Genesis Live [Remastered] - Genesis > Reviews > If You Only Buy 1 Early Genesis Album Make It This

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Five classic tracks in one place
Disadvantages:	Nothing

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Released in 1973 , this album was part of a series of budget live releases by the Charisma label (which included Lindisfarne) which were priced at the time at 1.99 GBP. This album was seen very much as a holding operation coming between "Foxtrot" and "Selling England By The Pound".

The album is well put together with an excellent shot of the band live on a flooded stage featuring Peter Gabriel in one of his more exotic costumes. The liner includes more band pictures.

As you might expect you only get five songs, but these are all excellent versions of classics from their previous albums, which , if anything outdo the studio versions.

The opener is naturally "Watcher of The Skies", followed by "Get 'Em Out By Friday" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed". The second phase contains a gorgeous "Musical Box" , and closes with a thunderous version of "The Knife".

I've written about the songs on the studio albums so check out those ops for further information. If you want to hear samples of the songs check out the links on my detailed profile.

The album is available for a paltry 7.99 GBP on Amazon so well worth buying.

I apologise for the brevity of this op, but there is nothing more I can say than this is an excellent introduction to early Genesis, and well worth investigating. One interesting point about the album was the liner story by Peter Gabriel, which may give you some insight into the workings of his mind. I'll repeat it hear, but be warned this is not for the faint of heart or small children:

The following text is copyrighted by Peter Gabriel / Genesis (1973)

"4.30 pm. The tube train draws to a halt There is no station in sight Anxious glances dart around amongst the passengers as they acknowledge each others presence for the first time.

At the end of the train, a young lady in a green trouser-suit stands up in the centre of the carriage and proceeds to unbutton her jacket, which she removes and drops to the dirty wooden floor. She also takes off her shoes, her trousers, her blouse, her brassiere, her tights and her floral panties, dropping them all in a neat pile. This leaves her totally naked. She then moves her hands across her thighs and begins to fiddle around in between her legs. Eventually she catches hold of something cold and metallic, and very slowly she starts to unzip her body: working in a straight line up the stomach, between the breasts, up the neck. taking it right on through the centre of her face to her forehead. Her fingers probe up and down the resulting slits; finally coming to rest on either side of her navel. She pauses for a moment before meticulously working her flesh apart Slipping her right hand into the open gash she pushes up through her throat, latching on to some buried solid at the top. of her spine. With tremendous effort, she loosens and pulls out a thin, shimmering, golden rod. Her fingers release their grip and her crumpled body, neatly sliced, slithers down the liquid surface of the rod to the floor.

SPLAT!

The rod remains hovering just off the ground. A flagpole without flag. The other passengers have been totally silent but at the sound of the body dropping on the floor, a large middle-aged lady, wearing a pink dress and matching poodle, stands up and shouts, "STOP THIS, IT'S DISGUSTING!"

The golden rod disappeared, the green trouser-suit was left on a hanger, with a dry-cleaning ticket pinned to the left arm.

On the ticket was written:

NAME.........................................
ADDRESS....................................
................................................
................................................
................................................ "

Hope that wasn't too shocking