From Genesis to Revelation

Da esquerda para a direita: Anthony Phillps, guitarra e vocal, Mike Rutherford, baixo, guitarra e vocal, Tony Banks, teclados, guitarra e vocal, Peter Gabriel, vocalista e percursão, Chris Stewart, bateria

Texto retirado da publicação: Ultimate Classic Rock

Titulo: Why Genesis still overlooked debut LP made such a small splash

I have quite a lot of affection for From Genesis to Revelation," Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks said in the official band biography, Genesis: Chapter and Verse. "I don't love it or anything, but it was part of my childhood."

Genesis had formed in 1967 while the all members of the original lineup – Peter Gabriel on vocals, Mike Rutherford on bass and guitar, Anthony Phillips on guitar, Tony Banks on keyboard and drummer Chris Stewart – were still attending Charterhouse School. The band, all still in their teens, were caught up in the spirit of the day and wanted to pursue music full-time. "At that stage, pop music was a symbol of the revolution, about to overthrow the establishment," Mike Rutherford said in the documentary Genesis: A History.

Enter Charthouse alumni Jonathan King who, in 1965, had a Top 20 worldwide hit with "Everyone's Gone to the Moon." Though his own musical career soon stalled, he became a talent agent for Decca Records. The band got a demo tape to King, and in 1968 he signed Genesis to the label. Initially struck by Peter's voice, King wanted to rename the band Gabriel's Angels, an idea the band politely vetoed.

Their debut single, "The Silent Sun" b/w "That's Me" was issued prior to the album, but went nowhere. The song showed a definite influence of early Bee Gees, a favorite of King's. "I was trying to imitate Robin Gibb, who had the more emotive soulful voice," Gabriel said in Genesis: Chapter and Verse. Though the baroque-styled pop of that first single sounded like a hit, it failed to chart anywhere. The band forged ahead, recording the album and developing their songwriting style. "For many musicians it's all about playing rather than writing," Gabriel continued. "Whereas for us, writing was the center of it all."

The album starts off with the unassuming "Where the Sour Turns to Sweet," a gentle piano-based ballad that was also issued as their second single. Acoustic guitars and strings weave in and out as the world first hears the magnificent voice of Peter Gabriel. Brass and percussion adorn the short-but-sweet track, ultimately making a great opener to the album. Things turn upside down as the next song rumbles in. "In the Beginning" ranks as one of the band's lost classics and possibly the highlight of the album. It shows the band in a darker light and hints, ever so slightly, at what was to come. Gabriel is in charge here with a more domineering vocal and in general, a more rock and roll approach.

Lançamento: Março de 1969

Produzido por: Jonathan King

Faixas:

1. "Where The Sour Turns To Sweet" – 3:16
2. "In The Beginning" – 3:44
3. "Fireside Song" – 4:58
4. "The Serpent" – 3:58
5. "Am I Very Wrong?" – 3:31
6. "In The Wilderness" – 3:39
7. "The Conqueror" – 3:22
8. "In Hiding" – 2:38
9. "One Day" – 3:21
10. "Window" – 3:33
11. "In Limbo" – 3:30
12. "Silent Sun" – 2:13

Faixas Bonus

1. "A Winter's Tale" – 3:28
2. "That's Me" – 2:37