Best Steve Hillage Album

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).

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.

Blacksword wrote: 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.

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.

fuxi wrote: 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).

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 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 this poll where Gong received eight votes and Steve Hillage just one (Caravan being the most popular with Soft Machine second).  And  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
Fish Rising
4.11
(49 ratings)


1972
Space Shanty
4.22
(72 ratings)


1974
Radio Gnome Invisible Vol. 3 - You
4.42
(89 ratings)

"You" is Gong's prime  ---  the best ever album to feature Hilllage.

Best Gong album is You.
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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

 

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).

FISH RISING for me. for his solo output.......not trying to be original.......i am NOT a fan of HILLAGE voice 

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!

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.