NURSERY CRYME

"Nursery Cryme" is the third full-length studio album by UK pop/rock and progressive rock act Genesis. The album was released through "Charisma Records" in November 1971. It´s the successor to "Trespass" from October 1970 and it features two lineup changes since the predecessor. Touring in support of "Trespass", Genesis began to realise that John Mayhew maybe wasn´t the most suitable drummer for the band and their music. He would leave soon though and be replaced by Phil Collins (in August 1970), who brought a completely different approach to rhythm and drumming with him. Guitarist and founding member Anthony Phillips was the first to leave though, as he wasn´t satisfied with the direction of the band´s music, and because many of his songwriting ideas were rejected and therefore didn´t make it unto "Trespass". It took the band a while to find a suitable replacement but in late December 1970, they auditioned new guitarist Steve Hackett and he joined Genesis in January 1971.

If "Trespass (1970)" was a giant leap forward from "From Genesis to Revelation (1969)" and more or less a complete transformation of Genesis sound, "Nursery Cryme" was a quantum leap forward in quality from its direct predecessor and the establishment of the high quality progressive rock that Genesis would produce on this and the next couple of albums. The inclusion of the two new members have an immediate impact on the band´s sound and it´s as if Genesis found the missing pieces of the puzzle to boost their creative forces. Both in terms of songwriting and in terms of working as a band unit.

"Nursery Cryme" features seven tracks and a total playing time of 39:09 minutes and Genesis take the listener through the three longer epic tracks "The Musical Box", "The Return of the Giant Hogweed", and "The Fountain of Salmacis" and the four shorter pieces "For Absent Friends", "Seven Stones", and "Harold the Barrel", and "Harlequin". Collins, who some years down the line, would become the lead vocalist for Genesis, makes his lead vocal debut on the short, acoustic, and mellow "For Absent Friends", but other than that it´s Peter Gabriel who sings lead vocals on the remaining tracks on "Nursery Cryme" (although "Harold the Barrel" is actually sund as a duet by Gabriel and Collins with their vocals layered). "Nursery Cryme" features several interesting and even humorous lyrical themes which bring the right amount of mystique and both dark and uplifting atmospheres to the recording. The dark Victorian horror story of "The Musical Box" are comlimented perfectly by the adventures and craziness of songs like "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" and "Harold the Barrel".

The instrumental part of the album consists of organ, mellotron (which was new in the band´s sound), piano, bass, electric and 12-string guitars, flute, drums/percussion, and many beautiful harmony- and choir vocals. "Nursery Cryme" is a dynamic release and although it´s predominantly a mellow, pastoral, and beautiful album, both "The Musical Box" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" feature louder and even somewhat heavy parts. The album was produced by John Anthony with David Hentschel working an the assistent engineer, and although the sound production suits the music, it is arguably a bit rough around the edges and not all instruments sound equally great in the mix. The electric guitar tone is for example not particularly clear or well sounding, but again the album ultimately features a sound which suits the material. "Nursery Cryme" is the first Genesis album featuring their "classic" era lineup and it´s also the first Genesis album in their most well known progressive rock period (1971-1974). Despite a few issues with the sound production, it´s through and through a high quality release and a 5 star (100%) rating is deserved.