I like this train of thought. I recommend this article "Floored Masterpiece" from the Internets which I thought was a good read (at least the top half) and also goes down the same sticky path. I would also add that I've considered the entire Lamb to be a modern day Divine Comedy of a sinner trying to safely make his way to his rock n roll (knock n know all) Paradise. It certainly is an epic journey in the best proggy vein, and we all know Gabriel & Genesis were influenced by their Anglican upbringing and choir days in school, even if later in life those themes dropped away. I love this thread!
A few pages late, but Back in NYC has always been one of my favorite songs. Francis Dunnery's live cover was clearly done by someone for whom the song means a lot.
Yes, Dunnery was/is a huge Genesis fan. I highly recommend his Tall Blond Helicopter album. Strangely enough, I hate most everything he did with It Bites.
I really like Tony's piano parts on Anyway, they're executed perfectly and really fit the song well. I learned from the above comments that this song is rather old, and it didn't surprise me, as I always thought this song sounded like it could have fit on Trespass or even Nursery Cryme. Peter gives us some more wordplay and some plot to think about, Mike has some strong rhythms going with Phil but it's Steve beautiful tri-chord solo that really hits it out of the park. The instrumental part in the middle is just too short! And the way they come out of it and go back into the main melody of the track is chilling.
Due to this thread I have stopped checking new threads in this forum... for several weeks I only have had this page open, and with great effort I have been trying to keep pace, no easy! The Lamb, it never was a favorite but I always loved Crawlers. Now I am revisiting the album and I am starting to appreciate it much more.
I'm so glad everyone is enjoying the thread. Thanks for taking part, we still have a good distance to go, i hope you stay with us. I'm loving it, personally
Anyway has Tony's best arpeggio in the Genesis discography, and it goes against the main melody to an extent where knowing that it was a song from 1970 it makes more sense in terms of the huge gap there is to playing the intro and the middle part. I actually quite enjoy the version on the Archive box since the unrelated lyric grabs me a bit more, and as a piece I think Tony does a bit more with the main melody and chord progression to benefit Peter.
Yeah right on. I wonder if back then Mike also used a distorted fuzz bass to sound like a guitar, a skill also developed by Greg Lake in ELP but of course not often used.
Here Comes The Supernatural Anaesthetist I actually really enjoy this track. We start with a rhythmically, broken up acoustic guitar, setting an unusual feel. Gabriel sings the sparse lyrics and then we have Hackett sitting on top of the mix playing a melodic, yet very staccato, almost broken rhythm. Collins is doing some fantastic drumming behind the wall of sound put forth in this track. This track really seems to be mainly a vehicle for Hackett to play some guitar with the rest of the band holding this really odd, but cool rhythm down underneath. We come to a crescendo of sorts at the end of the track and end with some synth sounds that seems to be almost strange dreamscape noises. Probably not an incredibly important track, but a very good one.
I am way late to this thread... While Selling England has probably my two favorite Genesis songs, The Cinema Show and Firth of Fifth, I slightly prefer The Lamb... as an album, warts and all. I love the sprawling nature of it and there are certainly plenty of top notch Genesis songs (In the Cage, The Lamia, Anyway, Back in NYC, Fly on a Windshield and the title track being my favorites).
Easy reference guide Genesis - A History - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread From Genesis To Revelation 1969 - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Liner notes Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 1 When The Sour Turns To Sweet Genesis - The Album by Album Thread without strings Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 2 In The Beginning Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 3 The Fireside Song Genesis - The Album by Album Thread without strings Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 4 The Serpent Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 5 Am I Very Wrong Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 6 In The Wilderness Genesis - The Album by Album Thread rough mix Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 7 The Conqueror Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 8 In Hiding Genesis - The Album by Album Thread without strings Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 9 One Day Genesis - The Album by Album Thread without strings Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 10 The Window Genesis - The Album by Album Thread alternate Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 11 In Limbo Genesis - The Album by Album Thread alternate Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 12 Silent Sun Genesis - The Album by Album Thread without strings Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 13 A Place to call my own Genesis - The Album by Album Thread new mix Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Other Early Tracks Patricia (In Hiding demo) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread A Winter's Tale (single) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread A Winters Tale (alternate -with studio banter) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread That's Me Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Image Blown Out Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Build Me A Mountain Genesis - The Album by Album Thread On The Trail Of The One Eyed Hound Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Let Us Now Make Love Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Jackson Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Trespass 1970- Genesis - The Album by Album Thread inside gatefold Genesis - The Album by Album Thread sleeve Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 1 Looking For Someone Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live at BBC Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 2 White Mountain Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live in'76 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 3 Visions Of Angels Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 4 Stagnation Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Stagnation (BBC sessions) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 5 Dusk Genesis - The Album by Album Thread demo Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 6 The Knife Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Road To Nursery Cryme - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Live in 1971 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Nursery Cryme 1971 - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 1 Musical Box Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live at the bbc Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread F# or Manipulation Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live 74 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 2 For Absent Friends Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 3 Return Of The Giant Hogweed Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 4 Seven Stones Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 5 Harold The Barrel Genesis - The Album by Album Thread piano and guitar Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 6 Harlequin Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 7 Fountain Of Salmacis Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live '78 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Belgian Pop Shop live 1972 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Twilight Alehouse live '72 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Peel Sessions Fountain of Salmacis Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Harlequin Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Return Of The Giant Hogweed Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Harold The Barrel Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Happy The Man Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live in Rome Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Foxtrot 1972 - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 1 Watcher Of The Skies Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live Genesis - The Album by Album Thread single Genesis - The Album by Album Thread b-side Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 2 Time Table Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 3 Get Em Out By Friday Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 4 Can Utility and the Coastliners Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 5 Horizons Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 6 Supper's Ready Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Supper's Ready (live) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live in 72 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis Live 1973 - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 1 Watcher of the Skies Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 2 Get Em Out By Friday Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 3 Return Of the Giant Hogweed Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 4 Musical Box Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 5 The Knife Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Back In NYC Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Supper's Ready Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live in 73 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live in 73 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Live at the Rainbow 1973 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Selling England By The Pound 1973 - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 1 Dancing With the Moonlit Knight Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Demo Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live 73 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Live 78 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread isolated guitar and vocals Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 2 I Know What I Like In Your Wardrobe Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 3 Firth Of Fifth Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread isolated vocal and guitar Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live canada Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 4 More Fool Me Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 5 Battle Of Epping Forest Genesis - The Album by Album Thread instr. Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live 74 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 6 After The Ordeal Genesis - The Album by Album Thread fast version Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 6-7 Cinema Show/Aisle Of Plenty Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Full Album Genesis - The Album by Album Thread studio improv. 73 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread I Know What I Like In your Wardrobe (single) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Twilight Alehouse (b-side) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Live Montreal 74 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Early rehearsal edit of Lamb Genesis - The Album by Album Thread The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 1974 - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 1 The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 2 & 3 Fly on a Windshield/Broadway Melody 74 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 4 Cuckoo Cocoon Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 5 In the Cage Genesis - The Album by Album Thread mama tour Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 6 The Grand Parade Of Lifeless Packaging Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 7 Back In NYC Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 8 & 9 Hairless Heart/Counting Out time Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 10 The Carpet Crawlers Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 11 The Chamber of 32 Doors Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 12 Lillywhite Lillith Genesis - The Album by Album Thread early version Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 13 The Waiting Room Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread evil jam Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live in Liverpool Genesis - The Album by Album Thread The Waiting Room (live trip) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 14 Anyway Genesis - The Album by Album Thread track 15 Here Comes The Supernatural Anaesthetist Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Live in 74 Providence Genesis - The Album by Album Thread live in 74 Empire Pool Genesis - The Album by Album Thread - Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Whodunnit 3sides Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Live R.A.H. 1992 Genesis - The Album by Album Thread
Easy misc. reference guide A brief introduction to genesis Genesis - The Album by Album Thread after the debut Genesis - The Album by Album Thread the road to nursery cryme Genesis - The Album by Album Thread the threat of the giant hogweed WATCH: Did Genesis bizarrely predict Britain's Giant Hogweed nightmare 44 years ago? thanks @Giant Hogweed Who wrote what (more than likely) Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @fRa The Foxtrot over story Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @The_Windmill How the mellotron works Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @Thievius Get em out by friday the comic book Genesis - The Album by Album Thread King Canute and the tide Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @The_Windmill Tony banks talks supper's ready Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @Mirror Image Live - Gabriel's album cover story Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @rednoise newspaper interview just prior to selling england Genesis - The Album by Album Thread selling england info Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Moonlight Knight review Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Tony on FOF Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Annotated Lamb bloovis.com - The Annotated Lamb Lies Down on Broadway thanks @Funky Meadows Cool links Genesis museum - The Genesis Museum thanks @peterpyser Genesis archive - The Genesis Archive thanks @peterpyser Genesis radio shows - The Complete Guide To Live Genesis Radio Shows thanks @misteranderson Genesis the movement - Genesis - The Movement thanks @abzach Genesis discography - ~A Genesis Discography thanks @abzach Table Top Genesis - Tabletop Genesis thanks @bob_32_116 Album thread from 2007 (that I didn't find) - The River of Constant Change: The Genesis Album-by-Album Thread Some interesting stuff Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @Giant Hogweed Banks Synths Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @Parachute Woman Genesis A History Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @The Zodiac Peter Gabriel Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Steve Hackett Genesis - The Album by Album Thread John Mayhew Genesis - The Album by Album Thread thanks @Funky Meadows Phil Collins Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Tony Banks Genesis - The Album by Album Thread Mike Rutherford Genesis - The Album by Album Thread
Supernatural Anaesthetist - Agreed that this is mainly a vehicle for Steve, but what playing he does on this track! It reminds me of some of the stuff he'd do later on his early solo albums. Not a lot of lyrics here to move the story forward, but on the couple of lines that are sung, you can really hear how well Peter and Phil harmonized.
Once again, the point is going to Steve. Due to his astonishing musicianship, whilst his guitar lines are usually very melodic he also has a special knack for adding some unique edgy flair to them. And for this track it wasn't different, kudos to him for one more amazing emotional effect he brought to it.
It's kind of peculiar that the meeting with Death is actually the happier song on the side. But he's an anesthetist, he's supposed to make the pain go away after all.
I believe it's called "gallows humour". Elsewhere on the album, Caryl Chessman sniffs the air, to find a smell of peach blossom and bitter almond - an obvious reference to cyanide (bitter almond and peach seeds contain cyanide). A flippant line, sounding on the surface like someone experiencing pleasant scents of the natural world, but in fact signifying imminent death. It's a very British thing to use a light-hearted theme to disguise a macabre subject - think Monty Python's "Bright Side of Life", or Elton John's "Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself".
The Lamia We start here with a piano and Gabriel's vocal. Rael is still in a corridor and moving to a large chamber there are scents are various sorts surrounding him. He heads towards a pool and feels he is on his own, but ripples on the water reveal his hosts. This track has an incredibly beautiful melody and chord progression, and this is certainly one of the most beautiful pieces of music the band ever did. The creatures in the pond are three snakes with female faces. It seems as though he has some form of sexual encounter with these creatures and at some point they bite him without causing him any pain and apparently die. He then eats them, would seem to be the indication of the lyric. Lyrically this is a bizarre song. Musically it is absolutely beautiful. We end the song with a great Hackett lead break.
Muscially, The Lamia is a beautiful song and very moving. The lyrics follow Greek mythology but I prefer to just listen to the music on this track.
The most poetic track on the record. Yet another initiation-like no-turning-back point in the narrative. Great delivery by Peter, who underlines the frailty and exposure of the intimate act; bonus point for the effects that make the Lamia's "We all have loved you" verse stand apart. I don't think lyrics are peculiarly weirder than the average here; and there's something very resounding about the loss of innocence and the risk of exposure (damn, you could even take it as an AIDS metaphor if you wanted ) that makes 'em very powerful. I think this is another case when a Gabriel's dream is the main source for the imagery. I love the narrative sequence: the pool and the smell, the movement, the shocking paralyzing surprise, the surreal hot encounter. The sad aftermath. It could be a short film, really. I also love the symbolism of a biting (venomous presumably) snake with a face so beautiful to mesmerize and lose you (but maybe it's just me ) The music is all Banks'. Pete wrote "long lyrics" for it and Tony came up with the melody as the last thing. Of course he doesn't like it that much, "it could be better", "I love you babe" could have been more romantic that "three vermilion snakes" and all that jazz. Sometimes Tony's stubbornness in not realizing the potential of this visionary lyrics/concept is kind of annoying.