A Christmas Wish For Genesis Fans......

Dark and grey, an English film, the Wednesday Play
We always watch the Queen on Christmas Day
Won't you stay?

Oh Genesis.....Christmas is upon us. Dark and dreary in Upstate New York. Thousands of your fans clamoring for something new, as all of your fans around the world are also wishing and wanting more from our favorite band. We have been loyal fans. We have every box set. We watched every documentary. Even the one Steve told us was unfair towards him. That new clip on YouTube is just not enough anymore. We as the fans, have a Christmas wish for you.

Could we have one more album? Classic lineup, the big four, or the big three, it does not matter. We would love one more album. How excited would we be to hear that announcement on Christmas Day. Do something different. We do not care as long as we have the long keyboard solo, the pounding drums and base, and the guitar sections we have grown accustomed to over the years.

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone collaborated for an album. Something that reflects each era. Pete sings on some songs. Steve Hackett and Anthony Philips appear on songs. Phil and Pete sing together as in days past. Mike and Tony provide the foundation as always. How much effort would it take to spend a few days in the studio for one last album? You are all lucky enough to be alive at this stage of the game. Could we not coordinate something for the fans?

A live tour you say? Of course we would love one. The spirit of Christmas allows us fans to consider the possibilities. What an amazing tour it could be. A cameo by Anthony Philips on guitar. Special guests like Simon Collins on Keep It Dark. The tambourine dance. The flute. Give us hints of each era. A section of the Lamb served with silent slumbers....We can dream a little dream but only you can make it a reality.

What a Christmas gift if only to have a midwinters dream of our favorite band. Merry Christmas to all....and to all a good night.

The Genesis Blog Is Progressing.....

Slowly but surely, I have worked on the Genesis blog over the past 6 months. The FB page is also a work in progress. I have met a couple hundred new Genesis fans over the past few months and it is such a pleasure to share the love of their music with them. I will continue to work on the blog and FB page over the coming months. Thanks so much. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year. I hope 2016 brings us closer to a reunion, new music, and wonderful stories about Genesis.

What Is Your Greatest Genesis Memory That Your Are Thankful For?

Thanksgiving. A time to reflect and give thanks to all things that have positively impacted our lives. Might sound like a crazy question, however I wondered what are fans of Genesis thankful for regarding their music?

Could it be the concerts, the albums, theatrics, Gabriel v. Phil, solos highlighting their work in key songs? All good reasons for connections. Then I ask, is it the emotional side of Genesis that impacts our thankfulness for their music? Did a song get us through a hard time, touch our inner soul, our mind, or just provided years of connections that happen when we listen to them.

For me, it is simply the music. An emotional connection that has lasted for 40 years. It is what makes them unique regarding the impact of their music. While I enjoy many bands and genres of music, Genesis is like comfort food. There when I need them, I always come back to a particular album or song when it feels emotionally right. There is a resonance that never goes away. Positively Genesis....

One For The Vine - A Timeless Story For Veterans Of War

Veteran's Day 2015. Is there a song from Genesis that reminds you of Veteran's Day? For me, One For The Vine addresses the complexity of service to a King or in modern terms a President, or inspiration leader advocating for leading men and women into combat.

A little more about the song.....

One For The Vine is a Banks masterpiece. While set in a different time period, listeners could easily find relevance today, especially with our polices of replacing governments in the Middle East. The main character in One For The Vine learns that power corrupts. He wishes that he never made the decision to lead the many for the will of one. For many, the recent conflicts have many coming home from war with regrets. They saw the hardships left behind our interventions, and began to doubt the wisdom of the "one."

Why Do Critics Give Pete A Pass When It Comes To A Reunion?

Genesis is in the news. A lot of attention has been given to Phil Collins coming out of retirement. He has said he is open to a reunion. The critics are lining up ready to pounce. Why is that the case? Every time the band reunites, the criticism is on Phil. Why is Peter Gabriel never criticized for never considering a reunion?

When Steve, Mike and Phil toured solo over the past 30 years, they have paid homage to their Genesis roots. Pete did in the beginning, but rarely includes their music in a set. Further evidence he does not want to revisit Genesis, at least musically.

Some argue that money is a motivating factor. I think to CAS tour validates that assumption. That is not Phil's fault. His bandmates are concerned about money and that has nothing to do with Phil. Pete could have easily stepped in at any time, especially when Phil was retired.  Pete's  return  could have made for a financially successful tour. Yet all that time, no criticism or pressure for Pete to return to the band.

The facts are the facts Pete showed no interest while Phil was retired. Lets rally and support a reunion with Phil participating. It is the best chance we have to see the band play again.

Does Phil Collins Deserve The Hate?

Before I begin, I am a big fan of Phil Collins. As with all members of Genesis, I have listened to his music for decades. The big 5 of Genesis have enjoyed long musical careers and success. Phil unfortunately is different than his bandmates, as he absorbs an unfortunate amount of criticism for his contributions to Genesis and his solo career.

Phil recently announced he is coming out of retirement. The hate of Phil almost immediately came out of retirement. Online petitions satirically asked for him to stay retired. Why is there such a reaction to Phil Collins unlike his bandmates in Genesis?

 It stems from his height of popularity. Phil was everywhere back in the 80s and early 90s. Saturated beyond belief. Hardcore Genesis fans especially found this to be disturbing and became very critical of his musical contributions.

Phil Collins does not deserve all the hate. He continued with Genesis for over 30 years. He could have just ended his tenure with the band back in 1975. Over the last 40 years, Phil even brought Genesis into his solo projects, introducing more fans to their music. For example, his Big Band Project included Genesis songs and reinvigorated interest in Genesis.

Phil encourage the band to help Peter Gabriel during his financial crisis due to WOMAD. On many projects, he included his former and current band mates as contributors to music soundtracks. (Check out Against All Odds as an example.) He played on their earlier solo projects to help their careers. Phil was always loyal to his band mates when they needed him.

Phil's solo work often gets the most criticism. Yet he was in such demand. Playing with many of his peers. Sting, Clapton, Crosby to name a few. So why the hate?

Phil has acknowledged he was partly to blame. He looks back and understands where some of the hate comes from. He also understands that the criticisms may never end. Truly sad, for Phil took a path that was always inclusive of his musical roots. Phil was loyal to his fans. Phil stayed with Genesis for over 30 years. Let's give Phil a break, and remember his contributions to music as a whole.

Genesis Reunion - What would it look like?

Phil Collins made a dramatic news announcement this week. He is coming out of retirement. Even hinting a Genesis comeback is possible. Genesis fans while excited, need to understand that a reunion involving Phil will not happen until possibly 2017/2018.

The reason for such a long wait is that Phil will come out with his own album and tour. This is typically a 12-18 month process. Anything involving Phil starts off small, however his popularity will increase with the release of his archived music. An entire new generation will be introduced to his music, and his tour will in this writer's humble opinion be larger and more than he expected.

So, fast forward. What will a Genesis reunion look like if it happens. (The reunion will happen if Phil tours successfully) Most likely, the classic lineup of Phil, Mike, Tony, Chester, and Daryl will tour. However, there is hope that a Gabriel reunion is possible. Even with Steve Hackett. The reason is that Steve has been touring for years playing the early Genesis tunes. Pete would most likely finish his most recent tour and the timing for a Genesis reunion may be aligned perfectly, which has always been a problem in the past.

Some have suggested a split of old and new with Phil and Peter taking turns at the helm. I am not sure that this kind of show would be a possibility. If Pete and Steve rejoin for a reunion, people would prefer 1970-1975 songs. Maybe, a Lamb reunion is also an option.

I have a bolder prediction what will happen. I think Phil, Mike and Tony will hit the studio one more time. I think ending Genesis with Calling All Stations is not how the big 3 want to end the history of Genesis. I believe they will come out with one more album supported by a tour. I think individually, they have written songs over the years and held them for a final album. They would come together one more time, and bring all their ideas for a final album. The music will be one of their finest collaborations over their 40 year career. Reminding fans of the past more than the post Abacab era.

Steve Hackett - Carrying The Torch

Steve Hackett has dedicated the past few years keeping Genesis relevant more than any other band member. Tony is not touring. Mike plays a few songs. However it is Hackett that provides the most attention to the classic 5 era.  Truly, it is his efforts that left many fans feel it was unfair how little the Sum of All Parts documentary paid tribute to Steve's efforts.

Genesis fans are longing for a reunion. Steve has said he is open to it. And why not. He has been playing the music and incorporating it in his live concerts for the past 4 years. He is ready more than any other band member. Hopefully, Steve's efforts will be remembered if a reunion is considered in the future.

The 3x3 Album......

What is your thought about the 3x3 album? I have grown very fond of the extra tracks Genesis would provide some "B" sides that have become quite popular. Since we have not had any new original music in such a long time, the "B" sides provide for some great music. Some Genesis fans treat them as inferior. It was never considered by the band as inferior music. It just did not fit in within an album's concept or conceptually it was too complicated to fit in the time constraints of vinyl. Either way, it's Genesis and we love the extra tracks as much as we love the albums!

Shhhhh..... listen to the birth of Los Endos.....

It's Yourself. A very psychedelic tune. (In my opinion....very psychedelic) The magic of the song is the Sitar. It provides very strange sounds that make me crave for the 60's and 70's. I can see why this sound was cut, while many fans do not believe it should have been. If you listen closely enough, you can hear a bit of Los Endos in the song. The intro was reused from a small portion of It's Yourself.

Facebook and Blog starting to develop.

Well, I would have like to have more stories and collections for the archive. But we are slowly growing. The FB page is nearing 100 Friends. The Blog is beginning to develop and archive the history. So far 600 people have visited the blog. People have contributed to each which is so fun for me as a fan of Genesis. I am hoping to have a weekend to go back and go through so many great contributions and posts. Thanks for your support!
Len

Have that talk while breaking into a home.....

Ah Home By The Sea....a simple burglary botched by Ghosts. Is it really botched? Or just a story to be told? This is the magical imagery of Genesis. Some fans want to believe it was left behind in 1974. But this song has all the imagination of any Genesis song. Phil sings with emotion and each change in his voice represents a change in the story. You won't get away through the rest of your days.....SIT DOWN!   Let us relive our lives.....just magic. A signature piece from a time when the band reenergized the music.

And, think about how music inspires art....love this video

Picture Archive Added To Positively Genesis

What if you had a place to see the concert posters, pictures by years, and album artwork? This is the next phase of Positively Genesis. I had the idea from going to all of the fan sites. I just see so many new pics and media files every day. I began to want them to be cataloged for fans to enjoy. After giving it some thought, I figured it would be fun to take this project on for the website. Fans will contribute and I will begin to collect the history of Genesis through print.

A link is provide on the home page for fans to enjoy. I will continue to post my progress on the Facebook page to remind fans of the continuing progress.

Little Nemo

Little Nemo is a fictional character created by American cartoonist Winsor McCay. Nemo was originally the protagonist of the comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland. The full-page weekly strip depicted Nemo having fantastic dreams that were interrupted by his awakening in the final panel. The strip is considered McCay's masterpiece for its experiments with the form of the comics page, its use of color, its timing and pacing, the size and shape of its panels, perspective, architectural and other detail

This comic strip was the inspiration for Scenes From a Summer Nights Dream by Genesis.

One of the best songs to introduce your kids to. Great for bedtime....

40 years of SNL and No Genesis

I watched the Saturday Night Live this Sunday and enjoyed the music played throughout the show. While watching the portion of the show that was dedicated to the 40 years of music, I began to wonder why Genesis never appeared on SNL. Especially during the early years. Other British groups and solo acts appeared throughout the years. Why not Genesis. It could be as simple as the schedules never matched or both parties never connected. However, I cant help but wonder how cool a Genesis appearance would have been for the group. After all, they appeared on Mike Douglas, why not SNL

New Radio Station On The Blog

Okay, I am adding the instrumentals. On this page, you will have unlimited Genesis 24/7 buy the time I am finished. I just think it would be great to have access to all the music on one page. Send me your feedback when you can.
Len

Instrumental Collections Growing On Youtube

Phil Collins said after Peter Gabriel left, "Maybe we should just be an instrumental band." While it might sound crazy, we all love the long songs. I often wondered what it would have been like to just be instrumentals. Youtube is starting to see an increase of Genesis collections that are just the music and no lyrics. I enjoy them on long rides, or meditation. Check them out if you get a chance. I am going to provide some links on the home page so you can go directly to them.

Genesis - The Documentaries

As part of the overall experience of Genesis, the band has been chronicled in many documentaries. I am going to search and begin a catalog of documentaries for the band. I will also include interviews and special appearances. If you have any links or suggestions, please post and I will include them on the blog and Facebook Page.

New Link for Tribute Bands Up And Running

As promised, we will link tribute bands to the primary site. Many thanks to John Wilkinson for supporting the idea. If you know of any bands, videos, or suggestions for the page, please share with us. http://tributebandsgenesis.blogspot.com/

Elephantus

Did you know the original title for "No Son of Mine" was Elephantus? The reason for the original title was the sample created by Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks to open the song. It was played on the keyboard and gives the song a dark and serious tone. The theme of the song is an abusive relationship between a father and son. What makes the song interesting is the point of view. Is it coming from the mother or the son? At different parts of the song, I wondered which point of view was transparent.

The reason why I created the Positively Genesis site is that this is an example of how creative the group continued to be on their later works. If you could separate the popularity of the band from the music, would the music be any different? I think it would be. The diversion of Phil v. Phil distracted some from enjoying the later musical projects.

Interestingly enough, the stereotype was that Genesis lacked innovation when Peter left. However, ten years later, Peter Gabriel used the sampling from Elephantus, as part of his song, "I grieve" You can hear it in the background.

New Radio Station For Live Music Up and Running

Well, I am progressing with a new idea for collection live concerts. There are so many out there I created a separate page to start collecting links. You should be able to listen to the concerts in the background at work.

Genesis The Discography

I updated the blog today with complete albums for your listening pleasure. You can click the link on the right and enjoy while at work. I will be setting up a new page for complete concerts. The list is too huge for this page. An entirely different page will have to be dedicated for this project. For now, enjoy the albums.

Positively Tribute Bands

When a band's legacy is to have others pay homage to their music, you know you have a special group. Genesis is alive and well due to their tribute bands. As I researched, I was amazed how many groups are out there. Some stick to an era while others celebrate and embrace all of Genesis. I am going to provide links to their sites on the home page. If you would like to recommend a tribute band, please add them to this post or on the facebook page. Below are some links that are one stop shopping for all bands. To the right and individual links sent through our Facebook Page.

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ttp://www.genesis-movement.org/links.htm


http://www.genesis-music.com/

40 years and still going strong.

2015 marks the 40th year of "The Lamb." The 2 album masterpiece that  would be the crowning achievement of the Gabriel era. This is my favorite album during this time period. I always wondered why no one considered the story for a movie. I know William Friedkin wanted to collaborate with Peter Gabriel. However nothing came to fruition. Either way we celebrate the 40th year. Happy Birthday Rael.

The Making Of The Mama Album

Has anyone seen the lost tapes of Phil Collin's home movies that were transferred to DVD? The DVD was  included in the Boxed Set sold a few years ago? The DVD bonus shows how the boys made an album from their first day together to last. You meet the extras behind the scenes. Tony, Mike and Phil seem like family as they get together.

While they have a producer, Tony Banks leads the way in my opinion. I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that Tony takes the songwriting process more seriously when it comes to the final cut.  It really is great to see how the songs come together.

1st Day A Success!

20 members on the facebook Page. 5 Blogs up and running. My dream is coming true! I will be working on the blogs over the coming weeks. I will keep updating the posts on Facebook. Great Things To Come. Tonight I end with Snowbound. Its 15 below in Upstate New York tonight. Snow and Cold for the coming weeks until Spring Arrives.

BTW....People think the song is about a snowman. I read that Mike Rutherford, who wrote the song actually has a Grimm's fairy tale twist to this song. The snowman is actually an old man that freezes to death in the woods because he is lost the night before....and throughout the night it snows. Then children stumble upon him the next day and think he is a snowman. Ahhhhh The magic of Genesis.

1970-1975 online and working

The second phase of Genesis is good to go. Just click the link 1970-1975. Enjoy!

Searching for the Earliest Videos

It is hard to find early concert footage of Genesis from 1967 -1970. Any one have some links, please share on the FB page or in here.

Generations

It seems that Genesis had 5 main timelines. I will be providing links to each page. Eventually, I will be taking unique videos and postings from the Facebook Page and organizing the history for all of the fans to enjoy.