Hawkwind - Hawkwind
(Liberty LBS83348)
Released 1970, Liberty Label, manufactured in UK
Gatefold sleeve.
 
Track Listing
Side 1
Track 1:  Hurry On Sundown - 4:50
Track 2: The Reason Is? - 3:30
Track 3: Be Yourself - 8:09
Track 4: Paranoia (Part One) - 1:04
Side 2
Track 5: Paranoia (Part Two) - 4:11
Track 6: Seeing It As You Really Are - 10.43
Track 7:  Mirror Of Illusion - 7.08
 
Description
Hawkwind is the self-titled debut album by Hawkwind, released in 1970, originally on Liberty Records, later reissued on Sunset Records. This album is historic since it is one of the first space rock LPs.
The Pretty Things guitarist Dick Taylor, who was looking for a new venture after leaving the band, was pulled into Hawkwind playing some gigs and producing this album. After several unsuccessful attempts to capture the band's sound in the studio, it was decided simply to record it live in the studio.
The bulk of the album is composed of a freeform instrumental piece that the band named "Sunshine Special" but it was separated into different tracks on this album. On the LP, "Paranoia" ends after the first minute with the music slowing down as though the turntable is stopping, and then picks up as the first cut on Side 2. Lyrics are scant, but those that are present and the song titles are a reference to the drug experience, as the sleeve notes explain:
This is the beginning. By now we will be past this album. We started out trying to freak people (trippers), now we are trying to levitate their minds, in a nice way, without acid, and ultimately a completely audio-visual thing. Using a complex of electronics, lights and environmental experiences.
The two bookend pieces of "Hurry on Sundown" and "Mirror of Illusion" are more of a nod to Brock's alternative activity of busking and were released as a single in edited form.
The cover is a fantasy painting that shows several dragon figures emerging from piles of leaves that also spell out the name of the band. On the front cover, the dragons are shown with human arms, while the reverse cover shows a dragon's head as an automobile with a driver wearing sunglasses.
Adverts for the album proclaimed Hawkwind Is Space Rock.
 
(information sourced from wikipedia)
Internet Location
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawkwind_(album)