GENESIS LIVE

Having been blown away by SEPTB in 1975 I needed to hear more. But growing in the outer suburbs of Melbourne (Australia) in the 70's choices were limited. Of course the likes of Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull and The Who and even occasionally Yes (Roundabout or Your Move) sometimes hit the radio waves

I don't think the earlier Genesis product was even released in Australia at this stage, and then by chance a copy of Genesis Live appeared in one of the few local record stores.

But looking at the cover was this the same band? What's this with the face paint and masks? Why are the guitarists hunched over their instruments and why does the keyboard player almost have his back to the audience? And the drummer intensely focussed on his small kit but at least there are some tubular bells but no gong...and a weird story and place to write your name on the back cover ... this can't be serious!

I was very nervous...but ventured to the counter with the 12" and asked for a preview listen...which in this store meant playing on the store's PA system...off went the Chuck Berry ...on comes Watcher... The booming mellotron introduction, the morse coding of the percussion...yes this was the same band... My second Genesis purchase several weeks after SEPTB.

And what a live album! Technically Second's Out is superior but Live has the raw energy of a young band doing it their way. There are no lowlights. All of the selections have more power than the originals - and the blistering keyboard solo on Hogweed (but now I know it is doubled with Steve's tapping) and the changing moods of Musical Box - softly first whilst building into one of the best moments in rock. And finally The Knife and another great guitar solo...Some of you must die for the freedom I shall provide... and throughout no guitar heroics and indulgent keyboards...every note and every word has its place....

This is a great introduction to early Genesis although missing Supper's Ready and Stagnation and Fountain of Salmacis (none of which I had not heard yet)...But If Yes could put out all their past three albums as Yessongs...surely Genesis could have a double !

4.8 stars...