SPOT THE PIGEON

I'm not sure why so many people slam this 3-song EPt. Recorded during the same sessions for Wind & Wuthering, and released in 1977, it compiles 3 tracks that just didn't quite fit on the album. And I think all 3 tracks are great.

Being from the US, I found "Match Of The Day" to be a fun little tune, charmingly British in an odd way. By this time Collins had recorded 2 studio albums with Brand X, and his sense of humor was evident in the liner notes he wrote (with Robin Lumley, I believe) for the Unorthodox Behavior album. I don't know if Phil wrote the words for this tune, but the enthusiasm he sings it with brings to mind the chuckleheads that obsess over their beloved home sport (here in the US the equivalent would probably be Football). I can picture a full ashtray crashing through a television screen after a bad call by the ref. So, it's kinda lightweight in the lyrics department, but I think the musicianship is a different story. Specifically, Collin's drumming on this track is really just excellent! The tune is in 4/4, but Collin's love for syncopation and off-beats is obvious here! There is no other Genesis track in the catalog where he plays a beat such as on this track, and it's really cool. The way the track begins (and the chorus, basically the same musically) is reminiscent of the middle "percussion" section of "One For The Vine"; it's pretty bizarre. But the song cooks along, and I can appreciate the way his humor manifests itself musically -- definitely listenable.

"Pidgeons" is a little more weird, and I think Hackett probably found this one of the most boring tunes he's ever done with the band, because it seems he picks one nose -- I'm sorry, one NOTE through the whole tune. I liked the song right away, though, because it's the first song I heard where Phil sings the word "shit", and right in the first line of the song ("Who put 50 tons of shit on the foreign office roof?"). I STILL like that! Shuffle beat on the drums, a descending bass line, and some steady organ by Tony -- musically, it's not up to the usual Genesis standards of the time, and the bizarre subject matter is out in left field, so it's clear why it didn't fit on Wind & Wuthering -- but it seems to fit nicely here.

Of course, "Inside & Out" is the real reason any Genesis fan would dig this EP. Classic Genesis -- it tells a story, and it's got great playing on it. The song is basically in two parts. The first part is the vocal section, pretty heavy story (summarized in several reviews above), with some nice guitar picking and great singing by Phil. It's slow and contemplative at first, but then halfway through, the mood changes, and the pace picks up -- and the drums kick in along with a great moog solo by Tony (sure sounds like a moog, anyway!) Great guitar work by Hackett (also mentioned previously in several reviews), and though the song is in 4/4, they mess with the rythm a little, too. The drums crash around a bit, and then the song fades, with thick heavy keyboards chiming and guitar chords ringing .... it's classic Genesis.

What I find probably THE BEST about this release, is that Collins plays REAL ACOUSTIC DRUMS on all three tracks. No drum machine or electronic kit here -- they needed mics to pick up these sounds, and his playing is fantastic. In fact, I think it's Phil who stands out most on all 3 tracks, for both his drumming and his vocals. And I'll NEVER figure it out, WHY they didn't include "Match Of The Day" on the 2nd Archives Box. A very poor decision indeed.

By the way, there seems to be some confusion as to the configurations in which this EP was released. It was originally a 7" UK EP by Charisma. In Canada, somebody cool from Atlantic records released it as a 12" Blue Vinyl EP (Someone mentioned this earlier. This still seems pretty readily available, and for not TOO much scratch -- although of course you gotta hope the RECORD isn't scratched!). There are several more 7" vinyl releases from different countries. I also have it as a 5" CD EP from England (obviously a later release, by Virgin/Charisma), and a 3" CD EP (I believe from Austria, also Virgin/Charisma). That last one is pretty cool, because it has a fold out flap, and includes all the lyrics -- except that the package is SO small, it's hard to READ the lyrics!

Then again, the lyrics are so strange, maybe you don't WANT to read them! If not, just listen to the songs -- they're all great tunes!