Completes mini-lp collection, but...

I won't bother to review the music on the CD as the reader is probably already familiar with Genesis's first album.

I bought this CD to complete my collection of the Japanese Mini-Lp reproductions of the Genesis discography. Like the others in the series, it's in a fairly sturdy cardboard sleeve and it has what I assume to be the original LP insert. Unlike the others, it has a nice re-closable plastic sleeve to protect the OBI.

Sadly, it doesn't have the original Decca label on the disc. Instead the disc label is gold with the album title printed in black, the same font style as on the cover. I've never seen an original pressing of From Genesis to Revelation, but I doubt that this is a faithful reproduction of the original release. This is an unfortunate oversight compared to the rest of the series. Get it to complete the set, but be aware.

For attention of previous reviewer

Just for the previous reviewer's information, I checked my vinyl album this morning, and the label on it has a blue background with silver writing on it. Definitely not gold with black.



P.S. Addendum to review - the original vinyl was DEFINITELY blue with silver writing. I have SKL 4990, the original stereo pressing. There was also LK 4990 (much more rare), the original mono pressing - this was red with silver writing. See http://www.genesismuseum.com/vinyl/fgtr.htm for further details.

Not Prog, but great.

Their first. This Criminally underated album was how they started off, as an almost Cat Stevens like band. Don't dudge this album by what Genesis became but dudge for what it is-a gentle little album. The music here is so cool, mellow and relaxing. Beautiful-not Genesis, but great...



P.s. The original Vinyl (sp) was black with gold writting. I'm not sure, but I think the previouse reviewer has the reissue that came out during the seventies.

The first Genesis album

From Genesis To Revelation (1969.) Genesis's first album.



Although Genesis is mostly known these days for the pop hits they scored in the late seventies and early eighties with lead singer Phil Collins, the band was once drastically different. Long before Collins took over vocal duties (or even joined the band), Peter Gabriel was the band's lead vocalist, and the band was NOTHING like what it would become later on. For their first decade of recordings, Genesis was a progressive rock group, not a pop-rock group. The band had existed in its earliest incarnations as early as the mid-sixties, during which time they sent demos to producer Jonathan King. The band's early single releases flopped, but in 1969, the group cut their first full-length album, appropriately entitled From Genesis To Revelation. Hoping to capitalize on the success of other prog rock acts of the day like the Moody Blues, King added orchestral arrangements to the band's music. He was also the one that suggested the group change their name to Genesis. 1969 saw the release of the first Genesis album. Read on for my review of it.



Just by listening to this album, even for a few seconds, you can instantly realize that this album sounds NOTHING like any other Genesis album (even the other albums with Peter Gabriel don't sound very much like this album.) The band's sound on their debut album is one that is more reminiscent of the Moody Blues or early Bee Gees. The style here is, for the most part, a melodic breed of rock and roll featuring plenty of orchestral backing arrangements. It's tough to classify this album - it's not exactly progressive rock, it's not exactly pop rock, and it certainly doesn't sound like anything else the group did. Overall, the album is a very good one, but you need to accept it through what it is. I won't deny that I don't find myself coming back to listen to this album as much as I do some of the other releases in the Gabriel-era Genesis catalogue, but that's not to say it's got a good album. For what it is, From Genesis To Revelation is a solid release through and through, even if the band hadn't found their signature sound yet.



This album is, oddly enough, out of print in America, while practically every other release from the band is widely distributed and available. Fortunately, there is an import Japanese issue of the album available, which features a TON of bonus tracks, along with remastered sound. Get THAT version if you decide to get this album.



In the end, Genesis released a solid debut album. However, despite being their first album, I would NOT recommend this release to new fans of the band. If you want the big hits from the Phil Collins era, just get the band's greatest hits. If you want the best work of the Gabriel era, get the classic double album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. Although the band's debut album is a good one, I really only recommend it to true fans of the band - they'll be able to appreciate it the most.