Genesis - the Peter Gabriel era
Discussion
It's a tad late (I'm old) but I'm just getting into this now. I bought Duke (1980) as well as Abacab in 1981, then 'Genesis' in 1983, didn't really rate Invisible Touch, thought their last album 'We can't dance' was pretty dire. I don't count 'calling all stations' as it doesn't even have Phil Collins.
Collin's solo work and acting career really put me off - he was just everywhere back then.
But, to have seen them live in the seventies.
This is my fave at the moment, the Foxtrot album played in a 1973 promotional gig at Shepperton studios October 31st 1973. This is supposedly the only known recording of this, found in the US and restored after several hundred hours of work. I always admired Peter Gabriel/thought he was a fruitcake but having seen this, I'm pretty sure he was the equal of Bowie in terms of songwriting and live performances.
Anyway, enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FBcz3tBH74
Collin's solo work and acting career really put me off - he was just everywhere back then.
But, to have seen them live in the seventies.
This is my fave at the moment, the Foxtrot album played in a 1973 promotional gig at Shepperton studios October 31st 1973. This is supposedly the only known recording of this, found in the US and restored after several hundred hours of work. I always admired Peter Gabriel/thought he was a fruitcake but having seen this, I'm pretty sure he was the equal of Bowie in terms of songwriting and live performances.
Anyway, enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FBcz3tBH74
I've got some old vinyl somewhere.
Funny thing is, I used to skip the pre 1976 stuff on CD's because I thought it was just too weird. Perhaps it is.
Now, I think it's just brilliant. Phil should have stayed on the drums - that's what he was best at, and he really was superb.
To think these guys were 22 or so when they wrote this.
Funny thing is, I used to skip the pre 1976 stuff on CD's because I thought it was just too weird. Perhaps it is.
Now, I think it's just brilliant. Phil should have stayed on the drums - that's what he was best at, and he really was superb.
To think these guys were 22 or so when they wrote this.
Active75 said:
I think theres another thread on this, but I was lucky enough to see them perform some of Foxtrot at the Rainbow theatre '73 when the Selling England by the Pound album was released, yes Gabriel used to keep changing outfits through the show. Also saw the Lamb Lies Down on Broadway set in '74..
Fantastic!I've found that a lot of the stuff I used to like before seems a bit dull after listening to Foxtrot. My cousin has seen both Gabriel and Steve Hackett play - something I'd like to do as well at some point.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Peter Gabriel was nothing if not clever. According to Phil Collins, when PG started wearing dresses, foxes heads and doing the pre song rambling, they were noticed and written a lot about by NME, Rolling Stone etc. They then went from being a £35 a night band to £350 and quickly built up a massive cult following.The Genesis name was thought up by Jonathan King.
astrsxi77 said:
Not that it adds much to the general discussion here, but wherever your loyalties lie, it is quite staggering when you consider what the members of Genesis have achieved together and separately. I cannot think valid comparison. Look at these highlights, all from just one band:
Garbriel Genesis: unique, pioneering progressive rock band, greatly popularising the genre and introducing hitherto unseen stage theatrics.
Collins Genesis: world-conquering evolution of the above, combining maturing tastes with massively broadened appeal. Highly innovative stage shows (see Vari-Lite).
Peter Gabriel - Solo: sophisticated, polically-aware, conscientious and humorous pop music, and globally successful to boot. Innovative approach to presentation and music videos. WOMAD.
Phil Collins - Solo: music borne out of heartfelt emotion, that struck a cord with millions and propelled him to success bettered only by a handful of peers. It's not just mushy stuff though. He is probably the most famous drummer alive (bar Ringo), and is revered by players with good reason. In The Air Tonight, Live Aid twice in one day and Oscars for Disney. Love him or not, he is a phenomenon.
Mike and the Mechanics: an outlet for Mike Rutherford, who brilliantly combined the talents of singers Paul Young and Paul Carrack, along with writing input from B A Robertson to achieve a string of hits throughout the 80s and 90s.
Steve Hacket - Solo: ex-Genesis guitarist, who built up a cult-like fanbase and has successfully toured solo for decades since. Released superb Genesis retrospective and collaboration albums.
Hugh Padgham - prolific producer who, during his stint with Genesis and together with Collins and Gabriel, pioneered the much copied gated drum sound, influencing fellow musicians for much of the 80s.
Nicely put. You wonder if Bowie was influenced at all by Peter Gabriel - who was certainly an original.Garbriel Genesis: unique, pioneering progressive rock band, greatly popularising the genre and introducing hitherto unseen stage theatrics.
Collins Genesis: world-conquering evolution of the above, combining maturing tastes with massively broadened appeal. Highly innovative stage shows (see Vari-Lite).
Peter Gabriel - Solo: sophisticated, polically-aware, conscientious and humorous pop music, and globally successful to boot. Innovative approach to presentation and music videos. WOMAD.
Phil Collins - Solo: music borne out of heartfelt emotion, that struck a cord with millions and propelled him to success bettered only by a handful of peers. It's not just mushy stuff though. He is probably the most famous drummer alive (bar Ringo), and is revered by players with good reason. In The Air Tonight, Live Aid twice in one day and Oscars for Disney. Love him or not, he is a phenomenon.
Mike and the Mechanics: an outlet for Mike Rutherford, who brilliantly combined the talents of singers Paul Young and Paul Carrack, along with writing input from B A Robertson to achieve a string of hits throughout the 80s and 90s.
Steve Hacket - Solo: ex-Genesis guitarist, who built up a cult-like fanbase and has successfully toured solo for decades since. Released superb Genesis retrospective and collaboration albums.
Hugh Padgham - prolific producer who, during his stint with Genesis and together with Collins and Gabriel, pioneered the much copied gated drum sound, influencing fellow musicians for much of the 80s.
Brian May admits he was.
miniman said:
Listened to Invisible Touch on Sunday. A few good tracks, spoiled by some howlers, including Invisible Touch.
Not sure really.Genesis basically became the Phil Collins band around that time and even now, I struggle to tell his solo stuff and Genesis apart. I could have sworn blind "Another Day in Paradise" was a Genesis track. It's all aural corduroy to me.
'Mama' was about the last really good track that wasn't basically pop music. The later eighties stuff seems to have tainted the band's image so that the really immense early stuff remains undiscovered by so many.
Edited by iSore on Sunday 25th March 20:37
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