Customer Reviews

Three Sides Live

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are two versions of Genesis' 1982 mostly-or-fully live release, "Three Sides Live." The *original US release* of this double-album is, indeed, 3/4 live recordings taken from the band's 1981 tour for "Abacab," with the fourth quarter comprising of five studio leftovers from the "Duke" & "Abacab" sessions (including the Top 40 hit, "Paperlate"). Europe, however, got the five studio tracks released on a separate EP (also called "Paperlate"), with THEIR fourth quarter of "Three Sides Live" filled with more live stuff taken from the "Duke" and "Trick Of The Tail" tours. Got it? Good.If you're a diehard Genesis fan, then both versions of "Three Sides Live" are worth having in your collection. The first 3/4's live that *everybody* gets is an excellent document of the band in 1981, and shows just how powerfully Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and live co-horts Daryl Stuermer & Chester Thompson can rock in concert, and how commanding a singer & frontman Collins certainly is. GREAT performances are everywhere of Genesis favorites such as "Turn It On Again," "Abacab," "Dodo/Lurker," "Follow You Follow Me," "Misunderstanding," and the Peter Gabriel-era classic "In The Cage." If you buy the original US version, then the five studio songs comprising the last quarter of the album will greatly impress: "Paperlate," "You Might Recall," "Me & Virgil," "Evidence Of Autumn" & "Open Door" are all fantastic Genesis songs. These are no inferior outtakes, and they were only left off the original "Duke" & "Abacab" albums simply because there wasn't room for them. If you buy the European version of the album, then the fourth quarter has brilliant, barnburning concert performances of the Genesis prog-rock classics "One For The Vine," "Fountain Of Salmacis," and a glorious two-in-one rendition of "It" & "Watcher Of The Skies" (closing section). So, for the devoted Genesis fan, "Three Sides Live" is a can't-lose purchase either way.Sadly, "Three Sides Live" appears to be temporarily out-of-print (and I DO hope it's only temporary). Still, there are some used copies of both versions that are still available and floating about. Happy hunting, and long live Genesis.

Ok, I have not heard all Genesis' concerts, but I have heard a great many, and none of them surpass the November 29 1981 Nassau concert, which delivers the majority of the material for this live release. Granted, the songs might not be as good as those included on the 1977 'Seconds Out' release, but then again, they might be - more justice might be done by saying that these are just a different kind of songs. Because songs like 'Behind The Lines', 'Duchess', 'Abacab', 'Dodo/Lurker' and 'Me And Sarah Jane' are masterpieces in their own right, as they are delivered here.

The change that has come to songs like 'Abacab', 'Me And Sarah Jane', and 'Dodo', as compaired to the studio versions, is none less than incredible. Frankly, the Abacab album was a rather miserable experience in my oppinion, with the title track containing an absolutely pointless and longwinded instrumental outtro and the nearly off-tune keyboards of Dodo/Lurker [not to mention that this album spawned everybody's most hated Genesis song, 'Who Dunnit?'!].

But in this live recording, thesse songs are completely transformed. The band plays with all the energy they lacked on the studio recordings, 'Abacab' roaring into it's completion (which was faded out on the album version!), delivering master double-guitar work as well as keaybord play and drumming. Suddenly the keabord parts of 'Dodo' swings like nothing else. 'Me And Sarah Jane' suddenly grooves along with reagae feel and a charm and at the same time loneliness the album version was completely devoid of.

Similarly, 'Behind The Lines' is delivered with an energy that leaves you quite breathless once it fades into 'Duchess', which is delivered with an intensity that is impressive. On both tracks Phil delivers his very best vocal performance, and even though both tracks were great on the Duke album, these versions outrank them in any way. Also the version of 'Turn It On Again' is very impressive - somewhat different than the album version in arrangement, Phil's vocal isn't perfect, but this is compensated by the explosiveness of this performance of the track. Also 'Misunderstanding', never a favorite, is presented in a version better than the album version. Also, the only song from ... And Then There Were Three ..., 'Follow You Follow Me' is played in a lovely version (recorded in 1980).

The only older song on the regular set of this recording is the medley featuring 'In The Cage' and keyboard solos from 'Cinema Show', 'Riding The Scree', 'The Colony Of Slippermen (Raven)' and finally a complete version of 'Afterglow'. This is by many considered on of the best live performances from the entire Gensis career, and not without reason. 'In The Cage' is one of Phil's trademark vocal performances, from the frantic, panicked sound of the main part of the song, to the soaring mid section. Anyone who have watched the concert video from the 1983/84 tour (sadly deleted) will remember the stage at this point being covered in a bright white light, focusing on Phil standing on a glass platform above the scene - most spectacular, and performed with a power and intensity I have experienced from no other band. The instrumental medley is crafted with and incredible skill, one breathtaking solo flow into the next, and you won't notice the transition if you fon't know the tracks. Finally, the frantic 'Raven' solo fades into the beautiful 'Afterglow', here delivered in probably the most beautiful version ever. Phil's vocal is beyond believe, and the musical outro is much more powerfull than the old version. I would give almost anything to have experienced this myself!

A note on the track-list. The show has been partly re-mixed, as the original set-list was as follows: Behind The Lines / Duchess / The Lamb Lies Down On Boadway - Dodo/Lurker - Abacab - Carpet Crawlers - Me And Sarah Jane - Misunderstanding - No Reply At All - Firth Of Fifth - Man On The Corner - Who Dunnit? - In The Cage / Cinema Show/Riding The Scree/Raven / Afterglow - Turn It On Again - Dance On A Volcano/Drum Sole/Los Endos - I Know What I Like.

Sadly, they've left out so many highlights from the show. 'Firth Of Fifth' and 'Dance On A Volcano/Los Endos' from this show are among the best versions ever (the former available on the somewhat rare compilation 'Turn It On Again - best of 1981-83' (NOT the new compilation, an old release, CD from 1991)). 'Man On The Corner' has become available on the Archive 2 (and is stunning), 'No Reply At All' is available from the Savoy show the following night on the same boxset (and is superb). 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' was played in probably the best version ever on this tour, but is not available, the same is sadly true for 'Carpet Crawlers' and 'I Know What I Like'.

A note on the recording dates. The major set is taken from the Nassau Colliseum november 29 show. 'Follow You, Follow Me' is probably recorded in the Lyceum, London, may 7 1980, and 'Turn It On Again' might be recorded in Birmingham, december 23 1981.

There exist two versions of this recording, why Amazon only list the original U.S. version (featuring 5 superb B-sides) is a wonder to me; in Europe the remaster version (similar to original UK release) is available everywhere. I can recommend both versions, but the remaster includes a stunning recording of 'One For The Vine' (from Drury Lane, London, may 5 1980), a fantastic recording of 'The Fountain Of Salmacis' (from 1978, possibly from Houston) and a medley of 'It' and the instrumental parts of 'Watcher Of The Skies'. All live recordings I wouldn't miss.

Somehow, this album always manages to slip under the radar. Other live Genesis recordings make it to the top of the stack, and so we've got 'Seconds Out', the two volumes of 'The Way We Walk' (otherwise known as the last breath of life that Genesis exhaled on the stage) and even the classic 'Genesis Live' from 1972. Yet the oddly named 'Three Sides Live' always falls through the cracks and hardly ever makes it to the top of anyone's "live recordings" list. Yet it's an extraordinary compilation of their live work with an impeccable sound and production. Let me tell you a small story about it, so you'll be left with some treasure hunting to do.

Here's the scoop: two version of this album were released. The review you're reading is for the US version, which had three sides (out of the four in the double vynil album) recorded live. The fourth side was recorded in the studio. As it stands, this version is very solid, and it captures Genesis at its live best (1982), right before they turned into a more commercial band (early eighties) and Phil Collins started sounding more like a TV Show host than a frontman for the band. However, if you somehow manage to get your hands on the UK version (which has all "four sides" recorded live), you will appreciate my advice: it comes loaded with a soup for the soul of the classic Genesis fan. Besides the mindwarping "In The Cage Medley", and the best from the 'Duke' and the 'Abacab' albums, it carries "One For The Vine" parts 1 and 2, and a medley of "Fountain of Salmacis", "It" and "Watcher of the skies". It really doesn't get any better than this... well, maybe... but still you ought to get a copy.

The UK releases is still in print and if you only plan to get one of the two, that is the one to get. I had that version on cassette (I borrowed it from a girlfriend and forgot to return it after we broke up - how SHE got the import is still a mystery to me) and wore the thing out! I had to track down the CD and it was easier than I thought:
Go to http://www.amazon.co.uk and enter your normal login that you use for the US Amazon site. Then search on "three sides live" and presto! They take your regular credit card, and although free shipping is not an option to the US, the conversion rate brings the total to about $26 - still a bargain, since you can't even GET the US release anymore and you are getting FOUR sides live with this one anyway ;-)

This is a rather schizophrenic album--the stark differences between the "pop" Genesis and "prog" Genesis are most apparent on this double disc live album. The first disc is all devoted to 1978--1981 material, with some of the better "Abacab" songs and good "Duke" songs making better live appearances. (The title track is much improved from the sterile studio version, and "Dodo/Lurker" is excellent.) However, to an old Genesis fan like me, the second disc is absolutely thrilling--after starting with a bland version of "Misunderstanding," it goes into a full blown version of "In the Cage," an extremely energetic reprise of instrumental Lamb sections and the end of "The Cinema Show," ending with "Afterglow." And the brilliant rendition of "One For The Vine" is worth the price of admission alone, as well as the tight performance of "Fountain of Salmacis." All these progressive songs were sung at Phil's vocal peak, where he finally was confident enough to deliver to goods, which makes Peter's raspy vocals pale by comparison . . . it's sad that many of these songs were never heard from again in a live Genesis performance.

I was listening to this album again tonight and was struck by two things. 1. Phil Collins has never really been given credit for his musical brilliance as displayed in this work with Genesis, and 2. there are times when you need to turn off the "shuffle" feature on the iPod and listen to an album straight through.

This work reminds me of opera. It builds and slows emotionally, using the instrumental portions to create anticipation for the poignant lyrics which follow. A deep range of emotions play out; love revealed as complicated. And, remember, this is live and Phil pulls it all off while literally setting the rhythm of the show as the drummer.

Brilliant, beautiful. Perfect for anyone with a heart for romance and an ear for how music can express such things.

This is the U.S. release, which includes 5 studio tracks that comprised the 4th side of the original 2 record set. Not to be confused with the newer version, where the studio "side" was replaced by additional live material. On the present version, the live stuff is fairly consistent, but not very inspired, partly because of some questionable selections ("Duchess", "Me & Sarah Jane") but more because few of the performances really add much to the studio renditions, excellent though those were. If the point of releasing a live record is to prove that they can creditably perform this very difficult material in concert, then granted, they do a good enough job, but if I'm in the mood to listen to "Behind the Lines" or "Misunderstanding", I'd still prefer to go back to the delightfully crisp versions on "Duke" rather than these modest renderings. The only exception is the "In the Cage" medley, where the band really seems to catch fire. If more of these performances achieved that level, I'd be giving a much different rating.

The studio material varies greatly in quality, starting with the bright and acerbic pop of "Paper Late" followed by the powerfully moving "You Might Recall", which is my personal favorite from this release. To my taste, these and "In the Cage" are the only tracks that make this CD worth owning, since the remaining studio cuts are wholly forgettable bits of filler. With some judicious editing, this could have been a much stronger single disc release. For Genesis' ardent fans, of course, more is automatically better; but casual listeners might be better served by picking up some of the band's fine studio albums. Three and a half stars.

There has never been a shortage of live albums by Genesis. Genesis' "Three Sides Live" is one of four live sets (the other three being "Genesis Live", "Seconds Out", and the two volume "The Way We Walk"). It turns out that there were actually two distinct versions of "Three Sides Live" that were released - one in the United States and one in the United Kingdom. Although the core of both versions of "Three Sides Live" remains the same, there are some fundamental differences. The U.S. version was originally released as a double album. There were three sides of live music and the "fourth side" contained studio music. These studio songs included "Paperlate", "You Might Recall", and "Me and Virgil" ("B" sides from "Abacab") as well as "Evidence of Autumn" and "Open Door"("B" sides from the Duke Sessions). The "fourth" side on the UK version would also be a live side. The songs on this UK version are "One For the Vine", "Fountain of Salmacis", and the "It/Watcher of the Skies" medley. When the US version of "Three Sides Live" was remastered, they would include the UK version tracks as the fourth side. Essentially the US remaster is the UK original. For the most part, I'll focus on the common songs on both versions, but since I own the UK version - I'll mention some of the UK songs.

When I look at Genesis as band, I see four distinct phases the band has gone through. Phase 1 is the Peter Gabriel Era. This spans from 1969 ("From Genesis to Revelation") to 1974 ("The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"). It was during Phase 1 that Peter Gabriel was the lead vocalist and Genesis could easily be categorized as a progressive Rock band. Phase 2 is the Early Phil Collins Era spanning from 1976 ("A Trick of the Tail") to 1982 ("Three Sides Live"). In this era, Phil Collins took over as lead singer. The band was still very much a progressive rock band, but as the progressive rock landscape would change - so would Genesis. This might indirectly have led to Phase 3 which is the Late Phil Collins Era from 1983 ("Genesis") to 1993 ("The Way We Walk Volume 2: The Longs"). This is the commercial/pop era that I referred to earlier. At this point, there would be a lot less progressive rock flavor to Genesis' music. The fourth phase, Phase 4 is the Ray Wilson Era. This was when Ray Wilson took over as lead vocalist for Phil Collins. There would only be one album in this era - 1997's "Calling All Stations" and it seemed like Genesis tried to recapture some of their progressive rock roots - but 90s style. "Three Sides Live" focuses on Phase 2 and most notably the "Duke" and "Abacab" albums. "Three Sides Live" focuses on Phase 2 with some Phase 1 songs.

The first CD focuses on the "Duke" and "Abacab" albums. All of the songs on the first CD are from these albums with the lone exception being "Follow You Follow Me". For the second CD, the first three songs are found on both the U.S. and UK versions. It is worth noting that live versions of "Afterglow" and "Cinema Show" are found on "Seconds Out". For the most part, throughout their careers Genesis has done an outstanding job at not trying to duplicate the music between live sets. ("Cinema Show" is actually a part of the "In the Cage" medley). It is also worth noting that on the UK version, for the songs that are unique to this version - this is the first place where live versions of these songs are found.

Normally when there is a live release, I prefer the album to be a live recording from a single concert performance. I prefer it to be delivered in the order in which the songs were actually delivered. By having things from a single night and in order - I feel there is continuity and the magic of the concert is captured perfectly. For "Three Sides Live", this is definitely not the case. For the most part, the common songs between the U.S. and UK versions were recorded during the 1981 "Abacab" tour in the U.S. and Europe. For the 3 extra live tracks on the UK version, these were recorded on previous tours from 1980 ("One for the Vine"), 1978 ("Fountain of Salmacis"), and 1976 ("It"/"Watcher of the Skies"). The engineering of this album does its best to give the perception that this is a single concert (i.e. lots of the songs segue/flow into one another). However, it's still clear that this isn't from a single concert performance and it's clear the songs aren't in order. I've been to a Genesis concert and there is something magical as the band goes through their music catalog on a single night.

On this collection, the music is outstanding. Some of the performances that stand out are "Dodo", "Behind the Lines", and "Duchess". There is a nice extended version of "Abacab". You'll also hear "Turn It On Again" and "Misunderstanding" in which you will start to see Phil Collins emerge as a Pop Showman as he plays to the crowd. I would have also liked to have seen more songs from "Duke" - especially the full four song suite of "Behind the Lines", "Duchess", "Guide Vocal", and "Man of All Seasons". I would have also liked to have seen the "Duke's Travel" and "Duke's End" instrumentals. Finally, it would have been perfect if Genesis had performed "Lurker" after "Dodo". But this still doesn't take away from an enjoyable collection.

There are no lyrics included. The songwriting credits for each of the songs are listed. I would have liked some better clarity on where these performances were recorded. It appears in my liner notes don't do a very good job at explaining where the "fourth side" live tracks were recorded. I would definitely recommend this collection.

It boggles my mind that you can buy several versions of the mediocre "From Genesis to Revelation", but this fantastic live album is out of print except for a pricy four-CD import set that combines it with "The Lamb" album. "Three Sides Live" was recorded live on the 1981 "Abacab" tour (except for "Follow You, Follow Me", which was recorded on the 1980 "Duke" tour), and is largely made up of songs from the "Abacab" and "Duke" albums. While the song selection on the 1977 live album "Seconds Out" is much better, nothing on that album was better than the studio versions. Here the band is performing lesser songs, but they play them so well, and SO MUCH BETTER than on the studio albums, that I find "Three Sides Live" the most satisfying Genesis live album. The closing instrumental on "Abacab", which meandered listlessly on the studio track, is a highlight here, with great interplay between the musicians. Genesis has NEVER sounded as powerful as on the "Lamb" cut "In the Cage" and the following medley of synthesizer solos from "The Cinema Show", "Riding the Scree", and "The Colony of Slippermen". This is the original US version of "Three Sides Live", which includes an LP side of studio outtakes from "Duke" and "Abacab". "Paperlate" and "You Might Recall" are fantastic songs, as good as anything on "Abacab", and "Me and Virgil" and "Evidence of Autumn" are also worth hearing. This is the only place you can hear "Me and Virgil"; of the five studio tracks here, it is the only one not included in the "Archive #2" boxed set. In the late 90s, this version of the album was replaced on the American market by the British version, which substituted three additional live tracks in place of the studio tracks (only a 1980 rendition of "The Fountain of Salmacis" was anything special).

(1=poor 2=mediocre 3=pretty good 4=very good 5=phenomenal)

I saw that they had released a digitally remastered version of Three Sides Live and bought it immediately without looking too closely at the listing. I wish I had paid more attention. The whole point of the title for this set is that when it was released on vinyl the first 3 sides were live and the fourth was new studio (i.e., not live) tracks. The studio side included such great tunes as "Paperlate" and "You Might Recall", both of which charted in the Billboard Top 40 that year. These studio tracks are part of the charm of this album, and they are missing in this release. Instead, Atlantic chose to add three more live tracks (One for the Vine, Fountain of Salmacis, & It/Watcher of the Skies) and dump the studio side.

This is a real shame. The studio tracks are great, and if you like the Collins' lead albums (Duke, Abacab, Genesis, etc.) then I'm sure you would like them too. I can't imagine why Atlantic decided to change the album line up after all these years. Thankfully, I bought a CD version of Three Sides Live back in 1984 and it has the studio tracks, so I guess I'll just have to hold on to that one and hope someday they release another digitally remastered set which contains the studio tracks.

Had to give the album four stars because of the retracking. It's one of my favorites, and the digital remastering is well done, but the substitution of three more live tracks instead of the five studio tracks that are supposed to be there is a huge disappointment.