Godbluff
title: "Godbluff" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["van-der-graaf-generator-albums", "1975-albums", "charisma-records-albums", "mercury-records-albums", "albums-recorded-at-rockfield-studios"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godbluff" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Godbluff |
| type | Album |
| artist | Van der Graaf Generator |
| cover | Godbluff.jpg |
| released | October 1975 |
| recorded | 9–29 June 1975 |
| 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 |
| :: |
| 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 in October 1975 via Charisma-Mercury. It was the first album after the band reformed in 1975 and was recorded after a European tour.
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". 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, which he had first started using on his previous solo album, *Nadir's Big Chance'' (1975).
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
Godbluffs 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; it would also be used on the next two albums, Still Life (April 1976) and World Record (October 1976).
Reception
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score =
| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide
| rev2Score = D+
| 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". Geoff Barton of Sounds deemed Godbluff "simply, an essential buy". 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."
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. |headline = Side one |title1 = The Undercover Man |length1 = 7:32 |title2 = Scorched Earth |writer2 = Hammill, David Jackson |length2 = 9:44 | headline = Side two | title3 = Arrow | length3 = 9:48 | title4 = The Sleepwalkers | length4 = 10:40 | 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
- 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
::data[format=table] | Chart (2022) | Peak position | |---|---| ::
References
References
- Strong, Martin C.. (2000). "The Great Rock Discography". Mojo Books.
- "Europe in May/June 1975".
- (May 2002). "Run For Your Lives! Van Der Graaf Generator". [[Mojo (magazine).
- (2 November 2018). "Van Der Graaf Generator: "Things went a bit mad after a while"".
- "Godbluff (2005 Charisma release) notes".
- McDonald, Steven. (2011). "Godbluff – Van der Graaf Generator". allmusic.com.
- Christgau, Robert. (1981). "[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]". [[Ticknor & Fields]].
- "Van der Graaf Generator: Godbluff (Charisma)". Melody Maker.
- Barton, Geoff. "Graaf's bluff is just enough". Sounds.
- Papworth, Bob. (17 November 1975). "Van too many". Lancashire Evening Post.
- Scharf, Natasha. (27 January 2016). "My Prog Hero: Inspiring the wider music world…".
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