Genesis Archive: 1967-1975 CD

GENESIS ARCHIVE covers the years 1967 through 1975. DISCS 1 and 2 contain a live rendition of THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY (recorded at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium on April 24, 1974), while DISCS 3 and 4 contain old tracks, demos, B-sides and songs recorded at BBC radio sessions. In addition, a 64-page booklet with photos of all phases of the Gabriel years starting with the band's first recording sessions done for UK producer Jonathan King will be part of this package.
Genesis: Peter Gabriel (vocals, flute, percussion); Mike Rutherford (guitar, bass); Steve Hackett, (guitar); Tony Banks (piano, keyboards); Phil Collins, John Silver, John Mayhew (drums).
Engineers include: Nick Davis, Geoff Callingham.
Includes liner notes by Tony Banks, Jonathan King, Chris Welch, Richard McPhail, Dave Stopps.
Personnel: John Silvers, John Silver , John Mayhew (drums).
Audio Remixers: Geoff Callingham; Nick Davis.
Liner Note Authors: Tony Stratton-Smith; Richard MacPhail; Jerry Gilbert; Chris Welch ; Jonathan King ; Peter Gabriel; Tony Banks.
Recording information: The Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA (01/24/1975).
Photographers: Richard MacPhail; Stephen Lovell-Davis; Barry Wentzell; Mike Rutherford; Tony Banks.
Prog rock audiences have always been receptive to box sets, especially sets that include an abundance of rare material -- witness the success of the numerous King Crimson sets. When it came time to assemble their own box sets, Genesis chose to follow the path of rarities instead of merely rehashing their old hits. That means, of course, that Genesis Archives, Vol. 1: 1967-1975 is the province of hardcore fans and collectors, not casual listeners, since there is nothing but unreleased material on the four-disc set. The first two discs are devoted to a live performance of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 24, 1975; the third has a selection of live material from the London Rainbow Theatre on October 20, 1973, plus a handful of rare singles and a BBC session; the fourth has alternate mixes, BBC sessions, and demos from 1967-1969. It's a virtual cornucopia of rare material, much of which will be necessary to dedicated fans. However, for some listeners, the set may be frustrating, and not because it contains rarities -- it's because those rarities have been tampered with. Peter Gabriel recut some of his vocals for The Lamb in 1998, claiming that he didn't give his best possible performance because his elaborate costumes were constricting. Steve Hackett followed suit and "brushed up" some guitar lines. This may frustrate some fans who would prefer to have the original tapes preserved, but it may be a minor thing to collectors, who will likely delight in having all these rare recordings -- many of which are quite terrific -- in one place. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
This four-disc box will be a revelation to latecomers who believe that Genesis began and ended with Phil Collins. It will be a godsend to those who already know better. GENESIS ARCHIVE contains live cuts, demos and other previously-unreleased material by the band from their creative heyday. With vocalist Peter Gabriel at the helm, the band managed the difficult task of adding both sociopolitical relevance and real rock and roll excitement to '70s progressive rock.
On live versions of classic cuts like "I Know What I Like" and "Firth of Fifth," Gabriel and company offer more energy than on the recorded versions without sacrificing any of the band's vaunted instrumental delicacy. The late-'60s demos of such tunes as "In The Wilderness" and "Build Me A Mountain" offer an illuminating glimpse of the group before they began exploiting the more electronic end of music technology. The centerpiece of this set, though, is a full live recording of the band's celebrated conceptual piece "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway," which proved to be the swansong of Gabriel-era (i.e. prime) Genesis.Entertainment Weekly (6/19/98, p.75) - "...On this four-CD box--a live recording of THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY plus demos, live tracks, and alternate versions--Gabriel's raspy charisma elevates many songs beyond their prog pedantry..." - Rating: B