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AtomicCrimsonRush 
Special Collaborator 
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
 Posted: November 18 2011 at 04:33 |
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A Live Album Before The Next Generation of Genesis After the success of "Wind and Wuthering" that heralded critical acclaim by both reviewers and the massive fanbase, it was time to tour the album. The first compilation of the band was released titled simply "The Best of Genesis".  The cover featured the antics of Peter Gabriel in full regalia. The psychedelic design is striking and it does boast some of the finest Genesis material. Tracks on original vinyl 1. The Musical Box (10:24) Total Time: 42:35 2. Time Table (4:40) Any Genesis fan knew that this was nothing more than the original releases of "Nursery Cryme" and "Foxtrot" but it was a welcome release for those who did not have the original classics. This approach is reminiscent of how Pink Floyd released their originals in "A Nice Pair" along with other artists of the 70s such as Kiss who released "The Originals" and Alice Cooper with his double releases. A review on ProgArchives by friso explains the album: Ok, this is nothing you might have missed! This 1976 double LP released by Buddah Records contains both the Nursery Cryme and Foxtrot album in their original form. Though this release might have come on handy at the time for those who missed the original releases of these two acclaimed masterpieces of symphonic rock, it's only has to offer a nice fold-out sleeve with some nice artwork. The artwork is colorful and the information on the front makes it perhaps look a bit cheap. In the inside there are some news-paper articles about the band. Another Compilation was released in 1977 as a Brazilian release but this was a very poor attempt at cashing in on the success of the group. The album was called "Genesis In Concert".
The tracks were: 1. The Fountain Of Salmacis (7:54) Tarcisio Moura: It was just a way a local recording company found to cash in when Genesis played in Brazil in 1977. Although the name In Concert suggests a live recoding (fueled by the sub title ´Best Moments Of The Brazillian 77 Tour`) it actually a compilation of sorts, and it contains studio tracks only, in one of the most dishonest ways to fool record buyers into getting this turd. The video was released the same year called "Genesis in Concert 1976". Filmed at Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland, (9-July-76) and at New Bingley Hall, Stafford, England (10-July-76). The film premiered in London in late January 1977. A Laser Disc version was released in Japan in the 1990`s. It was recently released on DVD as part of the Genesis` "1976-1982" Box Set ( 2007) by Rhino Records. The band members on the VHS were: - Michael Rutherford / bass, 12 string guitar - Philip Collins / voice, drums - Tony Banks / keyboards, 12 string guitar - Steve Hackett / lead guitar, 12 string guitar - Bill Bruford / drums, percussion (listed as "special guest" in the end credits)  The tracks on the release were: 1. Opening 2. I Know What I Like 3. Fly on a Windshield 4. Carpet Crawl 5. The Cinema Show (Part Two) 6. Entangled 7. Supper`s Ready (Part Two) 8. Los Endos Total Time 43 minutes  Reviewers look upon the VHS (and now DVD) quite fondly, as one reviewer sums it up: erik neuteboom: The lightshow was obivously less extravagant than the next Wind And Wuthering show (with the 48 Boeing landing lights), at some moments even a bit dark. It's really exciting to see Steve Hackett playing Fly On A Windshield with his distinctive use of the volume pedal, so moving and creating a very compelling atmosphere. Another highlight is The Cinema Show featuring a very dynamic rhythm section and sensational synthesizer flights on the ARP Pro Solist, Banks his favorite synthesizer. It's a pity that the director decided to spoil the wonderful experience of watching Genesis in concert by using 'silent movie' images, really disturbing, especially during The Cinema Show, brrrr! During Supper's Ready I want the camera to focus on Hackett but the camera crew had other instructions, food for a conspiracy theory? Anyway, despite some irritating 'silent movie' images', it's a thrill to watch this 1976 Genesis line-up with duo-drums and some very delicate Hackett guitar play, my progrock guitar hero!  
Hackett remained with the band for the tour but had made his intentions clear of his departure. The resulting album of the tour was the magnificent "Seconds Out". This was a double album that certainly captured the great live experience of the band with Collins at the helm.  The musicians on the album were: Tony Banks / RMI electric piano, Hammond T. organ, APR Pro-Soloist, Mellotron 400, Epiphone, 12 string guitar, backing vocals - Bill Bruford / drums and percussion (10) - Phil Collins / drums, percussion, lead vocals - Steve Hackett / lead guitar, Hodaka, 12 string guitar - Mike Rutherford / electric 12 string guitar, bass guitar, 8 string bass guitar, bass pedals, backing vocals - Chester Thompson / drums and percussion The track listing: 1. Squonk (6:36) 2. The Carpet Crawl (5:60) 3. Robbery, Assault & Battery (6:03) 4. Afterglow (4:24) 5. Firth Of Fifth (8:55) 6. I Know What I Like (8:42) 7. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (4:59) 8. The Musical Box (Closing Section) (3:18) 9. Supper's Ready (24:32) 10. Cinema Show (10:58) 11. Dance On A Volcano (5:09) 12. Los Endos (6:30) Total Time: 96:06  The album has received mixed reviews but some view it as an excellent live record: ZowieZiggy: It's a pity that their record company compiled these two on one album (being a double) only. In those days, live albums were not as popular as now. Five songs are from "and then they were four" era but I was very disappointed that only one song from "Wind" was selected out of the tour ("Afterglow") while "Eleventh Earl Of Mar" and "All In A Mouse's Night" were regularly played in 1977. I guess that the fact that Steve left the band in the meantime (after the 77 tour, but before this release) was the main reason for it. The best track from "Trick" is also skipped (actually, it will never be played live) : of course, I mean, "Mad Man Moon". So, let's go now to the more positive side : the renditions of "Squonk" (which sounds harder than the studio one), "Robbery" (during which I think, the clip was displayed on a giant screen. I think it was the 76 show, but I am not 100% sure), and "Afterglow" (wonderful moment of emotion) are very good. As far as the "old" repertoire is concerned, if we except the (too) long version for "I Know..." (but this will be their trademark for this song for the next two decades), and the emasculated "Musical Box" limited to the closing section (three very cool minutes though) there were two very nice versions from "The Lamb" : the title track as well as "Carpet". All the other tracks are at the level of excellence : "Firth" being as beautiful as on "Selling" (but, hell ! Why did they cut the intro in their concerts ?) I remember quite well "Supper's Ready" and the laser effects surrounding Phil. Actually, I prefer this live version to the Foxtrot one (and even to the other official live release on the "Archive I" boxset recorded with Peter at the Rainbow theater in 1973). I can't tell though if this version was taken in 76 or 77 (the laser effect appeared in both tours). Phil is really astounding in the lead vocal of this epic of prog music. In general, Phil was great during those tours, and quite a surprise for most of the fans. The last three tracks of this album are GORGIOUS. When you listen to the second part of the "Cinema Show" the drumming is incredible. Can you imagine : Bill and Phil on the drums on the same stage ! About five minutes of pure crazyness. They were probably the best prog drummers in the world (and even if we include Bonham, Paice and Moon we got two of the top five drummers in the music history on the same stage - let's add maybe Carl Palmer to be complete). The same feeling will apply to the closing numbers which I did not consider as great studio tracks on "Trick" but here they just sound fantastic. This time, the second drummer is Chester, and I can tell you that it was a great experience to watch them both playing together. As I was always in the first row in those days, I could see them pretty close. The liner notes mention Bill on drums for "Cinema Show" only. This means that this is the sole track of the 1976 tour on this album. For your information, this is how both tours looked like (here and there some tracks changed, but not very much) : Classical 1976 tour : 1) Dance On A Volcano 2) The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 3) Fly On A Windshield / Broadway Melody Of 1974 4) The Carpet Crawlers 5) The Cinema Show 6) Robbery, Assault & Battery 7) White Mountain 8) Firth Of Fifth 9) Entangled 10) Squonk 11) Supper's Ready 12) I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) 13) Los Endos 14) It/Watcher Of The Skies Classical tracklist 1977 tour : 1) Squonk 2) One For The Vine 3) Robbery, Assault & Battery 4) I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) 5) Firth Of Fifth 6) ... In That Quiet Earth 7) Afterglow 8) Eleventh Earl Of Mar 9) Supper's Ready 10) All In A Mouse's Night 11) Dance On A Volcano 12) Drum Duet 13) Los Endos 14) The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 15) The Musical Box (closing section)  The album was to be the swansong for Hackett who took off for the greener pastures of a solo career, and a prolific one at that, spawning to date in 2011, some 22 studio releases and 9 live releases, with 6 DVDs, proving that life goes on without Genesis. Of course later other members would prove likewise to forge successful solo careers. On the subject of "Seconds Out", the album reached No.4 in the UK, remaining in the charts for 17 weeks. The performances were recorded in Paris in 1976 and 1977 whilst promoting "A Trick of the Tail" and "Wind and Wuthering". At the end of several songs the crowd can be heard encouraging the band to play another song by chanting "Une autre!" meaning "another one".                 Screen shots from the VHS/DVD of Genesis In Concert 1976
     
Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - July 13 2012 at 04:21 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: November 18 2011 at 07:29 |
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Some of the actual film footage Genesis Live In Concert 1976 is here
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Catcher10
Forum Senior Member 
VIP Member Joined: December 23 2009 Location: Emerald City Status: Offline Points: 17490 |
Posted: November 18 2011 at 10:41 |
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Excellent!!!!!!!! as usual
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cjrutty
Forum Newbie 
Joined: November 11 2009 Location: Toronto Status: Offline Points: 14 |
Posted: November 18 2011 at 12:10 |
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Very nicely done. Wind & Wuthering is certainly one of my favorite Genesis albums.
For some further discussion of Steve Hackett's music, especially since leaving Genesis, along with the solo career of Anthony Phillips, check out the 2-part "Branches of Genesis" episode of The Irrelevant Rock & Roll & Music Show, which I co-hosted.  Chris |
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Slartibartfast
Collaborator 
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam Joined: April 29 2006 Location: Atlantais Status: Offline Points: 29625 |
Posted: November 18 2011 at 18:07 |
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 This was what hooked me on the band, my brother had it. The albums seem like non identical twins. |
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: November 18 2011 at 18:46 |
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Wow! I had never owned that one but its kind of cool that the best 2 albums are on one release at least.
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: November 18 2011 at 18:48 |
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Thanks Catcher10 for the comments! also thanks cjrutty, for the info on Hackett and Genesis. This was a welcome surprise to me. I liked the format of that show. Taking it as a look back to the Genesis years it works very well.
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darksideof
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 22 2007 Location: Newark N.J. Status: Offline Points: 2318 |
Posted: December 06 2011 at 19:40 |
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Well, after 27 years I heard of them I still love them. To me genesis was one of the band that made the most beautiful ( Melodies) prog rock ever.
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http://darksideofcollages.blogspot.com/
http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darksideof-Collages/ |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: July 13 2012 at 05:02 |
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And Then There Were Three...
By 1978 Genesis had become a three piece with remaining members Phil Collins at the helm on lead vocals and drums, along with keyboard wizard Tony Banks and the ever reliable Mike Rutherford on bass. After a tour it was time to go back to the studios to record the next album, along with some session musicians, Darryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson, and it was appropriately titled "And Then There Were Three". 
The tracks on the album: 1. Down And Out (5:24) 2. Undertow (4:45) 3. Ballad Of Big (4:48) 4. Snowbound (4:28) 5. Burning Rope (7:09) 6. Deep In The Motherlode (5:12) 7. Many Too Many (3:30) 8. Scenes From A Nights Dream (3:29) 9. Say It's Alright Joe (4:19) 10. The Lady Lies (6:04) 11. Follow You, Follow Me (3:59) Total Time: 53:07 
The band began to move away dramatically from the
progressive rock that defined them, and although this may have displeased prog fan it certainly gained new ones, including a saturated female audience and the power ballad emerged that rocketed up the charts, "Follow Me, Follow Me". 
Tracks: 1. Follow You Follow Me 2. Ballad Of Big 
The single "Follow You, Follow Me" was claimed to have been written in 5 minutes by Rutherford. Collins did not expect it to be a hit single but nevertheless it was one of the biggest hits for the group sparking their new AOR direction. It peaked on the American top 40 at #23, and hit #7 on the UK Top 10. Germany: Entered
Charts on 17-Apr-1978 Reached
Position #8 Spent
28 weeks in the charts Spent
5 weeks in the Top 10. Holland: Reached
Position #17 in 1978 The followup single was "Many Too Many". 
Tracks: 1. Many Too Many (3:30) 2. The Day The Light Went Out (3:12) 3. Vancouver (3:01) Total Time: 9:43 The single peaked at only #43 on the UK charts, but it garnered interest in the album which was becoming a bigger success even without Hackett. It was also the last song that would use the Mellotron further signifying the breakaway from complex prog musicianship. Germany: Entered
the charts on 28-Aug-1978 Reached
Position #43 Spent
6 weeks in the charts. 
The album And Then There Were Three was a success on the charts, reaching a surprising #3 in the UK charts obviously attributed to the singles that were making airplay. It remained inthe charts for 32 weeks. It also reached #14 in the US charts, and became the first Gold album, and subsequently Platinum. Japan: Reached
Gold Album Status. First Album chart entry in Japan. UK: Entered
the UK charts on 15-Apr-1978 Reached
Position #3 on 22-Apr-1978 Spent
32 weeks in the charts US: Entered
the US charts on 15-Apr-1978 Reached
Position #14 in May-1978 Spent
31 weeks in the charts. Certified
Gold by the RIAA Genesis' first US Gold Album Achieved
Platinum Status 
And Then There Were Three..., was followed up by more AOR style albums, Duke, Abacab, Genesis,
Invisible Touch and We Can't Dance, and the band sold millions of albums during this new era. Sadly the prog roots were abandoned but this did not deter a massive fanbase with many jumping onboard who had never heard of "Supper's Ready" and completely oblivious of the 70s albums. The shows were sold out on the tours and the band even made promo videos to promote their new style. 
My Review:
 Three Gold Stars for the threesome that still have the prog edge!And Then There Were Three is one of the last decent Genesis albums before the onslaught of 80s syrupy ballads and teenybopper sounds that the band generated as nothing more than session musicians. At least here as a threesome the band proved they are still able to create innovative wondrous prog such as the alarmingly proggish Burning Rope. This is one of the last prog pieces from Genesis before they turned to commercial 80s kitsch-tack. Banks is wonderful on this album and Collins can still create dark atmospheres. To hear a sound such as the one on Burning Rope fills me with sadness after hearing their 80s albums. I know I am perhaps wishing for a Genesis like the beast of the 70s when Gabriel was mon capitaine, but at least the band performed like virtuoso musos rather than session hacks. Collins did not have to resort to love ballads either, at least not focus purely on this style as he had so much more to offer. But he was swallowed up on the power ballad bandwagon and I guess once you are on it, it is virtually impossible to get off. The smell of success was burning in the nostrils of all 80s bands especially metal rockers who opted for the love ballad in order to squeeze out a few thousand dollars out of the industry. Innovative music was the victim of all this in favour of straight 4 on the floor time sigs and soaring melodies, soaring guitars and soaring concert tickets. Genesis fell into this hole as we all know but this album is a true surprise containing enough prog to satiate the average progger.
Thankfully on this 1978 album the band are in fine form. I was quite amazed that the album holds onto progressive sounds as I had only heard to this point the 80s trilogy of mediocre albums from Abacab to Invisible Touch, so wasn't expecting much. Down and Out features some quirky time sigs with Collins brilliant on drums. The way the time sig keeps breaking into fractured dissonance is astounding. Banks is a revelation on keyboards. It begins the album brilliantly and signifies that Genesis are still as progressive as ever. Undertow is a prime example of how great Genesis can sound. Collins has that melancholy tone but it does not come across as saccharine or slushy. The guitar work is accomplished even though Hackett is definitely missed. Banks has some gorgeous organ phrases that encompass a serene symphonic atmosphere.
Other highlights are the Banks keyboard serenity on Many Too Many and we hear him shine on Deep in the Motherlode and Down and Out in particular. In essence this is Banks' album in terms of musicianship and it serves up a strong symphonic soundscape. Collins does some fine vocal work on Down and Out and the broken time sig in the middle is a solid progressive touch, reminiscent of Turn Me On Again in some ways.
The Lady Lies is a terrific song with a full blown keyboard solo. The time sigs diverge and there are enough mood shifts to keep the interest of its 6 minute duration. Scenes From A Night's Dream is a melodic track with magical lyrics about dreams, giant nymphs, dragons breathing fire, and prescient goblins; nightmares brought on by having food at bedtime. Follow You Follow Me is of course the big single on the album and it is certainly one of the better ballads of Collins with an infectious hook and some sing-along chorus lines. Overall the album delivers on many levels and still maintains a progressive edge that is definitely lost as the 70s draw to a close and create a new unimproved 80s Genesis.
Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - July 13 2012 at 05:12 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: July 13 2012 at 06:01 |
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Genesis Turn It On Again in The 80s
After an extensive and successful 1979 tour Genesis returned to the studio in 1980 to record their next album. As the 1980s dawned the band decided to generate short radio friendly songs in order to capitalise on the success of "Follow You, Follow Me." The next single was quickly produced and was also a huge success for the group, to gain interest in the upcoming album. 
There were three singles from the new album that made an impact on the charts. Turn It On Again 
Tracks 1. Turn it on again (3:52) 2. Behind the lines (Part 2) (3:28) Germany: Entered
the charts on 5-May-1980 Reached
Position #66 Spent
4 weeks in the charts Holland: Reached
Position #38 in 1980 Italy: Reached
Position #1 on 10-May-1980 UK: Reached
Position #8 on 5-Apr-1980 US: Reached
Position #58 on 4-Oct-1980 Duchess
Tracks 1. Duchess (6:26) UK: Reached
Position #46 in Jun-1980 Misunderstanding
Tracks 1. Misunderstanding (3:12) UK: Reached
Position #42 in Sept-1980 US: Reached
Position #14 on 16-Aug-1980 |
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The Bearded Bard
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: January 24 2012 Location: Behind the Sun Status: Offline Points: 12859 |
Posted: July 13 2012 at 08:22 |
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Great blog you have here, Scott! Reading it put me in a Genesis mood. Listening to A Trick of the Tail now. Next up: Wind and Wuthering. Nice!
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: July 14 2012 at 07:29 |
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Hey thanks so much Its a labour of love and I had not returned to this for a year but it was worth it Cheers
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BassoonAng
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 22 2012 Location: MD Status: Offline Points: 112 |
Posted: July 27 2012 at 13:43 |
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Very nice work. A pleasure to learn.
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Raccoon
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 17 2012 Location: 444 Grove St RZ Status: Offline Points: 763 |
Posted: July 27 2012 at 14:17 |
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Really great work. I really don't know how you found all these little details of the radio positions for each song, incredibly impressive. This is far more detailed then even Wikipedia is (from what I gather). Everything you wrote seems correct, even the very beginning. How I discovered Genesis was the single Invisible Touch always being played on the radio. Even if that song isn't very good at all (in fact my least favorite from Invisible Touch) Genesis still is on the radio today. And that's saying something. My dad had plenty of their albums, and my journey began. My favorite band by far.
With that poor Invisible touch (the song) still out and about, perhaps more people will look into the band and discover the whole world of prog. Thanks Atomic!   |
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Gerinski
Prog Reviewer
Joined: February 10 2010 Location: Barcelona Spain Status: Offline Points: 5091 |
Posted: July 27 2012 at 15:30 |
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Nice to see that you came back to continue this great documentary work, congratulations! (for me you can as well stop here at Duke
 )
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: July 27 2012 at 16:13 |
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^^^ Aw thanks everyone. That makes me feel like it was worth it. I use the Genesis Chapter and Verse book, and Prog Magazine interviews for a lot of the details and other sources but Wikipedia misses so much really. Thanks again my friends.
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: November 18 2012 at 23:50 |
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Just a diversion to show on this thread some Genesis vinyl - among other prog albums....
Here's some of my vinyl collection Then we have a look at a 5 DVD Prog Rock box set featuring legends of prog critical reviews, also look at Pink Floyd's The Wall, Pulse and Genesis Video Show DVDs. Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - November 18 2012 at 23:53 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: November 19 2012 at 00:03 |
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Genesis move into mainstream pop in 1981
 The next album is "Abacab" The 11th studio album reached No.1 in the UK, where it remained in the charts for 27 weeks. Mike Rutherford came up with the idea of throwing out any songs that sounded like what they had done before as they were becoming "a caricature of ourselves." This decision was fraught with mixed reactions as the prog side of the band was discarded to make way for synth pop mainstream commercialism. While this alienated prog fans and older fans of the group, it welcomed in a newer fanbase that was of the female persuasion. The new radio friendly sound with songs about love and romance appealed to girls in particular and thus the newer Genesis was born. Atlantic Records SD 19313 Stereo album by Genesis Released September 14, 1981 Recorded May - June 1981 at The Farm, Surrey Length 47:10 Side One Side Two  The songs: "No Reply At All" features the Earth, Wind and Fire horn section. The album takes its name from an early arrangement of the "Abacab" track. Rutherford referred to them "as 'section a', 'section b', and 'section c' and at different times, they were in different order. We'd start with 'section a' and then have 'section c'... and at one point in time, it spelled Abacab. On the final version, it's not that at all, it's like 'Accaabbaac'."  Working Titles of the songs for the originally planned double album Abacab:
Line Up: - Tony Banks / keyboards, backing vocals - Phil Collins / drums, percussion, lead vocals - Mike Rutherford / lead guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals The single:  alternate cover  another single... 1. No reply at all (4:09) 2. Naminanu (3:50)  another single... 1. Abacab 2. Another Record  another single... 1. Keep it dark 2. Naminau 3. Abacab  The songs that didn't make it to the album were released on an EP: 1. Paperlate 2. You Might Recall 3. Me and Virgil  The picture disk version...  and Flexipop magazine released a different Genesis song:  One of the greatest thing about this poppier "Abacab" album, that does not have prog elements, is the innovation of the randomly changing covers. Besides the above main design, you may have ended up with this....  Or this...  Which became the Gold Standard Collection.... Or maybe even this...  Which was used on the official program...  The album advertisement had no primary colours at all except shades of pink!  Here's a review written at the time....   The CD remaster features double disc with 5.1 surround DVD and some visual content. Disk 2 includes the following video tracks:
  My review: (proving that not everything Genesis touched was gold) * Insufferable 80s kitsch on "Abacab"''. so Whodunnit? Genesis kills off their prog roots officially and without fanfare with this pungent release. I'd like to say that there is at least one decent track that saves this from the expensive CD coaster category. I'd like to, but I cant. This is simply the worst album of Genesis with nothing much to recommend. It is as good as ELP's abysmal 'Love Beach', also a sell out in its own right. Phil Collins croons with his trademark ballad and occasionally sounds okay such as on melody driven 'Abacab', the Banks-penned 'Me and Sarah Jane' (surely the best track if any) or 'No Reply at All'. Occasionally, there is a spark of genius such as on the intro to the weird 'Another Record', with swathes of synths and piano, but it doesn't last. Soon the whispered Collins balladeering returns, and the crystalline antiseptic cheesy synths. The melody on the title track is okay for example but is ruined by those awful machinations of cymbal heavy drums and silly harmonies. The album stinks for many reasons, not the least being its girly dancey beats that perhaps blasted inside many teenybopper's bedrooms, and you can imagine them singing along and grooving in their pleated skirts and boofed out permed hair. This is genuine throwaway pop, designed to get girls dancing on their beds while dreaming of a date with Collins, as they plastered on strawberry scented lip gloss. Perhaps it typifies the 80s throwaway culture, like a disassembled Rubik's Cube, and that new synth soaked sound that dripped like honey out of every amplifier in every bedroom. The stylus crackled on the record player and the synths competed with every crackle absolutely dominating over all guitars, and bass is given a minor role; Rutherford virtually has disappeared on 'Abacab'.
Check out that horned synth solo in 'Abacab'; a real waste of talent with a 4/4 beat that never deviates. 'Keep It Dark' has a cool riff but is destroyed with the overall structure that is repeated. It is incredible coming from a band that used time sig changes so readily in the past; none of that seems to matter here. Reggae rhythms dominates, bright and friendly retro synth, and some awful Earth Wind and Fire rip off sounds. Disco meets 80s kitsch throughout and it is not a pretty sight. Even the album cover looks like Picasso vomited on it.
'Man on the Corner' is a ballad sounding like a Collins solo album with those derivative effects on the vocals, melodic synth, awful handclaps and Latin inspired rhythms. It sounds like something you could create on a cheap synth rather than a virtuoso band. 'Me and Sarah Jane' is one that grabs you, written by Banks featuring a time sig change! Interestingly, despite the more proggy touches, it is still as sugary as the rest thanks to some romantically focused lyrics; no signs of any Hogweeds or Slippermen here!
'Dodo / Lurker' is once again okay but ruined with little variation and too much emphasis on chiming synths. It begins really well but soon inundates with that annoying egomaniac humour of Collins; 'Meanwhile lurking by a stone in the mud, Two eyes looked to see what I was and Then something spoke and this is what It said to me........' This is followed by silly retro synth solos, that are just there to fill in space rather than impress.
The track 'Whodunnit' can only be described as that closing line in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Facts in the Case of M Valdemar'; 'a nearly liquid mass of loathsome, of detestable putrescence'. The lyrics are 'Was it you or was it me? Or was it he or she? Was it A or was it B? Or was it X or Z?' It repeats ad nauseum 'I didn't, I, I didn't do it.... Oh but we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know, we know.' Repeat another 500 times. How could Genesis and management think people would actually like this?
I could go on, but I am running out of words to describe 'appalling'. There is not a shred of symphonic prog on this and if it contains any style of prog it surely must be hidden under layers of dull 4/4 time sigs, monstrous thick 80s synths and syrupy radio friendliness. 1 star is too generous for this saccharine trash. Perhaps the lyrics of 'Like it Or Not' sum up my feelings on this album; 'Ooh, like it or not, You have done it this time, And like it or not, I've had enough.'
Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - March 13 2014 at 18:38 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: November 19 2012 at 04:08 |
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1982 - Genesis release an album with One studio side and er.... Three Sides Live.
 Now that Genesis had cemented their transformation into radio culture synth pop, they were ready to tour and they hit the world running with a massive tour and this was followed by the album "Three sides Live". This was a bootleg cover.  Which was a nicer cover than the one that hit stores....  The back cover  Personnel: Genesis Tony Banks – keyboards, background vocals Phil Collins – lead vocals, drums, percussion Mike Rutherford – bass, guitar, background vocals Additional personnel Daryl Stuermer – guitar, bass Chester Thompson – drums, percussion It/Watcher of the Skies: Tony Banks – keyboards Phil Collins – vocals, drums Steve Hackett – guitar Mike Rutherford – bass, guitar Additional personnel Bill Bruford – drums Upon its mid-1982 release, “Three Sides Live” hit No.2 in the UK and
No.10 in the US. The three live sides focusses on “Duke” and “Abacab” tracks overall. The
third side contains the centrepiece of their last few tours, which is the
"Cage" medley, that begins with "In the Cage" (“The Lamb
Lies Down on Broadway”), then an instrumental which combined phrases from
"The Cinema Show" with melodies from “Wind & Wuthering” and “The
Lamb”, including ‘Riding the Scree’, and ‘The Colony of Slippermen’), concluding
with ‘Afterglow’. ‘Paperlate’, from the “3 X 3” EP, became a Top 10 UK hit and a minimal US
success. According to Tony Banks on the 2007 CD and DVD reissue of Abacab, ‘You
Might Recall’ was going to be released on “Abacab”, but Atlantic Records
founder Ahmet Ertegün suggested that the band leave the track off in favour of
"Who Dunnit?" The songs: 1. Turn It On Again (5:15) 2. Dodo / Lurker (7:18) 3. Abacab (8:46) 4. Behind The Lines (5:25) 5. Duchess (6:38) 6. Me And Sarah Jane (6:02) 7. Follow You, Follow Me (4:58) 8. Misunderstanding (4:05) 9. In The Cage / Cinema Show / Slippermen (11:52) 10. Afterglow (5:13) 11. One For The Vine (11:05) 12. Fountain Of Slamacis (8:37) 13. It / Watcher Of The Skies (7:22) The North American edition and some European editions of Three Sides Live had originally featured a side four containing 'Paperlate', 'You Might Recall', 'Me and Virgil', 'Evidence of Autumn' and 'Open Door'. The album was re-issued identically only on CD worldwide with the live performances in 1994. The re-issue: CD Atlantic records (1982) 2CD Vertigo 810006-2 : re-issue of the original 2LP with studio tracks from 1981* and 1979** on side 4 CD 1 : 1. Turn It On Again (5:23) 2. Dodo / Lurker (7:20) 3. Abacab (8:43) 4. Behind The Lines (5:24) 5. Duchess (6:38) 6. Me And Sarah Jane (5:52) 7. Follow You, Follow Me (4:44) CD 2 : 1. Misunderstanding (4:05) 2. In The Cage / Cinema Show / Slippermen (11:52) 3. Afterglow (5:02) 4. Paperlate (3:14) * 5. You might recall (5:27) * 6. Me and Virgil (6:17)* 7. Evidence of Autumn (4:57)** 8. Open Door (4:04)** The actual vinyl track list was as follows on double album release: Side one "Turn It On Again" – 5:16 Nassau Coliseum, Long Island NY 29Nov1981 "Dodo (including Lurker)" – 7:19 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham 23Dec1981 "Abacab" – 8:47 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham 23Dec1981 Side two "Behind the Lines" – 5:26 Nassau Coliseum, Long Island NY 29Nov1981 "Duchess" – 6:43 Nassau Coliseum, Long Island NY 29Nov1981 "Me & Sarah Jane" (Banks) – 5:59 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham 23Dec1981 "Follow You Follow Me" – 4:58 Lyceum Ballrooms, London 06May1980 Side three "Misunderstanding" (Collins) – 4:06 Savoy Theatre, New York NY 28Nov1981 "In the Cage (Medley – The Cinema Show/Slippermen)"[3] (Banks/Collins/Peter Gabriel/Steve Hackett/Rutherford) – 11:53 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham 23Dec1981 "Afterglow" (Banks) – 5:14 National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham 23Dec1981 Side four "One for the Vine" (Banks) – 11:04 Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London 05May1980 "The Fountain of Salmacis" (Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford) – 8:37 Knebworth, Hertfordshire, England Jun1978, but see below "It/Watcher of the Skies" (Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford) – 7:22 Apollo Theatre, Glasgow, Scotland 08Jul1976 Vinyl brown look:    The CD label   Alternative versions:    Bootlegs:  The Songbook available:  A DVD is available:  The setlist: "Behind the Lines" "Duchess" "Misunderstanding" "Dodo/Lurker" "Abacab" "No Reply At All" "Who Dunnit?" "In the Cage (Medley – Cinema Show – Slippermen) "Afterglow" "Me and Sarah Jane" (filmed at the Savoy) "Man on the Corner" (filmed at the Savoy) "Turn It On Again" Audio-only 5.1 full-length versions on DVD release: "Behind the Lines" "Duchess" "Me & Sarah Jane" "Man on the Corner" "One for the Vine" "Fountain of Salmacis" "Follow You, Follow Me" DVD BOOTLEG:  My Review: ** This live album rarely troubles my hi fi system. It is the least of all Genesis live albums with only a few moments that lift it to a superior level. All of these moments are classic Genesis tracks and of course they are masterfully played as usual; namely 'In The Cage / Cinema Show / Slippermen medley' that runs for a glorious 11:52 and shows what the band are still capable of. 'Afterglow' is as good as ever along with seminal 'Turn It On Again' and 'Misunderstanding'. The tracks from "Duke" are excellent such as 'Behind the Lines' and 'Duchess', though I prefer the studio releases. Ironically enough the live album follows hot on the heels of their appalling "Abacab" album, but the band managed to salvage the best tracks from that release and they are way better live, much more punchier and interesting overall. 'Follow You Follow Me' is a crowd pleaser and is okay on a live set. The other pop songs in the first half I could have done without. The fourth side on my version is not live but a bunch of throwaway studio material that I listened to a couple of times before getting bored. I noted the newer CD version features a total concert and is far superior for that reason. Unfortunately, this is not the version I am reviewing so I will stick to 2 stars for the excellent live material.  Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - March 13 2014 at 18:50 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14256 |
Posted: November 19 2012 at 05:11 |
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1983 - Genesis release a self titled studio album... their 12th.
 Genesis’ twelfth studio album is referred to as the "Mama" album because it alleviates the confusion of just being called Genesis, and often is called the "Shapes" or "Yellow Shapes" album referring to the front cover. The shapes are the ones used in the Tupperware "Shape O Toy Ball." The album is called “Genesis” because all three band members composed every song on it together. "Mama" is a song about a man's obsession with a prostitute, and it became Genesis' biggest UK hit, reaching No.20 and later reaching No.4. Another single, "That's All", was the
band’s first US Top 10 hit, "Illegal Alien" and "Taking It All
Too Hard" were also released as singles and the album finally reached No.1
in the UK, and remained in the charts for 51 weeks. It hit No.9 in the US, and
sold over four million copies. There were three progressive rock songs on side
1, from “Mama” to “Home by the Sea”. Side 2 featured five pop rock songs from “Illegal
Alien” to “It's Gonna Get Better”. Songs: 1. Mama (7:25) Band members: - Tony Banks / keyboards, backing vocals - Phil Collins / drums, percussion, lead vocals The singles: 1. Mama (5:18)
1. That's All
1. Illegal Alien
1983 flexidisk: Live Firth of Fifth (1981, New York)
Vinyl Front:
Vinyl Back:
Vinyl Inner sleeve:
CD Label:
CD front:
CD back:
Bootleg CDs:
The tour setlist: Setlist Dodo/Lurker* Abacab* That's All* Mama* Old Medley Man On The Corner* Illegal Alien Home by the Sea/Second Home By the Sea* Keep It Dark It's Gonna Get Better Follow You Follow Me* In the Cage The Cinema Show (closing section)/Riding the Scree (teaser)/The Cinema Show/...In That Quiet Earth/The Colony of Slippermen (c) The Raven Afterglow Drum Duet Los Endos Encore: Misunderstanding Turn It On Again (In the Midnight Hour, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Pinball Wizard) Later, the VHS was released: "The Mama Tour":
The tracks: 2. That`s All 3. Mama 4. Illegal Alien 5. Home by the Sea 6. Second Home by the Sea 7. Keep It Dark 8. It`s Gonna Get Better 9. In the Cage / Cinema Show / Afterglow 10. Turn It On Again - Final Medley - (I Can`t Get No) Satisfaction Total Time: 102 minutes The musicians: - Tony Banks / keyboards, backing vocals My Review: ** Moulded into mainstream commercialism sap. Genesis release another pop ballad album with some detestable songs to coincide with the 'Invisible Crutch' and 'Abacrap' albums. On this offering you are looking down the barrel of syrupy pop excess where the musos are nothing more than session musicians and Collins annoys like nothing else particularly on the infectious and horrible Illegal Alien. The songs were designed to lock into your skull and force you to go out and buy the single to make the band rich and the management. This it did of course and the radio was saturated with Collins voice and it drove nails into the prog history; all but dumped only to be replaced by inane trash such as Taking It All Too Hard, Just A Job To Do, and It's Gonna Get Better.
'Illegal Alien' deserves a place as one of the most detestable Genesis tracks complete with a pathetic attempt at humour with Collins' racist Mexican accent and equally offensive lyrics. The filmclip is memorable for all the wrong reasons, as is the melody. It is so annoying but the melody will stick to you like stink on a skunk; you cannot wash it off but you will be dying to do so. There is one redeeming moment in the form of 'Home By The Sea' that segues immediately into the powerful melodies of 'Second Home By The Sea' with some incredible dark tones and a wonderful structure. That's All is okay or perhaps I have been desensitised to it as it has permeated the radio waves as much as Invisible Touch forcing my brain to put up with the synth-soaked horn sound and electronic drums that spews 80s mediocrity. I don't mind Mama either, as it has some chilling atmospheres similar to In The Air Tonite, the best of Collin's solo career, but it doesn't save the album from yet another 2 star rating during this turbulent 80s era.
The front cover, by the way, is a picture of a toy sold door to door from the Tupperware lady, shaped numbered blocks that toddlers poked into similar shaped holes in a ball. Perhaps this is ironic because Genesis were simply going by the numbers, poking music into moulded holes to appease the masses; they were no longer out of the box musically, they were being moulded and shaped into just another throwaway sound - and what a waste of talent!
Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - March 13 2014 at 18:53 |
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An Illustrated History of A Band called Genesis
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Slartibartfast wrote:
![Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three... (1978) [W.German Target CD]](http://www.jayfan.com/uploadimg/201104/29/1312307.jpeg "Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three... (1978) [W.German Target CD]")
