Genesis
Live In Zürich 1977

THE REVIEW

"Wind And Wuthering" is considered by many as the best album by Genesis, balanced and romantic in its technical perfection, it is also regarded by much of the critics as the concluding chapter of the best era of progressive rock. The bootleg recorded live in Zurich on July 2, 1977 is a pleasant tangible testimony of that period, which saw its consecration for Genesis with the double LP "Seconds Out" later that year, one of the historic and fundamental live albums of the entire rock saga.

The Zurich concert was considered for the inclusion of material in the official live album; none of the tracks were ultimately used, but the quality of the recording is extraordinary. Compared to the tour supporting "A Trick Of The Tail," the drums alongside Collins are now played by the new Chester Thompson, a more muscular and energetic drummer than Bruford. The concert also changes face, tinged with more dusk tones yet supported by more rhythmic music reflecting the new album and anticipating the future to come. It starts with a well-rehearsed "Squonk", a quick and convincing warm-up to present immediately after the poetic "One For The Vine", ten minutes of Tony Banks' fairytale magic with a Hackett in top form. This track will remain in the setlist until 1980, confirming its historical significance within the repertoire of the English group. "Robbery, Assault And Battery" is confirmed as a fun moment, on stage Collins dons the only mask: that of the trickster. But the gem is the live performance of the jewel "Inside And Out", a sweet ballad left out of the album but later recovered for the EP "Spot The Pigeon." From the early period, there are "Supper's Ready", here in its last appearance before being revived in 1982 to celebrate its ten years during the "Encore Tour," the beautiful "The Carpet Crawlers" finds in Collins an interpreter who is, in my opinion, more effective than Gabriel. For the first time, the poignant "Afterglow" appears, preceded by its instrumental link on the LP "...In That Quiet Earth", during the tour "Wot Gorilla" will also be tried for only one date, while the masterpiece signed Hackett-Collins "Blood On The Rooftops" will never see a live version. In 2007, however, it will be considered by Banks for a possible performance along with another forgotten classic, "Many Too Many," though neither will ever be tried. Exceptional execution instead of the opening of "Wind And Wuthering," "Eleventh Earl Of Mar", equally remarkable are "Dance On A Volcano" and the "Drum Duet" that begins in this tour to take shape in the duet between the two drums, reaching its peak in 2007 with the "sonata" of the stools by Chester and Phil.

After Hackett's departure, the subsequent tour will see on guitar Daryl Stuermer, completing with him the longest-lasting live formation of Genesis, and the '78 tour will shift the focus to a certain immediacy with the inclusion of tracks like "Burning Rope" and "Deep In The Motherload," other examples of this group's compositional quality.