REVIEW

GENESIS
BBC Sessions 1972 [no label 1CD]
Tks 1-7 live at Paris Theatre, London, UK, Mar 2, 1972 for In Concert. Tks 8-10 live BBC studio, London, Sept 25, 1972 for Top Gear. All from BBC master DAT. Ex SBD stereo

An almost-excellent sonic recounting of Genesis’ first and only appearance on BBC radio’s In Concert dates from March 2 1972, and serves up three beautifully realized performances to highlight the best of the newly-released Nursery Cryme. "Fountain Of Salmacis," "The Musical Box" and "Return Of The Giant Hogweed" are on display, spread across seven tracks by between-song introductions from both Peter Gabriel and the show’s BBC host, and marred only by the loss of one channel, and attendant electronic crackling, that rumbles through "Hogweed."

From there, we move onto the band’s next appearance at the BBC, for a three song studio session recorded for John Peel on November 7, 1972 (recorded 25 September). Foxtrot is now on the racks and "Watcher Of The Skies" and "Get Them Out By Friday" do their bit for the vinyl. But the key here is a frenetic "Twilight Alehouse" — not quite as creepy as the familiar 45, but still one of the most under-rated of all the Gabriel-era band’s performances. Indeed, if the current three-piece revival was really serious about restating Genesis’ place in the scheme of things, "Twilight Alehouse" would be the first song on the set list every night.

Or maybe they could just stick with "Abacab"? - Dave Thompson

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December 14, 2007