Selling England By The Pound

Selling England By The Pound

Genesis

Atlantic Records, 1973

http://www.genesis-music.com

REVIEW BY: Herb Hill

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 04/08/2002

The early 70's may be thought of as the "golden age" ofprogressive rock. Certainly it was a time when the output fromvarious prog groups such as Yes and Genesis approached wholesalequantities. The volume and scope of the music from this era makespicking a flower or two from the musical field a little daunting.However, there are always a few flowers that stand above the rest. Selling England By The Pound is one of these.

I often hear comments that tend to group the bands from this erainto one big prog rock pile; a sort of cluttered closet filled withdusty, yet, highly valuable works of art. Yes, Genesis, KingCrimson... they are all prog and they are all different. Genesis,in terms of prog rock formats, are the true story tellers of thisimmensely talented and, some might say, occasionally over-ambitiousgroup of musicians. Selling England by the Pound consists of onevignette after another. From the timeless story of male and femalecaught up their eternal struggle against, and for, each other asembodied in "Cinema Show", to the slapstick violence of gangwarfare in "The Battle Of Epping Forest"; Genesis of the early 70'scould tell stories like no other group could.

Putting this album in context is no easy task. For even duringthis time of experimentation and the juxtaposition of so manytalented individuals to create a new genre of music, here is agroup with not one but two future soloists of immense import. PeterGabriel takes on the lead vocals and Phil Collins shines on drums.With the astonishing skill of guitarists Mike Rutherford and SteveHackett and the perennially underrated keyboard maestro Tony Banksrounding off this musical cornucopia, Genesis of this era put anincredible array of talents to work helping to define what is nowknown as progressive rock.

Gabriel would leave the group shortly after the next album ( The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway) which in itself was a muchharder edged musical weapon than is this album. Therefore, Selling England By The Pound can, in many respects, bethought of as the last of the classical prog rock albums from thisgroup. This album has an ancient feel to it; old wood and fadedgold with ruby inlays... Where Yes is the bullet train of prog,Genesis (and this album in particular) is the Orient Express.