Three Sides Live [US-Import]

The change that has come to songs like 'Abacab', 'Me And Sarah Jane', and 'Dodo', as compaired to the studio versions, is none less than incredible. Frankly, the Abacab album was a rather miserable experience in my oppinion, with the title track containing an absolutely pointless and longwinded instrumental outtro and the nearly off-tune keyboards of Dodo/Lurker [not to mention that this album spawned everybody's most hated Genesis song, 'Who Dunnit?'!].

But in this live recording, thesse songs are completely transformed. The band plays with all the energy they lacked on the studio recordings, 'Abacab' roaring into it's completion (which was faded out on the album version!), delivering master double-guitar work as well as keaybord play and drumming. Suddenly the keabord parts of 'Dodo' swings like nothing else. 'Me And Sarah Jane' suddenly grooves along with reagae feel and a charm and at the same time loneliness the album version was completely devoid of.

Similarly, 'Behind The Lines' is delivered with an energy that leaves you quite breathless once it fades into 'Duchess', which is delivered with an intensity that is impressive. On both tracks Phil delivers his very best vocal performance, and even though both tracks were great on the Duke album, these versions outrank them in any way. Also the version of 'Turn It On Again' is very impressive - somewhat different than the album version in arrangement, Phil's vocal isn't perfect, but this is compensated by the explosiveness of this performance of the track. Also 'Misunderstanding', never a favorite, is presented in a version better than the album version. Also, the only song from ... And Then There Were Three ..., 'Follow You Follow Me' is played in a lovely version (recorded in 1980).

The only older song on the regular set of this recording is the medley featuring 'In The Cage' and keyboard solos from 'Cinema Show', 'Riding The Scree', 'The Colony Of Slippermen (Raven)' and finally a complete version of 'Afterglow'. This is by many considered on of the best live performances from the entire Gensis career, and not without reason. 'In The Cage' is one of Phil's trademark vocal performances, from the frantic, panicked sound of the main part of the song, to the soaring mid section. Anyone who have watched the concert video from the 1983/84 tour (sadly deleted) will remember the stage at this point being covered in a bright white light, focusing on Phil standing on a glass platform above the scene - most spectacular, and performed with a power and intensity I have experienced from no other band. The instrumental medley is crafted with and incredible skill, one breathtaking solo flow into the next, and you won't notice the transition if you fon't know the tracks. Finally, the frantic 'Raven' solo fades into the beautiful 'Afterglow', here delivered in probably the most beautiful version ever. Phil's vocal is beyond believe, and the musical outro is much more powerfull than the old version. I would give almost anything to have experienced this myself!

A note on the track-list. The show has been partly re-mixed, as the original set-list was as follows: Behind The Lines / Duchess / The Lamb Lies Down On Boadway - Dodo/Lurker - Abacab - Carpet Crawlers - Me And Sarah Jane - Misunderstanding - No Reply At All - Firth Of Fifth - Man On The Corner - Who Dunnit? - In The Cage / Cinema Show/Riding The Scree/Raven / Afterglow - Turn It On Again - Dance On A Volcano/Drum Sole/Los Endos - I Know What I Like.

Sadly, they've left out so many highlights from the show. 'Firth Of Fifth' and 'Dance On A Volcano/Los Endos' from this show are among the best versions ever (the former available on the somewhat rare compilation 'Turn It On Again - best of 1981-83' (NOT the new compilation, an old release, CD from 1991)). 'Man On The Corner' has become available on the Archive 2 (and is stunning), 'No Reply At All' is available from the Savoy show the following night on the same boxset (and is superb). 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' was played in probably the best version ever on this tour, but is not available, the same is sadly true for 'Carpet Crawlers' and 'I Know What I Like'.

A note on the recording dates. The major set is taken from the Nassau Colliseum november 29 show. 'Follow You, Follow Me' is probably recorded in the Lyceum, London, may 7 1980, and 'Turn It On Again' might be recorded in Birmingham, december 23 1981.

There exist two versions of this recording, why Amazon only list the original U.S. version (featuring 5 superb B-sides) is a wonder to me; in Europe the remaster version (similar to original UK release) is available everywhere. I can recommend both versions, but the remaster includes a stunning recording of 'One For The Vine' (from Drury Lane, London, may 5 1980), a fantastic recording of 'The Fountain Of Salmacis' (from 1978, possibly from Houston) and a medley of 'It' and the instrumental parts of 'Watcher Of The Skies'. All live recordings I wouldn't miss.