The final studio album that the legendary British progressive rock band Genesis recorded with their original vocalist, Peter Gabriel, was The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, released in 1974. It represents the culmination of the progressive sound Genesis developed in their earlier albums and the closing chapter of their first era.
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of its release, and to celebrate, this special 50th anniversary edition was launched, featuring a remaster of the original material, as well as a live concert from that era, recorded during the album’s promotional tour. Additionally, it includes a new Dolby Atmos mix of the studio album.
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double, conceptual album that tells the story of Rael, a rebellious young New Yorker who is unexpectedly drawn into a surreal journey. Rael faces a series of strange and introspective experiences. It’s far from a simple concept.
The album’s music is equally complex. It features a multitude of songs, each with a high level of musical density and a wealth of details. The experience can sometimes feel musically overwhelming. Even after countless listens throughout my life, I still find this album difficult to describe in words.
The album’s musical style marks a significant departure from the fantastical, quintessentially English sound the band crafted in earlier works. The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway embraces a more urban, at times even bizarre, sound, yet always wrapped in the band’s signature progressive rock style.
“A lot going on. A very crowded album. Depicted New York very very well. The crowded aspect of it. Very very busy keyboards, very busy vocals. Not to mention the rest of what we were doing. It’s crammed full of detail,” remarke Steve Hackett, the band’s guitarist at the time, in a recent interview about the album’s musical density, which gives the impression of being very busy music.
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is an album that truly demands attentive and patient listening, multiple times, to fully grasp the material.
The quality of the band’s performances is exceptional. Every member sounds tight and cohesive. It’s thrilling to hear them execute the intricate songs with such synchronicity.
While fan opinions about the album are divisive (due to its occasionally inconsistent material), many of its songs are outstanding. Some of my favorites include: Fly on a Windshield, In the Cage, Hairless Heart, The Chamber of 32 Doors, Anyway, The Colony of Slippermen, and The Light Dies Down on Broadway.
The 50th anniversary Deluxe Edition is available on music streaming platforms and can also be purchased as a box set, which includes the CDs, a book with photos and band anecdotes, as well as reproductions of the ticket and program from the promotional tour’s concerts, which were quite an ambitious audiovisual experience.
The box set also includes a Blu-ray with the Dolby Atmos version (also available on streaming), created at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios under the direct supervision of Gabriel and Tony Banks, the band’s keyboardist. While I’ve never been particularly fond of the Dolby Atmos format, I must admit this version is excellent. The songs sound clear and vibrant.
As I’ve said before, modern music production technology is truly remarkable. Being able to hear a 50-year-old album with such fidelity is impressive.
For Genesis fans and lovers of the golden era of progressive rock, this new version of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a must-listen.
