Saturday, November 7, 2015

From Genesis To Revelation to Trespass - Passing the Baton toTony Stratton Smith

I found this information on Wikipedia about the transition from a Jonathon King project to Genesis as we know them today. Interesting facts about their transformation:

By this time Jonathan King was losing interest in the band and they decided to record and perform on their own musical terms. Although King had more experience and was aiming to present Genesis in a marketable way, they were feeling more and more constrained by King's attempts to curtail and limit their increasingly lengthy and adventurous new compositions. The band went professional in the autumn of 1969, and after replacing John Silver with John Mayhew on drums, Genesis began formulating the music that would lead to Trespass the following year and were eventually signed to Charisma Records after an introduction by King to his friend Tony Stratton-Smith, a sports journalist managing bands in his spare time. Rutherford maintains that Genesis owes the producer a debt of gratitude:
Jonathan King, for all his faults – he has a funny reputation in England – did give us a fantastic opportunity. Because in those days, in England, you couldn't get in the studio. I mean, now a new group can very easily get a chance to go and record a single, just something, you know, to show there's something going for them. In those days, to get any sort of record contract, was really magical. And he gave us a chance to do a whole record. You've got a bunch of musicians who were really amateur, could barely play well, were barely a group, and were able to go in one summer holiday and make a record.[9]
What a lucky break for Tony Smith. Literally given the baton from Jonathan King. A gift that literally opened his world to financial and musical success.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Jonathan King and The Bee Gees.....

The Silent Sun is often compared to the Bee Gees style of music. This song was credited as trying to please Jonathan King. This would be the only album he produced as he would become bored with Genesis. He handed the reign over to Tony Smith. This era is so important to understand. Without Jonathan King, doors would not have opened for the band. What truly amazes me is how quick the transformation happens to Genesis as we know them today. Their next album Trespass is such a huge leap. I can not imagine any band moving so quickly forward as Genesis did. Silent Sun is a great song. I think Anthony Philips played a role in the folksy music of the 60s more than Mike, Tony or Peter.

Sunday, February 1, 2015

The Serpent....The "Incarnation" begins

The day of incarnation is a lyric from the Serpent. That incarnation would not be the sound. Just hints of transitions to come. More 60's pop than anything else with a hint of Pink Floyd....it is however Genesis.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

The Atomic Sunrise Festival

It would seem Genesis and David Bowie met very early in their careers. They performed together at the Atomic Sunrise Festival. Pre-Costumes and Theatrics. This captures the earliest history of their musical incarnations.

The First Time Period Is the Hardest....

1967 - 1970. I would love to learn more about this early period. Hoping Genesis fans will unite and help bring about new information, music links, and videos.