Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
An almost unrivalled collection, whether from these shores, or even on the other side of the pond that separates common listenership, the B.B.C.’s back catalogue of live recorded music is one to behold. Millions of hours of concert reels from every conceivable artist, and despite its faults, the indiscretions, the fall outs from flaws and blame, the criticism and inconvenient truths, the fact remains there is a repository of live music just waiting to be rereleased and given a fresh appraisal.
Such a chance to look back in time comes from one of the Progressive kings of British music, a niche that flowered and bloomed, a group that transformed themselves not once, not twice, but three times…Genesis were, and remain a symbol of the live extraordinaire. In the Tony Banks curated Genesis: B.B.C Broadcasts, that repository has been scoured and polished, given new life, and from the early tracks rarely heard outside of collector’s boxes, through to the finale heydays of the 20th Century, the sound of an era, of an force, is given its due diligence and presentation.
The collection of five cds, or three vinyl discs, depending on the format that grabs you as pour over songs with either Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, or Ray Wilson at the vocal helm, is one of enormous consideration, whether from the intimate 1970s Night Ride, The Sound of the 70s, Top Gear, or to the larger arenas, more bang for the buck but certainly less private, Wembley Arena, Knebworth, Lyceum, or Wembley itself in the open air, this collection of tracks captured by the B.B.C., is arguably monumental, a towering reminder of what can be accomplished by a corporation with a mountain of experience behind it, and who better to use as an example than a band who climbed their way to the top at the same time that radio was dominant.
Whilst a live recording will never replace the feeling of actually being there in person, of hearing tracks like Squonk, Behind The Lines, Get Em’ Out By Friday, Twilight Alehouse, The Knife, The Brazilian, Home By The Sea, or No Son Of Mine played to a crowd of like-minded individuals coming together in the spirit of the Pied Piper, with its attraction and movement; there will always be room for the live performance to be framed by time on the radio; and despite their faults at times, their controversies, there remains a resolution to bring quality to those who cannot by design, price, or inability, to be transported privately to a moment of pure delight.
Genesis: B.B.C Broadcasts is a symbol of sound at its highest regard, and one certainly for collectors and fans alike.
Ian D. Hall