The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome

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The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome

Studio album by Van der Graaf Generator
Released	September 2, 1977
Recorded	May, 1977
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	54:02
Label	Charisma Records
Producer(s)	Peter Hammill
All Music Guide link
Van der Graaf Generator chronology
World Record (1976)	The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977)	Vital (1978)

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in 1977, was Van der Graaf Generator's last studio album before their 2005 reunion. The album features a more energetic, new wave sound than its three immediate predecessors, anticipating singer and songwriter Peter Hammill's late '70s solo work.

For this album, original bassist Nic Potter returned to the band, having left in 1970. Violinist Graham Smith, from String Driven Thing, also joined the line-up. Saxophonist David Jackson and organist Hugh Banton had left, modifying the band's sound considerably. Officially, the band's name was shortened to just "Van der Graaf" for this album and the live album Vital that followed, but contemporaneous Charisma Records promotional materials used both the full and shortened name.

The 2005 reissue added some B-sides and a demo. The last two of these were mislabeled on the CD packaging.

[edit] Track listing

All tracks written by Peter Hammill, except where indicated.

"Lizard Play" – 4:29
"The Habit of the Broken Heart" – 4:40
"The Siren Song" – 6:05
"Last Frame" – 6:15
"The Wave" – 3:15
"Cat's Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)" (Peter Hammill and Graham Smith) – 5:21
"The Sphinx in the Face" – 5:59
"Chemical World" – 6:12
"The Sphinx Returns" – 1:18
"Door" – 3:23 (bonus track on CD reissue)
"The Wave" – 3:03 (bonus track on CD reissue)
- Demo version
"Ship of Fools" – 3:43 (bonus track on CD reissue)
- B-side of "Cat's Eye" single