Reprinted without permission from an unknown source. I actually got this review from an old photocopy I made about six years ago. If you know the author and/or book that this review came from, let me know!

GENESIS

One of several so-called "progressive-rock" groups from England active during the Seventies, Genesis favored a variety of keyboards and synthesizers, as did Yes and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. However, inasmuch as Gensis was originally formed as a songwriters' collective, the emphasis was on the songs rather than on virtuoso musicianship. Achieving their first significant British press coverage with frontman Peter Gabriel's use of mime and costuming in performance during 1972, Genesis attempted their American breakthrough as a headline act rather than as a supporting act. Indeed, Genesis has always headlined on tour in the United States. Following Selling England By The Pound, in which the group explored their favorite themes of myth, legend, and fantasy, Genesis recorded their tour de force, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, an elaborate album combining a story line with surreal lyrics and hailed by some as the definitive concept album. Employing progressively ambitious stage presentations for subsequent tours, Genesis' success can be credited as much to their visual and theatrical in-concert performances as to their songwriting and musicianship. Oddly, following the departure of Gabriel, Genesis became even more popular, much to the surprise of critics, as Gabriel pursued his own successful solo career.

Genesis was formed in January 1967 as a songwriters' collective by four students at England's Charterhouse School -- Peter Gabriel (born May 13, 1950), Tony Banks (born March 27, 1950, in East Hoathly, England), Mike Rutherford (born October or November 2, 1950, in Guilford, England), and Anthony Phillips. During 1968, under producer Jonathan King the group recorded their first album, which was initially released in the United States as In the Beginning, later reissued as From Genesis to Revelation, and finally reissued under the original U.S. title. The album was generally overlooked and the group was released from its recording contract after a year. With the addition of John Mayhew (drums), Genesis was Peter Gabriel (lead vocals), Anthony Phillips (lead guitar), Tony Banks (keyboards, 12-string guitar, backup vocals), and Mike Rutherford (bass, 12-string guitar, backup vocals). This grouping recorded Trespass for the ABC subsidiary Impulse in the United States (Charisma in England), after which Phillips and Mayhew departed. Drummer-backup vocalist Phil Collins (born January 30 or 31, 1951, in London) was recruited and, several months later, lead and 12-string guftarist Steve Hackett (born February 12, 1950) joined Genesis.

For Nursery Cryme, on Charisma Records, Genesis featured extensive use of the mellotron. The album contained two Genesis favorites, "Musical Box" and "Return of the Giant Hogweed," garnered rave reviews in England, and helped expand the group's cult following in the United States. Around the same time, the band began experimenting with visuals and theatrics in performance that later became the group's trademark. Peter Gabriel came to be the visual focus of Genesis, utilizing mime, costuming, and lengthy song introductions on stage. Foxtrot included several Genesis favorites such as "Watcher of the Skies" and the 23-minute "Supper's Ready," the latter employing elaborate costuming by Gabriel and spectacular lighting in performance. In December 1972 Genesis, attempting to generate a following beyond its cult status, debuted in the United States as a headline act. The group's reputation at home was enhanced by a subsequent British tour, though their next album, Genesis Live, was held up for a year before American release.

Genesis' first major breakthrough into the American market came with Selling England by the Pound. Featuring further songwriting developments on themes from myth, legend, and fantasy as well as Banks' synthesizer work and several songs in odd time signatures, the album contained the group's first English hit, "I Know What I Like." With their reputation secure as a major British band by 1974, Genesis switched to Atlantic Records for the double-record "concept" album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Written in its entirety by Peter Gabriel, the album traced the surreal contemporary adventures of its hero, Rael, in the harsh New York City environment. The subsequent British and American tours virtually duplicated the album in performance, with Gabriel portraying Rael through a series of odd costume changes.

However, in May 1975, Peter Gabriel, weary from near-constant touring and recording, departed from Genesis. Inasmuch as Gabriel had been (incorrectly) assumed to be the band's musical leader and chief songwriter, critics began predicting the demise of Genesis. Phil Collins soon took over the lead vocal chores for subsequent recordings, the first of which, A Trick of the Tail, proved even more successful than The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. For the first time, the songs were credited to individual members rather than to the group as a whole. In the meantime Steve Hackett had recorded his first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte, with Rutherford and Collins, and Phil Collins did sessions and worked with yet another band, Brand X.

In order to free Collins from his drumming duties, Genesis recruited former King Crimson and Yes drummer Bill Bruford for their 1976 tours of North America, England, and Europe. The group's next album, Wind and Wuthering, recorded in Holland, astoundingly fared even better than A Trick of the Tail and yielded Genesis' first American singles chart entry with "Your Own Special Way." For their worldwide 1977 tour, they used all new sound and lighting equipment, this time enlisting the services of drummer Chester Thompson (born in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 11, 1948). The 1976 and 1977 tours were later documented on Seconds Out. However, shortly before its release, Steve Hackett dropped out to concentrate on a solo career. During 1977 original Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips initiated a solo recording career, with his first album produced by Mike Rutherford. Moreover, after 18 months of recuperation and keyboard training, Peter Gabriel was back with his surprisingly successful debut solo album, which included the minor hit "Solsbury Hill." Reduced to a trio and augmented by Thompson and new guitarist Daryl Stuermer (born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on November 27, 1952), Genesis recorded the appropriately titled ... And Then There Were Three, with Rutherford playing all guitar and bass parts. The album was certified gold-award the year of its release and yielded a major hit single with "Follow You, Follow Me." Around the same time Chrysalis Records issued the modestly successful Please Don't Touch for Steve Hackett, whereas Passport Records released Wise after the Event for Anthony Phillips. Aiso, Peter Gabriel recorded a second surprisingly successful self-titled album with producer-guitarist Robert Fripp. In 1979 further releases included Hackett's Spectral Mornings and Tony Banks' solo debut, A Curious Feeling. During 1980 Gabriel scored a moderate hit with "Games Without Frontiers," as Genesis achieved a major hit with "Misunderstanding" from the gold-award Duke. Phil Collins' Face Value was certified gold-award the year of its release, 1981.

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