Music Review by Bill Rendall

Selling England By The Pound

In the early seventies Genesis played progressive rock and Peter Gabriel was lead vocalist. The earliest Genesis albums showed promise but were marred by poor production. The band had matured by the time they released Selling England By The Pound and this album is the best example of the early period of their long career.

In the middle of extended progressive rock pieces the album features a short and simple ballad sung by Phil Collins. 'More Fool Me' is a precursor of things to come.

The showpiece of the album is 'Firth of Fifth.' This song features great work on the flute by Gabriel and some beautiful sustained guitar lines with volume swells by Steve Hackett.

Selling England By The Pound is over 53 minutes long. This is not unusual on today's CD format but was unusual in the days when albums were released on vinyl. The band debated whether to trim 'After The Ordeal' or 'The Cinema Show.' They couldn't decide so they left it all in.

They should have applied the scissors to 'The Battle of Epping Forest.' This is a humourous theatrical song blown out to the proportions of a serious progressive rock epic. It would have worked much better as a short song.

Selling England By The Pound is notable for being one of the first albums to feature choir voices played on the Mellotron. This sound is sprinkled tastefully through the album, including the opening track.

The album ends with a brief reprise of part of the opening track. This is an effective unifying touch.

After Selling England By The Pound Genesis made the same mistake as many fellow prog rock bands and produced an overblown and self-indulgent double album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Unlike their fellow prog rock bands Genesis were able to reinvent themselves and they bounced back to enjoy even greater success.

Gabriel left the band to pursue a solo career. The critics speculated about whether the band could continue without their frontman but Collins stepped out from the shadows of the drum kit and ably took on the lead vocal duties. Then Hackett left the band. Once again the band drew upon their internal resources and Michael Rutherford, their bass guitarist, ably took on the guitar duties.

Genesis went on to enjoy enormous success and Collins simultaneously enjoyed enormous success as a solo artist. Gabriel has also had a successful solo career. As an example of their combined work you can't do better than Selling England By The Pound.