Alternative Weekend: Focus on ‘Genesis’

I have been posting most weekends using Hive account@detlev’s #metalweekend tag, but my main love of music is progressive and alternative music. Some of my posts have included these songs, but I feel they are not keeping with the spirit of metal.

I will continue to post article’s using #metalweekend occasionally but feel I have more to offer regarding these other genre’s that I am more familiar with.

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Introducing #alternativeweekend. Post an article that highlights THREE great songs that are either progressive or alternative and use the tag #alternativeweekend or use the ‘Focus on’ series if you like. There are no rules, just make your own!

If you have a short story or something to offer regarding an opinion on your songs, then share it with us!

It's Tuesday already, hardly an alternative weekend post this one!

I do have a story about my introduction to Genesis, but it started much later than the early '70s. Suffice to say I worked my way back through the back catalogue to Trespass which I bought but didn't really rate.

As I usually present FOUR songs per ‘Focus on’ the next four albums fit quite well into how I write these.

I had all the Genesis long play vinyls once; if you wanted to hear them in those days you had to buy them as there was no other choice. Mine were all sold in bulk years ago, and I for one have moved on with music content to digital files now. I know some would disagree and like the old LP's, but they take up far too much room for my liking.

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The Collins period was my introduction to the band, but I had little trouble accessing the early works. Genesis was really my introduction to the world of prog and because of that, I have very good memories of my early listens.

It helps if you pick the right band and these guys were the masters. Have a look on Prog-Archives and you will see that all the four albums I cover are high on the rankings.

I still listen to their songs now after 30 years of repeated plays. I am a person who can be touched emotionally by music although only a small selection of artists can do this. Genesis was one of the first to do that, and perhaps that is why I regard them so highly.

Genesis - The Musical Box (Nursery Cryme – 1971)

It had to be this or “The Fountain of Salmacis” from in my mind the first Genesis album of any noteworthiness. 'Hogweed' fans may disagree, but I always found that one a little cheesy.

This song takes me to another time period in its music that contains an ever-present undertone of menace that threatens to break out and bite the listener.

Phil does some background vocals in this to good effect and Tony Banks is playing guitar!

Genesis - Can-Utility and the Coastliners (Foxtrot – 1972)

Is this a lesser-known track from Foxtrot? Supper’s Ready seems to be the fan’s choice, and though I do like this epic sprawling monster of a song, I find it a little patchy.

‘Can’ has those typical Genesis progressive sounds that I love and coming in at just over 5 minutes, I suppose that's short.

Genesis – Firth of Fifth (Selling England by the Pound – 1973)

I saw Steve Hackett last year in concert and of course, he performed ‘Firth of Fifth' and more importantly the fantastic solo in the middle. For me this is one of the best songs from the Gabriel era.

Steve seems to have perfected this solo live, and after watching him perform it in a 70's live concert I can say he's much improved now!

I found ‘Selling’ a step up in quality from the previous two albums in the case of consistency. There are still tracks that I don’t listen to, but less.

If you have never heard this masterpiece before, I can tell you it's not just a classical piano track that it appears to be.

Genesis – Fly on a Windshield (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway – 1974)

Like the ‘Supper’s Ready’ song, I found the ‘Lamb’ album quite rambling, long and more inaccessible than the previous offerings. That’s not to say it had its moments but being a double album never helps.

‘Fly’ includes the best use of a Mellotron I have ever heard. It really is the epitome of the progressive sound. Belt up the volume and gorge in those rich sounds when that old quirky analog instrument gets going!

There is zero chance that the original Genesis would ever reform. Phil Collins is now a global superstar, and would not likely be happy about being shoved behind the drums, though he has previously professed to have been happier there. The band members are also getting on a little, well actually a lot.

If it was to happen, it would either be a one-off performance or just a few songs. Peter Gabriel left under a cloud after ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ and Genesis evolved into a quite different band.

I will cover the Collins years in a future ‘Focus on’.

Alternative Weekend: Focus on ‘Genesis’ - The Gabriel Years

Genesis - The Musical Box (Nursery Cryme – 1971)

Genesis - Can-Utility and the Coastliners (Foxtrot – 1972)

Genesis – Firth of Fifth (Selling England by the Pound – 1973)

Genesis – Fly on a Windshield (The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway – 1974)

Other articles in the ‘Focus on’ series: