Exploring Genesis’ Prog Era

I have never been a Genesis fan – I am not a hater, just never taken the time to dig into their catalog. In general, I am not much of a prog guy, so I was not motivated. I always liked “The Carpet Crawlers” from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974), and I liked the pop radio hits from the Phil Collins era. I am a fan of the Peter Gabriel solo albums. So I am theoretically warm to the band.

I recently saw one of those catalog rankings of the band and sent it to my buddy Nik, who is the biggest Genesis fan I know, to get his appraisal of the list. He gave it a thumbs up, but gave me a shorter assignment: listen to his three favorites (in his order of preference) from the prog era:

• Selling England by the Pound (Peter Gabriel version of the band) from 1973 (which was #1 on the list I sent him)
• Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Peter Gabriel version of the band) from 1974 (which was #3 on the list)
• Trick of the Tail (Phil Collins version of the band) from 1976 (which was #4 on the list – the highest ranking from the Collins era)

Reviews for the album were mixed when it first came out, but it has aged into a prog masterpiece and fan favorite (as indicated by my friend’s ranking it as his favorite).

For a non-fan like me, I certainly recognize Gabriel’s vocals (which I am naturally sympathetic to, given my love of his solo career), and I am impressed by the musicianship and elaborate arrangements. It is what I think of when I think of prog, which would normally put me off, but it is melodically so engaging that I am hooked. The solos, although technically complex, are not showy just for the sake of it; they always serve the song.

There is not a bad track on the album, but a standout is “Firth of Fifth.” I can see why my Genesis fan buddy told me to start with it first. It is nearly ten minutes of prog heaven with an amazing solo piano intro from Banks and a face-melting solo by Hackett.

Another standout is “The Cinema Show,” which is just plain gorgeous. It is like a prog version of Simon Garfunkel. Impressive vocals from Gabriel. I had no idea that Gabriel played the flute and oboe. The first half is delicate, and then in the second half it goes full prog. Great track.

This is a great album, and I understand it’s why it is acclaimed.

This is an album I am actually familiar with. I have a CD and have listened to it many times. But for some reason, it never motivated me to dig into their catalog. I am listening to the 50th anniversary edition on Tidal streaming (24-bit/96 kHz), and the recording sounds fantastic – sharper without being harsh compared to the 2007 16-bit/44.1 kHz version.

I have never paid attention to the plot in this rock opera, but I appreciate the theatricality of the performance. As far as I am concerned, I like the songs (several are outright catchy), the keyboards, guitars, and Peter Gabriel vocals (he is at his best, despite this being the end of the line for him and the band). However, at over 94 minutes, it is a long haul. You need to be in the mood for that kind of listening commitment.

Highlights are: the titular song, “Cuckoo Cocoon,” “Back in N.Y.C.,” “Counting Out Time,” and “The Carpet Crawlers” (basically all of side two).

Trick of the Tail was the first post-Peter Gabriel album – drummer Phil Collins became the new frontman. His vocals are remarkably similar to Gabeiels’ and so it was not much of a change. I feel like Collins has more vocal textures than Gabriel – dare I say he is a better singer?

The album sounds more like a sequel to Selling England by the Pound than the follow up to Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Although it doesn’t have standout tracks like Lamb, I like it better as an album.

My favorite track on the album is “Squonk” which opens was the a pulsing bass sound. There is an anthem quality to the song and Collins’ vocals are terrific. Per Wikipedia the song is based on a tale of the Squonk which, when captured, dissolves in a pool of tears.

I enjoyed this exploration. I am not a convert; I am just a casual fan. I appreciate who Genesis is, and I can see the appeal; they have not entered my list of favorite artists.