Artist: VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR
Album: THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS WAVE TO EACH OTHER REMASTERED (CD)

Year: 1970/ 2005
EAN/UPS: 0724347488924
Media type: CD

The Least We Can Do Is Wave to Each Other is the second album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator, released in February 1970 on Charisma Records. It was the group's first album to be released in the UK and the only one to chart in the top 50 in that country.

The songs on the album were mostly composed by group leader Peter Hammill, but arranged and rehearsed by the whole band. The lyrics covered a variety of themes including relationships with friends, witchcraft and apocalyptic catastrophes, while the music ranged from ballads such as "Refugees" to unusual and aggressive playing on "White Hammer" and "After the Flood". As well as a brief commercial success, the album was well received by critics and continues to be praised.

All songs written by Peter Hammill, except as noted.

TRACKLIST:
No.     Title     Writer(s)     Length

1.     "Darkness (11/11)"             7:28
2.     "Refugees"             6:23
3.     "White Hammer"             8:15

4.     "Whatever Would Robert Have Said?"             6:07
5.     "Out of My Book"       Hammill, David Jackson     4:08
6.     "After the Flood"             11:27

Bonus tracks:

7.    "Boat of Millions of Years" – 3:50 (bonus track on reissue)
8.    "Refugees" (single version) – 5:24 (bonus track on reissue)


LINE-UP:

    Peter Hammill – acoustic guitar and lead vocals; piano on "Refugees"
    Hugh Banton – Farfisa organ, piano and backing vocals
    Guy Evans – drums and percussion
    Nic Potter – bass guitar and electric guitar
    David Jackson – tenor and alto sax, flute and backing vocals

Additional musicians:
    Mike Hurwitz – cello on "Refugees"
    Gerry Salisbury – cornet on "White Hammer"