NURSERY CRYME / FOXTROT

'Nursery Cryme/Foxtrot' is a special compilation of Genesis. This is an economic package including their third studio album 'Nursery Cryme', released in 1971 and their fourth studio album 'Foxtrot', released in 1972, on a double vinyl disc. It included two indispensable works from the band that would be a worth purchase, in those days. These are considered two of the best studio works by them. Both are two masterpieces that can be joined to 'Selling England By The Pound' and 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway', in Gabriel's era. But, for those who have already both albums, like me, this compilation only can be interesting as an addition for those who are vinyl progressive collector's fans.

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': 'Nursery Cryme', has three masterpieces 'The Musical Box', 'The Return Of The Giant Hogweed' and 'The Fountain Of Salmacis', three excellent tracks 'Harold The Barrel', 'Harlequin' and 'Seven Stones' and a good track 'For Absent Friends'. 'The Musical Box' is an epic that became as one of the most central pieces of Genesis, becoming in one of the band's symbols. It was frequently played on their live sets. It includes an accredited writing contribution by their former member Anthony Phillips. 'For Absent Friends' is a short acoustic ballad with beautiful lyrics, a nice guitar duet and good double vocals. It's the first of the two songs from the band to be sung by Collins, in Gabriel's era. 'The Return Of The Giant Hogweed' is the second epic. It's a bombastic track with theatrical lyrics and with all the things that made of Genesis a so innovative group in the 70's. 'Seven Stones' is a beautiful song full of mellotron and is perhaps the best track after their three epic tracks. It shows Gabriel's great and unique voice and Bank's masterful keyboard work. 'Harold The Barrel' has interesting lyrics, is funny, is very rhythmic and provides a joyful moment. 'Harlequin' harmonizes the voices of Gabriel and Collins, providing a very beautiful short folksy piece with nice vocal harmonies. 'The Fountain Of Salmacis' is the great gem of the album. It has great energy, which collapses into an avalanche of emotions. It features everything that was great and unique, in 70's, in that Genesis' era.

'Foxtrot': 'Foxtrot' was the first band's album that reached the top in Genesis' career. It became the album that solidified their career and reputation as songwriters and performers. It has six tracks. 'Watcher Of The Skies' is a great opener for the album that gives a sense of majesty and power to the beginning of the album. 'Time Table' is a beautiful and graceful song, which brings calm, after the great intensity of 'Watcher Of The Skies'. It's about the medieval times, with a catchy tune, a nice piano intro and fairly intense chorus. 'Get'Em Out By Friday' is a very good track in the vein of a mini rock opera with great musicality. It shows Gabriel's amazing vocal versatility and the fantastic skills of Banks on keyboards. 'Can-Utility And The Coastliners' has beautiful vocals by Gabriel, and a great finale by Banks and Hackett, which makes the song very dramatic and melodic. 'Horizons' starts with the central idea of a track made in the baroque style, and is a typical Hackett's classical guitar track. This piece is influenced by the 'Prelude Of The First Cello Suite' by J. S. Bach. 'Supper's Ready' is probably the most known and beloved song by their fans. It's also their most progressive track. This is a track full of amazing musicianship and lyrics, and is one of the most representatives of the progressive rock music. It stands as a testament of how unique and creative Genesis was during the early 70's.

Conclusion: Both are two great albums of the band. 'Nursery Cryme' is very important and represents undoubtedly the beginning of the new line up of Genesis and represents also the starting point, of an absolutely amazing career. Still, I really think that 'Nursery Crime' is a transitional album, being better than 'Trespass', but being slightly less good than their three following albums. 'Foxtrot' was basically the reason why Gabriel started dressing up on stage, in strange masks and costumes. By the other hand, 'Foxtrot' is the album that contains one of the songs that people still talk about with a certain reverence and which inspired many other bands to write lengthy suites, even today. If you have the two studio albums already, you don't need this compilation because it has nothing new to offer, unless, you have a collector's vinyl spirit. In this case, it will be a great addition to your collection. 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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