The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome
Studio album by Van der Graaf Generator
Released	2 September 1977
Recorded	13 May - 12 June 1977 at Foal, Morgan Studios and Rockfield Studios
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	54:02
Label	Charisma Records Mercury Records
Producer	Peter Hammill
Van der Graaf Generator chronology
World Record (1976) The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) Vital (1978)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome, released in 1977, was Van der Graaf Generator's last studio album before their 2005 reunion^[2]. 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.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 Reissue Bonus Tracks 2 Reissue Packaging Issues 3 Personnel 4 References

Track listing

All tracks written by Peter Hammill, except where indicated.

1. "Lizard Play" – 4:29
2. "The Habit of the Broken Heart" – 4:40
3. "The Siren Song" – 6:05
4. "Last Frame" – 6:15
5. "The Wave" – 3:15
6. "Cat's Eye / Yellow Fever (Running)" (Hammill, Graham Smith) – 5:21
7. "The Sphinx in the Face" – 5:59
8. "Chemical World" – 6:12
9. "The Sphinx Returns" – 1:18

Reissue Bonus Tracks

10. "Door" – 3:23
11. "The Wave" – 3:03
    • Demo version
12. "Ship of Fools" – 3:43
    • B-side of "Cat's Eye" single

Reissue Packaging Issues

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

Personnel

• Nic Potter – Bass guitar
• Guy Evans – drums and percussion
• Peter Hammill – Voice, piano, and guitars
• Graham Smith – Violin
• David Jackson – Saxophone on "The Sphinx in the Face" and "The Sphinx Returns"

References

1. ^ McDonald, Steven (2011 [last update]). "The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome - Van der Graaf Generator | AllMusic". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r20976. Retrieved 2 July 2011. 
2. ^ Christopulos, J., and Smart, P.: "Van der Graaf Generator - The Book", page 266. Phil and Jim publishers, 2005.

Van der Graaf Generator Peter Hammill · Hugh Banton · Guy Evans Former members: David Jackson · Nic Potter · Keith Ellis · Chris Judge Smith · Graham Smith · Nick Pearne · Charles Dickie Studio albums The Aerosol Grey Machine (1969) · The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other (1970) · H to He, Who Am the Only One (1970) · Pawn Hearts (1971) · Godbluff (1975) · Still Life (1976) · World Record (1976) · The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome (1977) · Present (2005) · Trisector (2008) · A Grounding in Numbers (2011) Other albums Time Vaults (1982) Live albums Vital (1978) · Maida Vale (1994) · Real Time (2007)