It's Yourself

[JerseyJoker]

I have to admit, I'm a huge Genesis fan, which is why I probably complain about the back catalog more than most.

This post focuses on the non-LP B-side, "It's Yourself". I remember when the Archives 2 box set was released back in 2000/2001, how excited I was to finally have a version of this track on CD. And how disappointed I was when I finally heard it.

I have this track on the Italian single, "Ripples". What a great track, after the "Los Endos" section, how it gets all spacey. But what frustrated me with the Box set release was how it faded out. The Italian single concludes with a beautiful "hard" ending, on one final note on the keyboard (flute). It's a perfect conclusion to such a spacey song -- the fade out ending kind of leaves the listener hanging (well, at least that's how I felt, maybe because I'm used to the way the single ends).

So when the first Box set was released, I thought for sure, they'll release the song with the proper ending. When I put it on, I was blown away to hear the second verse (NOT on the single)! This was too much! But then, as on the Archive 2 box set, it was faded early!

I can't figure out who in the world would make the decision to fade this song early! If I had the proper software, I'd edit a proper version myself!

Something tells me I'm the only one who rants about this stuff. Anyone else aware of this track, and feel the same way?

JJ

[CageyPea]

Hi Jersey Joker; no, you're not alone -- I first acquired this gem years ago on a re-issued import 45 and thought it indeed encapsulated that olde Genesis Magick -- another recovered treasure from the Atlantis-like lost colony of Classic Genesis!

So I too was outraged when on Archives 2 it faded out. And you can probably commiserate with the disappointment I felt when the 1976-1981 Box Set came out -- at first I was elated that the track-time was longer (I didn't know about the salvaged "missing" verse) and then . . . well, you know.

So, I don't know why either, but the only thing that would placate me would be an explnatation that it is some sort of technical reason, e.g., the master tapes were damaged at the end; there was some awful noise inherent therein that they couldn't get rid of; that the original ending was actually overdubbed live at the final-mixdown-to-stereo stage and wasn't actually on the master tapes, etc. etc.

Because if They just faded it arbitrarily or other than for technical reasons, it's cruelly anti-aesthetic. See, I think the whole meaning, and theme of this sad, beautiful free-fall of a tune, gets lost: at the very end, at the end of the day, the character in the song is alone. Left alone; all else fades out and there's just that little solitary keyboard-flute line, ending definitely, in a minor key. (And you know, it's the same notes that begin "Mad Man Moon"! He drifts off asleep and has a dream?)

In the meantime, I had a more tech-ready friend record the vinyl b-side on his computer and turn it into a digital file, pops and rumble and all (especially given the huge glorious stretches of silence in the track) but I guess we'll just never have that perfect, definitive version of this song. Sad. Kind of fitting, though . . .

[martinus]

Originally Posted by CageyPea

Because if They just faded it arbitrarily or other than for technical reasons, it's cruelly anti-aesthetic.

Well. I think it is their music and it is theirs to do with as they see fit. It occurs to me that they would have had a good reason to let the song end they way it ends. Whether that reason is technical or because they decided they wanted to have it that way has not been revealed. It simply is they way they did it.

[jebho62]

I agree whole-heartedly. It is their music and they should be able to do with it what they choose. Why do people complain if they already have a version of a song with the mix they prefer? I however hate when bands leave a hit track or two off of a greatest hits or compilation package or substitute a live version of one of their hits just so people have to purchase the original album or a different greatest hits package to acquire that hit. Or when they don't allow songs to follow their natural order as Led Zeppelin did with the 1990 box set when they did not follow Heartbreaker with Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)....this was a sin which Jimmy Page shall burn for ....and to a lesser extent, when Genesis does not precede Suppers Ready with Horizons....I could go on and on about this but you catch my drift....

[TinaS]

I agree with you Jebs. Good post!

[Danlaw83]

Genesis...wrote it, can do whatever the hell they want to to it. Of course I would love to have the original ending, but I will not complain!!

[CageyPea]

OK, I see where you're all coming from, but let me clarify my intent: that Genesis/Nick Davis authorized this edition of "It's Yourself" as they saw fit, isn't the question; obviously they did, of course it's their prerogative. At the end of the day, this is only what we here on the receiving end have in hand: a CD from the Archives 2 or 1976-1982 sets. I accept that; it is what it is!

But the real question here is: in those editions, why is it faded out early?

Because (to me) it's more than just the loss of some nice bars of music; I think meaning in the song has been partially lost. It'd be like fading out "Mad Man Moon" or "One For the Vine" early, or lopping off the closing section of "The Musical Box", or leaving "Aisle of Plenty" off of SEBTP!

The end effect is what JerseyJoker noted: frustration, and the sense of being left "hanging". It's indeed similiar to what jebho62 describes, in different matters: why did they choose to do this? Then it's frustration on top of frustration: we may never find out why.

Originally Posted by jebho62

Why do people complain if they already have a version of a song with the mix they prefer?

Because I don't have that mix, that mix being the complete track in the wonderfully modern, digital and clarified re-mix from the 1976-1982 box set. There's so much to this track which can't be gotten from the original, now-old scratchy analog vinyl! All the interplay between the keyboards, Steve's textural guitar sounds, PC's background vocals, the restored second verse . . . all this was gained -- and well enjoyed -- in the re-release, but sadly I don't think gaining all that makes up for what is lost by not retaining the original, definite ending.

This all sounds so stupid at first, I know -- it's just a few measures of one instrument! But still, to me at least, it is so meaningful. It wouldn't matter much to me (or others such as JerseyJoker, I assume) if G. music wasn't so important to me. Darn that Genesis; why did they have to make such transportive, absorbing, fascinating music??!

Emotional reactions aside . . . the more I think about it, it probably was due to a technical/technological reason. (If you've heard the TotT-outtakes/demo version -- wherein it was called "Beloved Summer" -- it too fades out.) If only we could get the authoritative, definitive word on the matter!

[JerseyJoker]

Hey CageyPea,

Thank you for your post -- you've absolutely nailed it! "It's Yourself" is an absolutely fantastic track, albeit an oddity -- almost a novelty -- piece of music. The "original" 45 ending is so sweet and gentle, too -- just that lone keyboard/flute sound. The song is even MORE mind-blowing in full 5.1 Surround Sound, which is now up and running in my residence -- so it's even MORE frustrating that the ending fades.

And, as Cageypea notes, Vince -- we DON'T have that version of the song. It would be nice to have it complete, without ANY vinyl surface noise -- AND in Surround Sound.

And sure, guys: It's THEIR music, they can do what they want. But the question remains: Why fade it when that beautiful ending exists? They did it with Submarine, too, on the Archive 2 Box -- although they fixed that with the 76-82 box set. And quite honestly, with Submarine, I could deal with it -- it's just a lumbering, almost goofy instrumental track -- of all the Genesis tracks ever issued, I probably find I like that track the least. It's almost like, "who cares?" Well, with "It's Yourself", apparently, somebody DOES care. It DOES seem almost mind-numbingly stupid to make a big deal about it -- but that's just passion about really good music.

By the way, CageyPea, I'd be interested in more details about which single you have that contains "It's Yourself" -- it's a European Re-release?? From which country?? Interesting.

My Italian single is in IMPECCABLE shape, and the track was burned to CD-R several years ago. If your copy is somewhat scratchy, I'll be happy to send you an MP3 file, if you like -- or burn it to CD-R and mail it to you (which may provide you with a better quality track).

Let me know -- you can reach me at Twostikks@comcast.net. (I'll be out of town in CA all next week, so I'll take care of it after I get back.) It's so clean, perhaps your friend can seamlessly splice the two together, and then we'll have at least a STEREO copy of the track.

Thanks again for your post, it was very much appreciated!

Jersey Joker

[jebho62]

Originally Posted by CageyPea

OK, I see where you're all coming from, but let me clarify my intent: that Genesis/Nick Davis authorized this edition of "It's Yourself" as they saw fit, isn't the question; obviously they did, of course it's their prerogative. At the end of the day, this is only what we here on the receiving end have in hand: a CD from the Archives 2 or 1976-1982 sets. I accept that; it is what it is!

But the real question here is: in those editions, why is it faded out early?

Because (to me) it's more than just the loss of some nice bars of music; I think meaning in the song has been partially lost. It'd be like fading out "Mad Man Moon" or "One For the Vine" early, or lopping off the closing section of "The Musical Box", or leaving "Aisle of Plenty" off of SEBTP!

The end effect is what JerseyJoker noted: frustration, and the sense of being left "hanging". It's indeed similiar to what jebho62 describes, in different matters: why did they choose to do this? Then it's frustration on top of frustration: we may never find out why.



Because I don't have that mix, that mix being the complete track in the wonderfully modern, digital and clarified re-mix from the 1976-1982 box set. There's so much to this track which can't be gotten from the original, now-old scratchy analog vinyl! All the interplay between the keyboards, Steve's textural guitar sounds, PC's background vocals, the restored second verse . . . all this was gained -- and well enjoyed -- in the re-release, but sadly I don't think gaining all that makes up for what is lost by not retaining the original, definite ending.

This all sounds so stupid at first, I know -- it's just a few measures of one instrument! But still, to me at least, it is so meaningful. It wouldn't matter much to me (or others such as JerseyJoker, I assume) if G. music wasn't so important to me. Darn that Genesis; why did they have to make such transportive, absorbing, fascinating music??!

Emotional reactions aside . . . the more I think about it, it probably was due to a technical/technological reason. (If you've heard the TotT-outtakes/demo version -- wherein it was called "Beloved Summer" -- it too fades out.) If only we could get the authoritative, definitive word on the matter!

Originally Posted by JerseyJoker

Hey CageyPea,

Thank you for your post -- you've absolutely nailed it! "It's Yourself" is an absolutely fantastic track, albeit an oddity -- almost a novelty -- piece of music. The "original" 45 ending is so sweet and gentle, too -- just that lone keyboard/flute sound. The song is even MORE mind-blowing in full 5.1 Surround Sound, which is now up and running in my residence -- so it's even MORE frustrating that the ending fades.

And, as Cageypea notes, Vince -- we DON'T have that version of the song. It would be nice to have it complete, without ANY vinyl surface noise -- AND in Surround Sound.

And sure, guys: It's THEIR music, they can do what they want. But the question remains: Why fade it when that beautiful ending exists? They did it with Submarine, too, on the Archive 2 Box -- although they fixed that with the 76-82 box set. And quite honestly, with Submarine, I could deal with it -- it's just a lumbering, almost goofy instrumental track -- of all the Genesis tracks ever issued, I probably find I like that track the least. It's almost like, "who cares?" Well, with "It's Yourself", apparently, somebody DOES care. It DOES seem almost mind-numbingly stupid to make a big deal about it -- but that's just passion about really good music.

By the way, CageyPea, I'd be interested in more details about which single you have that contains "It's Yourself" -- it's a European Re-release?? From which country?? Interesting.

My Italian single is in IMPECCABLE shape, and the track was burned to CD-R several years ago. If your copy is somewhat scratchy, I'll be happy to send you an MP3 file, if you like -- or burn it to CD-R and mail it to you (which may provide you with a better quality track).

Let me know -- you can reach me at Twostikks@comcast.net. (I'll be out of town in CA all next week, so I'll take care of it after I get back.) It's so clean, perhaps your friend can seamlessly splice the two together, and then we'll have at least a STEREO copy of the track.

Thanks again for your post, it was very much appreciated!

Jersey Joker

I wish I could share your passion...but after 32 years of Genesis it is difficult to maintain that level of interest...you guys are musicians though and I guess that this band is a musicians band....LONG LIVE GENESIS!!!!

[martinus]

Originally Posted by CageyPea

But the real question here is: in those editions, why is it faded out early?

Though it may bug you: It fades at that point because the band decided it should fade there because that is the way they wanted it. It seems they do / did not have the impression that the song loses any part of the meaning or is the worse for it. You mileage may vary, as it most obviously does.

If only we could get the authoritative, definitive word on the matter!

I'll ask around - though I may not get an answer (or an answer anytime soon).