It’s One O’Clock and Time For Lunch
If you’re a fan of vintage Genesis, then you’ll recognize the song lyrics in the post title above. I’m a big Genesis fan. Especially, the early progressive years of the band. Phil Collins brought them into the mainstream. But, you absolutely must appreciate the creative genius of Peter Gabriel in those earlier years. Uh oh, it’s one o’clock and time for lunch. Bum-dee-dum-dee-dum.
Oddball
Let’s face it. Peter Gabriel was an oddball. In fact, he still is. I think he used way too many psychedelic drugs in his early career. However, some of the stuff he did was genius. It was not uncommon for a Genesis song to be twenty minutes long, and Gabriel put lyrics to the song and entertained us so it felt like five minutes. I think Gabriel’s work on the 23 minute opus “Supper’s Ready“, “In Your Wardrobe” and “All in a Mouse’s Night” cement him as one of the best songwriters of all time. I’ll be honest, I have had to read some of his lyrics multiple times to understand them.
Rael
Gabriel hit his stride on the concept album “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” The album is about Rael, a Puerto Rican youth from New York City who is suddenly taken on a journey of self-discovery and encounters bizarre incidents and characters along the way. It wasn’t quite at the level of Pink Floyd’s The Wall. But, it wasn’t far off either.
Departure
After releasing “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,” Gabriel told the band he was leaving. He claimed it was to be with his family more, but we all know how it really turned out. He went on to have a tremendous solo career with some big hits.
I believe that Gabriel had become the centerpiece of the group and that it was detracting from the music. In other words, fans were paying more attention to what Gabriel was wearing than the music the band was playing.
Outro
If these early rockers like Gabriel were really taking hallucinogenic drugs, then I’m amazed. Gabriel’s songs and lyrics are captivating. He incorporated instruments like the flute perfectly. I guess I just have a true appreciation for genuine rock music. And, it’s best when you understand what it all means.
