Here is '3 x 3'. A collection of classic tracks from one of the world's
most successful trios - this is Genesis '82.
Here is '3 x 3'. A collection of classic tracks from one of the world's
most successful trios - this is Genesis '82.
Usually after Genesis complete and fresh series of studio sessions, they find themselves in possession of more recorded songs than they can cram on to their next album. The bits they sacrifice are far from sub-standard. Several can be carried on the under-decks of subsequent singles.
Deriving from an over-wealth of ABACAB material '3 x 3' features stand-out items which failed to fit into the final tight format of that LP programme at the time of it's preparation.
"We recorded about fifteen songs in the ABACAB set. To call these three 'out-takes' might foster a wrong impression. They are all group-written stuff which we felt very into. More than ever before, we split the creative work equally amongst ourselves. The group acts as it's own catalyst. What the group does in the end tends to be the best of all of us."
Throughout this trio of tracks Phil Collins is the singer and drummer, Tony Banks plays all the keyboards, moving between piano and synthesisers, and Mike Rutherford produces the guitar sounds, including the basses.
'Paperlate' has a fascinating origin. In 'Dancing With The Moonlight Knight' (from the 1973 album called 'Selling England By The Pound'), Peter Gabriel sang a line about a newspaper seller: "Paper late", cried a voice in the crowd.
Prior to doing the tune on stage in America a couple of years ago, Phil sang this segment repeatedly for the engineer to get the echo working during the band's sound check: "I started getting into a rhythmic thing. It developed into a natural jam, everybody coming in, one by one. The sound guy taped what he was getting and I brought out the tape at the new album sessions. We agreed to hone it into a spin-off song, condensing the title to a single word."
'Paperlate' features the horn section from Earth Wind And Fire most dramatically. Getting down these brass tracks was done in Los Angeles long before the song had been finished and when nothing in the way of a vocal existed on tape.
The second item on Side One started life with the working title "Jangly". Phil explains: "Often our lyrics come along after backing tracks are laid down. Meanwhile we like to identify new material with some word suggested by the sound or the feel of the music we've been making. It's just a stamp for our own personal reference purposes. In this case it represented a cross between Django Rheinhardt and the jangly noise of our playing."
Phil's percussion equipment here includes timbali and tambourine, Tony uses a glockenspiel and Mike involves his bass pedals. Phil programmed a Roland Drum Box with emphasis on cabasa, tom-tom, and congo effects.
The longest in this trio of tracks get six minutes of Side Two by itself. For this one, the working titles used to be "Chunky" and it started out as a much heavier guitar showcase. The chords were changed around: "It became a bit like the Old West. Lyrically that's very easy to write for. Basically it's about life on a farm in the Mid West in the 1880's. When mother dies, the rest spread their wings and leave the homestead." 'Me And Virgil' features Mike Rutherford's 12-string guitar. The special violin sound is caused by a Synclavier synthesiser controlled by Tony Banks.
Prize this copy of '3 x 3'. Apart from being a fine item for any Genesis connoisseur's collection, these tracks seem to appreciate in audio value at each additional hearing.
