Album Review: Genesis Live Box Set

Live 1973 - 2007
Genesis' Invisible Touch was the first rock album I ever bought as far as I can remember; at the very least it was my favorite for a very long time. That album was the best-selling by the band and came at the height of their commercially-successful period during the late '70s through the early '90s. I did not just stop at that one album, though; I started buying earlier albums and got interested in some of their more "progressive" work, although for whatever reason, I could not handle the Peter Gabriel/Genesis stuff during my teen years.

Years later, my tastes have evolved to where I believe some of the Gabriel albums, along with the first couple Phil Collins-led albums are the best the group ever put out. And I actually enjoyed the Ray Wilson-led Calling All Stations album, too. Although the group grew and changed over their long life, I really did enjoy pretty much every incarnation and whim of the group.

This latest, and last, box set from Genesis collects their live albums from 1973 straightforwardly-named Live to The Way We Walk, a 1990s live album. They even leave room for the 2007 Live Over Europe collection in the box, so people that already purchased the album did not have to buy it again. The sound has been remastered and there really is something here for everyone: both Gabriel and Collins-led readings of "Supper's Ready" and other classic prog-rock songs, and at least a couple versions each of some of the later pop songs.

I have really been enjoying listening to all these over the past couple weeks, getting re-acquainted with some albums like Seconds Out and Three Sides Live, and experiencing the first and last live albums for the first time. Genesis is a very strong live band and some of the live performances even improve on the studio versions. The only thing left now is the live-DVD box set...which I will most likely skip on the basis that I generally don't watch concert DVDs more than one time.

The box set here is probably for "fans only" but more casual fans would really enjoy The Way We Walk or Live Over Europe as they do feature most of the big hits Genesis is known for.

Grade: A-