Listening to Genesis: Foxtrot, Side 1
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2023
- We listened to Supper's Ready a few months ago on the channel. This full album listen is LONG overdue, so I'm very happy to bring it to the channel today!
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This was the first Genesis album I bought, on release in 1972, and it is still my favourite. Vinyl certainly does reveal Foxtrot's secrets and nuances Jim. 'Can-Utility and the Coastliners' is such a beautiful piece of progressive rock, a template for many bands that followed. See you for Supper!
I really do miss out on a lot of nuance and detail on a first listen. It’s with repeated listening you get the references and subtleties of the song writing. Like Supper’s Ready being a parallel to the book of Revelations, or Can-Utility and the Coastliners being about King Canut trying to hold the ride back…. Very clever.
And don't forget the Directors of Genetic Control fitting twice as many homes into the same building site! Such imagination in those lyrics. Glad you enjoyed it Jim.
Me too and I rapidly bought Nursery Cryme and Trespass. Set me off on a life-long love affair with Genesis's music from then to 1977
Even to someone who's never heard a single one of these songs, it's hard to deny that very often you'll hear something that you've heard before, but you swear you've never heard it before! The sign of a true eternal classic!
magical music.... not often i am into music with lyrics and vocals, i regard all music with Lyrics as 'musical theatre' ..... Early Genesis i enjoy, this is regression therapy for me, Hawkwind then Genesis....... i was 14 years old when i discovered that all the best music was recorded in the year of my birth.... i like that the lyrics include which character in the story was singing them.... Early Genesis is truly magical, wonderful music as theatre
Theatrical prog and you do realize no one under 40 will be able to do the math
One of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind…
Really?😎
And we're off !!
Looks like I'm first. I haven't left you a comment for a long time; but I've still been watching. This is a great album. I hope everyone enjoys it! Cheers!
Rutherford never gets talked about as one of the great bassist, but he kills it on this album. Also, Collins always only gets talked about for the fact that he became the lead singer after Gabriel left, but he really is one of the greatest drummers ever and this album also showcases him nicely. Not flashy, not standout look at me solo crap, just the perfect parts for the song as a whole.
He’s an extremely underrated bassist. As primarily a bass player myself, I’ve always been perplexed by this, as I’ve always found his playing original, tasteful, and at times, extremely complex and technically satisfying. With the expansion of the online world and being able to hear more of other people’s thoughts, I’ve come to the conclusion that many people associate busy bass playing that is high in the mix as a mark of how good the player is. Because of the Genesis sound, Rutherford can be a bit buried in the mix relative to other players in other bands, and he can often choose subtlety over trying to get in as many notes as he can. His channel has been deleted now, but there was an American guy who’d isolated all the instruments on all the Genesis albums, and even I was astonished at how intricate some of Rutherford’s lines were when you could hear exactly what he was playing. But yeah, you can definitely hear him more on this album and his work on it is great.
It sounds as if you've got a near pristine copy there, Jim. I was introduced to Genesis through their first live album Genesis Live recorded on the promo tour for Foxtrot if I remember right. From there I had to go back to previous albums and then when finished with them "Selling England by the Pound" and then "Lamb ..." were on us. Brilliant era to be listening to rock music, be it hard, soft, heavy, progressive, space fusion or whatever. 70's were the best decade ever imo and still reign supreme.
Genesis Live was the first LP I ever bought with wages from an after school part time job back in '79....What a good start to a vinyl collection which, sadly had to go in hard times a decade ago....I have the cd and played last week yet again....
my first copy of Foxtrot was rescued from a cut-out bin, looked like it was pressed on lumpy vinyl made from old tires, and sounded like it too (thanks, Buddah Records)... none of which detracted from the sheer brilliance and magic of the music, of course. we Stateside Genesis fans had a rough go of it for a while there, lol.
Hey Jim, had to leave another comment after watching the vid. I thought you might compare the musicianship to YES. You are spot on my friend. Back in the 70's YES liked Genesis but never followed them too closely. Each band had to do their own thing. But you are right Jim, it's amazing what can happen when you get the right talent playing together as one. Very magical!!!🎵🎼🎶😎
I've always wondered if the absurd section titles in "Supper's Ready" were a direct response to Anderson's lofty phrases in songs like "Starship Trooper" and "And You and I".
@@yes_head Could very well be.😎
Yup
Glorious! Never tire of this album
It’s like watching an Indiana Jones movie where if you go to the bathroom during the show, you miss out. So much good stuff going on here.
I still have my original vinyl album bought when I was 15. And I'm still as amazed by the music and the musicianship as I was then!
I was one of those who recorded in tape rhe LPs to preserve the vinyl. Beautiful experience, but the remastered tapes (2007, if I remember) are most powerful in everything. The sound in 1972 was so closed. It's like recorded in a wardrobe. I like this, but only for I listened the Lp like you (so many years ago... 1981... I wonna cry!). 🤩
Mike Rutherford is a vastly underappreciated bass player!
One of my faves. Just saw Peter Gabriel a couple of weeks ago in Brum. Brilliant. Only a forty nine year gap between that and the first time, when they did Lamb album tour in ‘74.
Hey Jim! GENESIS!! Great album. You will enjoy this one. 🦊🦊🦊😎
Finally mate! 😜
A brilliant album by a brilliant band telling stories thru prog
i used to stare at the cover, after a while the water would start to move. very strange.
You are right Jim this is super clean record- brilliant!
One of my favorite Genesis records. An underrated song, Can Utility and the Coastliners, is a highlight for me.
Their Best album in my view all great songs !! 🎶
The perfect blend of what Classic Prog it's light to heavy with storytelling of imaginary worlds full of Fantastic atmosphere with many changes, Great Vocals and Top musicianship by all !! 👍🎶🎹🎸🥁🎤🎼
_Selling England by the Pound_ should be next. (Look for that glorious, and legendary, Steve Hackett guitar solo.)
Probably my second favorite Genesis album. I bought the vinyl last year. I am a new fan! Loved your reaction to side 1 Jim!😊
A superb album, their real breakthrough. There are so many great passages in these songs, I'll just single out the painting of the sea storm during the last few minutes of this side, a brilliantly powerful piece that lifts the song to a whole new dimension.
I would have said Trespass was the breakthrough album. By this point they were flying!
@@scifimonkey3 Actually would say Nursery Cryme, once they had Hackett and Collins on board, although I really like Trespass. However Foxtrot was their first "hit" record.
I believe they didn't have the commercial success or mainstream recognition of e.g. Yes, ELP or Jethro Tull yet, but it sure is my favourite album of all time (been since I was 11)❤️
Love this album. Thanks Jim! Early Genesis is a favorite. Nit Yes, but...😂
It's about time, Jim....;-)
I also have an old vinyl version without a barcode etc. But I bought mine from a second hand record store for 10 Euro and it really isn't in mint condition.....
Can-Utility and the Coastliners is probably my favourite Genesis song.
I think Can-Utility is their forgotten masterpiece. I rarely hear it talked about, but I think it's one of their best.
Yes, "Can Utility and the Coastliners" is an excellent song. In my experience, it got better with every listen. It has been my favorite Genesis song for many years now, and, as you know, that's saying alot!
Good one, Jim. And your comments about the dynamics of this album and EQ regime are spot on. I was struck the first time I heard it how relatively soft and subdued it was compared to most other albums, even those from this era. So yeah, it does invite you to crank it up a bit.
Re: the inspiration behind the songs, not only was Genesis more interested in storytelling (new or old) than their first gen prog peers, but they were also by far the most *English* of that crowd (thank you, Peter Gabriel).
Steve Hackett has often talked about how those opening Mellotron chords to "Watcher" would just fill whatever room they were playing in, and how it was an amazingly effective way to establish the desired mood at the start of their concerts. "Time Table" is *very* Banksian, and IMO is a precursor to songs like "One for the Vine". "Get Em Out by Friday" is the sort of musical theater they'd created for the previous album with "Harold the Barrel", but with a lot more satirical bite. "Can Utility and the Coastliners" had been overlooked for many years, but now might be my favorite song on this side (partly due to Hackett reviving it for his Genesis Revisited tours.) Lastly, HUGE props to Phil Collins, whose drumming on all these tracks really kicks them up a notch.
My, this will take me back. For me it’s not aged as well as other Genesis except Supper’s Ready, but a treat to hear through new ears ❤❤
It must be amazing being a new listener to this album.... envy anyone who is , the feeling of that from ( for me ) 35 years ago is still the most exciting times... sorry to my wife.. 😍
Nice one Jim.....a very good reaction .
Bang on with your views regards, compression. I loath the 're-mastered' rubbish they foist upon us these day's. Another fabulous choice for review.
Hey now, Foxtrot. One of, if not the my all time favourite albums by Genesis. Sadly the last of the full Band. Don't now if you noticed, but if you got the Nursey Cryme album, Foxtrot's cover have the same croquet scene from that album with the mansion now a hole in the ground :)
Opening of "Watcher in the skies" is Banks on his brand new used Mellotron they bought from King Crimson :D
It's gonna be even better experience 2cond listen to Supper's ready, the best prog rock song ever written along with Close to the edge, also i would suggest you Man-Erg from Van der Graff Generator...Cheers!
Nice reaction 😀😀
Thank you that was just superb
The First album I brought by Genesis
Wow never looked back since Jim
I was 10 years old at the time influenced by older brothers
"Get 'em Out..." breaks my heart every time i hear it. When I was young the tower block era was close to the end and my great uncle and aunt were being moved into one very much against their will. I was too young to be included in any discussions of course but I remember flying over to the UK with my parents when my father got involved in the process. They hated the change so my uncle retired and they moved back to the family area in Dorset. Such a great song detailing a specific and often sad period in the UK.
Was an amazing time to be 18 and assaulted by the incredible records and music of the period. We were spoilt as this was the bar by which u measured stuff afterwards. Would say though "Live" at this stage in Genesis "Peter" was deff the major focal point of attending a concert.. Charisma was the bands label and Peter was deff that in spades .
Like the opening sequence of putting album on!
A Masterpiece of an Album. I remember seeing them as a Support act for Lindisfarne in 1972 on the Foxtrot 🦊 tour I was 15 and was blown away with what I was experiencing hooked ever since. Time Table for me is an lost Gem on this album the words are so 💭 provoking. “It seems because through time and space
Though names may change each face retains the mask it wore.” 🎶👌 great reactions Jim
Jim! You got to listen to the new debut Prog Metal album from Norwegian band AVKRVST! I think it's really your cup of tea. Might be my favorite album of 2023 so far!
I agree
I found this album at a record store in Bethlehem, PA in 1973. I loved the cover and thought I would try it out. Wow! Early Genesis was so, so different than any music of the times except possibly Emerson, Lake & Palmer and YES. Their progressive rock was very complex and yet it flowed beautifully. What a fantastic group of musicians and songwriters! Peter Gabriel's gravelly voice, Steve Hackett's magical acoustic and other guitars, Mike Rutherford with magnificent bass and strong sense of how to have a beat that varied depending to the mood of the song, Tony Banks with his amazing keyboards, and of course Phil Collins on drums who understood you don't have to be drumming every second of a song. When I returned to my college fraternity house and played Foxtrot I had many frat brothers gather at the door of my room to listen to Genesis. I saw them in concert 3 times in the early 70's - every concert was memorable! My favorite song on this album is Get "Em Out By Friday. What a clever song that looked at the future and imagined massive population growth, thus the restriction of four feet tall for humanoid height. "You can fit twice as many in the same building height".
Can Utility and The Coastliners is based on the tale of King Canute (Can Ut) where he brought his court to the sea and ordered the tide not to come in. When the tide did come in, he made his point that the King cannot do everything and requires a sense of reason in demands made of him. Hope that helps. Great songs, great review.
Great track....mainly composed by Steve Hackett
When music really was Great....
You pretty much nailed it. Each member of GENESIS serviced the SONG (a novel concept) rather than showing off. The result is amazing with these supremely talented young combining imagination and that talent to form incredible music. This album, the next two (“Selling England By The Pound” and “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway”) and their previous one (“Nursery Cryme”) were the BEST Genesis… They withstood Peter’s departure for a couple of albums, but after Steve Hackett left, creatively, they just weren’t the same. They got massively popular, but a lot of the magic of that peak lineup went missing.
Enjoy the rest and I hope you find your way to the other great albums this lineup provided. More amazement to follow! Cheers!
Ironically, The human genetic engineering mentioned in 'Get em out by Friday' is probably possible now.
We had no idea back then that we were living in the golden age of prog. Early Genesis and Yes were the peak.
Yes is the bullet train of prog. Genesis is the orient express.
Top 5 70's prog albums. Truly magnificent.
Sonically brilliant is a perfect description - They all complement each other so well - While Peter Gabriel rightly gets credit as the front man, musician etc, we shouldn't ever underestimate Phil on Drums and Mike on Bass who are both superb (and it goes without saying Steve and Tony are also subtly superb!)
Nick reacted to a live version of "Watcher" and a few other gems yesdy, which you'd enjoy. But you made me enjoy this album a lot more than I had ever before...and that was because I hadn't absorbed or even known les lyricatae. "Selling England" was my first, took my cherry, and so when hearing this at my friend's house, I found the music to be less satisfying than Selling. But now, having learnt the story of the poor rentiers, and probably soon to face a similar fate, I respect it more, and more than, say, I know what I like, or Epping effing Forest, which are daft by comparison. Firth, Selling, and Cinema Show are still archonic and iconic. Your words on compression were very welcome and edifying. On to Supper! Sup!
I totally get where you're coming from with missing out on dynamics with newer mixes and remasters but, owning both the original and re-release remix and remastered vinyls, I can say without a doubt that Steven Wilson did an amazing job on the new vinyls. The original tracks were recorded so good that he had a lot to work with and he did make it "larger than life" but, he didn't get rid of the dynamics. I do suggest buying Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound re-releases on 180 gram vinyl. They are amazing. I'll personally give you the cost of them and you can still keep them if you don't think they are amazing. Steven also did all the YES remixes on 180g vinyls... they are amazing.
M A S T E R P I E C E
There's three tracks right there that show the POWER of Genesis on record. I don't think people consider them to have been a powerful-sounding band, but Watcher of the Skies and Can Utility in particular are very very forceful pieces of music that build dramatically. If you thought the vinyl sounded good then at some point if you get an opportunity the Nick Davis remixes from 2007 or so will blow you away. They were proper remixes, not brickwall remasters and brought out so much more detail from the original recordings.
10:00 This is why the old music is better, dynamics..... if you tried to record this today the engineer would say "you can't record music with so much dynamics, compress the life out of everything..."
As with all of Genesis albums, Phil Collin's drumming adds another dimension and helps create the odd yet satisfying results. He always seems to add and never detracts from the music or solo.
I don't know, you should perhaps listen to the 2008 remaster in cd, which is remarkable
Impossible to objectively rank the 4 albums from their 70s, they are all incredible and unique
I have The Lamb and Selling England as the top two and this and Nursery Crime as next two, but which is which is tough. Usually which ever one I am listening to gets the nod lol.
4 albums from the 70s ??
Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England, The Lamb, Trick, Wind and Wuthering, And Then There We're Three, thats 8 right there
@@alanwaine4186 Probably meant Gabriel albums? Although that's five if I'm not mistaken.
Yes it is possible:
1. The Lamb
2. Selling England
3. Nursery
4. Foxtrot
Trespass unranked, I love it, it's very special to me.
I may be in the minority, but I like Time Table. I think Gabriel shines on that one. In fact I like side one better than two.
Jim, You're absolutely right about the dynamics on the original releases of Genesis albums. The later remastered /remixed versions gain clarity but lose that emotional heft that made the originals so compelling.
It's always a big toss up for me, which is my favourite Genesis album Foxtrot or Selling England. I think Selling England just edges it but they are both great albums. "Get *em out by Friday" the lyrics are easy to understand. it's satirical and political. Also ahead of it's time, in reflecting on greedy landlords trying to make their most from their tenents.
I think it's important that you clarify the distinction between digital file compression and "dynamics compression". Normal people are used to hearing about MP3 compression, but have no idea what dynamics compression is.
Your absolutely right of course! I might make a video explaining how it all works…. Recording for dummies!
Jim…
Please remember to delve into the Book of Revelations connection in the lyrics when you listen to Supper’s Ready again. It makes an amazing track absolutely incredible.
Again, this comes from a practicing Jew who has no connection to what others call The New Testament. But relating it to the Book of Revelations takes the lyric storytelling to incredible heights.
Yes, despite their name, Genesis was NOT a religious band in any way, shape, or form. But as you note they often used religious symbols, Greek mythology, and history to make a point. It is a focal point of the music and makes for a nicely coherent production. Except for extolling human virtues, they were incessant in highlighting and then mocking human follies.
Gabel Ratchet: "In northern counties, the name Gabble or Gabriel Ratchets was applied to a strange yelping sound heard in the sky at night, supposedly a death omen." Genesis was absolutely proto-Goth with their consistently dark lyrics.
Good evening Jim,
I still have all my records from the seventies and eighties. I haven’t got that many. We used to tape each other’s records. We didn’t have much money as early teenagers so this was the cheapest way to listen to new music. In the eighties I switched to cd’s. We traveled to Cologne/Köln in Germany a few times a year to buy music because it was much cheaper over there. If you bought more than four to five albums, you had your travel costs already covered. Of course we bought a lot more.
I know this album since 1974 or 75. It is such a great album.
I ask myself why you never listened to this and other Genesis albums from the seventies and early eighties. Oh well, you’re young enough to catch up 😜
Apologies if you've heard this before but the definitive version of Watcher of the Skies was recorded by Yes (with Peter Gabriel guesting on vocals, Peter Banks on guitar and Tony Kaye on keyboards) in 1970 (that's 2 years before it was written) for French TV but sadly, only a rough audio still exists. Impressively, they include a few quotes from Close to the Edge (also yet to be written)
Actually, it's a spoof done by The Tangent with the vocalist from SeYes and it's brilliant - forget it's a spoof because this is exactly what the real thing would have sounded like.
Meanwhile, your reaction to Foxtrot is spot on.
Watcher of the Skies: where Mike Rutherford'd bass sounds most akin to Chris Squire's bass. ;-)
There was only so much I could put on my plate musically so I was a Yes/ELP/Tull guy in this genre of music. So these will be new to me.
Camel, King Crimson, Caravan
@@palantir135 Woobino is in good company and Genesis (and Gentle Giant) will fit along nicely if that is what you like. Camel, KC, and Caravan are all a bit boring and not as diverse when comparing to the Yes/ELP/Tull mentioned in my opinion
@@nathanaelcole8466 that you find it boring is personal taste. It doesn’t mean it is boring. I think the opposite.
@@palantir135 of course it's opinion, no need to point that out, but going off of what woobino9558 listed as likes so far, I gave recommendations for more like artist.
Favourite band but not into purist 'prog' so not into their more random tracks like Epping Forest. Even Suppers Ready except for the magnificent ending I don't appreciate like most guys seem to? That for me puts Foxtrot and The Lamb behind Selling England, particularly as it has the stupendous Firth of Fifth on there with more of a classical structure.
:) yay, yay yay yay.
How good is Phil Collins ' drumming ey?
Can we give some to Mike Rutherford please. An underrated bass player and songwriter. 🔥
My favourite Genesis album. I mean, it's good innit, eh.
I agree about the vinyl sounding SO good. Thanks for sharing. Love your observations on 'compression' and how music is now lost in translation. Genesis is all about subtly. (knowing your high regard of YES, it is quite a compliment to be compared) For me, Pink Floyd - Yes - and - Genesis are the triumphant leaders of Prog. Genesis offers something 'new' with every listening.
I love how Genesis makes great music but then adds lyrics that love the skewer the concept of ego and the English idea of class. Apparently the core of Genesis rebelled against their schooling?
Say what you will about original vinyl,Jim,but...Genesis was on Charisma,which was a notoriously bad (cheap?) sounding vinyl company. Renaissance suffered a similar fate. BUT-- the remasters on cd (Ray Wilson here,methinks..) are amazing to hear! Much improved,mate! have you heard RW's remaster of Aqualung by JT? Again...incredible...like hearing for the first time! Cheers, T
You're thinking of Steven Wilson, and AFAIK he hasn't done a remix of Foxtrot. Nick Davis handled the most recent edition (as part of the 1970-1975 box set.)
@@yes_head OOPS-- I meant Steven Wilson (dummy me). OK-- thought he was dabbling in the Genesis remasters,too. My bad. T
@@TerryKrysinski You'd think, considering he's been a pretty vocal Genesis fan (he even joined Steve Hackett and band on stage on one occasion.) But that's the one major prog group he *hasn't* touched. He's even remixed for ELP, a band he's publicly disavowed. But who knows. Maybe in a few years when it's time for the NEXT major Genesis reissue series he'll get the call.
@@yes_head I'd DEF be in line for Nursery Chryme,Foxtrot,Selling England AND The Lamb! :-) T
Good album but surpassed by, selling englang, the lamb and trick of the tail..imo.
It's good, but I'm not so onboard with Peter Gabriel era Genesis - prefer Phil singing. He's more down to earth in tone yet nuanced in delivery; more feels IMHO.
And agree re mastering + compression - which is why I go with Steven Wilson remasters whenever possible; he deliberately widens dynamic range.
All good fun! :)