LP Review: Genesis - Nursery Cryme

Nursery Cryme is regarded by many to be the first classic Genesis release - I'll have to wait until I hear Trespass and the other before it to make that call, but it is indeed a classic. "The Musical Box" is among the best Genesis I've heard, ranking just below "Supper's Ready," featuring some intricate and surprisingly heavy passages (including a soaring guitar solo) before a grand crescendo to the final majestic flourish. The other two long numbers are fantastic as well, though "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" is perhaps the least awesome.

Ah, damnit, the record just skipped. The cover is fairly worn as well, and I'm not a huge fan of the artwork as it is, but otherwise the album sounds just fine. As good as Nursery Cryme is, I think Foxtrot is a bit better overall in every regard, but that's what one more year of cohesion will do for a band; this is Phil Collins's first record with Genesis, after all.

One final thought: Check out the "personnel" section below. Did they really need three different people to record 12-string guitar parts?


Genesis personnel:
Tony Banks - keys, 12-string guitar, voices
Phil Collins - drums, percussion, voices (lead vocals on "For Absent Friends")
Peter Gabriel - lead vocals, flute, bass drum, tambourine
Steve Hackett - electric, 12-string guitar
Mike Rutherford - basses, acoustic and 12-string guitar, voices

Tracks - Times:
Side 1
1. The Musical Box - 10:24
2. For Absent Friends - 1:44
3. The Return of the Giant Hogweed - 8:10

Side 2
1. Seven Stones - 5:10
2. Harold the Barrel - 2:55
3. Harlequin - 2:52
4. The Fountain of Salmacis - 7:54

Purchased at Wuxtry Records in Athens, GA
Condition: F

Back Cover: