When Genesis began work on their fifth album 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' in 1974, the group was on the verge of upheaval. The record caused a dispute among the musicians and two camps formed - until singer Peter Gabriel finally quit.
The story begins in May 1974, when Genesis have just returned from the tour for their fourth studio album 'Selling England By The Pound' (1973), the group's most successful record to date. Immediately afterwards, they book a former poorhouse in Headley, England, to start work on the next record straight away. What they found there caused the musicians' spirits to plummet even before the starting shot was fired. The band, who had previously booked the building, left their successors not only a lot of rats, but also excrement. Frontman Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Tony Banks, bassist Mike Rutherford, guitarist Steve Hackett and drummer Phil Collins are "not amused".
But it's not just the external circumstances that cause tensions. There was also a crisis within the band. In an interview, Hackett stated: "Each of us had our own plans. Some were married, some had children, others were getting divorced. Nevertheless, we tried to get together."
Right at the beginning of the creative process, Genesis decided that 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' would be a double album, but the story had yet to be written. Rutherford suggested an idea based on The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, but Gabriel vetoed it. The reason: the concept is too "cute". Instead, he presents his colleagues with his own idea, which he is ultimately able to convince them of. So the album now tells the story of Rael, a New York teenager of Puerto Rican descent who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and experiences exciting things.
The creative approach works, but also causes controversy. Gabriel wants to write all the lyrics single-handedly. Up to that point, however, all Genesis musicians had always been involved. His colleagues, on the other hand, are supposed to contribute the appropriate music, which means that Gabriel often sits alone in a room and writes verses while the other four Genesis members compose together.
Further difficulties arose when Gabriel left Genesis during the songwriting and recording sessions to work on a joint project with film director William Friedkin. To make matters worse, the singer has to travel to London in July because his wife Jill is facing a difficult birth. His colleagues have no sympathy for this and the mutual estrangement gets out of hand. In a later interview, Rutherford admits that the band did not support Gabriel enough at the time.
After its release on November 18, 1974, 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' initially received mixed reviews, but is now one of the most important reference works in seventies prog and in Genesis' early catalog. Two singles are released in Europe, namely 'The Carpet Crawlers' and 'Counting Out Time'; 'Lamb' reaches number ten in the British charts and 41 in the USA. By then, personal relationships within the team are no longer in good shape. Peter Gabriel remained on board for the tour accompanying the album, but left the band on May 22, 1975.
Black double vinyl pressing
Tracklisting:
1. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
2. Fly on a Windshield
3. Broadway Melody of 1974
4. Cuckoo Cocoon
5. In the Cage
6. The Grand Parage of Lifeless Packaging
7. Back in N.Y.C
8. Hairless Heart
9. Counting Out Time
10. The Carpet Crawlers
11. The Chamber of 32 Doors
12. Lilywhite Lilith
13. The Waiting Room
14. Anyways
15. Here comes the Supernatural Anaesthetist
16. The Lamia
17. Silent Sorrow in Empty Boats
18. The Colony of Slippermen (The Arrival / A Visit to the Doktor / Raven)
19. Ravine
20. The Light Dies Down on Broadway
21. Riding the Scree
22. In the Rapids
23. It
