14 FROM OUR PAST

"14 From Our Past" is a compilation of Genesis that was released in 2007. As its name indicates, it features fourteen songs from the band which aim to be representative of the whole history of Genesis. So, practically all studio albums of the group are represented with one song except their debut and third studio albums "From Genesis To Revelation" and "Nursery Cryme". It has also a song "Happy The Man" that was never put on any official studio album at the time. However, it was recorded and released at the same time of "Nursery Cryme" and so it became the song representative of it. It's also interesting to note that all the songs on "14 From Our Past" were put strictly in the chronological order.

Thus, "14 From Our Past", like its name indicates, is a compilation album with fourteen tracks. The tracks chosen to be part of this compilation album are the following: "The Knife" from "Trespass", "Happy The Man" which is a non-album's track, "Watcher Of The Skies" from "Foxtrot", "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" from "Selling England By The Pound", "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" from "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway", "Squonk" from "A Trick Of The Tail", "Your Own Special Way" from "Wind And Wuthering", "Follow You, Follow Me" from "...And Then There Were Three...", "Turn It On Again" from "Duke", "Abacab" from "Abacab", "That's All" from "Genesis", "Land Of Confusion" from "Invisible Touch", "Hold On My Heart" from "We Can't Dance" and "Congo" from "Calling All Stations".

"The Knife" is a composition unusually aggressive for the band and pronounced, in a certain way, the path the band would follow up on their next albums. It's the most famous song on "Trespass" and is the heaviest track of Genesis. "Happy The Man" is a song that was never released on any studio album of the band. It was released only as a single, in a few countries, as the A side of it and with "Seven Stones" as the B side. It was later put on several compilation albums, some with slightly different versions. The song was originally recorded in 1972. It was released almost simultaneously with the "Foxtrot" album. It's a good song, but one that wouldn't have fit very well on that album. "Watcher Of The Skies" is one of the most popular and beloved songs by their fans, and one of the most played live by the band. It's a great song that gives a sense of majesty and power. "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" is a funny song with some characteristics of a pop song. Still, it's a great song. It was the first charting single of the band. "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" is one of the most accessible songs on the entire early Genesis' catalogue. It revolves around piano, synthesizer and Mellotron tunes, with the traditional rock instruments accompanying. It has some great lyrics too. "Squonk" is a very simple song with great choral work. It has a great memorable opening and a remarkable fantastic drumming work of Collins. "Your Own Special Way" is a straight forward pop song with excellent melody. It has very good 12 string guitars, and some superb keyboard arrangements by Banks, plus some autoharp by Hackett. "Follow You, Follow Me" is a song released for a single with the intention to be a hit that achieved the top sales. It's a good pop song that should never have been recorded by Genesis, but recorded by Collins on one of his solo albums. "Turn It On Again" is a good pop rock song, one of their greatest successes and one of their most played live songs. "Invisible Touch" is a typical pure pop song made to be a greatest hit. As a pop song, it's a great song. Still, it has nothing to do with prog. "Abacab" is a very good song that I like very much. I really think that we are in presence of one of the best songs on "Abacab" album. It's a song with a simple structure that progresses in a modern way. "That's All" is a simple song with a catchy tune that remains nice to hear from the beginning to its ending. It's a Collins' song with all the ingredients to be a successful pop song. "Land Of Confusion" became a Genesis' classic song with a catchy rhythm and a beautiful melody, very nice and pleasant to hear. Of course this isn't exactly a progressive song but it's good enough to be remembered. "Hold On My Heart" is a song that never should be part of a Genesis' album. It's a good song, but it really belongs to a Collins' solo work. "Congo" marked the debut of Ray Wilson as the vocalist of Genesis. It's a song with a pop tune with an African style drum beat. It isn't bad, but it sounds too much to a pop song.

Conclusion: "14 From Our Past" is an interesting and strange compilation. We can't say that we are in presence of a bad compilation because almost all their studio albums are represented. The only exceptions are "From Genesis To Revelation" and "Nursery Cryme". About "From Genesis To Revelation" is comprehensive and expected because, in a certain way, it's an outsider album in their discography. But, "Nursery Cryme" is unexpected and less comprehensive. In relation to the choice of the tracks, there was the concern of selecting short tracks. The overall quality of the compilation is good. Half of it is progressive. But of course it has some weak tracks like "Follow You Follow Me", "Hold On My Heart" and "Congo". So, "14 From Our Past" is a good compilation which runs almost their entire career. Still, it serves only those who are beginners with the band or those who aren't familiar with the entire band's musical career.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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