Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1402 in Music
• Released on: 2009-10-22
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition
• Dimensions: .30 pounds

Customer Reviews

Several good reasons to buy this remixed re-issue
I heard Tony Banks talking on the Bob Harris show completely by accident, and mention this album was being re-released in extreme hi-fidelity.

I bought the vinyl version 30 years ago and enthusiastically lent it to someone and never received it back. I thought it contained some excellent music despite the fact that some of them seemed poorly mixed, and lyrically it seemed a bit obtuse.

It was the end of the 70's, punk was cool and prog rock was history-even stalwarts like Genesis had had to change, write shorter songs and move more mainstream.

So what prompted this release originally? Banks was indeed the architect of the group's early success. He understood the art of the long song, appeared the dominant songwriter and creator of the band's `sound', but he wasn't a showman and didn't even sing. The album was more 1976 than 1979.

Maybe Genesis had split? They were down to 3 members and were at a musical crossroads judging by `And then there were 3'. What was this album all about?

The answers are all here in this re-issue CD set.

We are told it was a concept album released without any narrative context back in 1979 for a number of reasons that have since evaporated. The excellent sleeve notes that accompany the CS & DVD explain it all.

Musically does it stand the test of time?

Although I've not heard it for about 25 years, it sounds every bit as good. The songs are firmly rooted in the late 70's sound of the band. `The Lie' contains echoes of `A trick of the tail', `Someone else's dream' the `The Cage', and the title track `Follow you follow me'. However, the re-mix introduces a whole new clarity I recall the original lacked- listen for the more audible percussive drive on `A Curious Feeling' or the greater light and shade of the keyboard mixes throughout and Beacon's voice not getting drowned out at times.

Even the production values of the original album sleeve were poor compared to high design of Genesis LPs of the period. No typographer had seen the inner sleeve, and the painting used on the cover got a credit but no explanation. This re-issue comes with the missing sleeve notes, lyrics, photos and production values that the original lacked.


`A Curious Feeling' isn't just for die hard enthusiasts or Genesis completists, it's an accessible album that sits easily alongside `Wind and Wuthering' and `And then there were three', except the album carries only Bank's songs -longer, episodic, keyboard-led and lyrically intriguing.

If you like late 70's Genesis add it to your collection.

A glorious revealing
Unlike most of the other reviews, I had never actually got into this album despite being a Genesis fan and having bought everything they released (at this time) other than this. Never sure why as everyone else said it was a great album and I dismissed it after one half-hearted listen. So, other than the single 'For a while' and its two B sides (I have both versions of the single) 'From the Undertow' and ' A Curious Feeling' this was all new to me.

I have to say that it's a slow burner of an album; rewarding once you have given it several listens. Not as accessible as Tony's following album 'The Fugitive'. The vocals are handled by Kim Beacon who sang latterly with String Driven Thing and, as the extensive notes mention, sadly passed away so was not able to contribute anything to this reissue. The sound is crisp and bright and although I have not got 5.1 to appreciate its full scope, sounds wonderful in stereo. It's hard to pick out the best tracks as there are some memorable bits in all the songs (three of which are gorgeous keyboard instrumentals). I'll have to concur with Tony's own view and say that the album is best appreciated when played right through.

All in all, a worthwhile and successful reissue with extensive sleeve notes, and I am glad I bothered to purchase and give it a proper listen.

p.s. One thing that did strike me as 'curious' is that this release is not on EMI (who purchased the Charisma/Virgin catalogue) but on the obscure Esoteric Recordings, part of Cherry Red Records although the original label and catalogue number is referred to on the sleeve.

Tony Banks at his imperious best
Tony Banks has never reached the mass market other Genesis solo outings have managed but here is a welcome re-presentation of what is, for me, certainly Tony Banks' finest solo outing and probably the best solo Genesis album of them all.

Any fan of Trick of the Tail / Wind and Wuthering era Genesis will find this as comforable as a well-worn pair of slippers. Sweeping melodicism, grandiouse synthesiser/piano solos, fine vocals.

This repackage is a fine effort with great sleevenotes and a spruced up sound that breathes new life into an already essential masterpiece.

Basically unmissable for Genesis fans.