Genesis with Gabriel or Without?

[socksoff]

Which group was better?

 

[Nige]

Not a huge Genesis fan. They had good hits with and without Gabriel.

 

[sole seeker]

Personally, I like Genesis better without. I think Collins has given a much stronger influence to the group without Gabriel around, and the sound is better. IMO the probably they have a better specific direction to go in without conflicting vision.

I like some of Gabriel's work too. "Shock the Monkey" was damn fine and has a great tune; "Big Time" was autobiographical and talented; and "Games Without Frontiers" is my favorite, a message worth hearing.

 

[leafstk]

With Gabriel, hands down. Selling England By the Pound and Foxtrot were incredible albums 😀

 

[featherfingers]

With Gabriel, hands down. Selling England By the Pound and Foxtrot were incredible albums 😀

I agree. I've owned both of those albums at one time or another (I should get them on CD now). But "No Reply At All", with Phil Collins singing lead, holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the songs I heard while at Navy boot camp, on those rare occasions when we were allowed to listen to the radio. That song helped make my time there a bit easier to handle.

 

[leafstk]

I won't knock Phil Collins, he's an incredible talent. I just enjoyed it more when both talents were together 😀

 

[Mimi]

.....and here I thought this thread had something to do with the Bible.

 

[dskodj]

.....and here I thought this thread had something to do with the Bible.

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL thats funny!

Anyhow, with me being a die hard fan i'll have to say that they were 2 different groups basicly just keeping the same name. In 1976 when they released "A Trick Of The Tail" (which is probably my fave LP of theirs from the 70s era) it was the begining of the format and the band which would take us into the 80s came on the next LP titled apropriatly "..and then there were three". I actualy prefer the without Gabriel as to the with. Im a die hard Gabriel solo fan and his best work was done in that time. Actualy own everything (B sides included) that hes ever recorded minus his newest LP. My fave Genesis LP Id have to say out of the 80s was the self titled one from 83.

 

[Dave2112]

I much prefer the Gabriel line-up. Selling England by the Pound, Foxtrot and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway are discs that are constantly in my player. I'm more drawn to the technically proficient prog-rock than radio-friendly stuff.

That being said, however, I did enjoy the Collins-lead Genesis very early in thier current formation. ...And Then There Were Three and Duke were vibrant and still retained quite a bit of the progressive influence. The studio cuts on Three Sides Live were memorable, especially Paperlate and You Might Recall.

The self-titled Genesis album was the real crossroads, with a couple of long album-oriented art cuts (Mama, Home by the Sea), but also some too-radio-friendly pop hits like That's All and Taking it All too Hard. This is when Genesis started sounding like Phil Colinns' solo stuff.

And speaking of Phil Collins, I loved his early solo work, but here's where I realized that he'd sold out in his old age. ABC was carrying the Super Bowl a few years back and Chris Berman was interviewing Phil before his live performance at some pre-show show. Berman, being a fan of classic rock, asks Phil what works he's most proud of from his long career with Genesis and solo...

Phil, who has just finished the soundtrack for that stupid "Tarzan" flick...

...made by Disney...

...who paid him HUGE...

...and who owns ABC...

...replied that he was most proud of his Tarzan soundtrack.

 

[dskodj]

Yes I remember that well..was it only a few years ago???? Seems longer than that damn lol. As for Phil's solo work I liked alot of the LP cuts from the earlier LPs like Face Value and Hello I Must Be Going..not really the pop radio hits on em. Come to really think bout it "A Trick Of The Tail" is actualy my number one fave probably of all Genesis without Gabriel. Thats an LP that had no radio hits..at least in the US cause its a very Pink Floyd-ish type LP honestly. I highly recomend checking it out if ya dont know it.

 

[TickledToDeath]

Wow, very difficult to answer this since I LOVE the music and talants of both Gabriel and Collins as well as Genesis both with and without although my Favorite BY far Genesis album was the Live recording called "Seconds Out". One of my over all favorite records/CD's period.
If only they could have gotten along and combined both talents in harmony while still continuing their individual solo careers.

Very tough decision here as to which was better but I would if I had to choose one, go with, having Gabriel even with the success of Genesis without him. They still would have had the same if not more success with him.


TTD

 

[MrMacphisto]

I preferred Genesis in the 80s and early 90s... My two favorite albums by them are still "Invisible Touch" and "We Can't Dance." Gabriel is good, but frankly, I think he has since produced better music as a solo artist than what he did with Genesis. For a while, Phil Collins was doing the same with his solo career, but I think "Dance into the Light" was the nail in the coffin of his creativity. I'm sorry, but "Can't Stop Loving You" just doesn't cut it...

I think we can all agree that the guy who joined Genesis after Phil left was pretty awful though... Gary Sherone with Van Halen comes to mind...

 

[socksoff]

Follow-up

In my opinion 😛hil Collins - One of the top ten drummers of all time.
- Not a bad singer
- BUT sold out Genesis-making it a more
POP orientated sound (More chick-
friendly)

I prefer the more challenging compositions of the Gabriel era -where you got a good light show and costumes.Such as the "Gods of Magog" costume from Supper's Ready.(see picture of sinister creature with bright red triangular head)

 

[dskodj]

Peter Gabriel..

After reading this thread the past few days it made me pull out some Peter G. out of my vinyl collection. Right now im listening to a 1980 Canadian EP he released (quite rare actualy) and the song thats on right now called "Shoholoza" is quite original and very creative. Simply set the way for future Gabriel productions. Its basicly some kinda african (sounds like) chant with a nice bassline and lyrics in some jungle language with non other than..yes, Phil Collins on drums.

Now heres a question to ask all, what did you think of Gabriel's creativity and interesting concepts to blend native music with rock? I find it pure art and great stuff.

 

[featherfingers]

Re: Peter Gabriel..

Now heres a question to ask all, what did you think of Gabriel's creativity and interesting concepts to blend native music with rock? I find it pure art and great stuff.

I've loved the blend of Rock music and World music ever since George Harrison introduced us to the sitar with The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood". Rock music has taken on every musical style available from nearly every country on the globe. I heard that Robbie Robertson also has an album featuring Native American influences.

 

[steph]

Amen brother! 😉
I like Pete solo, like Genesis better without him...

XOXO

Personally, I like Genesis better without. I think Collins has given a much stronger influence to the group without Gabriel around, and the sound is better. IMO the probably they have a better specific direction to go in without conflicting vision.

I like some of Gabriel's work too. "Shock the Monkey" was damn fine and has a great tune; "Big Time" was autobiographical and talented; and "Games Without Frontiers" is my favorite, a message worth hearing.