NURSERY CRYME

The first of the four great classic Genesis albums (before Peter Gabriel left) this has several highlights, the finest being the opening Musical Box, a powerhouse effort switching from thundering pulsating instrumental to haunting melodic breaks - fantastic stuff and at the time one of their best live numbers. But then The Return Of The Giant Hogweed is another monster, pounding with life, a great cartoon-style stomper full of high spirits. And to cap it all there's The Fountain Of Salmacis, one of their old-style fairytale-goth-legends-style numbers, soaring and swelling, dated now but full of passion - terrific. The other numbers are mere fillers - buy this album for the three biggies alone!