FIRST GENERATION (SCENES FROM 1969-1971)

This is the third review of this compilation, and the first to give it over 3*. I simply have to give five, but NOT just for the average. The three VDGG albums behind this compilation are worth having as such, but for a listener like me, who doesn't want to have hundreds of CD's or LP's but instead usually tapes music for himself and has a relatively small (less than 200) but the more effective CD choice, this is nearly perfect to have. Masterworks "H To He..." and "Pawn Hearts" are well represented - only 'Lemmings' is excluded from the latter. 'Killers' and 'Pioneers Over C' are IMO not the best tracks from "H To He..." but still great ones. 'Theme One' as a non-album instrumental track is a nice addition even if it was a mere curiosity. My favourite prog epic is here too: 'Plague of the Lighthouse Keepers'.

I believe this serves as a good introduction to VDGG (for lovers of dark prog), but there must be as many opinions about compilations as there are record collectors: some just want to have the original albums, and if you like this, you HAVE to get the rest of the material too, somehow. The booklet includes an essay and a schedule of line-up changes in VDGG. Not lyrics, unfortunately. But there are over 70 minutes of music from one of the most daring and deeply emotional bands ever existed. (And I think this is a better compilation than the higher-rated "I Prophesy Disaster", which covers longer time-line.)