GENESIS LIVE

This was my first prog album, bought when it first came out, but I never got round to buying it on CD until recently. In the meantime, I got used to the original studio versions with their dodgy production. Having recently downloaded this, I remember what a fantastic album it is. The sound is much improved on the studio versions and the performances are great (particularly the much maligned Mr Collins). The crowd roar as the opening chords of "Watcher of the Skies" are heard, but you could hear a pin drop in the quiet sections of "Get 'Em Out by Friday". The manic ending of "Return of the Giant Hogweed" concludes a great performance which is a big improvement on the original. "Musical Box" is preceded by the famous bass pedal solo from Michael Rutherford and what follows is still one of the finest moments in any form of music, let alone prog. The ending is one of the ultimate "goose pimple" moments in prog. "The Knife" is the final track and features a great Hackett solo. Personally I prefer the versions here to the original and this is a must for fans of Gabriel-era Genesis.