Robert Palmer, Men At Work, and Christopher Cross are all in my wheelhouse! Each one incredible in their own right. I’ve found that a lot of people don’t know this but Christopher Cross is actually a monster guitar player!
Such a great appreciation of that driving lead-up on "Ride Like the Wind," Matt! I've been thinking it for years.......but, you said it! Nice! And, this Houston native is really appreciating Cross's brandishing that Oilers/Earl Campbell home jersey for his "Midnight Special" appearance!
As you know, 'twas Chris who inspired the Spinal Tap album title, "Break Like the Wind." But, I digress......frequently!
As for Genesis (and a fan since '72), I happily followed them into the '80s, first, out of natural curiosity, but upon hearing, just settled into a pleasant, "Hey, how 'bout that? They're taking a hard left turn (without signaling!), and they're pretty good songs!"
There are a lot of artists for whom I built a bit of an audio relationship, and found it hard to just drop them just because they weren't replicating their previous decade's output (like so many whiners we read on various websites seem to dislike). To me, it was like that artist or band had become something akin to friends, if I'd spent several years and albums growing to enjoy their songs....why would I just drop them? Sure, I can dislike this era or that, but there's plenty of their '80s output that ranges from damn catchy to ground-breaking.
While Mike and Tony became school-chums in the late '60s at Charterhouse, coming together over their love of songwriting, 'twas Phil who grew into a prodigious pop songwriter, who flourished in those '80s (and, hats off for employing the Phenix Horns...and, even imagining how a horn section could punch up his songs, while his fellow chart-toppers were leaning ever more heavily on the almighty synth)!
I know you're easily half my age, Matt, but just curious....what's your relationship/experience with '70s-era prog Genesis? You couldn't have had the "real-time" exposure to them as I did, and I know that, for them (and myself), the musical surroundings helped me "get" what they were doing at the time!
Looking forward to your Tune Tag next Tuesday, Matt! Your readers should mark next Tuesday, June 11 on their calendars!
Brad, thanks as always for the great anecdotes! A pleasure to read about and discover people's relationships to music that, while I discovered later in life, they may have had that "real time" experience, as you say.
To answer the question, I kind of discovered everything in reverse regarding Genesis. I've been a fan of Phil's drumming since I was a kid listening to AC radio in my parents' car. My adoration of that gated snare and tom sound led me to eventually discover pop-rock 80s Genesis and then, when I developed a taste for 70s prog and art rock more generally, their entire back catalog. The trajectory of their albums reminds me a lot of what the Rolling Stones attempted during a similar time frame. Sure, they branched out and tried new sounds, including disco and more shameless 80s arena rock, but that doesn't mean it's bad music. To experiment and change it up is to strengthen a legacy, in my opinion, not weaken it. Imagine if the Beatles would've stayed together long enough to get really crazy alongside the Pink Floyds and Yes' of the world in the 70s ...
Appreciate your support and having me for a Tune Tag! <3
As for Phil's drumming, I've always been able to "lock in" to what he's doing, while simultaneously, hating indulgent,10-minute concert drum solos! But (and I've seen Genesis at least 4 times--2x with Gabriel), I could listen to Phil endlessly! And, in concert, he would do drum duets with Chester Thompson (and for one tour, circa '77, Bill Bruford).
When my band's lead guitarist turned me on to Genesis in '72 (with "Watcher of the Skies" from "Foxtrot"), I had that drum part and difficult opening rhythm down within a week! Uh, fingers on a desk or table...not a drum kit!!
Your Stones example's a good one (although I never paid attention....original Beatles fan from age 8 in '64...the Stones were "the enemy"!!!😊), but any band who wanted, and ended up having, a lengthy career, had to balance staying true to their style (and fan base), and keeping up with the (let's face it) radio-driven trends! Thanks for sharing your Genesis story!
Robert Palmer’s Clues is a real 80’s lost classic. Don’t really subscribe to the idea of guilty pleasures - if it’s a pleasure why the guilt? I admit to being a little embarrassed among certain of my circle about a fondness for Out of the Blue by ELO. Commercial? Yes! A bit tacky? Yes! But a hell of a good record!
Invisible Touch is one of my all time favourites.. and it’s great to see Christopher Cross, Hootie & the Blowfish and Men At Work get a mention too... all of these are in my collection..
In the early 70s, while I was hesitantly discovering classic prog and many other great albums we still enjoy 50 years later, the album I was playing more than anything was ... ‘The Slider’ by T. Rex. I’m glad to note Marc Bolan is appreciated more now than he was (by some) then.
Need to think about my guilty pleasure. Thank you for including ‘Invisible Touch’, and I’ll add that ‘Calling All Stations’, while not a great Genesis album, is still a decent record in its own right.
Robert Palmer, Men At Work, and Christopher Cross are all in my wheelhouse! Each one incredible in their own right. I’ve found that a lot of people don’t know this but Christopher Cross is actually a monster guitar player!
Oh absolutely! He’s a seriously underrated musician. 💪💪
My pick for a guilty pleasure album is probably No Doubt's _Rock Steady_
"Hey Baby" is a great slightly-dumb pop single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TOQtLfoXzU
Such a great appreciation of that driving lead-up on "Ride Like the Wind," Matt! I've been thinking it for years.......but, you said it! Nice! And, this Houston native is really appreciating Cross's brandishing that Oilers/Earl Campbell home jersey for his "Midnight Special" appearance!
As you know, 'twas Chris who inspired the Spinal Tap album title, "Break Like the Wind." But, I digress......frequently!
As for Genesis (and a fan since '72), I happily followed them into the '80s, first, out of natural curiosity, but upon hearing, just settled into a pleasant, "Hey, how 'bout that? They're taking a hard left turn (without signaling!), and they're pretty good songs!"
There are a lot of artists for whom I built a bit of an audio relationship, and found it hard to just drop them just because they weren't replicating their previous decade's output (like so many whiners we read on various websites seem to dislike). To me, it was like that artist or band had become something akin to friends, if I'd spent several years and albums growing to enjoy their songs....why would I just drop them? Sure, I can dislike this era or that, but there's plenty of their '80s output that ranges from damn catchy to ground-breaking.
While Mike and Tony became school-chums in the late '60s at Charterhouse, coming together over their love of songwriting, 'twas Phil who grew into a prodigious pop songwriter, who flourished in those '80s (and, hats off for employing the Phenix Horns...and, even imagining how a horn section could punch up his songs, while his fellow chart-toppers were leaning ever more heavily on the almighty synth)!
I know you're easily half my age, Matt, but just curious....what's your relationship/experience with '70s-era prog Genesis? You couldn't have had the "real-time" exposure to them as I did, and I know that, for them (and myself), the musical surroundings helped me "get" what they were doing at the time!
Looking forward to your Tune Tag next Tuesday, Matt! Your readers should mark next Tuesday, June 11 on their calendars!
Brad, thanks as always for the great anecdotes! A pleasure to read about and discover people's relationships to music that, while I discovered later in life, they may have had that "real time" experience, as you say.
To answer the question, I kind of discovered everything in reverse regarding Genesis. I've been a fan of Phil's drumming since I was a kid listening to AC radio in my parents' car. My adoration of that gated snare and tom sound led me to eventually discover pop-rock 80s Genesis and then, when I developed a taste for 70s prog and art rock more generally, their entire back catalog. The trajectory of their albums reminds me a lot of what the Rolling Stones attempted during a similar time frame. Sure, they branched out and tried new sounds, including disco and more shameless 80s arena rock, but that doesn't mean it's bad music. To experiment and change it up is to strengthen a legacy, in my opinion, not weaken it. Imagine if the Beatles would've stayed together long enough to get really crazy alongside the Pink Floyds and Yes' of the world in the 70s ...
Appreciate your support and having me for a Tune Tag! <3
As for Phil's drumming, I've always been able to "lock in" to what he's doing, while simultaneously, hating indulgent,10-minute concert drum solos! But (and I've seen Genesis at least 4 times--2x with Gabriel), I could listen to Phil endlessly! And, in concert, he would do drum duets with Chester Thompson (and for one tour, circa '77, Bill Bruford).
When my band's lead guitarist turned me on to Genesis in '72 (with "Watcher of the Skies" from "Foxtrot"), I had that drum part and difficult opening rhythm down within a week! Uh, fingers on a desk or table...not a drum kit!!
Your Stones example's a good one (although I never paid attention....original Beatles fan from age 8 in '64...the Stones were "the enemy"!!!😊), but any band who wanted, and ended up having, a lengthy career, had to balance staying true to their style (and fan base), and keeping up with the (let's face it) radio-driven trends! Thanks for sharing your Genesis story!
Last summer, on the heels of the (literally) last Genesis tour, I wrote about Phil's lad, Nic: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/in-the-heir-tonight-drummer-nic-collins?utm_source=publication-search
Robert Palmer’s Clues is a real 80’s lost classic. Don’t really subscribe to the idea of guilty pleasures - if it’s a pleasure why the guilt? I admit to being a little embarrassed among certain of my circle about a fondness for Out of the Blue by ELO. Commercial? Yes! A bit tacky? Yes! But a hell of a good record!
Clues is definitely great too 👍 thanks for reading! 🤩
Invisible Touch is one of my all time favourites.. and it’s great to see Christopher Cross, Hootie & the Blowfish and Men At Work get a mention too... all of these are in my collection..
Great minds think alike 😊😇
never feel guilty about enjoying some Christopher Cross
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
In the early 70s, while I was hesitantly discovering classic prog and many other great albums we still enjoy 50 years later, the album I was playing more than anything was ... ‘The Slider’ by T. Rex. I’m glad to note Marc Bolan is appreciated more now than he was (by some) then.
I'd even say Bolan is still underrated compared to the level of fame some of his contemporaries have attained.
Need to think about my guilty pleasure. Thank you for including ‘Invisible Touch’, and I’ll add that ‘Calling All Stations’, while not a great Genesis album, is still a decent record in its own right.
80s Genesis is 🔥🔥🔥