Hawkwind – Hall Of The Mountain Grill, Remastered and Expanded: Album Review

By Mike Ainscoe on 12th September 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Hawkwind in exclesis. Mister Tayler does another sterling job in enhancing an iconic album from ’74.

Release Date: 29th August 2025

Label: Atomhenge / Cherry Red Records

Format: 2CD / Remastered LP / 7CD + 2 Bluray mega edition

A career highlight? Hindsight is always a handy bedfellow. Even back in 1974, Hall Of The Mountain Grill was viewed as an impressive set which some fifty years on, still holds a strong place in the Hawkwind legacy. With no Robert Calvert and being Lemmy’s swansong, the already fluid line up boasts perhaps the finest gathering of Hawks – Brock, Turner, Lemmy, House, Dettmar, King. One of those line up of names that adorns band T shirts these days. Not to forget, on artwork and visuals, Barney Bubbles!

A MATCH FOR SPACE RITUAL?

Credit where it’s due – this is a package that’s a match for the expanded Space Ritual in terms of the content, the additional content, presentation and loving care taken over it. The nine disc set is based around a newly remastered copy of the original album, plus a 5.1 up-mix and collection of singles and studio leftovers.

Coming off the back of the Space Ritual touring cycle, HOTMG finds Hawkwind returning with a combo of the tried and tested and heading into ‘new directions’. An album formed of studio recordings and over-dubbed live recordings made at concerts at Edmonton Sundown in London in January 1974, Hall Of The Mountain Grill was another UK Top Twenty hit for the band. The latter statement might not mean much these days, but at the time it was a measure of the popularity and status

Yes, we all know and love the likes of The Psychedelic Warlords, and You’d Better Believe It that satisfy expectations. Lemmy is at the mic for Lost Johnny, his Rock and Rolling boogie decorated with some fuzz guitar. The Space Rock onslaught, given its full head in Space Ritual, gets punctuated by the likes of the New Age-y Goat Willow and haunting title track; Wind Of Change is all very string drenched Moody Blues/Procol Harum-esque. D-Rider on the other hand heads into a space that effects a more quirky, early Floyd psychedelic whimsy.

THE LIVE EVIDENCE

The embarrassment of riches comes in the form of a selection of live material from the era which has received a thorough sonic bath. The full set includes two full previously unreleased concerts mixed by Hawkwind sonic maestro, Stephen W Tayler whose work continues to add a real velvet touch to the legacy.

The first was recorded at Edmonton, London in January 1974, a benefit concert for imprisoned LSD advocate Timothy Leary, which featured a guest appearance by Robert Calvert and Joanna Harcourt-Smith, Leary’s partner. The sound is terrific, clear and bold as is the second is a full concert recorded at the Allen Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio on 22 March 1974. The Bainstorm/Seven By Seven combo is terrific, heading from proto-Punk into Heavy Progressive Rock. There are also dazzling versions of Master Of The Universe that lay waste with a propulsive;y intense thrash.

Retaining some of the spoken word parts that characterised Space Ritual, the live sets evolve into an experience where the full instrumental spectrum of the septet was harnessed. In addition, the set also includes Stephen W Tayler’s new mix of the full 1999 Party concert at the Auditorium, Chicago on 21 March 1974. Again, the quality is crystal and to be able to enjoy a fifty year old recording is quite remarkable.

AND THERE’S MORE

The set is rounded off nicely with an illustrated book with new essay, making this boxed set the definitive release of this legendary album. Look out for Stacia on Page 3 of the booklet in a typically ‘Page 3’ image. Planned? Tongue in cheek? Happy accident? Coincidence? You have to smile.

Here’s what could be a solid contender for the Hawkwind theme tune: