GENESIS LIVE

The only thing wrong with this release is that its only a single LP when it should have been a double. A very few copies exists with suppers ready bolted on and that really would have improved this LP. However Genesis where a great Live band at the time and this captures five of their better known numbers and captures them well. "watcher of the skys " opens this record as it did their live set at the time and is a slightly faster but equally powerful version, the mellotron opening of this number really did catch the audience attention and sounded a little like a UFO landing, the stage would have been bathed in Ultra violet light and Peters eyes would have glowed from under either bat wings as on the back cover of the LP or a red box. "get um out" was always a rather muddled song and maybe is their weakest cut here although the flute solo is haunting, the rest of the song is somewhat forgettable. "The Return Of The Giant Hog weed " is the first of Genesis's rockers here and its delivered with real style and a deal of vigor. "the musical box" is as good as one would expect and remained a live favorite for a number of tours. Steve Hackett really makes his presence felt and the guitar solo on this track is better and more vital than on the excellent studio version. "the Knife" was the Encore number at the time and had been in development for some years. This track varies the most from the original recording and Hackett makes it his own with a powerful display of his guitar ability. Different from the Phillips version in a number of ways. Both version of this song are essential to fans of the band. As it stands this really is an excellent live LP and certainly deserves four stars as a document of the Live genesis it remains flawed only because of the tracks that are not represented here. I caught Genesis during this tour and they were excellent. Indeed one of the tracks was recorded at the Oxford gig I attended. In japan a few copies got out with Suppers ready included, I had thought this was just a wishful legend until recently I saw that disc reviewed. If only Charisma had had the guts to release a double LP we would not have had to wait until the Box set to here how good supper ready was live. All in all this is an excellent and essential live recording of Genesis just as they where making the transition from cult band to progressive rock super-stardom. It is also the only live material of the classic line up available outside of the box set. I would even recommend this LP to somebody who wanted a sample of Gabriel era Genesis.