Genesis were one of the best progressive rock bands ever! They started in the late 60's when Peter Gabriel (vocals), Mike Rutherford (bass), Tony Banks (keyboards), and Anthony Phillips (guitar), met at the English private school they were all attending.
The above photo is (from L to R) Phil Collins, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Michael Rutherford, and Peter Gabriel.

Genesis - From Genesis to Revelation 1969

1. "The Silent Sun" [mono version] (2:15)
2. "That's Me" (2:40)
3. "Where the Sour Turns to Sweet" (3:15)
4. "In the Beginning" (3:44)
5. "Fireside Song" (4:57)
6. "The Serpent" (3:57)
7. "Am I Very Wrong?" (3:30)
8. "In the Wilderness" (3:38)
9. "The Conqueror" (3:21)
10. "In Hiding" (2:37)
11. "One Day" (3:20)
12. "Window" (3:30)
13. "In Limbo" (3:29)
14. "Silent Sun" (2:12)
15. "A Place to Call My Own" (1:59)
16. "A Winter's Tale" (3:29)
17. "One-Eyed Hound" (2:35)

This is a re-release copy of the first Genesis album. After Genesis' success in the 80's this disc was re-released under several titles with dozens of covers. I searched for a long time for a copy of this on cd. One day when searching through a cd bin full of "promotional" cds that were being sold 2 for $5 I ran across this copy. ($2.50? Not a bad deal. I would have payed much more.) In anycase, the strange thing about this version is that it features Phil Collins very prominently on the cover, but he was not with the band at this time. The lineup here is Peter Gabriel on vocals, Mike Rutherford on bass, Tony Banks on keyboards, Anthony Phillips on guitar.

The music sounds NOTHING like the progressive band of the 70's nor the more pop oriented band of the 80's and 90's. There are a few songs that give hints of what would soon be. ("The Conqueror" and "The Serpent.")

Genesis - Trespass (MCA) 1970

1. "Looking for Someone" (7:08)
2. "White Mountain" (6:46)
3. "Visions of Angels" (6:55)
4. "Stagnation" (8:51)
5. "Dusk" (4:15)
6. "The Knife" (8:58)

For the longest time I thought this WAS the first Genesis album. I became a big fan at the release of "Duke" in 1980. It was not until 1997 that I even began to search for anything older than "Trespass." In any case, this album is the first album where Genesis would begin to sound like a progressive rock band, rather than a 60's pop band. Album closer "The Knife" is a classic Genesis tune, and the best on the album. "Stagnation" also had hints of the greatness to come, but still is not up to the standards of what soon would be. Despite the fact that people think Genesis is Phil Collins' band, he was still not with Genesis, even for this second full length release.

Genesis - Nursery Cryme (Atlantic) 1971

1. "The Musical Box" (10:24)
2. "For Absent Friends" (1:43)
3. "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" (8:09)
4. "Seven Stones" (5:09)
5. "Harold the Barrel" (3:00)
6. "Harlequin" (2:53)
7. "The Fountain of Salmacis" (7:54)

OK, at this point Phil Collins and Steve Hackett join the band, but Peter Gabriel is still the band's ring leader and front man. The music on this disc is superb. The 10+ min. opening track, "The Musical Box" would be a concert favorite for years to come. It is still one of my favorite Genesis songs even to this day. The VERY short "For Absent Friends" is the first song to ever feature Phil Collins on vocals. Every song on this album is good and makes for a good listen from beginning to end, which is how I always listen to this progressive rock masterwork.

Genesis - Foxtrot (Atlantic) 1972

1."Watcher of the Skies" (7:19)
2."Time Table" (4:40)
3."Get 'Em Out by Friday" (8:35)
4."Can-Utility and the Coastliners" (5:43)
5."Horizons" -instrumental (1:38)
6."Supper's Ready": (22:58)
...i. Lover's Leap
...ii. The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man
...iii. Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men
...iv. How Dare I Be So Beautiful?
...v. Willow Farm
...vi. Apocalypse in 9/8 (co-starring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet)
...vii. As Sure as Eggs is Eggs (Aching Mens' Feet)

This could have been the second record in a two record set with "Nursery Cyrme." Really, the sound and songwriting is very similar, but the songs themselves are as excellent, if not better, than anything on "Nursery Cryme." "Supper's Ready", the epic 22+ min. opus is an incredible song. Although the live version on "Seconds Out" sung by Phil Collins is my favorite version.

Genesis - Genesis Live (Atlantic) 1973 1."Watcher of the Skies" (8:34) 2."Get 'Em Out by Friday" (9:18) 3."The Return of the Giant Hogweed" (8:18) 4."The Musical Box" (10:59) 5."The Knife" (9:47)

Peter Gabriel

A nice live package featuring the bizarre storytelling of Peter Gabriel. (His stories never matched the songís themes.) I suppose Genesis would have agreed with my reviews of the first few albums, as there is only one song off "Trespass," which is coincidentally my favorite from that album, and the rest of the disc highlights "Foxtrot" and "Nursery Cryme" There are no songs off the first album, which was another reason I had always thought "Trespass" was their first. In any case, a nice live album with some cool photos of the many costumes that Peter Gabriel wore during this era. The live versions of the songs are tight and well played proving that Genesis were as at home on the stage as they were in the studio.

Genesis - Selling England by the Pound (Atlantic) 1973

1."Dancing Out with the Moonlit Knight" (8:02)
2."I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" (4:03)
3."Firth of Fifth" (9:36)
4."More Fool Me" (3:10)
5."The Battle of Epping Forest" (11:43)
6."After the Ordeal"-instrumental (4:07)
7."The Cinema Show/Aisle of Plenty" (12:40)

For years I did not own this album and I sort of ignored it. I'm not sure why as I was a Genesis fanatic. Maybe it was because the two best songs would soon be featured on the incredible live album "Seconds Out." In any case, this is the second album to feature Phil Collins singing lead vocals on one track, which unfortunately is the most boring track on the cd. "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)," my favorite track on the album, is even better in the live setting as is "Cinema Show." "The Battle of Epping Forest" is ok, but seems to me a bit long and drawn out. Perhaps it is because I already had so many favorites by the time I got this album, but this is one of my least listened to early Genesis discs. Just recently aquired the new, remastered version which has far better sonics than the original cd release. Brought some new life to this old classic for me.

Genesis - The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Atlantic) 1974

DISC ONE 1."The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (4:55) 2."Fly on a Windshield" (2:47) 3."Broadway Melody of 1974" (1:58) 4."Cuckoo Cocoon" (2:14) 5."In the Cage" (8:15) 6."The Grand Parade of Lifeless Packaging" (2:45) 7."Back in N.Y.C." (5:49) 8."Hairless Heart"-instrumental (2:25) 9."Counting Out Time" (3:45) 10."The Carpet Crawlers" (5:16) 11."The Chamber of 32 Doors" (5:40) DISC TWO 1."Lilywhite Lilith" (2:40) 2."The Waiting Room"-instrumental (5:28) 3."Anyway" (3:18) 4."The Supernatural Anaesthetist" (2:50) 5."The Lamia" (6:57) 6."Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats"-instrumental (3:06) 7."The Colony of Slippermen" (8:14) ...a. The Arrival ...b. A Visit to the Doktor ...c. The Raven 8."Ravine"-instrumental (2:05) 9."The Light Lies Down on Broadway" (3:32) 10."Riding the Scree" (3:56) 11."In the Rapids" (2:24) 12."IT" (4:58)

Genesis-Genesis Archive 1967-75 (4-CD box set) 1998

Genesis - A Trick of the Tail (Atlantic) 1976

1."Dance on a Volcano" (5:53)
2."Entangled" (6:28)
3."Squonk" (6:27)
4."Mad Man Moon" (7:35)
5."Robbery, Assault & Battery" (6:15)
6."Ripples..." (8:03)
7."A Trick of the Tail" (4:34)
8."Los Endos"[instrumental] (5:46)

Genesis minus Peter Gabriel. Many thought that this would be the end of the band. Little did they know that they bands popularity would grow even more as they moved away from the progressive rock sound to a more mainstream sound. This album, although a fine album in every respect, is a bit simpler than past albums. "Robbery, Assault & Battery" shows signs that Genesis would soon give into a completely pop sound as it is a very hooky, commercial rock song.

Genesis - Wind & Wuthering (Atlantic) 1976

1."Eleventh Earl of Mar" (7:39)
2."One for the Vine" (9:56)
3."Your Own Special Way" (6:15)
4."Wot Gorilla?" -instrumental (3:12)
5."All in a Mouse's Night" (6:35)
6."Blood on the Rooftops" (5:20)
7."Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers...in that Quiet Earth"-instrumental (7:12)
8."Afterglow" (4:10)

"Your Own Special Way" became a minor hit for the band, although it is my least favorite song on this stellar album. "Eleventh Earl of Mar" is a fantastic song. "One in the Vine" is one of the best Genesis songs ever. "Blood on Rooftops" although a bizarre name for a song, is a beautiful flowing song. "Afterglow" is another phenomenal song and one of the few that continued to be played live long into the 80's.

Genesis - Spot the Pigeon EP (Virgin) 1977

1."Match of the Day" (3:23)
2."Pigeons" (3:10)
3."Inside and Out" (6:42)

This is a very rare mini-cd EP recorded during the "Wind & Wuthering" sessions. I searched for along time for this one, to replace my crappy vinyl copy. Finally won this copy on eBay for $8 (plus shipping). Not a bad deal, but definitely a lot of money for three songs. Still, it was worth it. I've bid on it several other times and been outbid by much more than this.

Genesis - Seconds Out (Atlantic) 1977

DISC ONE 1."Squonk" (6:27) 2."The Carpet Crawl" (5:10) 3."Robbery, Assault & Battery" (6:00) 4."Afterglow" (4:18) 5."Firth of Fifth" (8:37) 6."I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" (8:34) 7."The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" (5:05) 8."The Musical Box"-closing section (2:44) DISC 2 1."Supper's Ready" (24:30) 2."Cinema Show" (11:00) 3."Dance on a Volcano" (4:22) 4."Los Endos"-instrumental (6:24)

(L to R) Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutheford, Steve Hackett and Chester Thompson.

"Seconds Out" is a SUPERB live recording. Of my Genesis collection, especially the older stuff, this one is played the most. Every song on this disc is enhanced by the live recording. Phil Collins, who took over the vocal duties, does a fine job on the Peter Gabriel material as well as his own. I use to own this one 8-track before upgrading to vinyl. Didn't take me too long to once again upgrade to CD once it became available. So far, I have bought this album FOUR times in my life! Anyhow, this would be the last recording for Steve Hackett, as he left to pursue a solo career. Chester Thompson, who will work with Genesis for years to come, played most of the drum tracks. Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson, A.B.H.W.) also performed on few songs.

Genesis - ...And Then There Were Three (Atlantic) 1978

1."Down and Out" (5:25)
2."Undertow" (4:47)
3."Ballad of Big" (4:47)
4."Snowbound" (4:30)
5."Burning Rope" (7:07)
6."Deep in the Motherlode" (5:14)
7."Many too Many" (3:30)
8."Scenes from a Night's Dream" (3:30)
9."Say It's Alright Joe" (4:18)
10."The Lady Lies" (6:05)
11."Follow You, Follow Me" (3:59)

After the departures of Steve Hackett and Peter Gabriel only Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutheford were...hence the title ". . . and The There Were Three." The music continues to move towards a more pop direction, but this is still a superb album and one of my favorite Genesis discs. This was actually the first Genesis album I ever bought, although I had been listening to them for years as a neighbor of mine was a huge fan and would constantly play them for me. "Follow You, Follow Me" was a hit for the band.

Genesis - Duke (Atlantic) 1980

1."Behind the Lines" (5:31)
2."Duchess" (6:40)
3."Guide Vocal" (1:18)
4."Man of Our Times" (5:35)
5."Misunderstanding" (3:11)
6."Heathaze" (5:00)
7."Turn it On Again" (3:50)
8."Alone Tonight" (3:54)
9."Cul-de-Sac" (5:02)
10."Please Don't Ask" (4:00)
11."Duke's Travels" (8:41)
12."Duke's End" [instrumental] (2:04)

...and Genesis explodes in popularity. I stood in line for hours to get tickets to the show for this album only to find out it was already sold out! I LOVE this album! While there are those radio hits in "Misunderstanding" and "Turn It On Again," the whole album plays well. I also like the simplistic cover art.

Genesis - Abacab (Atlantic) 1981

1."Abacab" (7:02)
2."No Reply at All" (4:41)
3."Me and Sarah Jane" (6:00)
4."Keep it Dark" (4:34)
5."Dodo/Lurker" (7:30)
6."Who Dunnit?" (3:22)
7."Man on the Corner" (4:27)
8."Like it or Not" (4:58)
9."Another Record" (4:30)

Genesis starts to employ extremely simple song structures and pop melodies. Of course, this album was huge success for them and when it came out I couldn't stop playing it. I still think it is a good disc but I must admit that there are certain songs that get on my nerves, like "Who Dunnit." (Repetitious to the point of pulling my hair out. I don't car who did it!) Thank God for the skip button! "No Reply at All" was a HUGE hit for Genesis and featured the horn section from Earth, Wind & Fire. (Who coincidentally also played on Phil Collins first solo album around this same time.) In any case "Another Record" is a very cool album closer and "Abacab," while being overplayed on the radio at the time, is a very cool song. Also take note how with each album since Peter Gabriel left, the length of the songs have continued to be shorter.

Genesis - Three Sides Live (Atlantic) 1982 American version
Genesis - Three Sides Live (Virgin) 1982 European version

DISC ONE (same on both versions)
1."Turn it On Again" (5:01)
2."Dodo" (7:19)
3."Abacab" (8:41)
4."Behind the Lines" (5:25)
5."Duchess" (6:33)
6."Me and Sarah Jane" (5:53)
7."Follow You, Follow Me" (4:36)

Genesis (Atlantic) 1983

1."Mama" (6:46)
2."That's All" (4:22)
3."Home By the Sea" (4:46)
4."Second Home By the Sea" (6:22)
5."Illegal Alien" (5:12)
6."Taking It All Too Hard" (3:54)
7."Just a Job to Do" (4:44)
8."Silver Rainbow" (4:27)
9."It's Gonna Get Better" (5:00)

When this CD first came out in '83, I was highly disappointed. I mean, I had been a Genesis fan for years at this point and ever since Phil Collins took over as frontman, the band had began to move more and more into pop rock. Despite loving "Duke" and "Abacab", this was the last straw for me, at least at the time. Pop dance songs and sappy ballads abound! I totally lost interest with this one, although it was mega hit for Genesis. "Illegal Alien" was a top ten hit but is a rather silly song with Phil Collins singing in a rather fake Latino accent. "Mama," one of the albums better tracks, also was a hit as was "Home by the Sea" and "Taking it All Too Hard." Perhaps I have gotten older and softer over the years, or maybe I've just grown to appreciate 1980's pop rock, but I appreciate this one much more now than I did twenty years ago. Still, it will never be a favorite from the Genesis catalog in my opinion, even if I do enjoy giving it a spin from time to time.

Genesis - Invisible Touch (Atlantic) 1986

1. "Invisible Touch" (3:26)
2. "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" (8:49)
3. "Land of Confusion" (4:45)
4. "In Too Deep" (4:59)
5. "Anything She Does" (4:06)
6. "Domino": (10:42)
1. In the Glow of the Night
2. The Last Domino
7. "Throwing It All Away" (4:41)
8. "The Brazilian" [instrumental] (4:49)

"Invisible Touch." was a huge hit for Genesis selling millions and millions of copies. Genesis sold out arenas world wide for years with this one. "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" was a monster hit. "Land of Confusion" seems to still be an FM rock radio staple twenty years last. Also, "Domino" is considered a classic from this era of Genesis as well. This album also received critical acclaim worldwide with reviewers stating it is "one the most innovative albums of the 80's." Despite these facts, "Invisible Touch" has never been on the same level for me as the band's 70's releases. Frankly, some of this album is just down right sappy and is chock full of schlock and radio balladry. But hey, who doesn't like a bit of tear-jerking sappiness once in a while. It makes for a great late night with the wife, right? Indeed. The rest is 80's pop rock with only the slightest hint of the progressive rock greatness of Genesis' past. While I can enjoy a good 'ol sing along pop rock song as much as the rest of the world, I know that Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks are capable of so much better than this. Of course it's easy to blame Phil Collins for the direction that Genesis took in the 80's, as he was the band's front man and was the man in the limelight thanks in part to his own successful solo albums. However, keyboardist Tony Banks is apparently responsible for much of the compositions. "Invisible Touch" is a landmark 1980's pop rock album. For some it is probably one of the greatest albums ever released. For this Genesis fan, I can appreciate and enjoy it but it isn't one of my favorite albums either.

Genesis - We Can't Dance (Atlantic) 1991

1. "No Son of Mine" (6:38)
2. "Jesus He Knows Me" (4:15)
3. "Driving the Last Spike" (10:08)
4. "I Can't Dance" (4:00)
5. "Never a Time" (3:50)
6. "Dreaming While You Sleep" (7:15)
7. "Tell Me Why" (4:57)
8. "Living Forever" (5:40)
9. "Hold on My Heart" (4:37)
10. "Way of the World" (5:37)
11. "Since I Lost You" (4:09)
12. "Fading Lights" (10:16)

Genesis have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I love their progressive rock material from the 1970's, but I equally like the Collins-era stuff like "Duke", "Abacab" and their self titled album. I am not exactly sure why I hated this album so much when it was released, other than it sounds more like Phil Collins solo material than it does Genesis. There are a few decent cuts like the epic "Fading Lights" and the semi-hit "Jesus He Knows Me", a song about TV preacher scandals. "No Son of Mine", a song that deals with very deep and personal troubles in a father/son relationship, is a good track as well. "No Son of Mine" was a big hit for the band. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this album as much as I did. Perhaps I have matured in my tastes over the years, either that or I am just getting old.

Genesis - The Way We Walk Volume One: The Shorts (Atlantic) 1992

1."Land of Confusion" (5:16)
2."No Son of Mine" (7:05)
3."Jesus He Knows Me" (5:23)
4."Throwing It All Away" (6:01)
5."I Can't Dance" (6:55)
6."Mama" (6:50)
7."Hold on My Heart" (5:40)
8."That's All" (4:59)
9."In Too Deep" (5:36)
10."Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" (3:35)
11."Invisible Touch" (5:41)

I found a copy of this REAL CHEAP at a pawn shop many years after it was released, so I decided to pick it up just as a companion to "The Longs" that I did buy new. Sad really how this great band was reduced to crappy pop songs. Surprisingly, in the live setting, some of these songs are bearable. The musicianship is superb as is the production, especially for a live recording.

Genesis - The Way We Walk Volume Two: The Longs (Atlantic) 1993

1."Old Medley: Dance on a Volcano/Lamb Lies Down on Broadway/Musical
Box/Firth of Fifth/I Know What I Like" (19:32)
2."Driving the Last Spike" (10:17)
3."Domino: 1. In the Glow of the Night/2. The Last Domino" (11:21)
4."Fading Lights" (10:55)
5."Home by the Sea/Second Home by the Sea" (12:14)
6."Drum Duet"-instrumental (6:06)

Long songs are what Genesis is all about, and even the newer songs on this disc are quite good. Of course my favorite song is the medley which also includes bits and pieces from "That's All", "Your Own Special Way" and "Follow You, Follow Me." Once again, stellar musicianship and a great recording make this one worth listening to. The drum duet by longtime touring drummer Chester Thompson and Phil Collins is interesting the first few listens but grows old. I'm sure it would have been very cool to see live though.

Genesis - Genesis Archive #2 1976-1992 (Atlantic) 2000

DISC TWO
1. "Illegal Alien" [live; LA Forum 14 Jan 84] (5:31)
2. "Dreaming While You Sleep" [live; Earls Court Nov 92] (7:48)
3. "It's Gonna Get Better" [live; LA Forum 14 Jan 84] (7:32)
4. "Deep in the Motherlode" [live; Drury Lane 5 May 80] (5:55)
5. "Ripples" [live; Lyceum London 6 May 80] (9:54)
6. "The Brazilian" [instrumental, live; Wembley Arena 4 July 87] (5:17)
7. "Your Own Special Way" [live; Sydney Dec 86] (6:51)
8. "Burning Rope" [live; Houston 22 Oct 78] (7:29)
9. "Entangled" [live; Bingley Hall, Staffordshire 10 July 76] (6:57)
10. "Duke's Travels" [live; Lyceum London 7 May 80] (9:32)

Part 1 of the Genesis box set was the Peter Gabriel years and is one of the finest box sets ever released. Part 2 of the Genesis Archive box set is the Phil Collins years. I have been wanting this set forever, but actually was a bit nervous about spending a lot of money on it. It's not that I thought the Collins years didn't enough quality material to fill a box, but 1976-1992 contains tracks from both my favorite and my least favorite eras of Genesis. It was albums like "Wind & Wuthering", "And then There Were Three...", "Duke" and "Abacab" that initially got me into Genesis back in the early 80's, so it goes without saying that this is my favorite era of Genesis. However, after "Three Sides Live" the band started to lose it's appeal to me with each release as they went more and more into a pop rock direction. I suppose it could be argued that 'Abacab' and 'Duke' were more pop than the band's early years. However, there was still something unique about Genesis then. Anyhow, the box set is actually better than I had anticipated.

Disc one contains a boatload of unreleased tracks and b-sides. Even the remixed version of "I Can't Dance" seems to fit within the tracks recorded from the "Wind & Wuthering", "Duke" and "Abacab" sessions. Most of this material had not seen release on cd yet, making this disc the most essential disc of the three to me. Of the albums I just mentioned I can't get enough of it. Even the later b-side material from "Genesis" through "Invisible Touch" on this disc sound good and flow together will with the rest of the material. Of course, these were not hits either, so this may be why.

Disc two features a bunch of live tracks that have not appeared on any Genesis live album before. The incredible "And Then There Were Three" album finally gets to see the light of day in a live setting. I never could understand why Genesis and Genesis fans didn't give this album much more respect. The only song that was ever recorded live was "Follow You, Follow Me" on "Three Sides Live." As I stated already, this is one of my favorite Genesis discs and is actually the very first Genesis album I had ever heard. "Duke's Travels/Duke's End" is another highlight for me. "Ripples" from "Trick of the Tail" is also quite nice to hear live. Heck, the whole disc is quite good. One small irritant is that they included the annoying "Illegal Alien" making my skip button a necessity.

Disc three is a mixed affair. While there are sone essential b-sides and live tracks, there are some extended mixes for dance clubs that I really could have lived without. I mean, c'mon, where is "Match of the Day" or "Me & Virgil." Sure, most Genesis die-hards have the 'Spot the Pigeon" EP and both versions of "Three Sides Live" but it still would have been cool to have some of these tracks on one disc instead of an extended dance remix of "Invisible Touch." Despite this, I must say that this is one fine box set. Discs one and two are essential to any Genesis die-hard like myself who can't get enough of them.

Genesis - Calling All Stations (Atlantic) 1997

1."Calling All Stations" (5:43)
2."Congo" (4:52)
3."Shipwrecked" (4:23)
4."Alien Attraction" (7:53)
5."Not About Us" (4:39)
6."If That's What You Need" (5:12)
7."The Dividing Line" (7:44)
8."Uncertain Weather" (5:29)
9."Small Talk" (5:02)
10."There Must Be Some Other Way" (7:55)
11."One Man's Fool" (8:47)

With Mr. Viva Las Vegas, crushed red velvet, Phil Collins out of the way, I had high hopes that Tony Banks and Mike Rutheford would pull out of the dance pop rut they were in and put out a superior album. Well, lets just say that it didn't happen. Not a bad album, but no where near the quality and the musicianship of everything from Abacab back. Here's hoping for the next one.

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