Entertainment For Lively Minds
Which Genesis album?
Posted by Twangothan on 27 December 2009 - 10:15pm.
The recent discussion reminded me of how good they are, so I had a dip into my small selection of Genesis albums - "Then there were 3", the Singles comp and "Foxtrot". I fancy more - what do the Massive suggest I try? I am not wedded to Gabriel or Collins - both excellent. I do like a long prog number, the more convoluted and multi tempo the better. Solos - bring 'em on (bring 'em on again). Over to you.
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Selling England by the Pound
Is essential.
I quite agree
Selling England holds together as a collection of good tunes with clever words, very well played. Of the post-Gabriel albums, my personal favourite is Wind & Wuthering.
Absolutely, Totally Agree.
Aside from how it pulls you in right from the off, this is everything that Prog ought to have been: music at its most bonkers, brilliant, best.
Stunning instrumentation, good songs, not all of which are totally mad, and possibly the best use of the mighty Mellotron this side of King Crimson.
*SPOILER ALERT*
I listened to that album in the car about five years ago, for the first time in about twenty, from top to bottom. Driving home at late at night. When the mellotron choirs came in on the final track as a reprise of the opening theme, the hairs on the back of my neck were well and truly standing up. Only the Mellotron can do this, and only a few bands can get it right.
as a Genesis (Gabriel era) nut
I can't choose, damn you sir!
but if push came to shove the album that changed my life was Live, Trespass gets the most plays and Selling England is where they really gelled, over the years I've come to love Nursery Cryme but Foxtrot doesn't do it for me
Trick of the Tail
Don't think anyone expected the first post-Gabriel album to be so good.
I did
bought it on the day it came out, no longer own it and I wept when I first played it
for all the wrong reasons
drippy, sentimental bollocks
Trespass is just wonderful and never fails to delight
Best track on Trespass for you?
Visions Of Angels for me. Or maybe Stagnation.
I love how as Peter Gabriel matured, his voice seemed to sound younger - he sounds like an old man on this album (...in a good way...)
Nursery Cryme
More accessible than SEBTP for me. You could try Genesis Live, which has an assortment of early tunes on it.
It's taken me a *long* time to love "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" so that's probably not a great jumping on point.
Gabriel=Selling England | Post Gabriel=Trick
Selling England By The Pound is a truly sublime album and an essential addition to your collection.
Trick Of The Tail reveals that Genesis become a pop band with Collins at the helm but at this stage there is still enough musical craft that it's very high quality pop. To my ears it resembles Brian Wilson more than it does prog rock.
Brian Wilson...
case solved as to why I don't like it
I can't help you.....
......
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/lets-progor-maybe-not
as I said earlier
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/lets-progor-maybe-not#comment-8764...
Hello James.
Hows life at this time of the morning!?
But you did!
Now THAT was a thread! I had forgotten it even though I contributed. "Cryme" and "Pound" currently on my list. I was put off "Pound" at the time by the silly voice on "I know what I like" - lawnmower bollocks - I am not big on wimsey...I fancy getting hold of "Firth of Fifth" though as a prog classic.
Seconds Out
Play it loud.
Seconds Out Seconded
My teenage self played and played this one.
Thirded
Amongst the VERY best Genesis albums. Play it loud.
Superb.
Until later years they sounded so much better live than on record (I mean sonically, whether the albums were actually any good is far too big a question for this thread!). Some of those early ones sound so thin. Seconds out is full of wallop! Go buy.
The Seconds Out concert film is freely available via Bittorrent
here's a sample from Youtube
The early Collins era (say 1977-80) was, in my humble opinion, when they were at their most powerful as a live band. Collins move to the vocal mic needed a fatter sound to support his 'bigger' vocal style.
The Seconds Out and Lyceum 1980 films show them at their peak.
My favs
I never really got into the Gabriel years - I was much more the early Collins chap before they went all abacrap.....
So for me its 'Trick of the Tail' - bought on the strength of a single back in 76. Wind and Wuthering is ok as is Duke.
Best live album has to be Seconds Out. Compare the superb musicianship with the sloppy (going the motions) Live over Europe 30 years later!
Trick...
Growing up with Genesis through my formative years and therefore as a massive Gabriel-era fan, I'm almost ashamed to admit that Trick of the Tail is the album I go back to most often. I think it's the combination of the pre- and post- Gabriel atmospheres ; the undelying songs carry great tunes but there's still plenty of longer instrumental passages for the early Genesis fan.
Overall, though, classic Genesis (unless you prefer the later-period 4 minute pop songs, must be the whole run of albums from Nursery Crime to Trick of the Tail. Dip in anywhere.
Tough question...
.. to which the best answer is get them all via the recent box set reissues (and also get a new SACD player and surround sound setup to get the full benefit).
However, I'm guessing you didn't get a few hundred dollar HMV voucher / few thousand Richer Sounds vouchers for Christmas. so if I had to narrow down to three....
i) Duke - the best of the middle period. Has the more "pop" side with Turn It On Again but still has the more prog / instrumental workouts (Duke's Travel / Dukes End).
ii) Genesis - the one with the "shapes" on the cover - not the best overall album. but has two of their best songs in Mama and Home By The Sea / Second Home By The Sea.
iii) Selling England By The Pound - has Cinema Show - no further reason needed. The bit at about 9m 30s when the keyboards tease and then hit a crescendo (excuse my crap ability at describing) still sends a tingle down the spine everytime.
Of course, the three choices will be different tomorrow......
seconded!
I think home by the see is top notch and mama's a menacing little masterpiece.
Heh heh heh...
eeeooww.
Home By The Sea
I personally can't get enough of both parts of Home By The Sea - I've been the same for years. It's off the 'Genesis' album but the album isn't consistently brilliant so I can't recommend it. The Platinum Collection is a good buy, especially at this time of year (you are bound to pick it up cheap in a sale somewhere). It's got Home By The Sea and a load of other 'longs' on it.
It's got to be
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway for me. Gabriel at his best, before he became a plodding humourless solo bore.
I agree wholeheartedly with your first sentence...
and don't agree with your second. :-)
I like some individual tracks
but he can seem so overly earnest that I often think " Lighten up now and again Peter ".
I hear what you're saying...
but it wouldn't befit a man of Gabriel's years to be singing about returning Giant Hogweeds.
Why Not ?
That would be wonderful. He could wear the daffodil ruff as well !
;-)
A flower?
* der der der dah *
As a major Genesis fan
back in the days of Peter Gabriel especially I have often thought of adding some of their cd's to my collection since I only ever had them on vinyl which has long since vacated my house. Assuming that I would start off with 3 cd's to add to my collection they would be Foxtrot, Nursery Cryme and Wind and Wuthering.Post this period I dont think I would bother too much as their later albums became more radio friendly. I dont dispute that they continued to make great songs but to my mind they became more of a singles band. Still, I have great memories of seeing them live initially supporting Lindisfarne and subsequently several times as a headlining band up to The Lamb lies down era.Looking forward to the Gabriel covers album about to arrive in February.
Genesis Live, cracking
Genesis Live, cracking versions of all five songs included, most of them better than the studio originals. I've seen the CD for less than three quid.
Ta all
I have purchased "Live", "Seconds out" and "Wind and wuthering" and downloaded "Home by the sea/second home by the sea" from iTunes. I will progress to the Lamb when this lot is digested. I shied away from England as much of it is on "Seconds out". Any essential tracks not represented there?
Blood On The Rooftops..
..is an essential Genesis track, never played live (you have it there on Wind & Wuthering).
Once you are completely suckered in and have purchased and fallen in love with The Lamb (their finest hour), head over to Genesis Movement and pick up the many OAMs and SBDs from that wonderful last Gabriel tour.
Genesis are suprisingly taper-friendly and put on some stunning performances throughout their career.
Oh, and
after the Lamb I will go back in time to Trespass/Cryme...priorities, priorities!
Don't forget to do your homework....
... for Fraser and send him some reviews of your newly purchased albums (assuming they are actually on the Word donwload store....)
Funny you should say that..
as Battle of Epping Forest off SEBTP is quite essential and nobody's mentioned it yet. Superb instrumental passages, massively striding bassline, reasonable storyline but naff puns aplenty. Typical Genesis of the time and needs checking out Twangothan.
Funnily enough
I was thinking just that having reread this thread. I really like the ones I bought as a a reasult of my OP so I think I'll add it to the Wish List. At this time of year I am not allowed to buy anything directly!
Aisle Of Plenty - puns a go-go
For those old enough to remember all the brand names quoted therein; Aisle Of Plenty is a punfest.
Trick of the Tail
If only for "Ripples", their best ever track IMHO.
Agree Wheaty
I already have "Ripples" as a one off track, purchased from iTunes some time ago. I agree, fantastic. Mind you, a lot of their stuff is excellent - actually proper songs, ideally with long solo/instrumental bits! Ripples reminds me of "Snowbound" from "Then there were three".
not a big fan of prog per se
or Genesis in particular
Not big on twiddly or wiggly or whimsy or mimsy.
However The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway strikes me as monumentally brilliant
...so
... no one has mentioned Invisible Touch? Well let me break the mould. The first Genesis album that I bought, it contains two unbeatable 80s pop classics (Land of Confusion, Invisible Touch), and two 9 minute epics that are up there with the prog stuff of the 70s (Domino and Tonight Tonight Tonight) along with some other pleasant stuff and no real filler (though In Too Deep should have been on a Collins solo record)... a guilty pleasure but a pleasure no less..
Of the Gabriel era I'd say Trespass is my personal fave, as it has the prettiest arrangements and retains a sense of innocence lost on their later, more postured efforts. That said Selling England by the Pound is a truly great achievement and probably THE classic Genesis album...
... oh and I'm suprised to see that no one chose "Lamb" - as it is often touted as their masterpiece, though I have to say I've always found it incredibly hard going..
er,
I chose Lamb
The singles
I have the singles CD and these are on it - all excellent, though the horrid 80s drum sound on Touch spoils it slightly for me. I think "Land of confusion" is greta, and also "No son of mine" which gives me something in the eye...
The Platinum Collection
That's a good entry point (though I think I am a little late to make a suggestion). The tracks/era you like best, go and explore further.
I'd like to 'hear hear' Seconds Out - got all my fave tracks on even if the wrong singer sings most of them.
Selling England By The Pound
This is my personal choice but it is something of an anomaly. There is a strong folk influence and a definite 'Englishness' that does not appear on their earlier records. As an aside, I've often thought that Genesis only makes sense as a band if you ignore The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway as if it is the work of a different band, then you get the connection between Selling England and a Trick of The Tail, i.e. a quaint view of England, a bit like sitting in front of a warm log fire in a real ale pub in Norfolk. Or something!
Really though, if you haven't ever been bitten by the Genesis bug, you may be wasting your time. I'm only speaking from the point of view of nostalgia for the records above. I have not listened to them much for the last 25 years.
I really like them
...just never got around to buying more albums. I deffo fancy "Pound" but I don't want to buy too many at once - I know I won't do them individual justice. So this is just phase 1 of the additions!
Thanks!
Ripples
Totally agree. Trick Of The Tail for me. Not a duff track on there. Squonk is also one of my faves. Trick Of The Tail is also a great track . Mad Man Moon. Los Endos. Robbery Assault and Battery. As I said not a duff track. And surely Snowbound must remind you of Ripples Mr.Twangathon!
Robbery Assault and Battery
Is the duff track on ToTT.
Ripples
i love it my favourite genesis song ever, trick of the tail for me too, a great album, and then there were three has some great moments I must revisit some early genesis after reading this thread
they made a video for it
and since Ripples seems to be a favourite of many here...
Was Never a great fan,
But did like Wind And Wuthering....
Was this a "typical" Genesis Album of the time, or was it different to their usual? Was this why I liked it?
Trespass was played CONSTANTLY in The Prefects Room, so I did build up a little resistance to it and them... maybe I should go back and revisit?
Wind And Wuthering
I'd say that Trick Of The Tail and Selling England were closest in sound and feel to WaW. I do know some Genesis fans who don't rate WaW too highly, but apart from the overplayed Afterglow, I've always liked it a lot. You might also like to try Steve Hackett's excellent Spectral Mornings album; Steve left after WaW but his fingerprints are all over WaW.
I know Genesis primarily
through their excellent 3CD Best Of called The Platinum Collection. I have since heard Trespass, Foxtrot, A Trick of the Tail, Duke and We Can't Dance. So far I have been disappointed by the albums. I have yet to find a song that didn't make it onto The Platinum Collection that's above okay.
I think
you could safely say that about the vast majority of acts. A decent compilation is generally all you need.
Original albums - Nursery Cryme, no question.
Failing that - Genesis Live - the one with Hogweed on it - brilliant!
I also recommend SellingEBT£ but...
"And then there were three" is I think the most under-rated (even Phil Collins said it wasn't one of the best) but there are so many classic songs on there (albeit no 12 minute marathons)...
Undertow
Many Too Many
Say It's Alright Joe
Burning Rope
.. I could go on...
Who can remember when the ATTW3 album was played in full on release on the Radio 1 Saturday Show... can't remember the DJ?
The Radio 1 concert from 1980 takes some beating as a great Live compilation! The broadcast featuring 'Ripples' has the edge over the alternate broadcast version.
This is a top tune, prog-pop pickers!
Suppers Ready
Just took 22 mins out of my New Years Eve (while the GLW caught up on Eastenders), and gave Suppers Ready the "Darkened Room, Cigar and Glass of Shiraz" treatment.
Loved it. Utterly preposterous, but brilliant. How I've changed since the cynical Iain of the "Lets Prog, or Maybe Not" post from earlier this year!!!
Happy New Year to all....
Funnily enough
...played it for new Year's Day lunch - eased 'em in with "Ripples", then "trip to the sea" etc (newly acquired - thanks to the Massive) then hit 'em with "Supper's". Not a peep of complaint. Prog rules! Fing is, Genesis do have an eye on a decent melody and structure rather than the supposed endless soloing that prog bands indulge in (though personally I have no problem with it). Also they don't do weird intervals, sudden changes of direction and jagged rifferama like, say, the Tull, who I adore but I would never get away with side one of "Thick as a brick" over lunch. However, as we're amongst friends....
All of the above just proves what a top band they were!
Indeed Wheaty
And a happy new year to you too!