Product Description

When guitarist Steve Hackett left Genesis for a solo careerafter touring behind 1977's WIND AND WUTHERING, he was the second major defection the group had suffered in as many years. Instead of helplessly disintegrating, the remaining triocircled the wagons and bounced back with the solid AND THENTHERE WERE THREE.
Rather than employ any outside studio musicians to take up the slack, Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford instead played every instrument themselves. Resolutely reflective throughout, this 1978 release finds Genesis populating its songs with a broad range of characters. Among the more memorable ones are the fast-talking recordexec on "Down and Out" (a song that could be construed as aveiled swipe at the departed Hackett) and the larger-than-life cattle-driving cowpuncher on the synth-soaked "Ballad ofBig". Although the songs on this record are more concise than Genesis' earlier, conceptual work, the band still retainsthe gift of capturing moods. The breathtaking "Snowbound" perfectly encompasses the feeling of stepping outside into a freshly minted snowfall. An air of yearning runs through "Follow You Follow Me", a romantic yarn that also became Genesis' first American Top 30 hit.

Track Listing

1. Down and Out
2. Undertow
3. Ballad of Big
4. Snowbound
5. Burning Rope
6. Deep in the Motherlode
7. Many Too Many
8. Scenes from a Night's Dream
9. Say It's Alright Joe
10. The Lady Lies
11. Follow You, Follow Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #69723 in Music
• Released on: 1994-10-31
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
When the departures of original frontman Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett left Genesis a studio trio of Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, few could have expected the band to climb to greater levels of commercial success. But that's exactly what happened and Genesis' left-field rebirth as a unlikely pop act began with this album, which introduced the newly slimmed-down line-up. However, that's not the whole story. While the haunting love song "Follow You, Follow Me" introduced the band to the singles charts, elsewhere the group's penchant for accessibly complex composition and evocative lyrical dramas is in force on tracks like "Deep in the Motherlode", "Burning Rope", "Down and Out" and "Ballad of Big". --Scott Schinder

Customer Reviews

Ignore the Hackett Fans!
This record is one of if not the best Genesis album. There are some simply outstanding tracks that reach new heights in rock both musically and lyrically. Burning Rope, Deep in the Motherlode and Snowbound excel. The first three songs however are incredible. Down and Out has a highly original start and end with some great keyboards by Tony Banks. If you listen to the words there is a loose dig at the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett. Undertow has some amazing lyrics, the drive and story of Ballad of Big is absorbing. This is a great rock album and has not dated at all after 28 years!

bring back the guitarist
Steve Hackett's contribution in Genesis' previous orientation was never up front or over bearing but oh, how he is missed in this self parody of weak blandishment...

The album delivers a lot of the pomp of this genre without the ceremony - grandiose but no gravitas. This sort of music is extremely difficult to convey effectively and there is no sense of conviction in its delivery here. At least they started making money after this so well done lads!

It's the old stuff - but shorter...................well almost.
This album lies between the progressive and the pop. However the only real pop song is "Follow You, Follow Me", so that's only one from eleven and it's not a bad one anyway.
Tony Banks' layered keyboards produce two truly soulful tracks in "Undertow" and "Many too Many". There is life in "Down and Out" and "Ballad of Big" whilst the power resides in the song which depicts the eternal battle between man and woman in "The lady Lies". The enchanting opening chord sequence in "Snowbound" beautifully evokes memories of so many white covered days.
I remain a Hackett fan but it is on the later albums that he is missed - not here. The lead guitar part is deminished but these songs are well crafted and have all the melodrama and depth of the old songs, they're just told on a smaller stage.