# Favorite Genesis albums (all eras represented) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2010, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096 "2010-03-28T09:27:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/1 "2010-03-28T09:27:32Z")
I’m not asking for what you think is the best, but rather your favorite. They may be one and the same, but maybe not. For instance, Foxtrot is my favorite, but I think The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway is their best album. Foxtrot has a special place in my heart because it was the first one I got. This is meant to be a serious, but hopefully fun thread, unlike that snarky other thread I started last week. I can’t stop people from posting, but if you can’t stand Genesis, please go elsewhere, or at least be respectful that others do like Genesis. That goes for eras too, such as if you only like Gabriel Genesis, please respect that others (also or only) like some or all of Collins Genesis. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/2 "2010-03-28T09:37:20Z")
Oh great, my first poll, and I just noticed a typo. Lamb LIES Down… ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/3 "2010-03-28T10:04:28Z")
Selling England By The Pound for me, after Abacab they pretty much fell off the face of the planet in my world. Unclviny ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/4 "2010-03-28T10:27:00Z")
> [@unclviny](#): > > after Abacab they pretty much fell off the face of the planet in my world. Same here. I discovered them in 1973, and prefer Gabriel Genesis, but I was still a huge, HUGE fan up to and including Abacab. I saw every tour, from Selling England on. I even followed the Duke tour to several cities, and I hitchhiked halfway across the country to see an Abacab show. But then I totally lost interest, mainly because my tastes changed and I was getting heavily into female vocals then. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/5 "2010-03-28T12:46:32Z")
_Selling England_ for me too; though it’s very tough indeed to leave the _Lamb_ unchecked. For me the band managed to survive Peter Gabriel’s departure, but went into a death spiral once Steve Hackett left. I can barely listen to _Duke_, apart from the repulsive “Misunderstanding,” but I have no use for anything from _Abacab_ on. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/6 "2010-03-28T13:15:44Z")
It’s hard for me to believe that ‘Trick of the Tail’ isn’t just running away with this poll. Sure, each to their own, very much a matter of personal preference, yada yada, but I felt sure when I checked the results that TOTT would be racing ahead of the pack. It’s not just a wonderful album of seven _amazing_ songs (plus some pointless filler at the end), but the story behind the album enhances one’s appreciation of it. At the time, with Gabriel having left, there was plenty of comment and speculation to the effect that (a) the band wouldn’t be able to produce another album and (b) even if they did it would probably be forgettable rubbish, and © yeah, asking the _drummer_ with the crazy beard to lead the band and fill Gabriel’s shoes… could there be any more obvious sign of pathetic desperation? Big surprise when the album finally emerged… a stunning piece of work by any standards, a fantastic sustained tapesty of musical talent and brilliance with far more ‘catchy’ tunes than was strictly allowed under the ‘prog rock’ label, and with Collins emerging as a front man of great ability and stature. They even sound like they had fun making it. Oh, and the sleeve artwork was great. What a sweet triumph. For me personally, I have to add that the fact that in includes ‘Entangled’ _automtatically_ makes it the best of the bunch. I don’t know how many times I’ve listened to and enjoyed that song, but I suspect I’m into four figures. What Tony Banks achieved with the concluding instrumental section and the sublime climactic key change has never really been bettered by any keyboard player, on any album IMHO. In fact, I think I’ll go and listen to it now. ---
**Author:** ![D.Fenestrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aca169/32.png) [@D.Fenestrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.Fenestrator)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/7 "2010-03-28T14:47:06Z")
“Abacab” was the first Genesis album I owned, but I really love “Selling England by the Pound.” I first heard it in the mid-80’s (I know, late to the party), and I still love it just as much today. I have to be in the right mood to play “Abacab” all the way through. I’m also fond of “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” but I am not inspired to play it nearly as often. For me, the earlier albums tend to be works I listen to in their entirety; the later stuff feels more pop oriented, so there are certain tracks I play, but I don’t often play one of the later albums all the way through. ---
**Author:** ![vdgg81](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3d9bf3/32.png) [@vdgg81](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vdgg81)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/8 "2010-03-28T19:04:49Z")
I was torn between _Selling England by the Pound_ and _The Nursery Cryme_ and ended up voting for the former. I have no doubt that _Selling…_ is the better album and definitely is the one I still listen to the most, but _The Nursery Cryme_ was the first **Genesis** album I ever bought and has the coolest cover art of them all. _Foxtrot_ gets the third place and _The Lamb Lies Down in Broadway_ gets the fourth. “The Music Box” is by far my favorite song from the band but _Selling England…_ has the title song, “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)” and “Firth of Fifth” which are all amazing (Firth just may have my favorite guitar solo ever). The band’s debut is also lots of fun and it’s a pity the producer did his best to ruin it. After _A Trick of the Tail_ I just don’t like the direction that the band followed. P.S. If you had _Live_ in your poll I’d have voted for it. It was the first **Genesis** album I ever heard and has an unbeatable song selection, with “The Knife”, “The Music Box”," Get Them Out by Friday", “The Return of the Giant Hogweed” and “Watcher of the Skies”. ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/9 "2010-03-28T20:00:58Z")
My user name is short for “The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man.” 'Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/10 "2010-03-28T20:12:39Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > It’s hard for me to believe that ‘Trick of the Tail’ isn’t just running away with this poll. I voted for TotT, but it was close with Selling England. It was all downhill after TotT, except for the live albums. ---
**Author:** ![Mustardseed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mustardseed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mustardseed)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/11 "2010-03-28T20:39:17Z")
A lone vote for ‘Trespass’ here - I really like the quiet atmosphere of the first side (jupp, old enough to remember the big black ones). As much as I admire the technical brilliance of e.g. ‘Suppers Ready’, there are some passages that sound dated to me (Production and/or Composition). The songs of ‘Trespass’ however don’t scream ‘early 70’s prog-rock’ to me, but have a timeless quality - with the exception of ‘The Knife’, but nothings perfect, and this discussion is about the best Genesis album. (please excuse my English, obviously non-native speaker here) ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/12 "2010-03-28T21:04:25Z")
> [@Mustardseed](#): > > (please excuse my English, obviously non-native speaker here) I wish my English-speaking employees could write as well as you. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/13 "2010-03-28T22:03:35Z")
> [@Mustardseed](#): > > this discussion is about the best Genesis album. No, it’s not. It’s about your favorite. If you think your favorite is the best, then ok, but I just wanted to clarify that I’m not asking for opinions on the best. At least, not in the Poll. I’ve always loved Tresspass too. The production is a bit muddy compared to their following albums, but it doesn’t bother me too much. The enormous musical leap from From Genesis to Revelation to Trespass is nearly mind-boggling. [“White Mountain”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_MPcgl3FH0) is my favorite song from the album, then [“Visions of Angels”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsQwfG4KnCU) then followed very closely by the gorgeous [“Stagnation”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ONzI9cpEDc) except when I’m listening to “Stagnation” and then it’s my favorite. [“Dusk”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M8qhe4p5DE) is so lovely too. I like “Looking For Someone” and “The Knife” but I like those other songs better. [QUOTE=vdgg81] P.S. If you had Live in your poll I’d have voted for it. It was the first Genesis album I ever heard and has an unbeatable song selection, with “The Knife”, “The Music Box”," Get Them Out by Friday", “The Return of the Giant Hogweed” and “Watcher of the Skies”. [/QUOTE] OH! Would someone please shoot me? Thanks in advance. I can’t BELIEVE I left off Live! That has my favorite version of “The Musical Box” and is the only one I listen to. I never ever play the album version. Maybe it’s because the first two times I heard the song was live, first on The Midnight Special (which has been taken off YouTube, dammit), which is where I discovered them, and then the Selling England tour. They also performed “Watcher of the Skies” on TMS but I immediately got the Foxtrot album so played the album version to death, whereas I didn’t get Nursery Cryme until after I got Live, and so wasn’t used to the album version. There are a couple of nice live versions of “The Musical Box”: [Without](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBL67P4VzCk) the old man mask. [With](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFBY4dvoISc) costumes and mask. ---
**Author:** ![Lips\_Obsession](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbce88/32.png) [@Lips\_Obsession](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lips_Obsession)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/14 "2010-03-28T22:22:24Z")
My first album ever was Abacab, but my favorite has been Duke for many, many years. I really do have favorites from all the eras… I really like Trespass, and I am very pleased with Live Over Europe (especially since that is the only tour i was ever able to see them live). ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/15 "2010-03-28T22:23:44Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > My user name is short for “The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man.” 'Nuff said. Always wondered what your user name meant; thanks for the info. I don’t think I’ll be able to see it now without thinking of “Supper’s Ready.” Yes, I picked _Foxtrot_ too. ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/16 "2010-03-28T23:15:10Z")
Another vote for “Live”. Watcher is beyond powerful on that album. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2010, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/17 "2010-03-28T23:18:55Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Always wondered what your user name meant; thanks for the info. I don’t think I’ll be able to see it now without thinking of “Supper’s Ready.” I never even thought about his user name, but I’ll also think of _Supper’s Ready_ every time I see it now. We also have a poster named **Alive At Both Ends**. I’m really not sure what to choose. My favourite Genesis albums would be _Selling England by the Pound_ (I can’t get enough of _The Cinema Show_), _The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway_, _Wind & Wuthering_ and _Duke_. But I don’t know which one to choose, and even weeding it down to those four means neglecting a lot of stuff I enjoy very much. (Yes, I’m one of those freaks who likes _all_ eras of Genesis.) ETA: Well, _From Genesis to Revelation_ is pretty forgettable and I never play it, so maybe I’m not a fan of _all_ eras but even this album has one or two interesting songs. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/18 "2010-03-29T00:08:49Z")
I voted for “Seconds Out”. While I much prefer Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, I think Phil does a pretty respectable job with some of the older material. (I actually prefer the live version of “Supper’s Ready” on this album to the one on “Foxtrot”.) And I think “Seconds Out” is just one of the best-sounding live albums by any group anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/19 "2010-03-29T00:19:48Z")
I also just wanted to comment briefly on **ianzin** ’s comment about “asking the drummer with the crazy beard to lead the band and fill Gabriel’s shoes” being a desperation move. The truth is, the band auditioned a number of vocalists as Gabriel’s replacement. During the interviews, Phil would provide them with a bit of a “guide vocal” to give them an idea what the songs should sound like. The more singers they brought in to audition, the more the band realized that Phil was a better singer than any of them. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096/20 "2010-03-29T00:23:09Z")
I picked Selling England but I’d be just as happy with Trick or Wuthering. I always give up listening to Genesis during Lent so only one more week left! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-genesis-albums-all-eras-represented/534096.md?page=2)