STEVE HACKETT   GENESIS REVISITED*
1996
Vintage Genesis songs produced & performed by Steve Hackett with John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Paul Carrack, Chester Thompson, Tony Levin, Ian McDonald, Alphonso Johnson, Colin Blunstone & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

01. Watcher Of The Skies (8:40)
02. Dance On A Volcano (7:28)
03. Valley Of The Kings (6:29)
04. Deja Vu (5:53)
05. Firth Of Fifth (9:39)
06. For Absent Friends (3:02)
07. Your Own Special Way (4:18)
08. Fountain Of Salmacis (9:53)
09. Waiting Room Only (6:53)
10. I Know What I Like (5:37)
11. Los Endos (8:51)

Total playing time: 76:48

* also titled 'Watcher Of The Skies: Genesis Revisited by Steve Hackett'

1. Watcher Of The Skies (Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
    I've always felt there was more to this song than I could possibly include in sleeve notes. I remember pushing the band to acquire a Mellotron back in the 70's & luckily, King Crimson had one to spare at the time - the 'Black Bitch' I think they called it on account of it always breaking down. But when it designed to sing - it was fantastic! So we've combined the guts of an original MK2 with the Royal Philharmonic thrown in for good measure to recreate an idea based on an instrument once described as a 'Musical Frankestein'! Any instrument that takes 4 men to lift deserves its place in the Hall Of Fame & I believe it now resides permanently in the world's first synthesizer museum, recently inaugurated by Bob Moog himself. This song alone was a strong reason for re-approaching the early material - Phil's inventive Morse code rhythm to Tony's momentous introduction which always sounded best in Italian palasports - an aircraft hangar-type of rumble ideally suited to spacecraft impersonation.'
    With thanks to Martin Smith & John S. Bradley of Mellotron Archives

    John Wetton
    : Vocal
    Steve Hackett
    : Guitar, Backing Vocals, Orchestration
    Bill Bruford
    : Drums
    Julian Colbeck
    : Keyboards
    Ben Fenner & Roger King
    : Add. Programming
2. Dance On A Volcano (Rutherford/Banks/Hackett/Collins)
    '...it's big, isn't it? And yes, the rhythm was in 7/8. Music & martial arts talk to each other - expect the unexpected! Watch out for Chester & Alphonso. Wow!'

    Steve Hackett
    : Vocals & Guitar
    Chester Thompson
    : Drums
    Alphonso Johnson
    : Bass
    Julian Colbeck
    : Keyboards
    Will Bates
    : Sax
3. Valley Of The Kings (Hackett)
    'A dream about the building of the Great Pyramids inspired this 'epic-style' soundtrack - not so much writing as total recall.'

    Steve Hackett
    : Guitar
    Nick Magnus
    : Keyboards & Programming
    Jerry Peal
    : Keyboards & Programming
    Hugo Degenhardt
    : Drums
4. Deja Vu (Gabriel/Hackett)
    'A song that Pete originally started & rehearsed with the band around the time 'Selling England'. A beautiful & mysterious melody which he kindly let me to complete'

    Paul Carrack
    : Vocals
    Steve Hackett
    : Guitar, Orchestration
    Pino Palladino
    : Bass
    Hugo Degenhardt
    : Drums
    Roger King
    : Keyboards
    The Sanchez/Montoya Chorale (directed by Anton De Bruck)
    Ben Fenner
    : Add. Programming, Orchestration
    Roger King: Add. Programming
5. Firth Of Fifth (Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
    'One of Tony's finest, in humble opinion'

    John Wetton
    : Vocal & Bass
    Steve Hackett
    : Guitar, Backing Vocals, Orchestration
    Bill Bruford
    : Drums & Percussion
    Ben Fenner
    : Keyboards, Programming, Orchestration
    Roger King
    : Add. Programming, Orchestration
6. For Absent Friends (Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
    'Originally found on 'Nursery Cryme', 'Absent Friends' is slowed to an old-time waltz tempo & given that special Blunstone treatment.'

    Colin Blunstone
    : Vocals
    Steve Hackett, Aron Friedman & Ben Fenner: Orchestration
7. Your Own Special Way (Rutherford)
    'One of Mike's most beautiful songs wonderfully sung by Paul Carrack & superbly reinterpreted by Aron Friedman'

    Paul Carrack: Vocals
    Steve Hackett: Guitar
    Aron Friedman
    : Keyboards, Programming, Orchestration
    Richard MacPhail, Jeanne Downes & Richard Wayler
    : Backing Vocals
8. Fountain Of Salmacis (9:53) (Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
    'Another personal favourite from the 'Nursery Cryme' album. A mini opera given the wide screen treatment.'

    Steve Hackett
    : Vocals, Guitar, Orchestration
    Chester Thompson
    : Drums
    Alphonso Johnson
    : Bass
    Jack Hackett: Flute
    Julian Colbeck
    : Keyboards
    Ben Fenner & Roger King
    : Add. Programming
9. Waiting Room Only (6:53) (Hackett)
    'The Lambs Lies Down On Broadway' had an atonal jam called 'The Waiting Room' - we tried to recapture its spirit by similarly abandoning form here & creating a whole new piece in the process which we've titled 'Waiting Room Only'. A series of atmospheres, some friendly some hostile - don't attempt to play this at dinner parties...'

    Steve Hackett
    : Guitar, Harmonica
    Roger King
    : Keyboards, Programming
    Hugo Degenhardt
    : Drums
    Will Bates: Sax
    The Sanchez/Montoya Chorale
10. I Know What I Like (Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford)
    'A spark of an idea originally rejected by the band which, ironically turned out to be the first hit-single. A weed-killer of a number firmly rooted in Victoriana. On a more sombre note, perhaps the eventual explanation for this entire retro journey was best given by Leo Tolstoy long before our American cousins invented the quaint term 'art-rock'. 'The purpose of art is to demonstrate that which in argument would appear incomprehensible.' (Private Eye - where are you when I need you?)'

    Steve Hackett
    : as himself
    Tarquin Bombast: Drums
    Will Bates: Sax
    'Spats' King: Vibes
    Aron Friedman: Pianoforte
    Nobody on Bass
11. Los Endos (Banks/Collins/Hackett/Rutherford)
    'Always reckoned to be Genesis' answer to Santana. We've given more thought to the Latin pastiche flavour implied in the title, placing the track in a kind of South American/Prog area - moments are reminiscent of carnival atmospheres where amateurs & professionals perform side by side (sometimes with hilarious results!)'

    Steve Hackett: Guitar & Percussion
    Ian McDonald: Sax, Flute
    Pino Palladino
    : Bass
    Hugo Degenhardt
    : Drums
    Roger King
    : Keyboards & Programming
    Chester Thompson
    : Add. Drums
Produced by Stephen Hackett
Engineers: Roger King, Ben Fenner
Add. engineering: Jerry Peal & Gerry O'Riordan
Recorded & mixed at the Basement
Add. recording at Westside, Matrix, RG Jones & The Farm, Nashville
Mixed by Roger King
'Valley Of The King' mixed by Billy Budis & Gerry O'Riordan

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra arranged & conducted by Matt Dunkley

Cover artwork 'Genesis Revisited' by Kim Poor © 1996
Design: Lippa Pearce
with special thanks to Harry Pearce
Add. photo: Paul Clark
'Genesis Revisited' is dedicated to Kim...
please keep painting the light

Very special thanks to Ted Poor for encouragement & sharing the dream
Thanks to Masa Matsuzaki & Atsushi Naito of Infini Communications, Tokyo

(P) © 1996 Watcher Ltd./Capitol Records
Genesis Revisited

Lyrics