Nursery Cryme
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Nursery Cryme is the third studio album by Genesis and was recorded and released in 1971. It is also the first album to feature the lineup of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Steve Hackett, the latter two replacing John Mayhew and Anthony Phillips on drums and guitar, respectively in 1970 following the release of Trespass. This lineup would remain consistent until Gabriel's departure in 1975.
Though not as polished in production terms as the albums that followed (most of the songs were only recorded on 8-track), Nursery Cryme was still a large progression from the group's second album Trespass. Although the folky feel was still retained on songs such as "Harlequin" and "For Absent Friends", other tracks displayed a more aggressive and strident sound. Hackett's lead guitar playing contributed a lot to this, with strong solos contained within "The Musical Box", "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed" and "The Fountain of Salmacis". Banks also contributed towards the more aggressive sound in various ways: for some time before Hackett's recruitment, Genesis had performed live as a four-piece, with Banks substituting for guitar by playing lead solos on his Hohner "Pianet" electric piano, played through a fuzz box. This technique can be heard on "The Musical Box" and the intro to "Return Of The Giant Hogweed". In addition, the band purchased their own Mellotron Mark II (from King Crimson). Banks employed the Mk II "three violins" sound to great effect in "The Fountain Of Salmacis" and "Seven Stones", whilst the climax of "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed" used fuzzed Mk. II "combined brass". A further element in the band's growing sound was Rutherford's use of a stand-alone electronic bass pedal unit. Even a song such as "Harold the Barrel", which used none of this new instrumentation, was possessed of a sprightly energy quite unlike anything on Trespass.
"The Musical Box" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" - both the major highlights of Nursery Cryme - became staples of their live performances.
Although not a success upon release in their homeland, Nursery Cryme became an unexpected hit in Italy - spurring on Genesis' European success - with the album eventually reaching #39 in the UK in 1974.
Contents |
Track listing
All songs by Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Peter Gabriel/Steve Hackett/Mike Rutherford.
- "The Musical Box" - 10:24
- "For Absent Friends" - 1:44
- "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed" - 8:09
- "Seven Stones" - 5:08
- "Harold The Barrel" - 2:59
- "Harlequin" - 2:53
- "The Fountain Of Salmacis" - 7:54
Personnel
- Peter Gabriel - lead vocals, flute, bass drum, tambourine
- Steve Hackett - electric guitar, 12 string guitar
- Tony Banks - organ, mellotron, piano, electric piano, 12 string guitar, vocals
- Mike Rutherford - bass, bass pedals, 12 string guitar, vocals
- Phil Collins - drums, vocals, percussion, lead vocal (uncredited) on "For Absent Friends"
Releases
Image:Nursery Cryme Scroll.jpg All releases of Nursery Cryme on Charisma Records in the USA were distributed by Buddah Records.
U.S. LP Releases
- Charisma CAS-1052 (1971): 1st issue with large "Mad Hatter" label. Gatefold cover.
- Charisma CAS-1052 (1973): 2nd issue with pink scroll label. No gatefold cover.
- Charisma CAS-1052 (1974): 3rd issue with small "Mad Hatter" label. No gatefold cover.
- Atlantic 80030-1 (1982): Reissue with no gatefold cover.
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