Genesis - (1976) Wind and Wunthering

Wind and Wuthering
Studio Album, released in 1977

Wind and Wuthering is a mixed bag as there are some very beautiful
songs on the album, but there are also some really mediocre ( boring)
ones and a really terrible one.
The album starts out nicely with Eleventh Earl of Mar, which is a
really good song, an nice blend of rock and more atmospheric pieces.
Phil Collins really hits the drums hard on this song and it gives
Eleventh Earl of Mar some extra energy.
One of the last great epics from Genesis is next. One for The Vine.
This is an absolute favorite of mine. Tony Banks plays some of his
best piano and keyboard pieces in this song and the lyrics are thought
provoking and clever. There are some nice time signatures in the song,
that are definitely very progressive. The song builds up to a grand
finale like a true epic is supposed to do. One of the highlights of
the album for sure.
One of the real downers on this album is the next track Your Own
Special Way. This is too much pop for me to handle. Really cheesy and
with some horrible lyrics to go along. An absolute lowpoint in the
career of early Genesis. Steve Hackett saves the song from total
disaster though with his guitar playing.
Wot Gorilla? is in a similar vein to Los Endos on A Trick of the Tail.
An instrumental track which I think would be better suited in a live
setting than on a studio record. It´s not bad though, I enjoy it much.
All In A Mouse's Night is an ok track, but I have always felt that
something was missing. It just doesn´t feel finished to me. But not
bad at all.
But on Blood On The Rooftops it´s a whole other story, an absolute
favorite of mine. This is such a beautiful song. Note the beautiful
Steve Hacket intro and the symphonic keyboards played by Tony Banks.
From my perspective this is a perfect prog rock song. Together with
One for the Vine this is the best song on Wind and Wuthering.
Unquiet Slumbers For The Sleepers...is a short instrumental track. Ok
but nothing speciel if you ask me. It seques into ...In That Quiet
Earth which is also an instrumental. These two songs are ok, but
nothing more.
Afterglow is a classic Genesis song. I wonder why ? I find it boring
and repetitive. The melody in the song is not very significant and the
instrumentation is not very exciting. A very dissapointing ending to a
great album.
This may sound like I don´t find this album very satisfying, but it is
far from the truth. In fact I find this album essential to prog heads.
After all how many prog bands made good music in 1976-77 ?
So what if there are some weak songs on the album,
the good ones are so fantastic that this is a must have.

Track Listings

1. Eleventh Earl Of Mar (7:41)
2. One For The Vine (10:00)
3. Your Own Special Way (6:18)
4. Wot Gorilla? (3:19)
5. All In A Mouse's Night (6:37)
6. Blood On The Rooftops (5:27)
7. Unquiet Slumbers For The Sleepers... (2:23)
8. ...In That Quiet Earth (4:49)
9. Afterglow (4:12)

Total Time: 50:46
Line-up/Musicians

- Tony Banks / Steinway Grand Piano, ARP 2600 and Pro-Soloist synths,
Hammond organ, mellotron
Roland String synth, Rhodes
- Phil Collins / drums, percussion, lead vocals
- Steve Hackett / electric guitar, nylon classical guitar, 12 string
guitar, kalimba, auto-harp
- Mike Rutherford / 4, 6, 8, string bass, bass pedals, 12 String
Guitar, Electric Guitar