Eagle Rock [Release date 03.11.14]
Appallingly imbalanced as the recent BBC documentary was, it did reveal one thing – that Genesis weren’t a band of happy campers – more a group of individuals where individual expression and experimentation was suppressed by megalomanic dictatorship within the ranks. The lingering resentment is still visible and it’s quite remarkable how together, and individually, that they created such a sustained canon of work. But then perhaps those inner tensions were the fuel for their combined creative force.
With a DVD release imminent (although I’m not sure who’d want to buy it) and the 3 CD R-Kive box set (good value at the price) on the shelves for the Christmas market you wonder who’s behind the latest marketing strategy. Yes, the stock markets may be on the verge of freefall, but can the band members really be this desperate to prop up their pension funds?
The release of this 3 Sides Live DVD is another case in point. The album – a live double with side 4 originally comprising of studio work – was a big seller back in 1982 with the complementary VHS released concert film catching the band primarily on the 1981 North American leg of their Ababcab tour. Majoring on material from that album and Duke, it captured the band in their transition from prog to pop and up until now hasn’t been available on dvd other than as part of the 2009 limited edition Movie Box.
Good/ great as the performance is, and despite the claims that the 16mm footage has been ‘fully restored’, it’s an opportunity missed. The major flaw in the original release was the decision to disrupt the ‘flow’ of the concert footage by interspersing behind the scenes footage and interviews between each track. Now that may be just about OK for a singular watch, but is completely spoils regular re-watching.
With today’s technology it would have been nice to have the option to play the concert footage unbroken. But no, and as a ‘bonus’ you get ‘audio only’ full-length versions of seven tracks including 4 not included on the film.
But unless you’re a 5.1 buff, I’m not sure of the point of the inclusion of audio only content – could they not have thrown a few extra quid at it and included the audio only content on CD, or at the very least provided some sort of complementary visuals?
In summary, great band, great tour, flawed product. ***1/2
Review by Pete Whalley
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
