Hi Lil
Firstly, I have to say, what a great site: many congratulations! Anyone who puts the time, dedication and skill into producing videos such as these deserves a huge amount of admiration and recognition.
A Genesis nut since '74 as a 14 year old completely obsessed with the band, I find myself even more enthralled by the sheer craft and musicianship behind their music now than ever before. Must be something to do with maturity eh?!
Listening to The Lamb recently, I was struck by just how advanced the whole piece must have been for its time. Isolated in suburban England, and without such luxuries as the internet, one relied totally on peers, music journalists and perhaps the letters page of the music papers to glean critical insights from what we were all listening to. So to have these videos is pure luxury.
The Lamb was my first Genesis album and can even now vividly remember being overwhelmed by the raw power of the title track. And I'm pretty sure it was the gatefold and inner sleeve graphics that steered me into my love of and eventual career of graphic design.
Looking at the George Hardie illustrations now, I'm still taken back by their modernity. In fact, even the cover was pretty spare even then for what was a pretty wild era graphically. I'd be proud of that layout now, that's for sure.
Suffice to say that since the point I first heard a Genesis song - I know what I like - and was struck by the sitar-esque feel, sophisticated percussion and Peter's vocals, I've been hooked and still am.
Probably like yourself, they've been an integral part of who I am, and have accompanied me through both good and bad times; births and deaths. I sometimes wonder what Genesis song I'd have played at my funeral? Is that terribly morbid? But wouldn't it be great to have a church reverberating to some thudding bass pedals and keyboards as Cinema Show gets into full flow...!
I've also had a 40 year love affair with meteorology, but that's a whole different story...
Anyway, thanks again for a great site and taking the time to allow us to discover the stories behind the band. Your generosity and spirit are very much appreciated.
Best
Hugh
Lil writes ~
Hellay, Hugh !
So sorry you had to wait.... *sly smile*
Please forgive my tardiness in writing back, I'm very rarely late... (but, my brain & audio-engineering hands have been owned, lock, stock and barrel by our American Major League Baseball and its spring training season, for the past month. Being paid to sit through 32 days straight of baseball seems a somewhat harsh way of supporting my Genesis video-editing hobby...but, one has to do what one HAS to do, to provide more Lamb Love to you, me and the rest of "The Faithful", right?! *mock impudent look & amused laugh*)
I am SO glad you brought up the Hipgnosis artwork on the covers of the "later" early-Genesis albums...for I was just studying them in more detail (especially The Lamb, obviously) - as I was starting to edit down my newest trilogy of Lamb videos (focusing on the pivotal "Chamber of 32 Doors").
So, you went into Graphic Art, as a career, then? I wish I had had you beside me when I got to interview Paul Whitehead, last fall - at the La Mirada, California TMB concert - performed, last October. I would have LOVED listening into the "insiders" pearls of observational wisdom that would have fallen from both of your knowledgeable lips ! *appreciative snort of laughter*
He's quite a character, is Paul. *twinkle of eyes, recounting the memory at the things he told me - of the Trilogy of album covers he designed for Genesis...especially the one for Foxtrot!*
I promise, that at some point, I will try to get that unexpected little nugget of an interview edited down into something somewhat-polished.
Meanwhile, on to your preferred Genesis artist: George Hardie....I have one question: did he oversee the photographic layout, as well as provide the Escher-like renderings, do you know?
I've never really delved heavily into all that is subliminally suggested or implied by all those enigmatic photographic visuals which grace the entire cover (and its sleeve), by way of research. But, if you (as a knowledgable professional) would like to write up a piece about this historic cover...I would be absolutely delighted to feature it on my website (within a future-planned new section - featuring early Genesis research backgrounder information).
As you know, I truly enjoy combining my background as a TV news researcher (for I also was once a TV news producer, as well as an audio engineer - thanks to my start in radio..) with that of my love of Gabriel/Hackett-era Genesis. Publishing insightful, non-commercial/educational information (which elucidates upon the depth of their early works) provides me great happiness.
Spoken with complete "tuning fork" understanding, in response to your simple-yet-brilliant statement of "they've been an integral part of who I am, and have accompanied me through both good and bad times; births and deaths."
As for your question of interpretive morbidness....I'm right there with you, Hugh. *understanding bark of laughter*
Don't know if you've watched my "Analysis: Anyway" video...but, in it I state that I want my children to print (on my funeral leaflet) the immortal lines:
"I feel the pull of the rope, let me off at the rainbow. I could have been exploded in Space. Different Orbits for my bones. Not me...just quietly buried in stones. Keep the deadline open with my Maker!
See me stretch...yeah, for God's elastic acre." ;-)
xoxo Lil
Firstly, I have to say, what a great site: many congratulations! Anyone who puts the time, dedication and skill into producing videos such as these deserves a huge amount of admiration and recognition.
A Genesis nut since '74 as a 14 year old completely obsessed with the band, I find myself even more enthralled by the sheer craft and musicianship behind their music now than ever before. Must be something to do with maturity eh?!
Listening to The Lamb recently, I was struck by just how advanced the whole piece must have been for its time. Isolated in suburban England, and without such luxuries as the internet, one relied totally on peers, music journalists and perhaps the letters page of the music papers to glean critical insights from what we were all listening to. So to have these videos is pure luxury.
The Lamb was my first Genesis album and can even now vividly remember being overwhelmed by the raw power of the title track. And I'm pretty sure it was the gatefold and inner sleeve graphics that steered me into my love of and eventual career of graphic design.
Looking at the George Hardie illustrations now, I'm still taken back by their modernity. In fact, even the cover was pretty spare even then for what was a pretty wild era graphically. I'd be proud of that layout now, that's for sure.
Suffice to say that since the point I first heard a Genesis song - I know what I like - and was struck by the sitar-esque feel, sophisticated percussion and Peter's vocals, I've been hooked and still am.
Probably like yourself, they've been an integral part of who I am, and have accompanied me through both good and bad times; births and deaths. I sometimes wonder what Genesis song I'd have played at my funeral? Is that terribly morbid? But wouldn't it be great to have a church reverberating to some thudding bass pedals and keyboards as Cinema Show gets into full flow...!
I've also had a 40 year love affair with meteorology, but that's a whole different story...
Anyway, thanks again for a great site and taking the time to allow us to discover the stories behind the band. Your generosity and spirit are very much appreciated.
Best
Hugh
Lil writes ~
Hellay, Hugh !
So sorry you had to wait.... *sly smile*
Please forgive my tardiness in writing back, I'm very rarely late... (but, my brain & audio-engineering hands have been owned, lock, stock and barrel by our American Major League Baseball and its spring training season, for the past month. Being paid to sit through 32 days straight of baseball seems a somewhat harsh way of supporting my Genesis video-editing hobby...but, one has to do what one HAS to do, to provide more Lamb Love to you, me and the rest of "The Faithful", right?! *mock impudent look & amused laugh*)
I am SO glad you brought up the Hipgnosis artwork on the covers of the "later" early-Genesis albums...for I was just studying them in more detail (especially The Lamb, obviously) - as I was starting to edit down my newest trilogy of Lamb videos (focusing on the pivotal "Chamber of 32 Doors").
So, you went into Graphic Art, as a career, then? I wish I had had you beside me when I got to interview Paul Whitehead, last fall - at the La Mirada, California TMB concert - performed, last October. I would have LOVED listening into the "insiders" pearls of observational wisdom that would have fallen from both of your knowledgeable lips ! *appreciative snort of laughter*
He's quite a character, is Paul. *twinkle of eyes, recounting the memory at the things he told me - of the Trilogy of album covers he designed for Genesis...especially the one for Foxtrot!*
I promise, that at some point, I will try to get that unexpected little nugget of an interview edited down into something somewhat-polished.
Meanwhile, on to your preferred Genesis artist: George Hardie....I have one question: did he oversee the photographic layout, as well as provide the Escher-like renderings, do you know?
I've never really delved heavily into all that is subliminally suggested or implied by all those enigmatic photographic visuals which grace the entire cover (and its sleeve), by way of research. But, if you (as a knowledgable professional) would like to write up a piece about this historic cover...I would be absolutely delighted to feature it on my website (within a future-planned new section - featuring early Genesis research backgrounder information).
As you know, I truly enjoy combining my background as a TV news researcher (for I also was once a TV news producer, as well as an audio engineer - thanks to my start in radio..) with that of my love of Gabriel/Hackett-era Genesis. Publishing insightful, non-commercial/educational information (which elucidates upon the depth of their early works) provides me great happiness.
Spoken with complete "tuning fork" understanding, in response to your simple-yet-brilliant statement of "they've been an integral part of who I am, and have accompanied me through both good and bad times; births and deaths."
As for your question of interpretive morbidness....I'm right there with you, Hugh. *understanding bark of laughter*
Don't know if you've watched my "Analysis: Anyway" video...but, in it I state that I want my children to print (on my funeral leaflet) the immortal lines:
"I feel the pull of the rope, let me off at the rainbow. I could have been exploded in Space. Different Orbits for my bones. Not me...just quietly buried in stones. Keep the deadline open with my Maker!
See me stretch...yeah, for God's elastic acre." ;-)
xoxo Lil