Genesis 1973-01-21
Palasport, Rome, Italy

Set 1
Watcher Of The Skies
The Musical Box
The Fountain Of Salmacis
Supper's Ready
The Return Of The Giant Hogweed
The Knife

Set 2


Set 3


Comment
included on PRRP-20 remaster (disc 3), among others
1/21/73 (the first of two nights in Rome) is the correct date (often misdated 1/22/73 -- there are NO KNOWN RECORDINGS of the second night)

from "Play Me My Song" by Paul Russell:
A clear audience recording, from the first of two nights at the Palasport. The 18,000 Genesis fans packed into this cavernous arena are treated to a vintage show from a band in sparkling form.

"Watcher" sets the scene, all dramatic Mellotron and staccato chords. Gabriel gets a cheer and the sound improves as the song progresses. It is a lot sharper by the time a galloping "Musical Box" takes the crowd by storm. Hackett is flying on this version, his solo work is faultless, as he speeds through the middle section.

An Italian intro for "Salmacis" is warmly received, and the song itself echoes around the arena adding to the splendour of the piece. As always Banks takes the honours here, although this recording also highlights some powerful and inventive bass playing from Mr. Rutherford.

"Salmacis" improves with age, and along with "The Musical Box" is most certainly one of their greatest songs. The solo organ sounds cathedral-like and the sustained vocal at the end is very moving.

Mr. Phil Collins and his ding-a-ling are given a round of applause just before "Supper's Ready," which is still without a Gabriel story.

The acoustics of the arena take this epic piece of music to new heights from the crystal-clear 12-strings on "Lover's Leap" to the madness of "Willow Farm". As for the "Apocalypse," that's almost what it sounds like, there must have been a lot of stunned Italians at the end of this gig.

Gabriel shuffles to the front of the stage screaming "666". Even though he misses his cue at this most dramatic of moments, the band throw in a couple of spare bars so he can catch up, you can hardly hear the join, and the tension is great.

The song ends with the big finale-style Hackett-going-crazy bit. The applause is annoyingly cut after only a few seconds and as you catch your breath, the "Hogweed" pops up and grabs you by the throat or that's what Gabriel would like you to believe.

"Hogweed" triumphs in a wall-shaking cacophony, with lots of heavy bass chords and snare fills.

Gabriel screams his way through an almost out-of-control "Knife," and that man Hackett gets so excited he probably stands up!

A stunning example of Genesis live.


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Created At
Tue Aug 02 2005 16:58:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Updated At
Tue Aug 02 2005 16:47:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

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