Issue 2025-060

Paolo Carnelli — Van Der Graaf Generator: Pawn Hearts - The Full Story Of The 1971 Classic

Martin Burns

There are, so far, ten books in Sonicbond's extensive catalogue that look at individual albums, under the banner of Rock Classics. These include books on various prog releases such as Yes's 90125, Supertramp's Crime Of The Century and arguably The Beatles — The White Album. Now Paolo Carnelli's Van Der Graaf Generator: Pawn Hearts - The Full Story Of The 1971 Classic is added to that roster.

Paolo Carnelli is a respected Italian music journalist of over 30 years standing. He has produced two previous books on Van Der Graaf Generator (VdGG), 2013's La Biografia Italiana and 2022's Behind and Beyond - Le Storie Dietro Le Copertine examining the stories behind every VdGG cover artwork. Now he has produced a forensically detailed deep-dive into the album that most VdGG fans think contains the three pinnacles of their entire catalogue in the shape of Pawn Hearts. Coming with no lyric sheet in the release I got in the mid-1970s, it always left be a bit confused and nonplussed having worked backwards through their catalogue from my, still, favourite album 1976's Still Life.

So this book has pushed me back into re-engaging with this difficult release, and after many listens and two reads of the book (it is a relatively short 80 pages) I find myself warming to it. "Finally", I hear the VdGG cognoscenti sigh. Paolo works his way through the place and possible mindset of VdGG after a particularly brutal tour of Germany before leading into details of the recording process.

Then there is the detailed examination of the three tracks that make up the original release of Pawn Hearts, before the bonus tracks now available of the more recent CD re-issue/remasters. Side one has two tracks: Lemmings (11:39) and Man Erg (10:22), and side two answers the question "You want it more epic?" with the single track A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers (23:05).

Paolo marshals all his resources into 19 precise pages of elucidation covering musical motifs, time signatures, instrumentation and lyric interpretations that make for a fascinating well-written read. He follows on with the album's cover art, the minimal involvent of Robert Fripp, its critical reception, and live performances.

If, like me, this album is languishing in your collection or if you are a fan and need someone to bounce ideas off or just new to this classic release, then Paolo Carnelli's Van Der Graaf Generator: Pawn Hearts - The Full Story Of The 1971 Classic is a must-read.

Alan Draper — On Track... Anthony Phillips 1977 - 1990

Geoff Feakes

When Sonicbond Publishing launched the On Track series of music-related books circa 2018, the focus was on popular bands like The Moody Blues, The Who, Yes, ELP and Genesis. More recently, writers have turned their attention to lesser known, but equally deserving acts. Anthony Phillips — or Ant as he is better known — fits into that category, being one of the finest and unsung composers and musicians of his generation.

Together with Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks and his friend and collaborator Mike Rutherford, Ant was a founding member of Genesis who formed in 1967. Prompted by a combination of stage nerves and disillusionment with the band collective, he parted company with Genesis in 1970 following the recording of the Trespass album. Although he was replaced by Steve Hackett for the subsequent Nursery Cryme album, several songs, including the classic The Musical Box, incorporated sections co-written by Ant before his departure.

Ant enrolled in musical theory and composition at the Guildford School of Music where he received a teaching degree and the self-confidence to add keyboards, bass, drums, and vocals to his guitar playing skills evident with Genesis. Despite the seven-year gap between Genesis and the release of his 1977 debut album The Geese & The Ghost, Ant proved that the time and meticulous preparation had not been in vain. This, and Ant's subsequent albums, struck a chord with Genesis fans who identified with the stately orchestrations and pastoral 12-string guitar interludes.

Author Alan Draper's book charts Ant's solo career over a productive fourteen-year period where his discography falls into two categories. Typical of prog rock, Ant's mainstream recordings usually have a central theme where long form pieces rub shoulders with shorter songs with Ant himself often providing the vocals.

The Private Parts and Pieces series on the other hand, features solo instrumentals, demos, alternate versions, and outtakes. They're a result of Ant's prolific output during the 1970s and 1980s and the playing time limitations of vinyl discs.

As is typical of the On Track series, everyone of Ant's albums during this period is given equal attention with a detailed description of each track.

In addition to being a writer, Draper is a musically literate songwriter and musician, evident in his detailed and articulate text. In addition to his scholarly analysis, Draper's enthusiasm for his subject is evident throughout, resulting in a book that's both informative and entertaining. As such, Anthony Phillips 1977 – 1990 is an essential read for anyone that has an appreciation of Ant's work and early Genesis.

Phil Kafcaloudes — On Track... Deep Purple from 1984

Martin Burns

Phil Kafcaloudes is an Australian author and journalist who has the unenviable task of going through Deep Purple's back catalogue from their reformation after a seven-year hiatus to the present day. This is a companion to Steve Pilkington's Deep Purple and Rainbow 1968-1979 book in the same series. Which is arguably the more progressive years of Purple's recording legacy. Not that, for my tuppence worth, they ever produced more than a few progressive tracks. And that trend continues on the post-1984 releases, according to the author.

Kafcaloudes book is well-researched with in-person interviews as well as archive material to flesh out the backgrounds and artistic decisions made on these albums. Following On Track's house style, each album analysis begins with the usual credits. He then produces short sections on album facts (personnel changes etc.) and on the cover art, which were engaging and interesting. His track-by-track analysis is well-written and finely detailed. It makes for quite a tome that any fan of Deep Purple should lap up. He reviews 20 releases, both studio recordings and live albums in detail, including bonus tracks.

There is the odd proof-reading error which I only mention as one of them made me guffaw. On Page 32 in the track reviews of the live album Nobody's Perfect when he gets to Hard Lovin' Woman', it includes an extract from Land Of Hope And Glory credited to the misspelt Elgare. The discussion text below begins: "In another lazy editing decision...". Which is almost a too perfect a juxtaposition.

If you are an avid fan of Deep Purple or one who has let things slip since the bands' classic era and want to catch up, Phil Kafcaloudes' book will be a must-read.