Essential Music: Genesis, Seconds Out
Back in the 1970s, as a teenager in New York City, I had amazing opportunities to see concerts by the world’s most popular bands. In the mid-70s, I became a fan of Genesis, the group formed by Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks back in 1967. Around 1976, I discovered their music through their album Trick of the Tail, the first album after Gabriel left the band. This led me to get their older albums – those with Gabriel – and their follow-up, Wind & Wuthering. These two mid-70s albums were excellent, but the music was different from the Gabriel era.
From the touring for these two albums, Genesis compiled a double-album called Seconds Out. It includes one of the great Peter Gabriel songs, Supper’s Ready, which is over 24 minutes in this live recording, along with many other songs from the 76-77 albums, and a few older songs (The Musical Box, Cinema Show, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway).
But as a live album, Seconds Out is one of the highlights of the late 70s. It is consistent, well recorded, and well performed. Yes, it was the period after Gabriel left the band, and his unique voice and performance style were missing. But it wasn’t the descent into cloying pop music that would follow after 1980. Collins is a strong singer and drummer, and the album, in fact, has a strong presence of drums, with both Collins and Chester Thompson, who played with the band when touring, being central to the sound (especially in the closing Dance on a Volcano > Los Endos, two very drum-heavy songs).
I was able to see Genesis live just once, at Madison Square Garden, on July 29, 1978. This was a special performance, as there was an unannounced guest for an encore: Peter Gabriel came out and sang I Know What I Like with Phil Collins to close the show.
Genesis was a powerful performing band, with what was, for the time, an adventurous light show and excellent sound. I listen to Seconds Out from time to time and feel a bit younger. If you’re not familiar with Genesis back before they became a staple of MTV, this is a good place to start.
“If you’re not familiar with Genesis back before they became a staple of MTV, this is a good place to start.”
It’s odd.
I grew up a punk, and only slowly came to appreciate many of the older prog-rock bands that I grew up hating. For example, I thought Led Zeppelin was the worst of the worst at age 16, but eventually ended up realizing they were a truly great rock and roll band.
However, the Phil Collins era Genesis I grew up with was so utterly offensive to me that I never bothered even giving early Genesis a listen, even though I heard trusted folks speaking well of it from time to time, and even though I’ve always respected Gabriel.
My loss. But I blame Phil for it. Dude deeply annoyed me at a crucial age in my musical appreciation development.
I discovered Genesis through the “Seconds Out” album and was hooked. I went back and immersed myself in the Gabriel-era Genesis. I too attended the July ’78 MSG show (I believe that was the “And Then There Were Three” tour).
I continued to buy their albums and attend their tours throughout the duration of the band.
Their ’80′s music can’t hold a candle to the ’70′s work, but the 80′s album always featured at least one lengthy prog-like song on it. So while they went is a more pop direction, they still held on to their prog roots.
Kirk,
As a fellow fan of this era of Genesis, I implore you to keep an eye out for a cover band named The Musical Box. Hit the web to check out their site and qualifications (they use actual authentic set and costume pieces obtained from Genesis). I can assure you their performance is as close to time travel a you’ll ever get.
Jason
Thanks for the reminder on Seconds Out! It’s the only Genesis recording I haven’t updated to CD yet.
Genesis is a high point for popular (or somewhat popular) music, and even though there are style changes over the years that some may not like, it’s all very high quality (including the solo work, most notably Gabriel and Collins).
Bill Bruford spent six months touring with Genesis in 1976 (he’s on “The Cinema Show”, and is pictured in the fold-out)