Here's some New Year fun (which I'm sure we could all do with right now). When I was getting ideas together for the book, one of the potential chapter headings I had was 'Hawkwind's Thwarted Pop Career'... Here's a "what if?" alternative singles schedule for the 1970s ;-) 1/17

‘Mirror Of Illusion’ – July 1970. At the last minute, the A & B side of Hawkwind’s debut single are swapped when John Peel tells Doug Smith that ‘Hurry On Sundown’ takes “too long to get going.” It doesn’t chart, but Peel gives it lots of spins on Top Gear

‘You Know You’re Only Dreaming’ – Oct 1970. Their profile boosted by reports of their Isle Of Wight performances, Andrew Lauder suggests a standalone single. A re-recorded version of this track from the Trident sessions is rush-released and sells strongly

‘Master Of The Universe’ – Sept 1971. By now the biggest band in the underground, Hawkwind trail the release of their second album with an edited version of this soon to be classic track. To everyone's surprise, it charts for four weeks, peaking at no. 37

‘Silver Machine’ – June 1972. Hawkwind’s next single crashes into the charts, its space age boogie loved by teenyboppers and Hells Angels alike. Pan’s People perform a ‘sexy robot’ routine to it on Top Of The Pops, and the following week, it goes to no. 1