For the love of rock
Vol V, Issue 4 – Silver machine (01 Apr 2020)
www.intheloveofrock.com
Name of song– Silver machine
Band –Hawkwind
Writers– Robert Calvert & Sylvia MacManus
Release year– 1972 (Single)
Album – Choose Your Masques (1982)
Peak chart positions
# 3 – UK Singles chart
Silver machine
“Hawkwind”, a legendary name in the field of rock music, may be not so common name to many rock fans. However, one of the pioneers of the space rock, although could not gain the highs of their likes like Pink Floyd, “Hawkwind” represents the prototype of a seventies rock. Formed by a visionary guitar player Dave Brock in London in 1969, with the intention of mixing simple three chord rock with experimental electronic music, the band perhaps may have been ahead of their times. With their exquisite light shows, and explicit stage extravaganza by their female member Stacia Blake, the band definitely shaped space rock, while defining hard, progressive as well as psychedelic rock during the seventies. The band had an ever changing line up of numerous members, with Brock being the only original member at present. It would be surprising to know that they had numerous important players playing for them, including Lemmy Kilmister, Ginger Baker, Robert Calvert etc, to name a few. Most well known for their amazing numbers like “Silver machine”, “Urban guerilla”, “Needle gun”, “Shot down in the night”, “Hawkwind” definitely deserves a praise from the rock fans all over the world.
“Silver machine” is one of their most famous number and this song definitely is the prototype “Hawkwind” number. Released as a single in 1972, the song was originally sung by the lyricist Robert Calvert. However, later, his voice was considered unsuitable and finally, Lemmy was given a try and the rest is history.The song was inspired by Alfred Jarry’s novel “How to construct a time machine.” It is about the space travel, which Robert Calvert metaphorized as building a bicycle. Definitely a marvelous space imagery song, the song has represented the space rock song since its release.
The song begins with a synthesizer machinery sound and there starts the ultimate riff by Dave Brock. Lemmy’s vocals and bass is unparalleled. The description, the spacy riff and hallucinogenic bass, the song is just a masterpiece ready to be savored always.
Undoubtedly, “Hawkwind” has defined space rock, but it is “Silver machine”, which has defined “Hawkwind”!!!
Happy listening!!!
Resources- Wikipedia.org, allmusic.com
Silver machine
I, I just took a ride
In a silver machine
And I’m still feeling mean
Do you want to ride?
See yourself going by
The other side of the sky
I got a silver machine
It flies
Sideways through time
It’s an electric line
To your Zodiac sign
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
It flies
Out of a dream
It’s antiseptically clean
You’re gonna know where I’ve been
Do you want to ride?
See yourself going by
The other side of the sky
I’m in a silver machine
I said, I just took a ride
In a silver machine
And I’m still feeling mean
It flies
Sideways through time
It’s an electric line
To your Zodiac sign
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
I’ve got a silver machine
Lyrics link- https://genius.com/Hawkwind-silver-machine-lyrics
Video link- https://youtu.be/zvD0fFf3kIU