PRESENTING GENESIS

"Presenting Genesis" is a compilation of Genesis and was released in 1974. This compilation is a Canadian release. I'd like to know the history behind this Canadian issue. This is a mix of live and studio tracks. The album's sleeve says Charisma on the front, manufactured by Quality Records on the back, and the record label has Buddha Records.

"Presenting Genesis" is a compilation with tracks which were originally released on three studio albums of Genesis. I'm talking about tracks originally released on their second, third and fourth studio albums, "Trespass", "Nursery Cryme" and "Foxtrot" recorded in 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively. Still, it's a mystery to me, since it was released in 1974, why none of the tracks of their fifth studio album "Selling England By The Pound", released in 1973, aren't present here.

"Presenting Genesis" has six tracks. The first track "The Musical Box" is a song originally released on their third studio album "Nursery Cryme". It's the lengthiest track on that album and is the first great song on that album too. It's an epic track, which became as one of the most famous musical pieces of Genesis, acquiring the status of one of the band's symbols. It was frequently featured, in their live repertoire, even when the band has become less progressive. Curiously, it includes an accredited writing contribution by their former member Anthony Phillips, because begins with an instrumental piece written by him, when he was still a member of the group. The album cover is also a depiction of the story of the song. The music begins calm, and grows in intensity until reach an explosion of energy, accompanied by excellent lyrics. The version included on this compilation is a live version. I don't know where it was recorded, as happens with the other live tracks on this compilation. The second track "The Fountain Of Salmacis" is also a song originally released on their third studio album "Nursery Cryme". This is the greatest gem on "Nursery Cryme". It's one of the songs most played live by the band, or by their members when they are performing as solo artists. The theme is around a story, based in the Greek mythology. Musically, it's a song with great energy, which collapses into an avalanche of emotions. It features everything that was great and unique, in that Genesis' era. It taps the same vein that has provided the setting for their subsequent masterworks. The third track "Time Table" is a song originally released on their fourth studio album "Foxtrot". It's a very beautiful and graceful song, which brings certain calm to that album, after the great intensity of the previous opener track, on that album, "Watcher Of The Skies". It's a song about the medieval times, with a catchy tune, a nice piano intro and fairly intense chorus. It's the softest track on "Foxtrot" and has a lovely melody. This is a track that features a classic Genesis melancholy with a beautiful piano part. It's a very pleasant song, but it's also probably, the less memorable track on that album. The fourth track "Return Of The Giant Hogweed" is a song originally released on their third studio album "Nursery Cryme". It's with "The Musical Box" the two great epics that dominate the first side of that album. It's a bombastic song with theatrical lyrics and with all the things that made of Genesis a so innovative group in the 70's. This is a very dynamic symphonic epic track in which Tony Banks does his best to dominate the music with good organ riffs and Steve Hackett is prominent with his electric guitar. These two musical pieces became two of the major attractions of their live performances. This is another live version. The fifth track "The Knife" is a song originally released on their second studio album "Trespass". This is the great highlight on that album. It quickly became the first classic track of Genesis. This is a composition unusually aggressive for the band and, in my humble opinion, it pronounces, in a certain way, the path the band would follow on their next albums. It's the most famous song on that album and it's also the heaviest track ever recorded by Genesis. This is another live track. The sixth track "Seven Stones" is also a song originally released on their third studio album "Nursery Cryme". This is a very beautiful song full of mellotron and it's also, in my humble opinion, the best track after their three epic tracks. It shows Gabriel's great and unique voice and Banks' masterful keyboard work. It became as one of the most underappreciated songs on that album. Still, this is a nice piece with some quality in Genesis' catalogue.

Conclusion: "Presenting Genesis" is a good compilation of Genesis. It has some of the best tracks released on three of their best studio albums of their golden era. I mean, "The Musical Box", "The Fountain Of salmacis", "Return Of The Giant Hogweed" and "The Knife". However, why did someone feel the need to put out this redundant compilation, with a mix of live and studio cuts, and including "Time Table" and "Seven Stones"? Despite the quality of these two songs, they're hardly Genesis' "A" material capable to bring new fans to the band. In my case, when I bought this album I thought I was getting more live material from Genesis' live era. But, a compilation can never substitutes the original albums, especially in the case of progressive rock bands. So, this is only a good compilation, but none an essential purchase. So, 3 stars for the awesome photos front and back on the sleeve, but the music is all available elsewhere.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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