COUNTING OUT TIME / RIDING THE SCREE

First, I have to say that I never have listened to this single as I don`t have it, so I really don`t know if the the versions of the two songs included in this single are the same which were released in the "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway" album. But as I have the album, I think that I can write a review about these songs.

In my opinion, "Counting Out Time" obviously was the best choice from all the songs from "The Lamb..." to be selected to be released as a single. It is one of the best from the album, one of the most accessible, and a song which reflects very well Peter Gabriel`s humour reflected in the content of the lyrics about Rael`s sexual encounter with a beautiful woman. First, Rael (the main character in "The Lamb..." story) goes to a bookstore to buy a sex guide book which shows him how to be a good lover, with explanation figures, etc. Then, he goes to find his lover, and he is disappointed with the book because despite he follows the instructions from the sex guide book the woman shows some distress! So, Rael returns the book to the bookstore after failing in his romantic encounter! Very good and funny lyrics, also aided a lot by the music provided by the band, particularly by Steve Hackett`s funny guitar solo which sounds more like played in a synthesiser, and Phil Collins` backing vocals.

"Riding the Scree" is also a very good song from the album, with also some humour in the lyrics ("Evel Knievel you got nothing on me"). It also has some of the best Prog Rock arrangements in the album, with a very good synthesiser solo (which also was included in the "In the Cage/ Cinema Show/Slippermen/ Afterglow" Medley in the "Three Sides Live" album in 1982). Phil Collins also plays very good drums in this song, plus also the funny voices singing along with Gabriel).

Unfortunately, this single didn`t appear in the Hit Parade charts, but it was, in my opinion, a very good single used to promote "The Lamb..." album.

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