NURSERY CRYME

Anthony Phillips left to pursue a solo career (and, yes, you should check out some of his albums), and was replaced by Steve Hackett on guitar. John Mayhew was replaced by Phil Collins, and the classic Genesis line-up was complete.

Where they had ventured into progressive territory on the previous album, with the skills of Hackett and Collins and the songwriting talents of Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks the band was able to expand their musical reach. Focusing more on the stories, we have the vengeful ghost of "The Musical Box", mutant plant life ravaging London in "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" and the origin of hermaphrodites in "The Fountain of Salmacis". All three songs are standouts, but the band also shows what they can do in short form with "Harold the Barrel", as a put-upon business man decides to end it all, and "Seven Stones", which tells the tale of a fake wizard.

"For Absent Friends" and "Harlequin" are barely filler, but it doesn't matter. Musically and lyrically this album proved what the band could do and, for the next few years, they would only improve upon it.