Genesis 1970-1975 Box Set
A couple days ago, I finally got the last of the Genesis box sets. This one covers the albums released between 1970-1975, which was the time period that is considered the “classic” Genesis period which saw them at their most experimental as pioneers of progressive rock and featured Peter Gabriel on lead vocals.
The albums featured are Trespass (1970), Nursery Cryme (1971), Foxtrot (1972), Selling England By The Pound (1973), and their hallmark double-concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974). A bonus disc is included in the box set with a couple of B-sides and rarities, including never heard before early recordings of a soundtrack the band was working on for a documentary that never saw the light of day.
Each album in the boxset comes with a remixed and remastered stereo mix on CD and a DVD with the new surround sound mixes. The European version (like what I bought) have a SACD hybrid disc that also contains the surround sound mixes. Unfortunately, the rumor is that when the individual albums get released (tentatively for January ’09), they will only be the CDs and will not include the DVDs. I don’t know why they are doing this. It’s totally inconsistent with the other released sets, but supposedly it has to do with the sales of the individual albums in the past. Supposedly the box sets have generally been selling much better as it mostly have been the fans buying them. So if you’re interested in the surround mixes, buying the box set is the only way to go.
I ordered my set from then-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett’s website, so I had to wait a little over a week from the US release date to get my set. I finally got it now, and of course it has been worth the wait. The surround mixes suit many of these songs very well, as a lot of these early songs were very atmospheric and complex. Also, by pre-ordering from Hackett’s website, I got the man himself to put his John Hancock on it.
All together now!
