THE BEST...

"The Best..." is a very special compilation of Genesis. It's an economic package that includes their third studio album "Nursery Cryme", released in 1971, and their fourth studio album "Foxtrot", released in 1972, on a double vinyl record. This was a very interesting compilation because it included two absolutely indispensable musical works of the band at a very cheap price, what would be a very worth purchase, in those days. "Nursery Cryme" and "Foxtrot" are two of the best studio albums of Genesis and represent two indispensable works, especially for lovers of Gabriel's musical era. However, for those like me, who have already both albums, it might be a nice addition for all vinyl prog collectors.

The art work of the compilation is very interesting and strange at the same time. In the inside there are some interesting articles about the band and the front cover is very colourful and contains the track list of the songs. Personally I don't like particularly of the front cover of it, because it seems to me too much psychedelic for my usual personal taste.

The line up on both albums is the same. So, we have Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins.

As I've already reviewed these two albums previously on Progarchives, in a more extensive way, I'm not going to do it again. So, if you are interested to know, in more detail, what I wrote about them before, I invite you to read those my both reviews. However, in here I'm going to write something about them in a more short way. So, of course, I'm not going to analyze them track by track, as I made before, but I'm only going to make a global appreciation of both albums.

"Nursery Cryme": When Collins and Hackett replaced John Mayhew and Anthony Phillips, the definitive Genesis line up became a reality. The band also became a tighter and much more technical accomplished unit, and they further perfected the sound and style of "Trespass" on their third studio album "Nursery Cryme". The title of the album was derived from the opening track "The Musical Box" where an old nursery rhyme got mixed with a grotesque and surreal tale about a boy who got decapitated by his nurse. The cover art of the album was also clearly inspired by that song. The track perfectly captured absolutely every element of classic Genesis, with lots of passion, theatrical drama, and the variation between beautiful, quiet, melodic parts and much harder and energetic passages with some incredible dynamics. "The Fountain Of Salmacis" and the heavier "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed" showed Genesis' music from their most ancient and fairytale like side. The symphonic progressive rock doesn't get any better than this. "Seven Stones" is a beautiful and melodic little tune, while the cheerful "Harold The Barrel" demonstrating some of Gabriel's best and weird humour and twisted lyrics. So, "Nursery Cryme" is a classic stuff from the beginning to the end.

"Foxtrot": "Foxtrot" was the album that confirms definitely Genesis in one of the leading forces of the British symphonic progressive rock movement. It included, for the most Genesis' fans, the ultimate favourite track in form of the 23 minute, "Supper's Ready". This music suite, consisted of several different parts and compositions that, unlike the title track from Yes' "Close To The Edge", clearly were separated by several ideas that later were glued together to make the whole track. But, despite of that, it all worked superb, and the binding main melody is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful melodies the band ever wrote and the composition stand as one of the progressive rock's ultimate masterpieces ever. And the rest of the album kept the same high level of quality. The opener "Watcher Of The Skies" was an airy and energetic song that for many years would become the opening number at almost all the concerts performed by Genesis. "Get 'Em Out By Friday" was the Genesis song that allowed Gabriel most to really act out with several different characters. And "Foxtrot" also included one of their most overlooked gems, "Can-Utility And The Coastliners". Despite its modest length, the song managed to capture absolutely, every side of the band in some very beautiful themes and melodies. So, "Foxtrot" is just as essential for any progressive rock fan as air and food are.

Conclusion: As "The Best?" is nothing more than a compilation of "Nursery Crime" and "Foxtrot", joined in a single double vinyl disc, we can say that for those who have both original albums they don't need this compilation, unless you have a collector vinyl spirit. We can question the needing of such kind of compilations, unless its release had become important, at the time, for those who missed the two original albums. But, as we can't decide the necessity of its release, we can only analyse the quality of the musical material on the compilation. And in this case, there is no doubt that we are in presence of some of the best material made by one of a greatest prog bands. Both albums are two great masterpieces and represent some of the best things the band has ever made. But, if you don't have these two albums and you own this compilation, it substitutes perfectly well those original albums. So, I'm going to rate it with 4 stars.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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