The Album Genesis Discarded for ABACAB

Thank God, Allah or whoever they discarded material for ABACAB. What an awesome album by three guys who had the balls to change direction. ABACAB is a combination of prog, pop, R & B and even a lick or too of jazz, superb. Must because it was heavily influenced by some dude who played a weird groove with a band called Brand X

I would check out the song 'When The Light Went Out'. Must be one of the best Genesis songs an absolute belter. I reckon that would have been one of the discarded songs because there is a passage in it that recalls Suppers Ready era with a marching beat. I love it but I understand the 'parody' thing could have bothered them. 

ABACAB did little for me tho it was different approach. Any new material surfacing surely should have been released on the box sets by now I would have thought. Tho it may be worth researching 

richardh wrote: I would check out the song 'When The Light Went Out'. Must be one of the best Genesis songs an absolute belter. I reckon that would have been one of the discarded songs because there is a passage in it that recalls Suppers Ready era with a marching beat. I love it but I understand the 'parody' thing could have bothered them.

Nov wrote: Moogtron III wrote: Interesting. And I like most of the B-sides from the Duke/Abacab period, definitely including "The Day The Lights Went Out" but also "Vancouver" Both great songs but, as mentioned above, they date from the ATTW3 period

Abacab was a brilliant album, the best album they ever did as a trio. So count me happy.

Thank You all for the replies. It gives me a direction to pursue. I was really puzzled by the expression "a parody of ourselves". Strange way to phrase it. I believe I read it somewhere in an old interview with Mike Rutherford. He said that they were not satisfied with the material they had written and he was the one who suggested scrapping it all and doing something completely different, hence came ABACAB. 

I don't really mean to beat too hard on ABACAB. I tried to like it, really wanted to like it, but it just didn't do anything for me. I understand the desire to grow and do different things. No one wants to keep doing (or re-doing) the same thing over & over & over. This one particular album just didn't appeal to me, that's all. Strangely enough, I actually liked the single Paperlate even though it sounds like it should have been on ABACAB. Go figure, eh? Some of the other previously mentioned songs I am familiar with but many I am not. Time to get hold of them and see what they are about. 

^ Funny how we mark the albums of change. GFTO used to be my fave Yes album and I always felt Tormato was the one that changed. In terms of Genesis, IT, there seemed to be some stagnation with the sound. All subjective of course. Most people would agree with Abacab yet I find it to be a bold move after Duke 

SquonkHunter wrote: Time to get hold of them and see what they are about.

M27Barney wrote: richardh wrote: I always thought Yes-  Going For The One (the whole album) was exactly this. Its when bands turn in on themselves instead of growing through external influence. That's how I see it. (btw I do like GFTO) Aye - But this is amongst their finest releases - perhaps third behing Close and Tales...and is certainly up amongst the best 20 symphonic prog albums in history! Awaken is surely in the top 10 symphonic prog sub-epics of all time also !!! (sub-epic = track less than 18 minutes long but greater than 12 minutes)