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Genesis 1976-1982

Genesis - Genesis 1976-1982 Audio CD

A fair review of the Genesis "Genesis 1976-1982" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Genesis reviews here, or go back to the Genesis tabs.

Band: Genesis
Title: Genesis 1976-1982
Rating:

Release Date: 2007-05-15
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Dance on a Volcano 2: Entangled 3: Squonk 4: Mad Man Moon 5: Robbery, Assault and Battery 6: Ripples... 7: Trick of the Tail 8: Endos 9: Dance on a Volcano [DVD] 10: Entangled [DVD] 11: Squonk [DVD] 12: Mad Man Moon [DVD] 13: Robbery, Assault and Battery [DVD] 14: Ripples... [DVD] 15: Trick of the Tail [DVD] 16: Endos [DVD] 17: Robbery, Assault and Battery [DVD][*] 18: Ripples... [DVD][*] 19: Trick of the Tail [DVD][*] 20: Bonus Materials [DVD][*] 21: Eleventh Earl of Mar 22: One for the Vine 23: Your Own Special Way 24: Wot Gorilla? 25: All in a Mouse's Night 26: Blood on the Rooftops 27: Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers 28: ...in That Quiet Earth 29: Afterglow 30: Eleventh Earl of Mar [DVD] 31: One for the Vine [DVD] 32: Your Own Special Way [DVD] 33: Wot Gorilla? [DVD] 34: All in a Mouse's Night [DVD] 35: Blood on the Rooftops [DVD] 36: Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers [DVD] 37: ...in That Quiet Earth [DVD] 38: Afterglow [DVD] 39: Bonus Materials [DVD][*] 40: Down and Out 41: Undertow 42: Ballad of Big 43: Snowbound 44: Burning Rope 45: Deep in the Motherlode 46: Many Too Many 47: Scenes from a Night's Dream 48: Say It's Alright Joe 49: Lady Lies 50: Follow You Follow Me 51: Down and Out [DVD] 52: Undertow [DVD] 53: Ballad of Big [DVD] 54: Snowbound [DVD] 55: Burning Rope [DVD] 56: Deep in the Motherlode [DVD] 57: Many Too Many [DVD] 58: Scenes from a Night's Dream [DVD] 59: Say It's Alright Joe [DVD] 60: Lady Lies [DVD] 61: Follow You Follow Me [DVD] 62: Many Too Many [DVD][*] 63: Follow You Follow Me [DVD][*] 64: Bonus Materials [DVD][*] 65: Behind the Lines 66: Duchess 67: Guide Vocal 68: Man of Our Times 69: Misunderstanding 70: Heathaze 71: Turn It on Again 72: Alone Tonight 73: Cul-De-Sac 74: Please Don't Ask 75: Duke's Travels 76: Duke's End 77: Behind the Lines [DVD] 78: Duchess [DVD] 79: Guide Vocal [DVD] 80: Man of Our Times [DVD] 81: Misunderstanding [DVD] 82: Heathaze [DVD] 83: Turn It on Again [DVD] 84: Alone Tonight [DVD] 85: Cul-De-Sac [DVD] 86: Please Don't Ask [DVD] 87: Duke's Travels [DVD] 88: Duke's End [DVD] 89: Duchess [DVD][*] 90: Misunderstanding [DVD][*] 91: Turn It on Again [DVD][*] 92: Behind the Lines [DVD][Live][*] 93: Duchess [DVD][Live][*] 94: Guide Vocal [DVD][Live][*] 95: In the Cage [DVD][Live][*] 96: Afterglow [DVD][Live][*] 97: Dance on a Volcano [DVD][Live][*] 98: Endos [DVD][Live][*] 99: Bonus Materials [DVD][*] 100: Abacab 101: No Reply at All 102: Me and Sarah Jane 103: Keep It Dark 104: Dodo/Lurker 105: Who Dunnit? 106: Man on the Corner 107: Like It or Not 108: Another Record 109: Abacab [DVD] 110: No Reply at All [DVD] 111: Me and Sarah Jane [DVD] 112: Keep It Dark [DVD] 113: Dodo/Lurker [DVD] 114: Who Dunnit? [DVD] 115: Man on the Corner [DVD] 116: Like It or Not [DVD] 117: Another Record [DVD] 118: Abacab [DVD][*] 119: No Reply at All [DVD][*] 120: Keep It Dark [DVD][*] 121: Man on the Corner [DVD][*] 122: Bonus Materials [DVD][*] 123: Paperlate [*] 124: Evidence of Autumn [*] 125: Pigeons [*] 126: You Might Recall [*] 127: Naminanu [*] 128: Inside and Out [*] 129: Vancouver [*] 130: Me and Virgil [*] 131: Its Yourself [*] 132: Match of the Day [*] 133: Open Door [*] 134: Day the Light Went Out [*] 135: Submarine [*] 136: Paperlate [DVD][*] 137: Evidence of Autumn [DVD][*] 138: Pigeons [DVD][*] 139: You Might Recall [DVD][*] 140: Naminanu [DVD][*] 141: Inside and Out [DVD][*] 142: Vancouver [DVD][*] 143: Me and Virgil [DVD][*] 144: Its Yourself [DVD][*] 145: Match of the Day [DVD][*] 146: Open Door [DVD][*] 147: Day the Light Went Out [DVD][*] 148: Submarine [DVD][*]

Genesis phase 2 (The Collins era)
Peter Gabriel,their front man had just left and the drummer Phil Collins took over. Genesis from 1976 to 1982 was a band in mutation. For the singing, Phil was okay,but on stage,he did not match the mystical presence of Gabriel. Musically,the band was still very strong but when the lead guitarist Steve Hackett left in 1977,the chemistry was broken.
From 1978 going to the eighties,the old sound of Genesis disappeared.
The band became a big success commercially but a failure musically. For fans of the Gabriel era like me,Genesis really ceased to exist with the Abacab album. All the LP's they made afterwards could have been titled
"Phil Collins band inc. "
.

Do not buy if you live outside the US & don't have a multi-region DVD player
Unfortunately, there is more. We already knew this product was inferior to the UK version, which includes the SACD format. The DVDs are exclusive to the US region. Do not make the mistake I made. Check your DVD player first. I have given this rating only because it requires one. I cannot properly rate this box set because I cannot hear it the way I wanted to.

Mixed Bag
Genesis 1976-1982 is not a complete disaster, but it's not a triumph either. I have been listening to this boxed set from my favorite band for the past five months and, as much as it pains me to say this, there are SOME issues with excessive loudness and remastering faults. I have owned each album on LP, Cassette, first generation CD and 1994 remaster. Every piece of music in this collection deserves five stars; however, after careful audio analysis, I conclude the following:

Trick of the Tail/Wind and Wuthering - 5 Stars, superior job of remastering, just a little "crunchy" on "Wot Gorilla. "
Abacab - 4 Stars - Again, not too bad, but "Keep It Dark" and "Dodo/Lurker" came out a bit loud. In defense, "Another Record" sounds phenomenal, even better than the original vinyl.
Duke - 3 Stars - Behind The Lines, Duke's Travels and Duke's End are too loud. And as another reviewer pointed out, Phil's drums sound "funny. "
And Then There Were Three - 1 star. Worst hack job of remastering yet. This was a beautiful album with restrained, colorful dynamics, and now they are gone. Every song from ATTWT is "in your face," so to speak. "The Lady Lies" and "Deep In The Motherlode" are particularly abrasive and loud.
As for the outtakes - not too bad, "Me and Virgil" sounds great, but "Match of the Day" is horrible - WAY too much treble/mid-range, and again Phil's drums overpower much of the essence. Steve's guitar also sounds too distorted for something he would ever allow on record. I just replayed the original "Spot the Pigeon" LP and it sounds much better than the boxed set version.

The extras on the DVDs are all winners, though, particularly the live sets from 76 (with Bill Bruford - Awesome!) and 80.

In short, brace yourself and your sound system for some harsh interpretations of some classic music.

What an Overview -- And It's Only Vol. I!
1 surround mixes of these albums. I was really stunned by the 5. Every one of them, particularly the first two, A Trick of the Tail and Wind and Wuthering, is SO greatly enhanced by their new mixes that I'm almost at a loss for words. I have the so-called "Definitive" remastered editions of those first two CD's (I suppose they were definitive at the time) and I enjoyed them very much. These latest editions, however, really up the ante on the initial ones. First off, these CD/DVD's are not only remastered, but they're also remixed, and the nuances that are brought out by the remixing process make these already amazing songs so much more beautiful and enjoyable. "Dance on a Volcano," from its inimitable introduction on, is almost an entirely new song, or at least an entirely new listening experience. "Afterglow," Tony Banks' tour de force, is another already great piece that is raised to a whole new level by its remix. After I finished listening to the first two CD's, I realized that there were still three more CD/DVD's to go (actually, there are four more, if one counts the excellent Extras compilation)! That was a wonderful feeling, especially for a Genesis fan who can't get enough of their stuff, old or new. I guess that one might reasonably conclude that I really like this box set, but then that same one would also be guilty of extreme understatement.

I should include a word about the visual elements included on the CD/DVD's. They, too, are excellent. I've read some negative things about the older filmed material, particularly that which came from American and Japanese TV broadcasts. Granted, they don't look all that great but, nonetheless, I'm really glad they're there. I'd much rather be watching a bootleg sourced from a worn VHS tape of an old performance than watching nothing at all and, to top it off, I thought that the less-than-perfect quality of the material added to its intrigue. Those VHS "age lines" are reminders of just how long these guys have been around, just how much road time they've logged, and just how many stages they've graced. Truth be told, I wish there was more of this type of material to watch and enjoy.

If one needs a cure for so-called "buyer's remorse," spend your money on this set and just see if you don't forget about its cost within the first three bars of Track 1!.

SACD or DVD Surround?
It is true that the imports have SACD hybrid discs with accompanying DVD DTS and Dolby Digital surround tracks.
There is a great deal of misinformation regarding the key differences between the European imports of these Genesis box sets and those released in the US market. The SACD hybrids also carry the standard Red Book CD layer. But let's settle this once and for all: the SACD tracks sound no different than the DTS 24/96 tracks on the DVD counterparts. Moreover, the only reason to obtain either of the box sets is for the surround sound tracks--not for the stereo down mixes.

I tested both formats on a Denon DVD 3910 with Firewire digital audio connected to a Pioneer VSX 59TXi amplifier with I-Link with Firewire connections. So my tests were strictly in the digital domain for all layers, the stereo and surround tracks for all formats, SACD, Red Book (standard) CD, DD and DTS. I tested the US releases versus the SACD imports. I used Sennheiser 600 headphones. The disc I concentrated on was the Wind and Wuthering CD and DVD from both box sets--import and US. I also compared the Trick of the Tail discs from both boxes. My import set is the European NTSC SACD box, which I believe was made for Japan release, or countries not using PAL. I also own the US version of this box set.

First, the obvious test was to compare the standard Red Book CD (16 bit 44k) stereo tracks on both the standard single CD offering in the US box and the same tracks on the European Hybrid SACD import box. The sound was virtually identical if not for a slight variation in volume--although I had to strain to hear it. Otherwise, the depth and texture of the sound was identical. The comparison of the SACD stereo track with the US standard CD tracks yielded an improvement as expected. SACD, after all, is a superior format with its 24 bit 96 Khz range as compared to a limited 16 bit 44 khz standard CD layer. In the SACD, you simply hear more in the lower and higher frequencies without the distortion one may encounter in Red Book CDs. So, this comparison was silly to say the least--though someone had to do it!

Second, the SACD 5. 1 tracks compared very well with the DTS and DD 5. 1 tracks on the DVDs of both boxes. Basically, the DVD in both boxes are identical. The only caution I offer is that Dolby Digital produced a slightly limited 16 bit 48 khz rendition, where the DTS 24/96 stereo and 5. 1 sound was discernibly clearer and with less distracting artifacts. The SACD sounded excellent performing equally with the DTS tracks. The SACD sounded no "warmer" than the DTS tracks. Bass and midrange were excellent on both formats. However, on the higher range of frequencies (e. g. , cymbals, synthesizers, etc. ) both the DTS and SACD formats left me with the impression that something went wrong during the high definition remastering of these tracks. But read more below on this issue.

Next, is the question of whether a Genesis enthusiast should obtain the SACD boxes of these collections. The SACD boxes have not been released in the United States. My first impression is that a collecter will not care: they will simply purchase what's offered. Hence, I read reviews by people who own all versions. However, for the consumer who is conscience of quality rather than for the sake of saying, "hey I have that box too," I must question whether the SACD boxes are indeed worth the extra money or effort. The reason is because my tests indicate the same sound quality on both the SACD and DVD high definition tracks. Thus, a person who owns an SACD player, as I do, for example, might twitch to obtain the SACD boxes simply to justify ownership of an SACD player. But, at least in my view, there is no other reason to justify buying the SACD format in this case. Why? Because the sound quality is no better on the SACDs than what you will find on the DVD tracks of the US versions. Ironically, the import versions are almost a redundency in themselves, because they also come with the complementary DTS and DD tracks DVDs. I suppose that one positive difference between the non-SACD US box and the SACD Import is that the import gives you all formats to satisfy anyone's equipment.

As for the reviewer who reported that the SACD layer sounded "warmer" than the sound on the DVD DTS and DD tracks, they also admitted that their SACD rig was connected via 5. 1 analogue cables--not digitally. Well, it is true that any CD player sounds "warmer" when playing through analogue connections. In my case, I use a Denon universal DVD player that connects digitally to my Pioneer Elite receiver through the IEEE1394 Firewire connector. This means that the sound, regardless of format, is entirely processed in the digital domain. Hence, my comparison of the SACD vs. the DTS and DD tracks on the DVD counterpart yielded zero discernable differences. It is possible that the compression used in SACDs is somewhat "better" than what's used for DTS and DD (Dolby Digital). But I am not going to get overly technical about this issue, because I want to enjoy the music not criticize one format over another. It is also possibly true that what one individual hears in their sound system can be completely different from what another person hears in yet another sound system. My point is that it all depends on how you listen to your music or a particualr rock group. Personally, my rig is set to a "centered" or "flat" response setting with regard to tone and base control. My Polk Audio Lsi15 speakers and their surround sound compliment require zero tweaking to achieve a balanced and pleasant listening experience without fatigue. Moreover, I even switched off the subwoofer in the system to avoid "cheating" on bass response. So, I can categorically state that the SACD layer sounded no different than what you find on the DVD DTS sound tracks. The only critical objection I was able to discern was that the Dolby Digital 48 Khz tracks appear to loose some frequency response at the edges of the higher and lower ranges. I can only atribute this to the SACD's 96 Khz range difference. Indeed, the DTS tracks sounded no different than the SACD tracks. Again, there was a slight difference in volume, where the DTS was a bit louder albeit with no discernable loss of quality or "warmth" when compared with SACD.

Let's face it, what the human ear can hear is the real test. There are many audiophiles who will swear by their custom tube-output analogue high definition rigs for SACD and even DTS playback through a 5. 1 analogue output. They purposefully stay away from digitizing their music for fear of losing that "warmth" or analogue feel to the music. However, there is much expensive gear out there, the likes of Meridian, Sony SCD ES, and so forth, to unjustifiably pronounce digitally processed sound as inferior to analogue processing. But this issue is truly a matter of sheer taste in playback equipment. I have to admit that SACD tends to give me some sort of "darker" improvement on bass response--but I am truly unsure whether this is a format difference or whether it is simply in my head!

Certainly, while the high definition audio does indeed travel through analogue cables, the data processed through the digital domain cannot lie. Your player at that point becomes merely a transport that allows your receiver to do most of the processing. The player serves to keep jitter and other transport and read issues corrected or balanced. Likewise, there are many systems that can reproduce and process sound in the digital domain--the likes of a Denon DVD 3910 or 5910, a Pioneer Elite DV 59Avi or 47Ai, or the untouchable Sony SCD-XA9000ES. Indeed, I tested my own Denon 3910 by outputing sound from both digital and analogue surround and stereo and heard zero differences. So, when I contacted Denon about this rather strange outcome, their response was simply that my test only emphasized their truly superior digital extrapolation and sound imaging. Whatever dude! Hence, we'll never truly resolve the issue of analogue vs. digital. I am quite happy with my rig, and do not plan on dusting off the old turntable any time soon.

With this in mind, I want to turn to a comparison of the Wind and Wuthering stereo CD issued in 1994 to the CD, SACD, and DTS found on the new box sets. This brings me back to my earlier question above regarding whether something went wrong with the track remastering for this box set. Another faithful Genesis fan made this comparison, and I would like to formally agree with that individual. Simply put, the 1994 stereo issue of Wind and Wuthering sounds superior to its rendition on the box set--whether it's the SACD/DVD import or CD/DVD domestic set. All I could do during my listening test was to sit utterly dumb founded. Essentially, the new stereo recording sounds brittle, distorted, and artifitially compressed to the point of ridicule. The older issue of this album on CD simply sounds gentle, clear, the bass is strong and dark, while the percussion was flawlessly preserved to shine Phil's excellent work with symbals. The soft passages in "One for the Vine," for example, are carefully preserved in the 1994 CD. The new CD is simply stupidly pumped by a sickening use of compression.

And, what's this about increasing the volume? The new rendition is so lound, that you wonder if someone was having hearing issues during the stereo remixes. Whatever happened between the older mixes for the 1994 CD and the newer remixes for the box sets is simply beyond my imagination. I refuse to believe that neither the Genesis guys nor their engineer missed such a wide gap between those older mixes and the newer reproductions. This is what I would call "falling asleep at the wheel!" Moreover and sadly, the SACD, DTS, and DD tracks are the same quality tracks found on the standard stereo CDs found in the box set. Yes, you do get 5. 1 surround and 24/96 stereo via the SACD and DTS tracks. You even get 16 bit 48 khz on the DD tracks. But you still get the same brittle and obscenely lound and compressed tracks that compare so poorly to the 1994 stereo CD issue. Indeed, it appears as though they simply downmixed the multi-track audio tapes into two channel stereo without as much as a thought to conduct a carefully engineered downmix: one that takes into account how to properly accommodate all the instruments and vocals onto two tracks.

Why? And, why again? Why was this allowed to happen? There truly cannot be a logical explanation to permit such a butchering of this music. All I can say is that I will not be taking my old Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Wind and Wuthering CDs to the used CD store!

Lastly, I do want to acknowledge that I am truly enjoying the 5. 1 surround tracks, even if they are defective when compared to the older stereo CD. If Genesis set out to change the landscape of classic rock listening by unleashing a totally different spectrum within which to hear their music, then this goal, at least, has been achieved. Just listening to the Trick of the Tail disc in DTS will propel you to a different planet. The music is virtually different while still being earily the same stuff you're used to. Somehow, the tunes come out different, like there's a new map that one has to follow to get to the end of each song. Seriously, when was the last time you experienced music such as this for the first time? Thus far, I can only think of one album: Steve Hackett's "To Watch the Storms. "

Is surround sound worth the extra effort for classic rock listening? Okay, if you have not yet heard the Dark Side of the Moon in SACD surround sound, then rush out and purchase the $15 SACD version before it disappears and becomes yet another overpriced Pink Floyd collectible. Or, if you don't own an SACD player, get the Moody Blues "Days of Future Passed" in DTS disc, which will play on any DVD player--provided you have it hooked up for surround sound. Try it! These discs is the reason why music in surround sound has a reason to exist. And, yes, Genesis, at least in my view, has entered this domain as well. Don't worry. The older and better sounding stereo recording is not enough of a reason not to purchase any of these box sets--import or domestic. In fact, the only reason for purchaseing these box sets is because you want to reexperience Genesis for the first time. I believe owning and keeping the older CDs will only add a sinister mystique to the Genesis library. A while ago, DVD-Audio had promised greatness in audio quality the likes of 24 bit 192 khz tracks! But Sadly, those days are over, and SACD has won that war--albeit until it is soon replaced by who knows what lower MP3-type format. Run out and purchase an SACD/DVD-Audio universal player and start buying DVD-Audio and SACD before copyright litigation makes what little music has been released in surround sound formats extinct! I guarantee that the SACD or DVD-Audio versions of Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, or the Who's Tommy, will utterly propel you into another land: one of true musical bliss and fantasy.

Enjoy the Sounds!
.

You can see a complete list of all Genesis discography, or go back to the Genesis tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.