1970-1975 was one of the most creative, if not weird, periods of musical history, and that goes for Genesis as well. The most artistically exciting material of the band's career, which is all covered on Box Set 3 (1970-1975), was produced during these years. Even if this music wasn't the most commercially profitable, Box Set 3 (1970-1975) will likely be the most successful Genesis box, because this is the one the die-hards have been waiting for.
Covering the first five albums with Peter Gabriel at the helm (Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England By The Pound, and The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway), and including DVDs for each album, it is a hefty 13-disc set. Maybe as a die-hard fan, you balk and say, "I know this music like the back of my hand." Flip your hand over; do you know the front of your hand so well? See? Check it out thusly:
Like the other sets, it is not just remastered but remixed from the original master tapes - guaranteed to be Gabriel-era Genesis as never before heard. It's revisionist history at its best - it sounds as if every attempt was made to serve the original style of music as well as possible, but to make the instruments shine in ways not possible in the '70s. But wait, there's more! What fans are clamoring for are the surround-sound and hi-rez audio included on the DVDs, which are also packed with new band interviews and, in some cases, old concert footage where it exists. Plus, there's a bonus CD with singles, BBC tracks, and the long-awaited "Genesis Plays Jackson" material. Tell me you aren't already sitting there with your wallet out, ready to order. You're checking out the front of your hand, I can tell.
Back in the late '80s, we took a poll at work, attempting to determine the worst pop song ever recorded. This was a very unscientific poll as somebody scribbled the topic onto a whiteboard in a public hallway. After about a week, when nobody had updated the board for a couple of days, the list was considered 'fixed' and the voting commenced. In the end, two songs were left standing: "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace, and "Seasons In The Sun" by Terry Jacks. The 'winner' was Terry Jacks. I'm pretty sure I voted for Paper Lace.
Article comments
1 - Pico
Hey Mark, you're a little too harsh on Paper Lace; "The Night Chicago Died" is where rap was born ;-)
2 - Mark Saleski
ugh!
3 - El Bicho
Mudcrutch, thanks for nothin'. Four songs?!
4 - JC Mosquito
Fours songs - but the 15 minute long version of Crystal River is supposed to be worth a big spliffy or two.
5 - Mark Saleski
the Mudcrutch IS perplexing. it's really good...so why not a whole show?
6 - El Bicho
I read where Petty didn't want to basically do a live version of the album, but then why release half an album? who does he think is going to buy this other than people who bought the first one anyway? either mix in more covers in your set, or put out another Mudcrutch album and follow that with a live one.
7 - Glen Boyd
Springsteen kinda went the Mudcrutch route with that four song live Magic tour EP earlier this year...but at least that had a loose concept to it (the whole duets thing) and it went towards a good cause in the Danny Federici melanoma fund.
But I definitely understand the frustration. Here I was looking forward to a Magic tour DVD and instead it looks like were getting a new Springsteen album in January...
...oh wait, that's GOOD news isn't it?
-Glen
8 - El Bicho
"...oh wait, that's GOOD news isn't it?"
maybe for a site like this that shills for the Boss.
9 - Pico
What are you talking about? I count only two Springsteen articles out today ;-)
10 - Mat Brewster
ElB, I've got a full Mudcrutch bootleg that you can have if it will keep you from whining.
11 - Glen Boyd
Keep El Bicho from whining? Better throw in some cheese with that, Mat.
-Glen
12 - El Bicho
I already have one. try and keep up.
13 - Mat Brewster
You have wine? Cheese? Mudcrutch? I'm so behind. I'm so confused. I'm so now hungry for some good cheese, some good wine and a little Mudcrutch.
14 - Tom Johnson
Good luck finding that damned vinyl/audiophile-CD version of the Mudcrutch EP. Damned thing is sold out on Amazon, where I PRE-ORDERED it a month ago. It's now listed as "discontinued by the manufacturer" and there's no telling if Amazon will actually get more in. See, it appears that Amazon doesn't understand "first come, first served" and so just ships stuff however they feel, so people ordering a few days ago might actually score this while people like me, who pre-ordered a month ago, lose out.
In other news, don't forget Best Buy has their exclusive live DVD or Blu-Ray+2-CD set for the Police out this week. It is flat-out awesome, performance-wise. Packaging-wise, this might just be the most appaling CD/DVD package I've ever seen. It defines the words "cheap" and "stingy," almost as if it was designed to be recycled from the get-go. Truly awful crap. If you buy it, be VERY careful opening it. Most reports mention that discs fall out as soon as the book is removed from the slip case. Three of the four discs in mine fell out when I took it out. Pile-o-crap packaging, seriously. Reminds me of the old AOL disc holders. Awful.
15 - El Bicho
Gadzooks, you sensitive fellas don't know what whining is. No doubt something fell on Brewster's head before it damaged his toe. I have the 4/14 show. Now go play with your rabbit, Lenny. Should I post one of your meltdowns when you have trouble with MT, Glen? Now that's some grade-A whining.
16 - Mark Saleski
Now that's some grade-A whining.
Neil Young ticket prices?
anyone?
bueller?