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Genesis - Seconds Out CD (album) cover

SECONDS OUT

Genesis

 

Symphonic Prog

4.35 | 1081 ratings

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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
4 stars Encore

This live album was recorded pretty soon after the departure of Peter Gabriel. Phil Collins therefore takes on the lead vocals on many tracks previously fronted by Gabriel, post Gabriel Genesis material being in relatively short supply . It should be borne in mind that although "A trick of the tail" had given a firm indication that there was life after Peter, fans attending live gigs were still apprehensive, seeking the reassurance that the old favourites would not simply be ditched.

This in itself gives the album a purpose, as it is interesting to compare and contrast the way the two Genesis singers perform the songs. Collins does an excellent job with the older material, sounding of course very similar Gabriel. The version of "I know what I like" included here is particularly good, being considerably extended, and incorporating an extract from "Stagnation".

Also included is a superb rendition of "Supper's ready". Given the way Gabriel had developed his performance of this track, both aurally, and visually, performing it without him was a brave move, but there's no question it works.

This was the beginning of Collins now well worn path between drum stool and front centre stage. Chester Thompson and Bill Bruford (here on "Cinema show" only) were therefore brought in to fill in for Collins while he was out front. This though offered an excellent opportunity for some interplay between the drummers during instrumental passages, which is exploited to superb effect.

The only minor blemish is the missing piano introduction to "Firth of Fifth", allegedly because it was too hard to play live. The track starts rather abruptly without it, perhaps even a taped intro would have been preferable.

"Seconds out" is a good mixture of old and (at the time) new, with only the newly released "A trick of the tail" representing the post Gabriel era. As Peter Gabriel said at the time on his "Solisbury hill" single, "Today I don't need a replacement". "Seconds out" went a long way to showing that to be the case.

Easy Livin | 4/5 |

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