Hawkwind head for the singles chart?

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Interesting move by some Hawkwind fans to try and get them back in the
singles charts after a 32 year absence!  Hawkwind are releasing a
new version of "Spirit of the Age" in (probably) Feb 2005, and moves
are afoot to get it in the pop charts.

Hawkwind are an albums band, so fans tend to buy the singles as and
when they get around to it.  The idea is, if we all do the
purchasing in a given week, the single could well hit the top 40 and
give some new exposure to the band.  

If anyone's thinking scam, fiddle or payola, well, it isn't.  It's
just synchronising what we'd do anyway to a tighter timeframe than
normal. I imagine it's been done before, but it's a good move. Well,
anything that displaces dross from the Top Forty has gotta be a good
move, huh.

Addendum

There's more info at http://www.starfarer.net/chartrek.html
- the band themselves and hawkwind.com aren't involved (as that would
infringe chart rules). So don't tell Dave Brock about this - let it be
a surprise when they knock Westlife (or whoever) off the top spot in
February!

Edited by sonic_assassin

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sonic_assassin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 29 2004 Location: Devon, UK Status: Offline Points: 157	Topic: Hawkwind head for the singles chart? Posted: December 19 2004 at 16:06
	Interesting move by some Hawkwind fans to try and get them back in the singles charts after a 32 year absence! Hawkwind are releasing a new version of "Spirit of the Age" in (probably) Feb 2005, and moves are afoot to get it in the pop charts. Hawkwind are an albums band, so fans tend to buy the singles as and when they get around to it. The idea is, if we all do the purchasing in a given week, the single could well hit the top 40 and give some new exposure to the band. If anyone's thinking scam, fiddle or payola, well, it isn't. It's just synchronising what we'd do anyway to a tighter timeframe than normal. I imagine it's been done before, but it's a good move. Well, anything that displaces dross from the Top Forty has gotta be a good move, huh. Addendum There's more info at http://www.starfarer.net/chartrek.html - the band themselves and hawkwind.com aren't involved (as that would infringe chart rules). So don't tell Dave Brock about this - let it be a surprise when they knock Westlife (or whoever) off the top spot in February! Edited by sonic_assassin

Prog_Bassist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 29 2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 830	Posted: January 07 2005 at 11:03
	well I mean there's nothing wrong with that at all. The Yes album made it into the charts because that one particular record store had most of them. And there was some mix up in the charts then, so they decided to base the charts right out of the sales of that one music store. So somebody close to the band (I think it was the manager or something, I forget) Bought like 69 copies or something. So that's how they got in. I have the Yesspeak dvd, and that'd along the lines of what steve howe said. lol.
	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuxaD8NzaY

Petra Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: August 23 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 663	Posted: January 11 2005 at 07:00
	I'm not so sure about that really, it all sounds a bit dodgy and maybe it will detract any credit the single may have too. Whatever, I can't see them getting of Tops of the Pops although Iron Maiden did with the re-release of 'Run for the Hills'
	Don't hate me I'm not special like you

sonic_assassin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 29 2004 Location: Devon, UK Status: Offline Points: 157	Posted: September 02 2005 at 10:45
	Well, whatever the ethics of the thing, the singles are now available, so I recommend every reader of this post go and invest in 3 or 4 copies I haven't listened to them yet, I wanna get tuned up with a few beers this evening and then check them out. The reason I say "them" is that I bought both versions, cos one's the live version and there's different b-sides (if one can use that term these days)

Heptade Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: May 19 2005 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 427	Posted: September 02 2005 at 10:52
	Ah, ye old Marillion marshal the fans tactics...it worked for them, after all.
	The world keeps spinning, people keep sinning And all the rest is just bullsh*t -Steve Kilbey

sonic_assassin Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: February 29 2004 Location: Devon, UK Status: Offline Points: 157	Posted: September 03 2005 at 04:19
	Only Hawkwind could do it that way. Trying to get back in the charts, they decide to release two singles simultaneously! And in both cases, Spirit strikes me as wholly unsuited to the pop charts. Angela Android might have stood a better chance, sounding (to me) rather Z Z Top-pish, or Paradox 2005 which is on the other single and is a real stonker. (Paradox was originally on the Mountain Grill album, way back in 1974...) Oh well, it's good to hear some 'new' Hawkwind, anyway. And the album's out in 10 days' time, too