[The Genesis album, Foxtrot, which included the memorable 20 plus minute song, “Supper’s Ready” was released October 6, 1972. Thus, on or around the 40th Anniversary— Oct. 6, 2012– East Portland Blog is saluting the band, the album and the song and asks you to join with us in celebrating this auspicious occasion by sharing your comments below.]
SUPPER’S READY:
I thought I would write a humorous piece on prog rock and music snobs. This would have been my opening line:
“While people across the world continue their quest for World Peace and a cure for cancer…both very fine ideas, I might add…I’ve focused on something a bit more challenging: ridding the world of the music snob.”
I changed my mind, as I didn’t want to come across as mean-spirited, something my sarcasm doesn’t allow me to do with any ease.
Instead, I’ve chosen to say this about the Genesis epic “Supper’s Ready.”
If it were banded into 7 separate songs, each with the titles already given for the 7 passages that comprise Side Two of the album Foxtrot, and delivered anonymously to people who love Brit pop and baroque pop and folk music and jazz and classical but scoff annoyingly at prog rock, those same people would probably love it and think they’ve stumbled onto some psychedelic gem.
For me, Genesis has always been a completely different animal than the bands to which they are commonly compared. It’s because of their melodies, which when stripped to their bare bones, are beautifully hook-filled. And also because, side long epics were not the norm for this band. Yes, they’ve reached the 11 minute mark a few times. But generally, I think of Genesis as a brilliant pop band with exceptional chops. The same can be said of Steely Dan, but no one refers to them as prog, and their lyrics are more pretentious than anything found on Foxtrot.
“Supper’s Ready” still sounds fresh and I will never apologize for loving it the way I do.
– Sal Nunziato – Please visit Sal’s amazing music blogs, Burning Wood and Burning Love.
http://youtu.be/M58wE8GTGp4
