Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited
Encyclopedia
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited (UK release titled, "Genesis Revisited") was a project put together by Steve Hackett to pay tribute to his former band Genesis
. It features songs originally released by Genesis during Hackett's tenure with the group (1971–77). The track, "Déjà Vu", was co-written with Peter Gabriel
in 1973 during the Selling England by the Pound
sessions but not finished and Hackett completed the song for this album. "Waiting Room Only" is a complete reworking of "The Waiting Room," an instrumental from 1974's The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
. There is also a completely new Hackett song: "Valley Of The Kings."
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
. It features songs originally released by Genesis during Hackett's tenure with the group (1971–77). The track, "Déjà Vu", was co-written with Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
in 1973 during the Selling England by the Pound
Selling England by the Pound
- Sound and live performance :The piano introduction to "Firth of Fifth" has not been included in a performance since 1974, in a Drury Lane Theatre concert, when Banks misplayed and Collins covered by starting the song from after the intro...
sessions but not finished and Hackett completed the song for this album. "Waiting Room Only" is a complete reworking of "The Waiting Room," an instrumental from 1974's The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies down on Broadway
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
. There is also a completely new Hackett song: "Valley Of The Kings."
Track listing
- "Watcher of the SkiesWatcher of the SkiesWatcher of the Skies is the first track on Genesis' 1972 album Foxtrot. The title is borrowed from John Keats' 1817 poem "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer":Then felt I like some watcher of the skiesWhen a new planet swims into his ken;...
" (Tony BanksTony Banks (musician)This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
, Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, Peter GabrielPeter GabrielPeter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
, Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, Mike RutherfordMike RutherfordMichael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
) – 8:40 - "Dance on a Volcano" (Banks, Collins, Hackett, Rutherford) – 7:28
- "Valley of the Kings" (Hackett) – 6:30
- "Déjà vu" (Gabriel, Hackett) – 5:55
- "Firth of FifthFirth of Fifth"Firth of Fifth" is a progressive rock song by progressive rock band Genesis, from their 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. The title is a pun on the estuary of the River Forth in Scotland, commonly known as the Firth of Forth....
" (Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett, Rutherford) – 9:40 - "For Absent Friends" (Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett, Rutherford) – 3:02
- "Your Own Special Way" (Rutherford) – 4:19
- "The Fountain of Salmacis" (Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett, Rutherford) – 9:54
- "Waiting Room OnlyThe Waiting Room (song)"The Waiting Room" is an instrumental piece by Genesis. It is the second track on the second half of their concept double-album, The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway....
" (Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett, Rutherford, Roger King) – 6:53 - "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)"I Know What I Like " was the first charting single by the rock band Genesis. The single was first released in the UK in August 1973, but did not become a hit until April 1974, when it reached number 21 in the UK Singles Chart....
" (Banks, Collins, Gabriel, Hackett, Rutherford) – 5:37 - "Los EndosLos Endos"Los Endos" is an instrumental piece by English progressive rock band Genesis from their 1976 album A Trick of the Tail. It is one of the band's few forays into the world of jazz fusion and reflects drummer Phil Collins's involvement in the instrumental band Brand X...
" (Banks, Collins, Hackett, Rutherford) – 8:51
Personnel
- Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1-11), vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(2, 8, 10), harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
(9), percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(11), backing vocals (1, 5), orchestration (1, 4, 5, 6, 8) - John WettonJohn WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
– vocals (1, 5), bassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
(5) - Bill BrufordBill BrufordWilliam Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1, 5), percussion (5) - Tony LevinTony LevinTony Levin is an American progressive rock musician, specializing in bass guitar, Chapman stick and upright bass ....
– bass (1) - Julian ColbeckJulian ColbeckThe current CEO of Keyfax NewMedia, Julian Colbeck is a former professional keyboard player of over 25 years, author of several music-related books and guides, the creator of Twiddly.Bits MIDI loops, the concept designer for the PhatBoy MIDI controller, and producer of several music technology DVDs...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1, 2, 8) - Roger KingRoger King (producer)Roger Monroe King was an American television and media executive for King World Productions and CBS. He was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in 1992 and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2004 and is credited with launching the careers of such top...
– additional programming (1, 4, 5, 8), keyboards (4, 9, 10, 11), orchestration (4, 5), programming (9, 11) - Ben Fenner – additional programming (1, 4, 8), keyboards (5), orchestration (4, 5, 6), programming (5)
- Chester ThompsonChester ThompsonChester Cortez Thompson is an American drummer and session musician.-Biography:Thompson made his name as a session drummer, going on to play in Frank Zappa's touring band and with Weather Report...
– drums (2, 8), additional drums (11) - Alphonso JohnsonAlphonso JohnsonAlphonso Johnson is an American jazz bassist who has been influential since the early 1970s.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Johnson started off as an upright bass player, but switched to the electric bass in his late teens. Beginning his career in the early 1970s, Johnson showed...
– bass (2, 8) - Will Bates – saxophone (2, 9, 10)
- Nick MagnusNick MagnusNick Magnus is a British keyboard player, songwriter, composer, arranger, engineer and producer.He is from the progressive school of keyboard players, mostly associated with instrumental and rock music...
– keyboards (3), programming (3) - Jerry Peal - keyboards (3), programming (3)
- Hugo DegenhardtHugo degenhardtHugo Degenhardt is a British drummer who has toured and recorded with a wide variety of artists that include Robbie Williams, Bryan Ferry, Steve Hackett, Todd Sharpville, Kylie Minogue, Rod Stewart, and Jack Bruce....
– drums (3, 4, 9, 11) - Paul CarrackPaul CarrackPaul Carrack is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace, Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics, and Roxy Music, been a session and touring musician for several others including Nick Lowe, and has enjoyed success as a solo artist as well...
– vocals (4, 7) - Pino PalladinoPino PalladinoPino Palladino is a Welsh bass guitarist who gained fame playing primarily rock and roll, blues rock, and rhythm and blues music, although he has been lauded for his ability to play most genres of popular music, including jazz, neo soul, and funk...
– bass (4, 11) - The Sanchez/Montoya Chorale (4, 9)
- Colin BlunstoneColin BlunstoneColin Blunstone is an English pop singer-songwriter, best known as a member of the pop group The Zombies, and for his participation on various albums with The Alan Parsons Project.-Biography:...
– vocals (6) - Aron Friedman – orchestration (6, 7), keyboards (7, 10), programming (7), pianoforte (10)
- Richard MacPhailRichard MacPhailRichard MacPhail is a former musician and business owner best known for being involved in the early tours of rock band Genesis. He was also the vocalist for The Anon, one of the two bands that merged together to form Genesis in 1967...
- backing vocals (7) - Jeanne DownsJeanne DownsJeanne Downs is a former presenter of Children's ITV , which is the brand name used for the majority of children's television output on ITV in the United Kingdom...
- backing vocals (7) - Richard Wayler - backing vocals (7)
- John HackettJohn Hackett (musician)John Hackett is a British flautist, the younger brother of guitarist Steve Hackett. Although his primary instrument is the flute, he also plays guitar, bass and keyboards...
– flute (8) - Tarquin Bombast - drums (10)
- 'Spats' King - vibes (10)
- Ian McDonaldIan McDonald (musician)Ian McDonald is an English multi-instrumental musician, best known as a founding member of progressive rock group King Crimson, formed in 1969, and of the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976. He is well-known as a rock session musician, predominantly as a saxophonist...
– saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
(11), fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
(11)
- Royal Philharmonic OrchestraRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraThe Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...