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When in 1993 Phil Collins abandoned the decaying corpse that had for too long usurped the glorious name of Genesis, it was almost a common opinion that the grave was about to be sealed. However, the corpse became a zombie thanks to the black magic performed by the amusing duo Tony Banks-Mike Rutherford. The two recruited Ray Wilson (who is he?) for vocals and decided to release, in 1997, “Calling All Stations”, a terrible album that makes even “Abacab” seem like a masterpiece. The album, which is supposed to be a return to rock, but is actually a ridiculous mishmash of sounds that calling it poorly crafted pop would be a compliment, is comprised of 11 tracks, almost all written by Rutherford and Banks.
The first track is the title-track, which only manages to offer some good atmosphere here and there, but, like the entire album, generally serves as a lullaby. Continuing, we find the singles “Congo” and “Shipwrecked”; the former is truly awful, enriched (???) by African drums and ethnic chants that have no effect, while the latter is the only song that shows almost decency, while still remaining within the pop realm. “Alien Afternoon” is long, but not at all salvaged, and from here we jump to the last track (the only one almost worthy of further commentary besides the aforementioned), which lasts a full 8 minutes but proves to be decidedly dreadful, despite an almost semi-engaging ending.
In short, “Calling All Stations” is a tragic way to end the decades-long career of a group that, before contributing to its demise, has given much to progressive rock.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
02 Congo (04:52)
You say that I put chains on you
But I don't think that's really true
But if you want to be free from me
You gotta lose me in another world
Send me to the Congo I'm free to leave
There's always somewhere anybody can lead
Send me to the Congo you have to believe
You can do it if you wanna just do what you please
Like a soldier ant
I will wait for the signal to act
To take a walk right through the door
If you don't want me here any more
Send me to the Congo I'm free to leave
There's always somewhere anybody can lead
Send me to the Congo you have to believe
You can do it if you wanna just do what you please
Into my heart you came
And gave a whole new meaning to my life
Into my world you brought a light
I thought it never would go out
Send me to the Congo I'm free to leave
There's always somewhere anybody can lead
Send me to the Congo you have to believe
You can do it if you wanna just do what you please
You can send me to the Congo I'm free to leave
There's always somewhere anybody can lead
Yes you can send me to the Congo, you have to believe
You can do it if you wanna just do what you please
I would never be the one to say you had no reason
To want me somewhere else far far away
But someday you may understand, someday you will see
That someone who would die for you is all I've ever been
Congo the Congo, if that's how it's got to be
Congo the Congo, if that's what you want from me
I would never be the one to say you had no reason
To want me somewhere else far far away
Someday you may understand someday you will see...
03 Shipwrecked (04:23)
I'm a million miles from anywhere, where can I be
Somewhere out on the ocean
Just take a look out on the horizon, what can you see
There's nothing there for me
I feel shipwrecked, I might as well be shipwrecked
I'm helpless and alone drifting out to sea
I can't believe what you said to me
Even standing on the corner of a busy city street
I still feel so lonely
Why do you say you want to be with me
But the next day say you don't
I'm shipwrecked, I might as well be shipwrecked
I'm helpless and alone drifting out to sea
I can't believe what you said to me
Without you I feel shipwrecked
But I can't let it show
A million miles away from anywhere, ooh, ooh, ohh
Is it my imagination
Or is it getting darker, are the waves getting higher
I'm a million miles from anywhere
A million miles from anything I know
You know that's why I'm shipwrecked
I might as well be shipwrecked
I'm helpless and alone drifting out to sea
I can't believe what you said to me
You know that's why I'm shipwrecked, shipwrecked
Losing my direction
Please come and rescue me (shipwrecked)
Shipwrecked
Shipwrecked
Shipwrecked
Shipwrecked...
08 Uncertain Weather (05:29)
A day of uncertain weather
Captured in a frame forever
A face in a faded photograph
He must have had a life
Maybe with a family
People who meant everything to him
A sinner, a saint, a soldier
Caught up in a war he never
Had a chance to start or build a life
All gone long ago
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
To become just a face without a name
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
Hopes and fears important plans
Forgotten memories
Footsteps fading in the sand, ooh
Schemes and dreams small and grand
Nothing left to see
Footsteps fading in the sand, ooh
Someone who cast a shadow
Maybe just a lazy man
Doesn't make much difference now it's true
A day of uncertain weather
Captured in a frame forever
A face in a faded photograph
All gone long ago
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
To become just a face without a name
One more to add to the total
Of those never heard of again
Yes he's gone
Just a face without a name
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind
All gone
Just a face without a name
Leaving no trace
Disappearing like smoke in the wind...
09 Small Talk (05:02)
Don't talk back to me, don't talk back to me
Don't talk back to me, don't talk
Going round in circles, hearing too many points of view
Just words to tire me out, small talk I could do without
I would be amazed if you returned to see things my way
Now that you've been disrespectful to my sense of pride
Isn't it a shame that you were lying when you said to me (small talk)
I was the only one, you and I were meant to be
I expect you'll never really feel the way that I do
All of this is with regret, I'm sure you will agree
Say something to me, anything at all
I want you to mean what you say
I've seen all I want to see, and you mean the world to me
I've lived for each moment to be with you, with you, with you
Small talk, small talk, small talk, small talk
You say I don't talk enough, that applies to both of us
Don't try to sound me out, something I could do without
So much goes on inside your head, I often wonder
Have you heard enough to know, there's nothing left to say
Say something to me, anything at all
I want you to mean what you say
I've seen all I want to see, and you mean the world to me
I've lived for each moment to be with you, with you, with you
Small talk
Small talk
Ooh small talk
That's all I ever hear
Small talk
I'll be alright
It may take sometime
But I'll be alright (don't talk back to me)
I'll be alright (don't talk back to me)
(don't want to be alone, nothing worth to carry on)
I'll be alright (don't talk back to me)
(try hard to understand, you won't seem to lend a hand)
I'll be alright (don't talk back to me)
(without you'll fail to see, you never spare a thought for me)
I'll be alright (don't talk back to me)
(so many things you said, going round in circles)
I'll be alright (don't talk back to me)
(I'll rise above it all, enough to see another day)
I'll be alright
I'll be alright
Don't talk back to me...
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Other reviews
By Vinsex
What do the two surviving gentlemen Banks and Rutherford do? The only sensible thing to do: retire after 20 years of abstinence, producing for the last time some badass music...
Our ears can hear, no longer the cries of the bald dwarf, but gloomy and refined atmospheres... halfway between Black Sabbath and Queen.
By London
"...Calling All Stations.. speaks of solitude, incommunicability, alienation, and among the group’s albums, it is the one where social themes are addressed the most close to the end of the twentieth century."
"The Dividing Line (one of the most beautiful tracks in their production) where for the first time in the group’s history there is an almost drum solo."
