70'S POP SOUND

'70's Pop Sound' is a compilation of Genesis and was released in 1974. It has some similarities with their other compilation, released in the same year, 'Presenting Genesis', already reviewed by me on Progarchives. Both are only focused on prog material of the beginning of their classic golden era. They only have tracks originally released on their second, third and fourth studio albums, 'Trespass', 'Nursery Cryme' and 'Foxtrot' released in 1970, 1971 and 1972, respectively. Still, and unlike 'Presenting Genesis' that has three studio tracks and three live tracks, '70's Pop Sound' has only studio versions. It has three tracks from 'Trespass', two from 'Nursery Cryme' and two from 'Foxtrot'.

'70's Pop Sound' has seven tracks. The first track 'Watcher Of The Skies' is a song originally released on their fourth studio album 'Foxtrot'. This is one of the most popular and beloved songs by their fans, and one of the most played live by the band. Even Hackett, plays often this song on his live shows. This is a great opener for 'Foxtrot' which gives a sense of majesty and power, to the beginning of the album. It's a brilliant track, starting off with simple, yet harmonious keyboards. It kicks with a dramatic mellotron introduction being joined by bass and drums to lead into Gabriel's almost chanted vocals. This is a must for all mellotron lovers. The second track 'Seven Stones' is 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 its three epic tracks. It shows Gabriel's great and unique voice and Banks' masterful keyboard work. Somehow it's a stirring tune that recalls the melancholy of 'Trespass', in the best way. So, this is is a pretty, yet not too memorable song, but that recalls 'Trespass'. The Third track 'Looking For Someone' is a song originally released on their second studio album 'Trespass'. It's a very strong and emotional track and is a great opener for that album. It's a very beautiful song but it's also very dark. It starts slowly and explodes during the development of the theme. This is a song very similar in style with their future track, 'The Musical Box'. It's an excellent prog rock track, indeed. It represents undoubtedly a great musical moment. The fourth track 'Harold The Barrel' is also a song originally released on their third studio album 'Nursery Cryme'. It's a song with interesting lyrics, is somewhat funny, is very rhythmic and provides a joyful moment on that album. This is a fantastic tune, sounding slightly like a medieval British folk song. It reveals a Genesis that is able to combine black humour and pathos, as Gabriel and company don multiple personas to tell the tragic comic tale. The fifth track 'The Knife' is also a song originally released on their second studio album 'Trespass'. This is the greatest highlight of 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 the greatest highlight of 'Trespass'. The sixth track 'Get' Em Out By Friday' is also a song originally released on their fourth studio album 'Foxtrot'. It's a very good song, in the form of a mini rock opera, with great musicality and singing, showing Gabriel's amazing vocals versatility and the fantastic skills of Banks on keyboards. This track offers a delightful example of why Genesis were arguably first among a select company of early progressive rock acts who were demonstrating just how far this new music could go, as Gabriel changed roles to tell a fantastic tale of a bleak future. The seventh track 'White Mountain' is another song originally released on their second studio album 'Trespass'. This is a music piece based on acoustic guitar and complemented by great keyboard work. The song is a fable about a wolf who seeks to usurp the authority of their leader. It has a wonderful melodic tune, with sympathetic acoustic guitar, and choir like vocals to end. It's a very melodic and soft song influenced by the folk music. This track represents another strong moment on that album.

Conclusion: I must say that I don't like the name of this compilation. I know, in those years the prog rock concept didn't exist yet and so the name isn't as absurd as it seems at first glance. However, I still don't like the name. In reality, the music on this compilation as nothing to do with pop and has some of the best prog tracks written by Genesis, in what we call today, prog rock music. They all belong to their golden classic era. 'Looking For Someone', 'The Knife' and 'White Mountain' from 'Trespass', are all great prog tracks. They represent some of the best pages wrote on that album. But, by the other hand, 'Seven Stones' and 'Harold The Barrel' from 'Nursery Cryme', aren't properly the best tracks on that album. Despite its quality, there are other songs that would be a better choice to this compilation, like 'The Musical Box', 'The Return Of The Giant Hogweed' and 'The Fountain Of Salmacis'. About 'Watcher Of The Skies' and 'Get' Em Out By Friday', from 'Foxtrot', I've nothing against that choice. Both are two great tracks. In conclusion, we may say, this is a good compilation, but not an essential purchase. I think 3 stars is the right rating to it.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)