Godbluff

{{Infobox album

| name = Godbluff

| type = Album

| artist = Van der Graaf Generator

| cover = Godbluff.jpg

| alt =

| released = October 1975

| recorded = 9–29 June 1975

| venue =

| studio = Rockfield Studios, Monmouthshire

| genre = Progressive rock

| length = 37:44

| label = UK Charisma Records
USA Mercury Records

| producer = Van der Graaf Generator

| prev_title = Pawn Hearts

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = Still Life

| next_year = 1976

}}

Godbluff is the fifth album released by English progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, released on October 1975 via Charisma-Mercury.{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |author-link=Martin C. Strong |title=The Great Rock Discography |year=2000 |edition=5 |publisher= Mojo Books |isbn=9-781841-950174 |page=1026}} It was the first album after the band reformed in 1975 and was recorded after a European tour.{{cite web|title=Europe in May/June 1975|url=http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/paris.htm|accessdate=24 November 2013}}

As the first self-produced album by the band, it featured a tighter, more pared-down sound than the band's earlier recordings with producer John Anthony. Hammill said "we did not want to make 'Son of Pawn Hearts' with a big long side two and lots of studio experiments".{{cite web|url=http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/mojo_may2002_7.htm|title=Run For Your Lives! Van Der Graaf Generator|publisher=Mojo|date=May 2002|accessdate=24 September 2017}} Van der Graaf Generator would never work with an outside producer from this point forward. Hammill made extensive use of the Hohner Clavinet D6 keyboard,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/features/van-der-graaf-generator-things-went-bit-mad-108028/2/|title=Van Der Graaf Generator: "Things went a bit mad after a while"|magazine=Uncut|date=2 November 2018|accessdate=5 November 2021}} which he had first started using on his previous solo album, Nadir's Big Chance (1975).{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The first release of the record in the United States was on Mercury Records. The 2005 reissue added live performances by the band of two songs from Peter Hammill's album The Silent Corner and the Empty Stage (1974), recorded at a concert at L'Altro Mondo, Rimini, Italy.

Artwork

Godbluff{{'}}s album cover was minimal, consisting of a band logo and "stamped" red album title on an otherwise black sleeve. The band logo that first appeared here was designed by John Pasche;{{cite web|title=Godbluff (2005 Charisma release) notes|url=http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/pawnhearts/godbluff2005_rear.jpg|accessdate=27 June 2013}} it would also be used on the next two albums, Still Life (April 1976) and World Record (October 1976). Godbluff{{'}}s sleeve design was later parodied on the cover of Fall Heads Roll by The Fall.

Reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}} {{cite web |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/r20978 |title=Godbluff – Van der Graaf Generator |first=Steven |last=McDonald |work=allmusic.com |year=2011 |accessdate=2 July 2011}}

| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide

| rev2Score = D+{{cite book |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |year=1981 |title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies |publisher=Ticknor & Fields |isbn=089919026X |chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: V |chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=V&bk=70 |accessdate=17 March 2019 |via=robertchristgau.com}}

}}

{{listen

| filename = Sleepwalkers sample.ogg

| title = Sleepwalkers Sample

| description = An audio sample of "Sleepwalkers", written by Peter Hammill, (1975)

| pos =

}}

In Melody Maker, the reviewer said that "in a very real sense, [Godbluff] is the sound of the mid-seventies: uncomfortable, coherent, unremitting, courageous".{{cite web |title=Van der Graaf Generator: Godbluff (Charisma) |url=http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/pawnhearts/god_mm.jpg |work=Melody Maker |accessdate=27 June 2013}} Geoff Barton of Sounds deemed Godbluff "simply, an essential buy".{{cite web |last=Barton |first=Geoff |title=Graaf's bluff is just enough |url=http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/pawnhearts/god_s.jpg |work=Sounds |accessdate=27 June 2013}} A negative review appeared in the Lancashire Evening Post in November 1975, in which Bob Papworth wrote that the album contained "the type of studiously avant-garde rock which so many other groups play infinitely better." Papworth added that "Guy Evans couldn't drum his way out of a paper bag and David Jackson's saxes and flutes are a little too simplistic to be credible."{{cite news |last=Papworth |first=Bob |title=Van too many |newspaper=Lancashire Evening Post |date=17 November 1975}}

In a May 2002 review in Mojo magazine, Julian Cope praised the album. A retrospective review in 2011 by AllMusic's Steve McDonald wrote: "Godbluff was a bravura comeback – only four cuts, but all were classics."

Track listing

All tracks written by Peter Hammill, except where indicated.

{{Track listing

|headline = Side one

|title1 = The Undercover Man

|length1 = 7:32

|title2 = Scorched Earth

|writer2 = Hammill, David Jackson

|length2 = 9:44

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title3 = Arrow

| length3 = 9:48

| title4 = The Sleepwalkers

| length4 = 10:40

}}

{{Tracklisting

| headline = 2005 CD bonus tracks - Recorded live at L'Altro Mondo, Rimini, Italy on 9 August 1975

| title5 = Forsaken Gardens

| length5 = 12:23

| title6 = A Louse Is Not a Home

| length6 = 10:26

}}

Personnel

;Van der Graaf Generator

Peter Hammill – vocals, piano, clavinet, electric guitar{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/my-prog-hero-inspiring-the-wider-music-world-2|title=My Prog Hero: Inspiring the wider music world…|first=Natasha|last=Scharf 2016-01-27T18:00:00.260Z|website=loudersound|date=27 January 2016 }}
David Jackson – saxophones and flute
Hugh Banton – Hammond organ (including bass pedals), bass guitar
Guy Evans – drums and percussion

;Technical

Produced by Van der Graaf Generator
Engineered by Pat Moran
Cut by George Peckham at The Master Room

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
Chart (2022) ! Peak position
{{album chart\|Scotland\|77\|date=20220415\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}
{{album chart\|UKRock\|23\|date=20220415\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

Chart (2022)

! Peak
position

{{album chart|Scotland|77|date=20220415|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}

{{album chart|UKRock|23|date=20220415|rowheader=true|accessdate=June 20, 2024}}

References

External links

[http://www.vandergraafgenerator.co.uk/godbluff.htm Godbluff (1975)] at vandergraafgenerator.co.uk
[http://www.allmusic.com/album/godbluff-mw0000652180 Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975)] – review by Steven McDonald at AllMusic.com
[https://www.discogs.com/Van-Der-Graaf-Generator-Godbluff/release/540750 Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975)] – at Discogs.com
[http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=1419 Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975)] – at ProgArchives.com
[https://open.spotify.com/album/4irlewoGTUPndEinKcavLF Van der Graaf Generator Godbluff (1975)] – stream at Spotify.com
{{youTube|pSkhTrQ6Pz4|The Sleepwalkers (2005 Digital Remaster)}}

Category:Van der Graaf Generator albums

Category:1975 albums

Category:Charisma Records albums

Category:Mercury Records albums

Category:Albums recorded at Rockfield Studios