If you are a serious Genesis fan, this boxed set is for you!

If you were somewhat disappointed with Genesis' latest release (Turn It On Again - The Hits), I would recommend that you turn your attention to a boxed set that they released in 1998. Entitled 'Genesis Archive 1967-75', the set consists of four CD's boasting a total of 52 tracks. The first two CD's consist of a live recording of their double album 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' (1974) recorded in Los Angeles. The remaining two CD's contain various other live recordings, previously unreleased singles, remixes and demos.

However, in my opinion, what makes this such a great boxed set is the fact that it is all Pre-Collins Genesis music. Some might argue that the boxed set only presents one album as opposed to a broad mix of music from all of their early albums. But if you know Genesis, you would know that the 'Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' was basically the farewell album for Peter Gabriel. Soon after the completion of the 'Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' tour, Peter Gabriel left the group for personal reasons. It seems to me that this one album defined the legacy of Genesis, because once Peter Gabriel left the group and Phil Collins took over the lead vocals, Genesis began to change their style of music to better suit the needs of Phil Collins. It is at this point that many early Genesis fans (yes, I have actually met a few people who have coined themselves as early-Genesis fans) became disenchanted with the music of Genesis.

I grant that the early demos and singles might only appeal to the die-hard Genesis fan, but the live recording of 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' is well worth the cost of purchasing the entire boxed set. I believe that Genesis has always produced some of the best live recordings to date; another example is their 'Seconds Out' recording released in 1977. I give 'Genesis Archive - 1967-75' a perfect five-star rating for the quality of the live recording, the number of musical tracks, and the book that is enclosed with the boxed set that details the growth, successes, and failures of Genesis from their beginnings in the mid-1960's through to Peter Gabriel's departure from the band in the mid-1970's.