Genesis (Official Thread)

[Hepcat]

Re: Genesis

Lord Grendel:

... but to me Genesis was at their creative peak in the early years.

I disagree. I thought that Peter Gabriel leaving Genesis turned out to be the best thing for all parties concerned. Genesis under the leadership of Phil Collins went on to even greater success and Peter Gabriel as a solo artist ended up recording his most accessible works ever.

 

[runtfan]

Re: Genesis

Another big Genesis fan here. I became a fan with the release of Duke. "Turn It On Again wasn't the first Genesis song I heard ( that would be Follow You Follow Me), but it was the first one that really grabbed me in a big way. Of course as was true with most of my favorite bands/artists (Todd Rundgren, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Jon Mitchell, PInk Floyd...), I bought an album, fell in love, and began discovering their back catalog. I have a preference for their older, more prog output but I'm also a fan of the more accesible, pop stuff too (And Then There Were Three through Invisible Touch).
My favorite albums are pretty much everything from Foxtrot through Abacab. I got to see them three different times...the "Three Sides Live" tour in '82, the "Mama" tour in '83, and the "Invisible Touch" tour in '86 ( or was it '87?). Their live shows were pretty incredible.
Genesis is probably my favorite prog band and one of my very favorite bands of any sort.

 

[LG]

Re: Genesis

Lord Grendel:



I disagree. I thought that Peter Gabriel leaving Genesis turned out to be the best thing for all parties concerned. Genesis under the leadership of Phil Collins went on to even greater success and Peter Gabriel as a solo artist ended up recording his most accessible works ever.

Apples and oranges Hep, you know there is No comparison between the original Prog Genesis and the later Pop version under Phil's leadership.(And I already said the latter version was the more commercially successful of the two line-ups) Of course I am glad that Peter Gabriel ended up being an amazing solo artist, I have 4 of his CD's in the library, so it worked out fine in the end for everyone.

 

[runtfan]

Re: Genesis

A small gripe...I'm not sure I'd say that Genesis was really ever under the "leadership" of either Gabriel OR Collins. I mean they were the voice and face of Genesis but Banks and Rutherford were responsible for the lion's share of the music and it was always the music, not singing or lyrics, that was Genesis strong suit. The lead singer/frontman shouldn't be assumed to be the leader of any band. Zeppelin, The Who, Van Halen, King Crimson, Foreigner, Boston, Santana, and Rainbow are other good examples where the lead singers were not running the show ( in all these cases it was the guitarist who was boss ).

 

[LG]

Re: Genesis

True enough, but to me the vocalist is the most recognizable part of the band, and Collins taking over the lead vocals was the Key to Genesis succeeding after all the changes. His solo career is proof beyond doubt of his popularity, I believe only Gabriel is even close in that regard when it comes to the former and current members of the band. I would bet the farm that if Phil left Genesis the band would have retired, but if he stayed and all the others left he could have kept it going.

 

[Hepcat]

Re: Genesis

A small gripe...I'm not sure I'd say that Genesis was really ever under the "leadership" of either Gabriel OR Collins. I mean they were the voice and face of Genesis but Banks and Rutherford were responsible for the lion's share of the music and it was always the music, not singing or lyrics, that was Genesis strong suit. The lead singer/frontman shouldn't be assumed to be the leader of any band.

Good point.

 

[METALPRIEST]

Re: Genesis

Commercial success aside...the early albums were just...well..AWESOME!!

But I do own all the later stuff too...the only one I don't have yet is Genesis self titled. I'll get it.

 

[Flower]

Re: Genesis



Land Of Confusion

 

[Gabble Ratchet]

Re: Genesis

A small gripe...I'm not sure I'd say that Genesis was really ever under the "leadership" of either Gabriel OR Collins. I mean they were the voice and face of Genesis but Banks and Rutherford were responsible for the lion's share of the music and it was always the music, not singing or lyrics, that was Genesis strong suit. The lead singer/frontman shouldn't be assumed to be the leader of any band. Zeppelin, The Who, Van Halen, King Crimson, Foreigner, Boston, Santana, and Rainbow are other good examples where the lead singers were not running the show ( in all these cases it was the guitarist who was boss ).

Good point indeed. In many good bands, all the writing duties are shared with all members. The singer may get more ladies, but that's about it as far as leadership is concerned.

I would bet the farm that if Phil left Genesis the band would have retired, but if he stayed and all the others left he could have kept it going.

Your farm might be in a bit of trouble. When Phil Collins left the band in 1996 to continue pursuing his solo career, Banks and Rutherford hired Ray Wilson to sing on their 1997 album Calling All Stations. It recieved moderate success in Europe but flopped in America.

But I do own all the later stuff too...the only one I don't have yet is Genesis self titled. I'll get it.

I got their box sets for my 18th birthday, so the only album I'm missing is From Genesis To Revelation. Their self titled album is bloody good though, I highly recommend it!

 

[LG]

Re: Genesis

Your farm might be in a bit of trouble. When Phil Collins left the band in 1996 to continue pursuing his solo career, Banks and Rutherford hired Ray Wilson to sing on their 1997 album Calling All Stations. It recieved moderate success in Europe but flopped in America.

I wasn't aware of that, but the fact it Flopped in the US is a testimonial in itself that the band without Phil would not be the same.

I have had numerous discussions with some musicians who all agree on one thing above everything else when it comes to a band, whether starting out, or recording in the studio, or touring to support your latest album, the Vocalist is the most distinctive part of the band, and finding one when you are starting out is the biggest hurdle.

And just so everyone is clear, I don't dislike the pop flavored later incarnation of Genesis, I am just a bigger fan of the more complex progressive early line-up.