Genesis 1970-1975 review


Genesis 1970-1975 is in stores now. Here is my take.

The each of the five albums (six discs) from the Peter Gabriel era is on here -- along with corresponding DVDs and multimedia CDs. This is the progressive rock era of the band, so to speak.

Disc 1 consists of the group's second album, Trespass. This has six songs, such as "Dusk" and the two epics -- "Stagnation" and "The Knife". This disc is a decent one and one that would start the rise of Genesis. Disc 2 is a multimedia disc. Trespass was originally released on October 23, 1970.

Disc 3 is Nursery Cryme. This is when Genesis goes into even longer songs, as leadoff track "The Musical Box" shows us. "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" and "The Fountain of Salmacis" are around two minutes shorter than "Musical Box", but are just as important to the album. Disc 4 is a multimedia disc. Nursery Cryme was originally released on November 12, 1971.

Disc 5, which is Foxtrot, is what makes Genesis a worldwide name. Originally released on October 6, 1972, the disc, like Trespass, has just six tracks. The disc's lead track, "Watcher of the Skies", is a hybrid between prog and pop. As a matter of fact, the track has been a staple in the band's concerts long after Peter Gabriel left. It was included on two Genesis' live albums: their first live album, 1973's Genesis Live and 1982's Three Sides Live. Other songs on the album include "Get 'Em Out By Friday", "Horizons" and "Supper's Ready" -- the most important being the 22 minute 58 second final track. "Supper's Ready" really took advantage of the freedom that radio stations had at the time to play such material. Sadly, that freedom no longer exists in our day, whereas the short three and four minute tracks are continuing to destroy both our society and our musical talent. Hopefully, President-elect Barack Obama will allow for radio stations to play epic songs such as "Supper's Ready". By the way, Disc 6 is not a multimedia track, but rather a DVD containing the performances of Foxtrot.

Disc 7 is Selling England by the Pound. This disc, originally released on October 12, 1973, has a litany of great tracks. The lead track, "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight", is eight minutes of progressive power rock. The album's longest number (and Genesis's third longest track at the time), "The Battle of Epping Forest", is one of the most underrated tracks on Genesis's repertoire. The group deleted it from future concerts. Other important tracks include "Firth of Fifth", "The Cinema Show", and "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" -- the latter of which hit #21 on the Top 40 charts, thereby becoming the band's first major hit. Disc 8 is a DVD of Selling England by the Pound.

Discs 9 & 10 are the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, which was released on November 29, 1974. The title track is another well-known track from the Gabriel era. Also, "Carpet Crawlers" and "Counting Out Time" have been included on compilations as well. In 1999, the group re-recorded "Carpet Crawlers" for their compilation, Turn It On Again: The Hits. "In the Cage" is an eight minute epic that would become the centerpiece of many of the band's future concert medleys. "Colony of Slippermen" is also another important track on this album. Disc 11 is a DVD of the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

Disc 12 contains bonus material. "Happy the Man" was finally included on Turn It On Again: The Hits 2-disc compilation on September 11, 2007 prior to this compilation. "Twilight Alehouse" was a Selling England by the Pound-era track, a b-side of "I Know What I Like". Four other tracks were released on Genesis Archive, Volume 1: 1967-1975: "Going Out to Get You", "Shepherd", "Pacidy", and "Let Us Now Make Love". The 14 minute 42 second medley on the bonus disc, "Genesis Plays Jackson", was previously unreleased. The thirteenth and final disc is a DVD of the never-before released material.

This is clearly the best compilation Genesis ever released. This is definitely worth the money. Time to reload.

FINAL RATING: