On October 14, 1977, "Genesis" released their second live album "Seconds Out".
The album was recorded at a crucial juncture in the band's evolution. Most of the album was captured during the "Wind & Wuthering" tour at the Palais des Sports in Paris between June 11–14, 1977, with one exception: “The Cinema Show,” recorded in 1976 at the Apollo in Glasgow during the "A Trick of the Tail" tour with Bill Bruford on drums. This album also marks the last "Genesis" performance with guitarist Steve Hackett, which left the band during the albums' mixing process, making it as a significant moment in their "Genesis" history.
Musically, "Seconds Out" showcases the band’s technical prowess and their ability to recreate their intricate studio compositions in a live setting. The album predominantly features songs from the Phil Collins era with 5 of the 12 song coming from the "A Trick of the Tail" and "Wind & Wuthering" albums, but it also representing the highlights from the Peter Gabriel era of "Genesis". By this point, Phil Collins firmly established as the band’s lead vocalist, brings his distinctive voice and energetic drumming to the forefront. His performances of older Gabriel-era songs such as "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway", "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)" and "The Cinema Show" display his ability to make these classic pieces his own, while maintaining their dramatic essence.
More than that, in our opinion Phil Collins' vocals take center stage. While Collins' vocal range is somewhat more limited, particularly in the lower tones, he proves that he is more than capable of stepping into the role previously held by Peter Gabriel. Although he lacks Gabriel's theatrical qualities, he manage to bring a fresh energy to the songs. His performance on the 24-minute epic "Supper’s Ready" is particularly impressive, as he seamlessly inhabits the role Gabriel once filled, demonstrating his ability to deliver the song's complex shifts in mood and intensity. Collins' command over the dramatic elements of the song, coupled with his emotional range, shows what a skilled vocalist he had become by this point.
The album is filled with many highlights, including "Dance on a Volcano...", the closing section from "The Musical Box" and of course "Firth of Fifth," where the band delivers a technically precise rendition. However, it is worth noting that the live version lacks Tony Banks' iconic piano intro from the original studio recording, and Gabriel's flute solo is also absent. Despite these omissions, the performance retains the song's majestic feel, driven by Banks' synthesizer work and Hackett's soaring mind-blowing guitar solo, which remains a key moment.
Other tracks, such as "The Carpet Crawlers", "Afterglow" and "Squonk," are played with both precision and emotional weight. The drumming, particularly during the powerful instrumental “Los Endos,” where Collins and Chester Thompson perform a dynamic drum duet, stands out as a showcase of the band’s rhythmic tightness.
As for the song picking, the band knew that fitting their entire setlist on two vinyl records was impossible, so several key pieces were cut from the final tracklist, including "One for the Vine," "Inside and Out" (release just few weeks before the shows), "Eleventh Earl of Mar," and the fan-favorite "The Knife," which closed many of the shows. Despite these omissions, "Seconds Out" remains a definitive live document of "Genesis" during their transitional period from progressive rock to a more streamlined sound.
The production quality on "Seconds Out" is excellent, offering a clear and balanced sound that highlights each instrument's contribution. Steve Hackett's guitar work, while a bit low in the mix at times (unfortunately the band made sure of that in his absence), adds a textured layer that complements Banks' lush keyboard arrangements and Mike Rutherford's steady bass lines and 12-string guitar fills.
In many ways, "Seconds Out" serves as a retrospective of "Genesis'" progressive rock years while simultaneously pointing towards their future direction. With Hackett’s departure shortly after the tour, the band would start to shift toward a more commercial, pop-oriented sound in the coming years. However, this album captures them at their progressive rock peak, blending the theatricality of the Gabriel era with the more polished musicianship of the Collins-fronted period.
Despite the missing tracks and a few small adjustments missing in the mixing process, "Seconds Out" remains an essential live album for "Genesis" fans, offering a snapshot of the band at the height of their progressive rock powers and at a pivotal moment in their history. It’s a powerful, emotionally resonant album that bridges their past and future, showcasing the enduring talent that would carry them into the next phase of their career.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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