Nursery Cryme

Nursery Cryme (1971) is the third studio album released by Genesis. It is also the first album to feature the lineup of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Steve Hackett, the latter two replacing John Mayhew and Anthony Phillips on drums and guitar, respectively. This lineup would remain consistent until Gabriel's departure in 1975.

Related Topics:
1971 - Genesis - Peter Gabriel - Tony Banks - Mike Rutherford - Phil Collins - Steve Hackett - John Mayhew - Anthony Phillips - 1975

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Though not as polished in production terms as the albums that followed (most of the songs were only recorded on 8-track), Nursery Cryme was still a large progression from the groups' previous album Trespass. Although the folky feel was still retained on songs such as Harlequin and For Absent Friends, other tracks displayed a more aggressive and strident sound. Hackett's lead guitar playing contributed a lot to this, with strong solos contained within The Musical Box, The Return of the Giant Hogweed and The Fountain of Salmacis. Banks also contributed towards the more agressive sound in various ways: for some time before Hackett's recruitment, Genesis had performed live as a four-piece, with Banks substituting for guitar by playing lead solos on his Hohner "pianet" electric piano, played through a fuzz box. This technique can be heard The Musical Box and the intro to Giant Hogweed. In addition, the band purchased their own mellotron Mark II (from King Crimson). Banks employed the Mk II "three violins" sound to great effect in Salmacis and Seven Stones, whilst the climax of Giant Hogweed used fuzzed Mk.II "combined brass".

Related Topics:
Hohner - Mellotron - King Crimson

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A further element in the band's growing sound was Rutherford's use of a stand-alone electronic bass pedal unit.

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Even a song such as Harold the Barrell, which used none of this new instrumentation, was possessed of a slightly insane energy quite unlike anything on the Trespass album?the music scurries along through various key- and time-signature changes, Gabriel yelping out lyrics about a restaurant owner who "cut of his toes and served them all for tea", before jumping off a building in the town square!

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"The Musical Box" and "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" became staples of their live performances.

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