MIGHTY HAWKWIND CLASSICS 1980-1985

First there's the Hawkwind Zoo EP from1981. This features three tracks; Hurry On Sundown, Sweet Mistress of Pain and Kings of speed. This version of Hurry on Sundown is apparently the first Hawkwind Demo and certainly gives a flavour on the first album that followed. Although a demo, it's not too rough there's just not a lot of production. Sweet Mistress of Pain is another early recording so-so. Fine in tis context but not one to use as an introduction to Hawkwind. There two tarcks apear on teh UA remastered version of the First Hawkwind Album, the secons as "10 Kiss of the Velvet Whip" although I'm not certain they're the same versions. The third track is a competent live version of Kings of Speed.

Next up is the Motrohead/Valium Ten EP (recorded1975/1978) released in 1981. This is a lot more laid back than Motorhead's version of their title track. Again this sounds like a well polished demo, with a very live feel. Play it lound and you can imagine it live. Valium ten is god example of those times when Hawkind get into a groove playing lots of noises over a puming riff.

The third entry is the gem that really make this collection worth buying, The Earth Ritual Preview, from 1983, reviewed as the "Night of the Hawks EP" on this site. The lead track "Night of the Hawks" is classic 80's hawkwind that must have really worked well live. Does for Hawkwind what "Motorhead" does for Motorhead. Something of a Hawkwind Anthem With a Chorus that everyone could sing along with. "Green Finned Demon" is a classic Brock/Calvert composition with Clavert usual lyricalquality. This wouldn't be out of place next to "The Sea King" on "Chronicles... ". Dream Dancers is a short piece of noises leading on to teh final track "Dragons and fables". Written by Huw lloyd Langton it's one of the best Hawkwind/Lloyd Langton tracks.

The final EP on this compilation is the Sonic Assassins EP from 1977. This consists of three live tracks with Calvert on Vocals. The first, "Over the Top" has calvert ad-lib-ing while the band twiddle away in the background. It sounds like he's tring to lead them into "Master of the Universe", but the band ignore him and carry on with what they're doing. This is followed by reasonable live versions of Free Fall and Death Trap. The sound quality is not fantastic and I've heard Calvert sing better (and a lot worse). All-in-all, a reasonable example of Hawkwind live at this time.

Overall, Three stars but if you haven't got "Night of the Hawks/Green Finned Demon/Dragons & Fables" elsewhere it's worth four stars, go and buy it,(unless you think Electric Teepee is the pinnacle of hawkwind).