LIVE OVER EUROPE 2007

"Live Over Europe 2007" is a double live album by UK pop/rock/progressive rock act Genesis. The album was released through Virgin/Atlantic Records (UK/US) in November 2007. The material were recorded during the "Turn It On Again: The Tour of 2007" and it´s a companion release to the "When in Rome 2007 (released May 2008)" DVD. While the material on the DVD were recorded at one show at Circus Maximus, Rome, Italy, on the 14th July 2007, the tracks featured on "Live Over Europe 2007" were recorded at various shows and in various countries during the tour.

After a longer hiatus Genesis was reactivated in 2006 with the return of Phil Collins. Initially the idea was to bring back Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett and perform as the classic early 70s quintet lineup of the band (with Collins primarely playing drums and Gabriel performing lead vocals). That idea didn´t materialize though, and instead Tony Banks (keyboards) and Mike Rutherford (guitars, bass) brought back Collins, and hired session musicians Daryl Stuermer (guitars, bass) and Chester Thompson (drums) to perform on the tour. So it´s a comeback for the full touring lineup who worked together in the period 1977-1996.

Age, and tear and wear on the voice have caught up with Collins and most of the tracks performed on the "Turn It On Again: The Tour of 2007" tour were performed in lower keys than their original studio versions, to enable Collins to hit the higher notes of the songs without sounding strained and uncomfortable. Most people probably won´t notice it (my non music educated ears for example don´t), so it´s not a major issue by any means (if any). Genesis are still a force to be reckoned with and the performances are convincing all around (including the vocals by Collins).

"Live Over Europe 2007" features 21 tracks and a total playing time of 2 hours and 19 minutes, so there is a lot of quantity for the money. Despite predominantly achieving commercial success in the 80s and early 90s, Genesis have always included progressive rock tracks from their 70s catalogue on their setlists, and the tracklist on "Live Over Europe 2007" is also a good combination of 80s/early 90s pop/rock hits like "Land of Confusion", "Invisible Touch", and "I Can't Dance", and 70s progressive rock tracks like "In The Cage", "Firth Of Fifth" (Excerpt), and "Ripples". The tracklist does naturally mostly lean towards the 80s/early 90s material, but I´ve always admired the band for not forgetting their past, although most of their mainstream fans probably never even knew they released anything before 1980.

Not surprisingly the album features a professional, clear, and powerful sounding production, which suits the material well, and although "Live Over Europe 2007" isn´t the most necessary Genesis release, as most tracks have appeared before on preceding live releases by the band, it´s still a worthy purchase and a quality live album. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.