Gaia during our fall festival. Ceterum censeo principiis obsta |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 15:00
|
"You" is Gong's prime --- the best ever album to feature Hilllage.
Kind regards.
|
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 16:35
Like you, I'm really only familiar with the solo albums, but I figure that's good enough for me to vote. Unlike you, I had to go for L.
|
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 16:40
|
Best Gong album is You. [/QUOTE] Hmmmmm Best Gong album doesn't even Have Mr Hillage on it Camembert Electrique Or Gong Live Floating Anarchy would be my Favs as to Mr Hillage i have a soft spot for Rainbow Dome Music http://www.planetgong.co.uk/octave/cd/pgong_livefa91.shtml -
|
Posted By: Logan
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 16:54
Khan's Space Shanty and Gong's Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy (particularly You) are essential albums in my collection. Definitely worth checking out. ------------- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXcp9fYc6K4IKuxIZkenfvukL_Y8VBqzK" rel="nofollow - Duos for fave acts |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 21:23
|
Of Hillage's solo output, I only have Fish Rising, so I am unqualified to vote. Logan has pretty much summed up my take on Hillage-related material, though I will say I am not as torn. I love Khan but for me Gong's You towers over the other albums in this list (that I've heard). |
Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 21:41
Have no fear. Gong is definitley short-listed for acquisition.
|
Posted By: febus
Date Posted: May 31 2008 at 22:12
FISH RISING  for me. for his solo output.......not trying to be original.......i am NOT a fan of HILLAGE voice
I can't decide for a best of the trilogy.....llike them all
|
Posted By: zicIy
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 03:35
|
L "Lunar Musick Suite", with that Don Cherryīs trumpet solo, is a masterpiece track, no question. "Hurdy Gurdy Glissando" rocks too. Todd Rundgren did do a great job as the producer of this great album; my fav album of Hillage. i like his guitar sound so much (btw, i like his voice too, and, after all, i strongly recommend his Live in England 1979 DVD. ) |
Posted By: Zargus
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 04:19
I got Motivation Radio some days ago, only heard it once so far sounded pretty nice it gets my vote since its my newest Hillage album. I allso got Fish rising and L from his solo years and the Gong albums and Khan, love em all. And i have to say i realy like his voice!  ------------- 
|
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 06:04
|
I voted Green ( produced by Nick Mason), overall such a solid album but Motivation Radio and L come close seconds. All his solos are great and to think Open kinda was around before New Wave and it is very New Wave in parts!!
Hillage rocks ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 07:05
|
Solo - Green, although all of the first four solo albums are excellent. As for his work with Gong, it has to be You ; Angel's Egg is my favourite of the Trilogy, but You is where Hillage really shines. ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: A B Negative
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 08:29
|
I voted for Angel's Egg but Live Herald is my real favourite.
------------- "The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time." |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 11:42
Yes, I agree. "Fisg Rising" was not his only good album, but definitely it was his best. Let's remember that most of this album's tracks had originally been conceived as part of the second Khan album, which at the end of the day, never became a reality.
Kind regards.
|
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: June 01 2008 at 13:39
|
Damn hard call, as I have all on that list to ponder. Fish Rising, Green, Khan or L (Live Herald is the live option). Go with L because of the two stupendous Kasim Sulton on bass forays . Brrrr! ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Karyobin
Date Posted: June 02 2008 at 02:25
|
Have to go with 'Fish Rising' but 'Rainbow Dome Music' is my 'Forecast Soundtrack' as it is perfect to do figures to without getting distracted :)
K ------------- Every musical movement that is big enough has to produce some good musicians who wouldn't have had the incentive to start playing without it. Alexis Korner |
Posted By: zicIy
Date Posted: June 02 2008 at 03:29
|
off the topic-please dont shoot me! btw, i will never understand why "Shamal", one of the best (studio) prog albums ever, is pissing off by 99% of progheads? ok, i understand that, for example, Camembert Eletrique, or Continental Circus, are coming from more, letīs say, "romantic" time (they were recorded these albums in France, very few people in UK were knowing for the band, Camembert Eletrique went issued in UK much later, in 1974, etc), i know how they were great at the stage coz i own "Glastonbury Fayre" (various artists album) - but one great produced, complexity, musicaly perfect studio album as "Shamal" to be so much pissed off - i canīt understand. it looks to me same like if almost all the prog fans are going to say that only great albums from Genesis are "From Genesis To Revelation" and "Trespass" and because of that -"Selling England By The Pound" - sucks!
 or "Yes Album" is great, CTTE suck, "This Was" only, f**k TAAB etc...please donīt try to explain to me this phenomena about "Shamal" coz i will never understand that.  |
Posted By: Kord
Date Posted: June 02 2008 at 07:17
|
i would say L ------------- [IMG]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/5f/Genesis_Group.jpg" border"> |
Posted By: A B Negative
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 06:18
And I'll never understand why some people prefer the bland, generic jazz-rockisms of Allen-less Gong.  ------------- "The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time." |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 10:37
I wouldn't particularly label "Shamal "as a bland album: it showed that there was still a lot of creativity going on in the Gong ranks after Allen's departure and in a very uneven era (in terms of inconsistent line-ups). "Shamal" is a very colorful jazz-prog item, solid and dynamic: the violinist's input is priceless, particularly in track 4 when he brings out all that tango stuff from his own country. Track 5 is just lovely. "Shamal" to me is the ultimate expression of Gong as a proper band with all its members working on a common goal without one single leader.
Kind regards.
|
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: June 03 2008 at 11:31
|
Nothing wrong with Shamel i think its very very good album in fact its one of my Fav Gong Albums Babbooji and the title track are Top tunes i also saw that Line up Play live they were really really good , I also saw Gong at the Reading festival in 76 with this line up of Pierre Moerlen: Drums Didler Malherbe: Sax & Flute Mireille Bauer: Percussion Benoit Moerlen: Percussion Francis Mose: Bass Allan Holdsworth: Guitar and still to this day is one of the most memorable gigs , its the only time i have ever seen the whole audience at a Big Festival like that when headliners are playing that everyone sat down even right at the front, it created amazing atmosphere , and they played a Blinding set Holdsworth was on fire that night. and some of the Percussion playing was simply amazing , and the Jam they did for encore still sticks in my mind all these years later, I Love all the Stages of the Different GonG from the early years through the Trilogy years and beyond , vive la Gong ------------- 
|
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: June 04 2008 at 00:31
I remember one idiot referring to everything post Allen as ..... "Diet -Gong" . I told him to keep "Quiet Dung" !   ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: A B Negative
Date Posted: June 04 2008 at 05:50
|
Gong sans Allen is a different band playing different music and I don't think they're very good. The sense of humour is missing and the music seems exactly the same as all the other jazz-rock that fails to interest me.
There's an interview with Steve Hillage in this month's Guitar and Bass Magazine. He calls Fripp a "c**t" for saying that Hendrix wasn't a musician. ------------- "The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time." |
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: June 04 2008 at 12:17
I think your Wrong, but hey Different strokes for Different folk's -------------
|
Posted By: zicIy
Date Posted: June 05 2008 at 03:57
LOL LOL LOL
if Mr. Fripp really means that "Hendrix wasnīt a musician", iīm ought to agree with Mr. Hillage!
whoīs next on that Mr. Frippīs list of no-musicians? Allen, probably?
(no bad feelings, just a joke). |
Posted By: markosherrera
Date Posted: June 19 2008 at 22:14
|
Green
------------- Hi progmaniacs of all the world |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: June 20 2008 at 10:27
|
How about favourite albums of which Hillage was the producer but don't feature him as the lead musician of the recording? I would go for Rachid Taha's
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B0002T6M92/sr=8-4/qid=1213972004/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=229816&s=music&qid=1213972004&sr=8-4">  ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: A B Negative
Date Posted: June 20 2008 at 11:33
My favourite is Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call by Simple Minds. ------------- "The disgusting stink of a too-loud electric guitar.... Now, that's my idea of a good time." |
Posted By: PinkPangolin
Date Posted: June 20 2008 at 18:12
|
Fish Rising - total hippy freak-out Personally Live Herald is my favourite (but it isn't listed) as I had a copy when I was so so young (before I even knew Steve Hillage was in Gong!) - so it has a sentimental meaning to me |
Posted By: trackstoni
Date Posted: June 22 2008 at 16:52
|
I voted for Fishrising , I n fact when i joined Progarchieves activities few months ago , i was trying very hard to follow all proggers opinion , from all around the world . It was really impressing , as an old progger , to find that i was nearly right , since the first beginning of my dream .
Open was & still my favourite album , it contains something valuable from the Middle East ( specially
Arabic countries ) The masterpiece of our Star of Egypt Oum Koulthoum , and Steve Hillage was able to
open new dimensions for this Materpiece ----- IL'ALB YA'SHAK KOUL JAMIL , the meaning is , the heart
loves all beautiful things ........
Then why the hell i voted for Fish Rising , simply as a solo artist , Fish Rising was the most important release of 1975 . I really loved this album since that time , and believe me i still , the hippie from
outerspace , was really amazing in this work . Live Herald was also one of my favourite at the end of the 70's , L was satisfying , and Green is wonderful . With Gong line - up , steve did a good performance in those few albums , but not as a composer , as the solo works brings more challenging ideas , to create a
good music . So , Fish Rising deserves for sure to be the best Hillage album ................ Tracks Toni  ------------- Tracking Tracks of Rock |
Posted By: trackstoni
Date Posted: June 22 2008 at 17:10
|
By the way , Tszirmay was right about Shamal , this album was the best achievment of GONG , and the world Shamal is an arabic word , means Left . But still , Fish Rising was the best release since 1970 , as a studio album , and Live Herald as live recording ............................... Tracks Toni ------------- Tracking Tracks of Rock |
Posted By: Roj
Date Posted: July 10 2008 at 11:46
| My vote definitely goes to Rainbow Dome Music, the ultimate chillout album. It may be about 30 years old but it is still by far the best IMHO. |