Quark, Strangeness and Charm (single)
Encyclopedia
"Quark, Strangeness and Charm" is a 1977 song by the UK rock group Hawkwind
, being the title track from the Quark, Strangeness and Charm
album.
The title references quark
s which are sub-atomic particles; "strange" and "charm" are playful terms used by physicists to define characteristics of quarks. The lyrics take a humorous look at certain famous physicists' romantic failures.
compilation album.
At the time Hawkwind shared the same manangement as Marc Bolan
and so were given a slot on the Marc
Granada Television
programme to promote it. For some reason Brock declined to appear either being unwilling to drive to Manchester for the filming or because he held a long time grudge against Bolan. For the pre-recording of the music on this show, Shaw played guitar whilst Calvert mimed playing guitar during the filming.
and Weird Tape Volume 2 albums. It was briefly resurrected at the end of 1993 for the tour of the It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous
album and remained until the end of 1994.
.
Jean-Jacques Burnel
has long been an admirer of the song, stating it was "a song I'd really fucking wish I'd written.". He has performed versions of the song with Three Men And Black.
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
, being the title track from the Quark, Strangeness and Charm
Quark, Strangeness and Charm
Quark, Strangeness And Charm is the seventh studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1977. It spent 6 weeks on the UK albums chart peaking at #30....
album.
The title references quark
Quark
A quark is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. Quarks combine to form composite particles called hadrons, the most stable of which are protons and neutrons, the components of atomic nuclei. Due to a phenomenon known as color confinement, quarks are never directly...
s which are sub-atomic particles; "strange" and "charm" are playful terms used by physicists to define characteristics of quarks. The lyrics take a humorous look at certain famous physicists' romantic failures.
1977 Single
It was released as a single in the UK (CB305) on 29 July 1977, being a slightly different version to the one on the album. Some European copies had a different B-side, such as Germany which featured "The Iron Dream" instead. The single version was subsequently included on the 1980 Repeat PerformanceRepeat Performance (album)
Repeat Performance were a series of budget compilation albums issued by Charisma Records in 1980. The first of the series was a Various Artists compilation, subsequent albums showcased an artist on the label...
compilation album.
At the time Hawkwind shared the same manangement as Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
and so were given a slot on the Marc
Marc (TV series)
Marc is a British television series presented by T. Rex lead singer Marc Bolan. It was produced in Manchester by Granada Television for the ITV network....
Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
programme to promote it. For some reason Brock declined to appear either being unwilling to drive to Manchester for the filming or because he held a long time grudge against Bolan. For the pre-recording of the music on this show, Shaw played guitar whilst Calvert mimed playing guitar during the filming.
Track listings
- "Quark, Strangeness and Charm" (Calvert/Brock) – 3:06
- "The Forge of Vulcan" (House) – 3:05
Personnel
- Robert CalvertRobert CalvertRobert Calvert was a writer, poet, and musician.-Biography:Born Robert Newton Calvert in Pretoria, South Africa, Calvert's parents moved to England when he was two years of age and later attended school in London and Margate. He began his career by writing poetry and in 1967 formed a Street...
– vocals, percussion, morse and strangeness - Dave BrockDave BrockDavid Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, synthesisers, sound FX, vocals and quark - Simon HouseSimon HouseSimon House is a composer and classically trained violinist and keyboard player, perhaps best known for his work with space rock band Hawkwind. His arrival in 1974 introduced a new element to the band's style...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, anvil, vocals and charm - Adrian Shaw – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals and hand-claps - Simon KingSimon King (musician)Simon King is an English drummer most noted for his work with Hawkwind. He was described in 1985 by British rock magazine 'Sounds' as 'definitive rock drummer.'...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion and no-vocal
Credits
- Recorded at Rockfield StudiosRockfield StudiosRockfield Studios, near Monmouth in Wales and just outside the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire are where many of British rock music’s most successful recordings have been made.-History:...
, February 1977. - Produced by Hawkwind
- Engineered by Dave CharlesDave CharlesDave Charles, also known as David Charles is a British drummer, recording engineer & record producer. He often appears under both names on the same album, e.g. Help Yourself's The Return of Ken Whaley, where Dave Charles is credited with drums and vocals and David Charles as producer.Charles'...
.
Live Versions
The song only briefly featured in Hawkwind's live set in 1977 with one recording surviving, released on both the Hawkwind AnthologyHawkwind Anthology
The Hawkwind Anthology series of records were originally issued mid-1980s containing live and outtake material from Hawkwind's career to that date....
and Weird Tape Volume 2 albums. It was briefly resurrected at the end of 1993 for the tour of the It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous
It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous
It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous is the eighteenth studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind, released in 1993. It spent one week on the UK albums chart at #75....
album and remained until the end of 1994.
1994 EP
In 1994 Hawkwind recorded a new version of the song with significant rewriting of the music. This version was also included on the album The Business TripThe Business Trip
The Business Trip is a 1994 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind. It was recorded during the group's 1992 tour to promote the It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous album....
.
Track listings
- "Uncle Sam's on Mars" (Red Planet Radio Mix) – 2:43
- "Quark, Strangeness and Charm" (Calvert/Brock) – 6:24
- "Black Sun" – 9:34
- "Uncle Sam's on Mars" (Martian Conquest Mix) – 6:53
Personnel
- Dave Brock – guitar, vocals, keyboards, synthesisers
- Alan Davey – bass guitar, vocals, synthesisers
- Richard Chadwick – drums, percussion
- Astralasia – remixes
Release history
- Sep 1994 – UK – Emergency Broadcast Sysrem Records – 12" vinyl (EBT 110) and CD (EBCD 110)
- Nov 1994 – USA – Griffin – CD (GCD 312-2)
Cover versions
The StranglersThe Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
Jean-Jacques Burnel
Jean-Jacques Burnel
J. J. Burnel , is a Franco-English musician producer and songwriter, best known as the bass guitarist with the British rock band The Stranglers.-Life and career:...
has long been an admirer of the song, stating it was "a song I'd really fucking wish I'd written.". He has performed versions of the song with Three Men And Black.