Wind & Wuthering [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Import]

Genesis | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1976
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: Wea Int'l
• ASIN: B000002J2B
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (134 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,572 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

On this 1976 album, the group's second after Phil Collins took over lead vocal duties from Peter Gabriel, Genesis continues to make art-rock that's both accessible and emotional, if less overly quirky than with the Gabriel-fronted lineup. The extended epics "Eleventh Earl of Mar" and "One for the Vine" showcase the group's still-sharp progressive instincts, while "Wot Gorilla?" and "All in a Mouse's Night" demonstrate a gently eccentric sense of humor. Meanwhile, the lilting love song "Your Own Special Way" presages the string of romantic ballads that would soon make Genesis a world-class hit machine. --Scott Schinder

Product Description

Digitally remastered reissue of the 1976 album by the esteemed Prog/Rock band featuring a new stereo mix of the album. This reissue features the new mix of the album's original tracks (sans bonus tracks) yet adds a new breath of fresh air on these classic recordings. Nine tracks including 'Your Own Special Way', 'Afterglow' and 'Blood On The Rooftops'. EMI. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brooding gem of an album, May 28, 2006

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wind & Wuthering (Audio CD)

In contrast with the somewhat softer and more acoustic A Trick of the Tail album, this late 1976 album is a lot moodier and features more in the way of instrumental pieces. Sadly, this would be Steve Hackett's last studio album with the band, although he would go on to a prolific solo career. It is worth noting however, that some of his finest recorded performances with Genesis are on this album.

As a huge Tony Banks fan, I feel compelled to point out that he contributed most of the material on this album including the excellent One for the Vine. He also pulled out the stops in the keyboard department and plays a total of seven types of keyboards. As a result, the music is very synth-heavy, which lends a deeply atmospheric feel to the whole album. Steve's haunting work on the nylon string classical is also very impressive and contributes a great deal to the music.

The tracks on the album include some classic Genesis compositions including Eleventh Earl of Mar and One for the Vine, several instrumentals that feature the band's unique interpretation of American jazz-rock fusion (and Phil's superior technique on the drums) (Wot Gorilla?, Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers..., and ...In that Quiet Earth), and all around good song writing (Blood on the Rooftops and Afterglow). In my opinion, the only weak track is Your Own Special Way, which is a Mike Rutherford composition. The track is weak in large part because the arrangement is poor - in fact, Mike has admitted as much in interviews.

The 1994 remastered version of Wind and Wuthering does recreate the original cover art and record jacket theme along with the lyrics. I feel that the sound quality is OK. Although Rhino has recently remastered this album (in 2007) it is a bit expensive. Moreover, some folks have commented on the severe compression used on the 2007 remaster of Wind and Wuthering.


All in all, this is the last Genesis album that featured the classic elements of British progressive rock, although the band still had a great deal to say right up until 1980 with the superb Duke album. Wind and Wuthering is highly recommended along with Nursery Cryme (1971), Foxtrot (1972), Selling England by the Pound (1973), The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974), and A Trick of the Tail (1976).

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genesis At The Apex!, January 23, 2001

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wind & Wuthering (Audio CD)

So, why should you buy "Wind And Wuthering" by Genesis? Because, in my opinion, it's the best album the band has ever made (and Tony Banks, the group's Keyboard King himself, concurs). This album gives me such a joyous rush every time I play it, no joke. To my ears, it's the band's finest work.Arguably the last album by Genesis to truly carry the "prog-rock" moniker, "Wind And Wuthering" simply amazes. They may no longer have Peter Gabriel's incredible contributions, but the songwriting & musical chops on display here by Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins & Steve Hackett is still breathtaking stuff, nonetheless. Banks' supreme keyboard work is at it's most shimmering on this album. Rutherford's bass-playing is top-notch. Collins' powerhouse drumming & unique singing is superb. And, in his final album with the band, Steve Hackett conjures up some incredible fretboard work, both of the fiery & the gorgeous kind.The music on "Wind & Wuthering" soars ("Eleventh Earl Of Mar," "One For The Vine"), rocks ("Wot Gorilla?", "...In That Quiet Earth"), and also contains some truly beautiful ballads ("Your Own Special Way," "Blood On The Rooftops," and the classic album-closer, "Afterglow"), to create a very special musical palette. I love the band's other albums like "The Lamb," "Duke," et al, but "Wind And Wuthering" is Genesis at the very top of their game. As I've said, "Wind And Wuthering" also happens to be Tony Banks' personal favorite album with the band. Here's a brief quote from the man himself, taken from "The Book Of Genesis" by Hugh Fielder, 1983:"If anyone ever asked me which was my favorite album, I'd say 'Wind And Wuthering.' It's definitely the most musically complex of all our albums, and it has a mysterious quality to it."Hear, hear, well spoken Tony. :-)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tony Banks at his best!, September 12, 2001

By 

Robert Jenkins "video geek #1" (Celina, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wind & Wuthering (Audio CD)

This album was the second (and last, unfortunately) album that Genesis released as a quartet. Steve Hackett would leave after the release of this album and the live collection "Seconds Out". When I first bought this CD, I was expecting to hear something fairly similar to the other "quartet" album, "Trick of the Tail". Wow! I couldn't have been more wrong. Whereas "Trick" showcased Steve Hackett's guitar, "Wind and Wuthering" is much more (to me) focused on Tony Banks and his keyboards. "Eleventh Earl of Mar" leads the album off strongly, but is quickly overshadowed by the awesome "One for the Vine", a 10-minute epic of sound with a middle section that is the best instrumental Genesis has EVER done. After these two tracks, the album stops to catch its breath with the pretty little track "Your Own Special Way", a short love song that is a definite perlude to the Genesis sound of the '80s. "Wot Gorilla?" is a short little throwaway instrumental, not much to it, but pleasant to listen to anyway. "All in a Mouse's Night" is an interesting song about a mouse hunting for food and trying to avoid the cat (I get visions of Tom and Jerry in my head whenever I hear this one - it's hard not to). After a return to the style of the first two tracks with "Blood on the Rooftops", the album finishes strong with the trio "Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers/In That Unquiet Earth/Afterglow" - these three songs blend together so well that at first listen, they seem to be one song - it reminds one of the song structure to "Supper's Ready". All good tracks, but for me, nothing comes close to "One for the Vine". The CD is worth owning for that single track alone.