FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

Jonathan King arranged this album to try and turn the young Genesis boys into a pop band. It is one of the great unanswered questions in prog history: what would have happened if it had been a success and sold more than the purported 650 copies? Would we have had Peter Gabriel as a 70s crooner perhaps teaming up with Dianne Lee as Peter and Lee? We must be grateful in hindsight that this album -not without merit- was such a flop.

The problem is the rather dated 60s atmosphere which permeates the album: some insipid hippyish lyrics, syrupy strings, moody-blues-esque "ooohs" and certain middle of the road arrangements. With better arrangements, the album may have become successful since the songs are quite good, no worse than many familiar songs of the period.

Despite the rather conformist productions, there are a few deft instrumental touches such as the use of the French horn (?) on "Am I very wrong?" or the brass on "where the sour turns to sweet" two of the finest tracks here. There's not much variety; but a couple of attempted rockers work well in context: "In the beginning " and "the Serpent", two more decent tracks.

Peter Gabriel does his best to imitate the vocal mannerisms of that slightly wimpy whining singing style of the time.

Although this is certainly not prog and would not be reviewed here if it were not the juvenilia of one of the greatest and most beloved bands, it would be a pity it albums like this were completely forgotten (as many others doubtless have been) since it shows a sure grasp of composition and tunefulness which elude far more famous bands.