Genesis Archive #2 1976-1992 [BOX SET]

The omissions of Match of the Day, Me and Virgil, and the long versions of Mama and It's Gonna Get Better are very frustrating, especially when considering that the reason the first two were left out was because the band `didn't like them anymore' (even though they must have liked them enough at one point to release them on EPs). With that reasoning, I'm surprised the first box set had anything on it at all, given that Phil no longer seems to like any Genesis song that was recorded before 1980. I guess the reasons they didn't include the last two is because the set already has a `work in progress' version of Mama and a live version of It's Gonna Get Better, and so it may have been seen as redundant to include two versions of each song. Same reasoning would go for the inclusion of a live version of Inside and Out. But other omissions of live favorites are IMO inexcusable.

I can understand songs that were only rarely performed live (like Wot Gorilla, Down and Out, Undertow, Ballad of Big, Like It or Not) may not a have a decent recording of them available anywhere so that they could have been included on this set. But there are just so many live pieces that I`ve heard excellent recordings of, and that were even performed by the band on multiple tours, and yet failed to make this set. Seems to me that the `Steve' years were blown off the most (what a shock) - Eleventh Earl of Mar, All in a Mouse's Night, Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers, In that Quiet Earth, but other surprising omissions are Say It's Alright Joe, Guide Vocal (although it is reprised in Duke's Travels, it's still never been included on any official live album), Keep It Dark, and Who Dunnit? Not that I ever really need to hear Who Dunnit again in my life, but I'm still surprised they left it off of this set.

And, of course, the 12-inch re-mixes can take a running jump. Maybe the band was simply too afraid to release a set that didn't have at least a few smash hits on it, in some form or another? But most likely, they were only included as space-fillers, filling space that could have otherwise been used so much better...

What is here that's good? Well, even in their pop heyday, Genesis was a pretty experimental band in a lot of ways. Their b-sides and leftovers are NOT generally better songs than the ones that made the cut, but a lot of them are quite good. Notably: "You Might Recall" "Inside and Out" "Evidence of Autumn" and "Open Door." Also, what live cuts are here, were not played live often and hardly any of them have been previously released on live albums in the past. They're great to have. Some have also bemoaned the inclusion of the handful of 12" remixes included. I sympathize with these folks because they, like me, know what's been left off in their place. Still, I like having the remixes. They're a big part of what 80's radio rock was all about and some of them are pretty fun.

That brings me back to my original point. It is unforgivable that Genesis would release an entire rarities box and not include key parts of the EPs "Spot the Pigeon" ("Match of the Day") and "3X3" ("Me and Virgil"). I repeat: Unforgivable. It's amazing that given all the work they did on the Lamb portions of Vol 1, that the band didn't see fit to include the original "Duke Suite" as played live on the first part of their 1980 tour. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's a medley made up of the songs from the original "Duke" concept [Behind the Line/Dutchess/Guide Vocal/Turn It On Again/Duke's Travels/Duke's End] that were broken up on the album at the last minute. I also agree with other reviewers who have pointed out how little of Steve Hackett's work is represented here. There are a number of other glaring omissions but these are as good examples as you should need to understand my point of view.

What was needed was a 4th disc to match the 1st Archive set. The band may not have been as inspired from 76-92 as they were from 67-75, but in nearly twice the amount of time they created enough material to justify this set being at least as long. B-sides, outtakes, demos, live cuts and yes, even remixes. We should be arguing about what the best stuff on the set is, not which favorites were left behind and what should've been cut to make room. It ALL should have been here. Under the circumstances, it's hard believe that the band were involved in this project at all, let alone completely in charge of it. I love what I got, but I'm afraid we'll never get the chance to get the rest. Who knows though, maybe they'll make another box. It's not like they'll be working on a new album... um... EVER.