Genesis’ tour de force 1977 live album Seconds Out is revisited, this time with the Tabletop giving the masterpiece its deserved track-by-track breakdown. Plus, which version of Supper’s Ready do fans prefer: Peter’s Foxtrot or Phil’s Seconds Out? The results of the listener poll are revealed!
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great podcast, thanx
Excellent discussion, and good analysis. Seconds Out is one of my favourite live albums of all time, and for some time my only complaint was the lack of tracks from Wind & Wuthering. I think you’re right, the restriction of ‘space’ on the album for those big tracks from W&W was certainly one consideration by the band. However, I’ve heard Collins also say that, at least in part, the purpose of Seconds Out was to “Put tracks like Cinema Show & Suppers Ready to bed” giving them the mid 70’s Genesis treatment, benefitting from their matured musicianship and superior recording techniques available at the time. Maybe it should have been a triple album, including One for the Vine, In that Quiet Earth, Entangled and Eleveth Earl of Mar 😉
Might be my favorite of your many enjoyable podcasts. Love, love, love how you broke down each track for its performance merits without dissecting the song (though I like that too on studio album podcasts). Big kudos to all of you. I was surprised though that you all thought “Squonk” sounded so big live v. studio, yet didn’t mention the same for “Dance on a Volcano.” It’s fun hearing the different viewpoints, as I felt “Dance” was so “in my face” on the live version but “Squonk” seemed thin with live drums and Steve’s guitar mixed lower. Viva la difference!! Please keep the good stuff coming!
Very engaging and informative. Well done all…and amusing / light hearted too!
Time can be a cruel judge, but it seems that the misappropriated ‘dinosaur’ label for Genesis et al will just not stick, and that quality, talent and engaging creativity will out.
Eternal Sanctuary men indeed?
Great episode! I’m more cynical about the band performing & including The Carpet Crawl(ers) in this era: It’s one of the few Gabriel-era tracks that the audience would have recognized Phil’s voice as being a big part of. In my view, this song was a kind of a “hey, remember me? My singing was already a key element to this band” moment.
The track list on SO is a bit weak, IMO, and the sound is generally not ballst enough. Not even the remixing fixed that. It features some of the finest album artwork & packaging of an LP, ever (those who’ve never owned the double vinyl should really check it out, even if they can’t spin the album).
Also, Firth of Firth & Cinema Show are PERHAPS superior here to their studio versions, but nothing else on Seconds Out is (not even Supper’s Ready, imo!). The band should consider a full ’76 tour live album; the multitracks obviously still exist.
Good work, team!
PS – You should try to interview Richard MacPhail. I really enjoyed his new book.
Another great episode. Many thanks.
I always wondered why there was only one song from W&W here. I recall hearing a bootleg from the W&W tour for the first time after I was quite familiar with Seconds Out. It was probably the 16 Feb from Chicago. I was surprised at how much W&W material was left off the album; that the songs were mostly out of order; and just how SE failed to really capture a Genesis concert. That is, it’s such a different vibe when you have the between song banter. Not only did Phil have his stories between songs, but Mike and Steve each introduced a song.
And then I heard more boots including ones where they played “All in a Mouse’s Night” and probably the one live from Earls Court…live from Earls Court…live from Earls Court where they played “Inside & Out”. I agree. A triple album would have been warranted.
But I still love Seconds Out.
Carpet Crawlers is about sperm and how it ‘gets in’ to then ‘get out’ from the ‘ticklers stickleback’ and ‘seeps up through the crack’.
Loved the podcast. Thanks.
Really surprised that Firth of Fith didn’t get more love though – I reckon Steve’s guitar solo on this version is the highest, most intense crescendo I’ve ever heard him reach – wow, just wow.
Hi Tabletop Genesis Crew,
I recently discovered your podcast and enjoyed listening to the “Seconds Out Redux” issue. I live in Germany, I was born in 1959, and the Wind and Wuthering Tour was the 3rd show of Genesis I saw and heard live. The tour stop I went to was in Munich’s Olympia Hall venue, a 10k + seater next to the Olympic stadium. As far as I remember this was the first time I saw a flying PA, suspended by cables from the hall’s ceiling. The venue at that time had a wooden floor, and I could feel Mike’s bass pedals with my whole body.
My first Genesis live show was the Lamb in 1975 in Stuttgart, followed by the Trick of the Tail tour in 1976, also in Munich. Couple of years ago I went to see The Musical Box from Canada recreate the Lamb tour live. They more or less played the studio recording. They by no means were able to recreate the raw power Genesis were able to put on stage for the Lamb in 1975.
My last Genesis tour I went to was the one promoting the Abacab album in 1981. I kind of fell out of love with them by the start of the 80s, and from hindsight it unfortunately started with Seconds Out. Their sound got to polished for me, especially Steve’s guitar sound. I started missing the raw power of the original line-up.
My favorite track by far on Seconds Out is and will remain: Los Endos. It even beats the version they played during the Trick Of The Tail tour. The version of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway on Seconds Out very much reminds me of Peter Gabriel’s live version he performed on his tour after releasing the Scratch album in 1978. It almost has the same power and energy.
And finally: For me as someone growing up with Genesis from the early 70s, there’s no better live version of Supper’s Ready than the one performed at the now famous Rainbow show in London in 1973.
Keep up the good work. Thanks for your podcast.
Cheers,
Thomas
I’m 55 years old, my favorite album in 1977 was genesis live,. I was 10 years old. When I discovered seconds out I went immediately to musical box, I was disappointed. Then I discovered cinema show, suppers ready, I was in love. I was only 10, I didn’t know the members of genesis throughly, until later. I was wondering if I was older and started seeing them live with Peter, would I feel the way you do. I remember bragging that without Peter the band is a joke, only because the older people around me were saying that also. I know they changed considerably especially in the 90’s. I appreciated your opinion, ty. Sorry for rambling on, I feel like you only its about the way they changed in the 90’s. Any rock band that can have an opening like firth of fith (original). The piano is sublime. Even my father said was good. They are special. I’m glad you like them
Hello! So happy to have found this podcast. I just listened to this most recent, and am starting on the back catalog. Seconds Out was probably the second or third Genesis album I ever listened to. Hearing you all talk about it made me pull it out again… OMG I had forgotten how powerful it is. In my formative music years (late 1970s), Yes and Genesis were my #1 and #2 favorite bands. I saw Genesis during the And Then There Were Three tour. I kind of gave up on them when Abacab came out. I felt like they had moved too far from their “prog” roots. However, I have just listened to your Abacab episode and it has forced me to re-examine the album. There is some good stuff there. I am looking forward to re-living my love for Genesis as I work through your podcasts. Thank you!
I’m new to the podcast and am working my way through past episodes. I bought Seconds Out when it came out in ’77 and played it along with The Missing Piece (Gentle Giant) and Drama (YES) for the next 6 months (and 40 years). My only complaint about the album is (as I believe Chris Welch mentioned once) that Steve Hackett left during the mixing of this album and his parts as a result seem “mysteriously” low in the mix. Still, a great album. Saw the Duke, Abacab and ’07 Turn It On Again tours here in Toronto along with endless visits to The Musical Box & Steve Hackett shows. Anyway, keep up the great work…Like It Or Not, you’re making me Happy The Man on my way into work each day.
PS. Favourite Genesis Song: Cinema Show (Seconds Out) Worst: I Can’t Dance, Pigeons
Hi – just listened to your podcasts for the first time – fantastic analysis and comments ! Please allow me to tell a Seconds Out story.
Back in 79 we had a rule in our sixth form (uk) common room. Bring an album into play and if it got scratched it would be bought for the 6th form collection. Seconds Out was one of those albums and got played a lot. It was my introduction to Genesis and I’ve subsequently been to a concert at every tour since (plus I have tickets for the Manchester show later this year). Happy times. Keep up the great work folks.