Selling England By The Pound - Genesis

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago at May 10 17:28

"Aisle of Plenty" is the final song on the 1973 Genesis album "Selling England by the Pound". It is not so much its own song as a reprise of the eight-minute opening number "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight". The acoustic line that opens the song is repeated several times at the end of the previous track "The Cinema Show", thereby "connecting" the two tracks. This track, the shortest on the album at a mere 1:32, is peppered with wordplay which may possibly escape those not familiar with the store names it references. Peter Gabriel incorporated them into the lyric, thus: "Thankful for her fine fair discount, Tess co-operates...." At the time, Fine Fare was a major grocery store chain in the UK, and both Tesco and the Co-op (The Co-operative Group) were, and still are, names of grocer...Read more

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago at May 10 17:26

"The Cinema Show" is an epic rock song by British progressive rock band Genesis off of their 1973 album, Selling England by the Pound. The song references two characters, named Juliet and Romeo, who appear to be readying themselves for a date at a cinema show. The song also references "Father" Tiresias, who was turned into a woman for seven years by the Goddess Hera because he struck a couple of copulating snakes. When she transformed him back into a man, he became caught up in an argument between Hera and Zeus about which gender derives more pleasure from sex. They asked Tiresias, as he had experienced sex as a member of both genders. He replied that it is the woman who gets more pleasure ("there is in fact more earth than sea"), and in her rage, Hera struck him blind. Because of this, Ze...Read more

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago at May 10 17:23

"The Battle of Epping Forest" is a song by English rock band Genesis, appearing on their 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. Inspired, according to the liner notes, by a news story about two rival gangs' territorial battles, the lyrics play out as such, featuring characters such as "Mick the Prick" and "Bob the Knob" as they battle for turf. The song is particularly characteristic for singer Peter Gabriel's changing of voices for different characters as well as the frequent changes in tempo. The song was performed live during the tour to support Selling England, featuring Gabriel moving around the stage telling the story, and even "flying" (he was attached to a harness) early on before this was dropped for safety reasons). The band's feelings about the song are mixed. In Hug...Read more

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago at May 10 17:21

"Firth of Fifth" is an epic rock song by progressive rock band Genesis from their 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. The title is a pun on the name of a river in Scotland, the Firth of Forth. The song starts out with a classical-style grand piano introduction by Tony Banks before switching tempo toward the first section of lyrics, with a pounding drum line and majestic chord progression on the organ. The song then features a gentle flute melody followed by a synth-driven instrumental which restates the opening piano theme. Steve Hackett then plays a solo (an interpretation of the flute melody) using one of his signature violinesque guitar tones. Peter Gabriel then sings a brief section of lyrics before Tony concludes the song on piano. At over nine minutes long, this song is no...Read more

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago at May 10 17:17

"I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" was the first charting single by the rock band Genesis. Its original b-side was the non-album track, "Twilight Alehouse." The single was first released in the UK in August of 1973. "I Know What I Like" is also the second track on the Selling England by the Pound album. A lighthearted pop song, it provides a moment of relief after the opening number, "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight." The Selling England album cover, which was famous in its own right, provided inspiration for the song. The song's lyrics, like much of Peter Gabriel's in his Genesis days, tell a story. It portrays a young man who pushes a lawn mower for a living and shares his philosophy on life that he does not want to grow up and do great things, being perfectly happy where he i...Read more

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago at May 10 17:07

"Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" is the first track on the Genesis album Selling England by the Pound, released in 1973. The powerful a capella voice from Peter Gabriel opens the track. Then, the song progressively gets louder and more upbeat, becoming a powerful rock number. It is notable that guitarist Steve Hackett used the tapping and sweep-picking techniques on this song. Dancing With the Moonlit Knight´s lyrics are an ironic commentary on contemporary England that employs references to English staples like Wimpy hamburgers and Green Shield Stamps. The album's closing song, "Aisle of Plenty", is a reprise of "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight". This gives the album a book-end effect. This effect is also featured on later albums by the band, such as A Trick of the Tail and Duk...Read more

Posted : 2 years, 6 months ago at May 10 17:05

Selling England by the Pound is the fifth studio album by the progressive rock band Genesis and was recorded and released in 1973. It followed Foxtrot and was the band's commercial peak with Peter Gabriel, hitting # 3 in the UK. The album would eventually go Gold in the US in 1990. The album cover is a painting by Betty Swanwick called The Dream. The original painting did not feature a lawn mower; the band had Swanwick add it later as an allusion to the song "I Know What I Like." A digitally remastered version was released on CD in 1994 on Virgin in Europe and on Atlantic Records in the US and Canada. The remastered booklet features the lyrics and credits which were missing on the original CD. A SACD / DVD double disc set (including new 5.1 and Stereo mixes) is planned for release...Read more

Posted : 2 years, 7 months ago at Apr 26 17:55

1. Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
2. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
3. Firth Of Fifth
4. More Fool Me
5. The Battle Of Epping Forest
6. After The Ordeal
7. The Cinema Show
8. Aisle Of Plenty