The new double CD re-issue of Ant's debut solo album. Out now!

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Winde-Tales
2. Which Way The Wind Blows
3. Henry Portraits From Tudor Times Fanfare/Lutes' Chorus/Misty Battlements/Lutes' Chorus Reprise/...
4. God If I Saw Her Now
5. Chinese Mushroom Cloud
6. Geese And The Ghost
7. Collections
8. Sleepfall The Geese Fly West

Disc 2:

1. Master Of Time [Demo]
2. Title Inspiration
3. Geese And The Ghost-Part One
4. Collections Link
5. Which Way The Wind Blows
6. Silver Song
7. Henry Portraits From Tudor Times (Basic Track) Fanfare/Lute's Chorus/Lute's Chorus Reprise/Mist...
8. Collections [Demo]
9. Geese & The Ghost Part Two
10. God If I Saw Her Now (Basic Track)
11. Sleepfall (Basic Track)
12. Silver Song

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26894 in Music
• Released on: 2008-04-14
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Extra tracks
• Dimensions: .26 pounds

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Customer Reviews

An extraordinary debut from a highly underrated composer
Anthony Phillips was one of Genesis founding members, their first guitarist, and one of the main responsible for the band's earlier sound. After Genesis second album "Trespass" (1970) Anthony Phillips left the band due to physical problems coming from stage fright. Having abandoned completely the musical scene, only in 1977 Phillips returned to studio to record his first solo album. This was mostly due to the insistence of his friend and also Genesis co-founder Mike Rutherford, with whom Phillips had a long lasting musical relationship started even before the Genesis days. Both guitarists' fond of 12-string, classical and other acoustic guitars, and their joy to explore different sound textures, originated "The Geese and The Ghost" an album that was, at some point, intended to be released as a duo effort, but that Rutherford, strongly committed with Genesis, preferred to leave as his friend's solo album. With Rutherford's strong presence, and Phil Collins voice in two songs, it's not odd to think of this album as a Genesis lost work, or to guess from it which way the Genesis sound would have evolved, had Phillips stayed in the band. The sound is predominated by acoustic guitars, and medieval atmospheres. Rutherford is most of the work, except the short overture "Wind - Tales", three beautiful and melancholic songs, two sung by Collins: "Which Way The Wind Blows" and "God If I Saw Her Now" (this one a duet with Viv McCauliffe), and the third "Collections" by Phillips himself; and the relaxing piano orientated coda "Sleepfall: The Geese Fly West". Two long and exquisite suites dominate the album. The first is "Henry: Portraits From Tudor Times", that in 6 parts sets the medieval historical context. Phillips and Rutherford explore the pastoral environment with the use of different guitar tonalities and a small orchestra, making it a highly enjoyable and surprising piece. The short "Chinese Mushroom Cloud" works as a prelude for the two-part suite "The Geese And The Ghost", where Phillips and Rutherford, in my opinion, reach the album's highest point. Again starting with acoustic guitar sounds, the composition evolves, through complex textures, towards a more classical progressive rock sound. A brilliant piece that showcases the two guitarist's abilities and compositional skills. The CD version of the album also includes the extra track "Master of Time" a nice demo song sung by Phillips, who despite having a rather limited voice manages not to lower the level of the remaining album. Overall a great album, relaxing, delicate and imaginative, starting a trend, some rock guitarists have, to explore renaissance sonorities and classical music influences. A spirit faithfully illustrated by the beautiful painting that is the album cover. Surely one of the best works in Anthony Phillips' long career. A good complement for those who enjoy the "Trespass" Genesis period, acoustic guitar in general, and the best way to start to discover a talented and underrated composer.

A Lost prog Rock Classic
Most people who know of Anthony Phillips will do so from his "Private Parts and Pieces" series and these albums are a fantastic collection of largely ambient instrumental pieces demonstrating AP's guitar/keyboard and piano prowess.

To go back in time to his very first release (indeed Private Parts and Pieces 1 - probably the best in the series - was originally given away as a freebie with this album)is to see what might have been with AP having produced a real prog classic.

In some ways it is closest in tone to Steve Hackett's Voyage of the Acolyte but is much more pastoral and gentle in tone. Featuring Phil Collins on drums and vocals and Mike Rutherford on some tracks this is almost a Genesis album that never was but I think there is sufficient distance from the Genesis back catalogue in approach for this to deserves its place as a classic in its own right.

The stand out piece is arguably "Henry - Portraits from Tudor Times" - a multi-sectioned quasi classical piece in many ways with numerous changes in tone and texture. My favorites are, however, the two Phil Collins sung tracks - "God if I saw her now" and "Which way the wind blows", probably the two most wistful pieces Collins has ever sung and far more sincere than any of the later ballads he bacame famous for, excepting his first solo album.

"Geese and the Ghost" and the closing track (on the original LP) "Sleepfall, The Geese Fly West" are lovely instrumentals and, again, match anything by Hackett or Genesis (and I regard myself of a major fan of both).

This will be a real find for anyone who likes early Genesis and Steve Hackett and will act as a great (albeit not necessarily representative) introduction to Anthony Phillips.

First class re-issue of ex-Genesis guitarists debut album.
This remastered re-issue of the ex-Genesis guitarists first and best solo album has been available for a year or so only as an expensive Japanese import. Now thankfully Voiceprint are releasing this and the following "Wise After The Event". Much has been made about the connection between this album and the last Genesis album Anthony Phillip's appeared on "Trespass". Some have even claimed it to be what Genesis may have sounded like had Phillips stayed in the band. There is no question that Phillip's contribution to "Trespass" was important and some of the quaint pastoral English feel of that album pervades "The Geese and the Ghost". However, here Phillips is more interested in purely acoustic instrumentation to make for an even more gentle, elegiac soundtrack to times long gone. Part of the success of the album is in the two part 12 string guitar playing of Phillips and Genesis bassist Mike Rutherford, who makes such a vivid contribution to the album, that this may be seen as more of a collaborative effort rather than a solo album. The music is lilting, delicate, but never soporific. There is a beautiful depth to the arrangements, especially on the title track and lengthy "Henry: Portraits from Tudor Times".

The Genesis credentials are further enhanced by the vocal contribution of Phil Collins on two tracks. Note is also to be made of the inclusion on the second disc of bonus tracks of the song "Silver Song", recorded by Philip's, Rutherford and Collins. This is a lost treasure of a song and is far better than "More Full Me" from Genesis's "Selling England by the Pound" which was recorded around the same time.

Regarding this issue, the remastering by original album producer and engineer Simon Heyworth is as expected, beautifully subtle and detailed as befits the music. Heyworth is one of the best mastering engineers in the business and does this recording so much justice. The reproduction of the original artwork, credits, lyrics and the thoroughly informative and detailed notes throughout the 20 page booklet is exemplary. There is even a quote from Rosanna Arquette about her love for the album! What is it about her and Genesis! With a second CD full of worthy bonus material this is a first class re-issue and cannot be faulted on any level. Shame the recent Genesis remasters weren't up to the same standards!