H to He, Who Am the Only One
H to He, Who Am the Only One is the third album by the British progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. It was released in December 1970 on Charisma Records in the UK and Dunhill in the US. The album was recorded in several sessions from June to November 1970 at Trident Studios in London, with producer John Anthony. King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp contributed a guitar part on The Emperor in His War Room.
Bassist Nic Potter left the group in August 1970, so Hugh Banton played bass in the studio and on bass pedals in concert. Dave Jackson added electric saxophone, and Banton eventually played both organ and bass for the remaining studio tracks. The cover art, by Paul Whitehead, was inspired by the track Pioneers Over c.
Songs explore varied themes: Killer tells of a lonely killer shark; The Emperor in His War Room centers on a tyrant haunted by his victims; Lost is a straightforward tale of lost love; Pioneers Over c has a science-fiction premise about astronauts traveling faster than light; House with No Door deals with isolation and difficulty making friendships.
Recording was sporadic and spread out over the year due to other band commitments. Fripp recorded two takes for The Emperor in His War Room, and the final result is a blend of both. To promote the album, the band took part in Charisma’s Six Bob Tour with Genesis and Lindisfarne, though the record did not chart in the UK.
Initial reviews were mixed, but the album is now regarded as a strong example of early progressive rock, with Killer often singled out as a fan favorite. A 2005 remaster added bonus tracks, including a studio version of Squid / Octopus. The title H to He refers to the fusion of hydrogen into helium, a basic process in stars.
The next Van der Graaf Generator album was Pawn Hearts (1971).
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:14 (CET).