TotW 12/04/2023 - 12/10/2023: ANTHONY PHILLIPS - Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends?)

1st Official Post
    • Official Post

    Your rating for "Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends?)" by ANTHONY PHILLIPS 14

    1. 15 points - outstanding (0) 0%
    2. 14 points - very good (2) 14%
    3. 13 points - very good - (1) 7%
    4. 12 points - good + (4) 29%
    5. 11 points - good (3) 21%
    6. 10 points - good - (4) 29%
    7. 09 points - satisfactory + (0) 0%
    8. 08 points - satisfactory (0) 0%
    9. 07 points - satisfactory - (0) 0%
    10. 06 points - sufficient + (0) 0%
    11. 05 points - sufficient (0) 0%
    12. 04 points - sufficient - (0) 0%
    13. 03 points - poor + (0) 0%
    14. 02 points - poor (0) 0%
    15. 01 points - poor - (0) 0%
    16. 00 points - abysmal (0) 0%

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    ANTHONY PHILLIPS - Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends?)
    Year: 1978
    Album: Wise After The Event
    Working title: ?
    Credits: Phillips
    Lyrics: Yes
    Length: 8:26
    Musicians: Anthony Phillips
    Played live: --
    Cover versions: ?

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    Notes: Anthony Phillips had long since achieved cult status among Genesis fans and also in the prog scene in the late 70s. His debut is still considered one of the prog "landmarks" today. Wise After The Event was released in 1978 and had one or two rather poppy notes (or let's say: song-orientated). This song is our Track of the Week as an example of this, which somehow even reminds us of Queen from that time...

    A great track off a great album. I’ve got most of his considerable output and am filling in gaps with the help of the re-releases - which are excellent (are you watching Genesis?)

    His voice is an acquired taste to be sure but it suits this lament and the instruments perfectly match the mood and theme.

    It’s a nice tune. Touches of ELO about it, to me anyway. If an electric violin made an appearance it would almost pass for something of theirs from roughly that era. Not a criticism, far from it as I think ELO produced some great material.


    I like it.

    Have never heard it before and quite enjoyed it. A bit long and overwrought, but has a strong dollop of the wind and wuthering romanticism I like in moderate doses. Worth 11 from me.

    Quote from Thelawnmower

    A great track off a great album....

    His voice is an acquired taste to be sure but it suits this lament and the instruments perfectly match the mood and theme.

    I actually think Ant has the best range and most emotive singing voice of the four non-lead-vocalists who have sung on their solo albums (TB, SH, AP and MR).

    And I agree, WATE is a great album. Over the many years, I've flip/flopped between Wise and Geese in citing my favourite of Ant's output.

    Quote from Witchwood

    I actually think Ant has the best range and most emotive singing voice of the four non-lead-vocalists who have sung on their solo albums (TB, SH, AP and MR).

    And I agree, WATE is a great album. Over the many years, I've flip/flopped between Wise and Geese in citing my favourite of Ant's output.

    Would definitely agree with what you say about AP's voice. Not amazing but a notch above TB's and SH's serviceable but unspectacular ranges. MR's? Well...

    • Official Post

    10 from me. I do have my problems with some of his solo stuff, but I have always liked his first three albums and this track is one of the good ones.

    WATE is a problematic album for me. There's some stunning songwriting, but most tracks are brought down by weak vocals (with Ant's "creaking" effect being especially annoying), and some pieces just leave me scratching my head.


    That said, "Now What" is one of the better tracks on the album, and a strong, effective closer. It's the first song I ever heard described as "widescreen," and it fits well. (The early demo version from ARCHIVE COLLECTION #1, "Hunt Song," which isn't nearly as good, is interesting for having some different lyrics.)


    Vocally, Ant sounds a lot better to me on INVISIBLE MEN.

    Little known fact: Before the crowbar was invented...


    ...crows simply drank at home.