FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

Sometime in the 1960s not just in Britain, but particularly there something was happening. Music was getting more ambitious, more attention was being paid to having a "message" in the song, and harmonies and arrangements became extremely important to the world of music. Genesis were at the snotty, prestigious Charterhouse school going through hell there when a former student, namely Jonathan King, showed interest enough to get them a recording contract. Mr. King gave the band a much undeserved horrible production which they hate to this day, but get past that and past the fact that this is a very different album from what would follow just a few years later, and this is really a great record. It was the first Genesis record I ever really gave a chance to, and it pulled me in. There are a lot of songs here with "In The Wilderness," "The Serpent," "Am I Very Wrong," "One Day," and "Firseside Song" the highlights, but every track is a finely woven tapestry of melodic soft psychedelic into progressive rock. The Moody Blues (after Hayward and Lodge joined obviously) and the Bee Gees along with Oddesey and Oracle period Zombies are who spring to mind here, but there is already one big difference. The singer on this album had a very different voice from anybody at the time and demanded full attention from the listener. Peter Gabriel already was doing things that were unusual and highly inventive. It is a shame about the production of this album, the sound of the group is too compressed and the strings/ horns don't need to be so high in the mix. They almost make it hard not to miss what a great album this turned out to be. Some elements of classic Genesis sound are already in place whereas early influences can easily be discerned. You should appreciate FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION, just remember that it is a little different from the classic Genesis and try to ignore the obnoxious produciton. Anyone who appreciates the softer and more melodic aspects of Genesis should appreciate this album. I've always thought it was cruelly underrated and still feel that way today. It isn't my favourite album by Genesis, but I find much to enjoy here and I think of this album as an Elysian childhood dream in comparison to the nightmarish sound that would follow after and lead to the most unique and rewarding famous rock band along with Yes. A great album by a fantastic band.