I mean OLD Genesis!.... (vanity thread)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

Just listening to portions of "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway". Good stuff.

I think alot of people undersell Genesis mainly because of their pop success in the 80's. Albums like "We Can't Dance" and "Invisible Touch" are mere pop shadows of the prog giant that was Genesis. The real heart of the band lies, in this man's opinion, in the groups early and mid 70's releases such as "Nursery Crime", "The Lamb...Broadway",and "Trick of the Tail." These guys were every bit the monster that Yes was, but they never got a whole lot of exposure.

Case in point, there are alot of people who don't even realize that Peter Gabriel got his start with Genesis. During his tenure with Genesis, Gabriel was fond of theatric dress, elaborate stage set ups and mythically minded songs. When Gabriel left in 1975, the band chose to carry on, for better and for worse.

Choice "old" Genesis listening:

Foxtrot (1972) - contains the 26 minute self-indulgent PG classic "Supper's Ready."

Selling England By The Pound (1973) - "I Know What I Like (in your wardrobe)" is a great , catchy tune.

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974) - Ultimate prog rock concept album. Story of Rael - NY street punk who goes to the Underworld. Title track, "Back in NYC" and "Carpet Crawlers" are highlights of this album. Last album with Gabriel.

Seconds Out (1977) - Great live album. Features a good mix of Gabriel material as well as some choice songs penned by Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks.

[Stevendsmith]

1. Phil Collins is a Drum God

He is not just the Disney soundtrack dork that many think he is.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

2. Good singer too. n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. They were auditioning for replacement for Peter Gabriel

and for each candidate, Collins would step in and instruct him: "no, Gabriel sings like that, la la laaaaaa..."

A dozen candidates later, the band made the extremely unusual decision of having its drummer as lead voice.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. One reason I miss vinyl

The Famous Charisma Label

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. rootin' tootin' right on!

I've been obsessed for the last few days with a live recording of "Supper's Ready" bootleg (26 minutes).

I've been a big fan of Genesis since Abacab came out, and quickly delved into all their old stuff and have never, 20 years later, thought anything less of it, and I still enjoy it just as much.

They were a brilliant band. Even after Gabriel left, they maintained the brilliance for quite a long time, though took an immediate and irrevocable nosedive after the "Mama" album. They almost lost it with it Duke and Abacab, but redeemed themselves with "Mama".

An they put on a hell of a good show - even in the "We Can't Dance" nonsense era. They played shitty music, but man, they were still on top of it, nailed to perfection, and showed incredbile musicianship.

And Phil Collins is, as another poster said, a drum god.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. Wait, Stuart Copeland was the Drum God from Genesis.

I didn't know Phil even played.
Duckie

[CrownPrinceBandar]

9. No. He was in the Police...

A drum God nonetheless.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

7. People have always dismissed prog-rock

as being to heady and self-indulgent. Listening to "Nursery Crime" now. This music has more in common with classical than pop music. I think they successfully married the egghead (no dis, I love Strauss)to the head banger (or the 70's analogy thereof). The lyrics didn't always make sense, but that was half the appeal.

[RUexperienced]

8. You have good taste

Do you also remember The Knife from .... self titled "Genesis"(?) album in about 1972?

They were the best band of the era, bar none!

Personally I liked them all the way through Duke. But I see three different eras of good Genesis music- Gabriel, Rutherford and the "Then There Were Three" days.

Of course, once Abacab hit, they had shifted into a different direction and lost me.

Phil and Chester drumming together on Dance on the Volcano is very hard to beat.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

10. "Abacab" was a great album.

I even like the "Home by the Sea" stuff. Harkens back to the dark, moody atmosphere that Gabriel fostered. Since then, I have been trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. We all get older, our tastes change.

[RUexperienced]

11. I remember waiting for months for Abacab to come out...

I first heard the song one night driving my VW bug to college. I was so pumped up to be listening to the new album I found myself doing 80 in a 55.

The police officer, who obviously did not appreciate Genesis as much as I, gave me a substantial ticket.

But I never got the same vibes from Abacab or anything thereafter as I did from the earlier stuff. (maybe it was the ticket???)

Collins was interviewed one time and he said that they just got tired of writing the same kind of songs and needed something different to keep the band going.