This post by DecomposingMan says Misunderstanding is on the list of Genesis songs with live versions worse than the original. I wondered what else might be on that list. For me, the 3SL version of M&SJ - a song I love on the album - is on that list too.
Any other suggestions?
Turn it on Again. Never quite recpatured the intensity and drive of the studio version, especially the extended versions with the pop covers outros.
I was never keen on the live Lamb Lies Down on Broadway with Phil singing and Chester drumming. I’m thinking mainly of Seconds out but also some bootleg versions. I liked the fireside version on the last tour but previously Phil seemed to throw in some in some slightly silly bits like ‘down down down’ which irritates me and for once Chester’s drumming sounds a bit lumpen compared to the driving force of the studio album drumming.
Phil’s little vocal additions are even worse on the live ‘It’ from Three sides live, which is s shame because the rest of the band play really well.
M&SJ is also a favourite of mine from Abacab, I enjoyed seeing seeing them do it live but when I listen to live recordings it does miss the sophistication of the studio version and suffered from the stripped down live sound of the five of them. Mostly though I think they do really well transferring stuff to stage and seemed to get better at that as they aged.
This is kind of cheating, but the shortened version of TTT. It pains me to hear it veer away from the greatness of the middle and end section into a weak bridge before IT.
Down and Out live was rough round the edges when they played it on the first leg of the 78 tour(s). Hardly surprising as there's a ferocious pace to it.
Keep it Dark from the 83/84 tour would also be on my list of substandard live versions.
Also there would be Fly On A Windshield. A 15++ track for me on the Lamb, but played live it never had the same impact and Steve nearly always seemed to be totally at sea until the close of his solo shortly before it went into Broadway Melody.
I like The Lamb live versions, especially the ones from Trick, Abacab and Encore Tour. Lots of energy, especially the last two. I'm quite attached to Seconds Out, so I like this version too.
Both the snippet from WCD tour and the full version from CAS tour sound weaker to me : I think it's because the change in the guitar part compared to the older versions.
The 2021-2022 version was totally different, but good : quite nostalgic.
No Reply At All didn't transfer well.
The Lamia was not that bad live but it lost a lot of instrumental subtleties that were done thanks to the studio environment.
I also prefer the studio version of Follow you Follow Me : a bit softer than the live versions, but it fits the theme of the song.
This post by DecomposingMan says Misunderstanding is on the list of Genesis songs with live versions worse than the original. I wondered what else might be on that list. For me, the 3SL version of M&SJ - a song I love on the album - is on that list too.
Any other suggestions?
Ha. Funny you should mention that.
I am about to start a conversation about that very thing. I will probably do one song at a time, so we can debate which song is "better" live, or not.
It's just a bit of fun.
I prefer most Genesis songs live over studio. The live versions often gain power and the arrangements are further perfected. However there is a short list of songs where I prefer the studio versions:
Firth of Fifth - because of the acoustic piano intro
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/Fly On a Windshield - the former has more energy and edge plus acoustic piano in the intro; the latter has maximum power and atmosphere
Squonk - more edge and aggression
Ripples - more delicacy in the guitars and a soaring vocal performance, plus acoustic piano
In That Quiet Earth - I love the half-bar at the point where all the instruments briefly cut out. They smooth this out on live versions
Turn It On Again - edgier and more driving than any live versions
No Reply At All - better with the horns (I know there are a few performances with them)
Mama - Phil's singing is at a peak on the studio version and most of the live versions chop out a verse
It's Gonna Get Better - I prefer the falsetto on the high bits on the studio version
Invisible Touch - better energy on the studio version
Nice thread about the time Phil bailed out Peter by stepping in to play drums at the last minute, apparently deserting a Genesis recording session in the process. Not a story I'd heard before
Most random Genesis item I have ever stumbled across in the wild. I was driving around the outskirts of Peterborough, Ontario earlier today, and we passed a large box store called Giant Tiger. I'd never heard of it before, but it's one of those stores that sells stuff very cheaply. I had no interest in it but was compelled to stop by my wife and her sister. I was killing time by browsing through the few band t-shirts they had, which had the usual Pink Floyd, Nirvana etc stuff, and I came across the one below. I've never seen a Genesis t-shirt in any of these type of sections. I grabbed a large for myself (the one pictured is 3XL which I'm thankfully not at quite yet!). I thought it was an unusual find, and also an odd choice for the picture on the front.
Most random Genesis item I have ever stumbled across in the wild. I was driving around the outskirts of Peterborough, Ontario earlier today, and we passed a large box store called Giant Tiger. I'd never heard of it before, but it's one of those stores that sells stuff very cheaply. I had no interest in it but was compelled to stop by my wife and her sister. I was killing time by browsing through the few band t-shirts they had, which had the usual Pink Floyd, Nirvana etc stuff, and I came across the one below. I've never seen a Genesis t-shirt in any of these type of sections. I grabbed a large for myself (the one pictured is 3XL which I'm thankfully not at quite yet!). I thought it was an unusual find, and also an odd choice for the picture on the front.
I think we have two Giant Tigers in the city where I live in northern Ontario. I've only gone in there occasionally if I'm passing by and recall that we're out of kitty litter or Carnation or some other random item. I've never taken the time to browse through their clothing section and certainly never noticed a collection of rock T-shirts. Next time I think of it, I'll make a point of popping in and checking to see if we have the same merchandise.
The use of the title The Carpet Crawl has come up a few times, with seemingly no-one understanding exactly how and why that came about. I recently read that the reason it was listed on Seconds Out that way was to denote the different version lacking the "There is lambs wool..." intro. Shorter version of the song, hence shorter title. Does anyone know if that's true?
