An Audio-Visual Experience - Genesis Live: The Way We Walk In Concert video reviewed by Jonathan Dann.

This video marks an end (I assume) of the We Can’t Dance releases, and appears to tie in after the release of the two volumes of the live album. Filmed at The band’s shows at Earls Court during November last year, it serves as an excellent visual record of the superb performances and visuals experienced on this tour.

Having had a video of the band’s performance at Knebworth for a while, it became obvious that this show was undoubtedly almost tailor-made for watching at home. The visual effects came over well, and the performance was spot on. Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for the way in which that TV broadcast was shown, being as it was a “live” broadcast there were camera angles which shouldn’t have been there and needless zooming in on the Volkswagen banners on the stands. The show was begging to be filmed properly and with some imagination which I am pleased to say it has been on the video release.

Those of you that attended the Earls Court shows can’t have failed to notice the cameras there - in fact some probably suffered with cameras being right in the way blocking the view. However, it is immediately apparent that this video has been well thought out, with a variety of camera angles being manipulated to provide the best possible views of the visuals and action on stage.

Needless to say the Earls Court shows were indoors, which gave the opportunity for the visuals and lights to be presented against a dark background with stunning effect. The video kicks off with a little introduction featuring a bit of the I Can’t Dance routine before transporting the viewer to Earls Court and the show itself.. The video remains fairly faithful to the running order of the shows themselves although Dreaming While You Sleep has been included as well. This was not always played and so it is nice to see a little creativity in the production department. However, there are no marks at all for a couple of bits of editing - the introduction to Home By The Sea has obviously departed to the other world, leaving the song starting on a rather empty note, as has the intro to Dreaming While You Sleep. I was hoping the video would include the introduction to Home By The Sea from the final night where Tony Banks departed for the WC, and Phil announced “I only have to do this shit so Tony can go to the toilet!” Shame!

I had heard reports prior to obtaining the video myself that the old medley had been excluded, but these proved unfounded (fortunately). This is one of the highlights of the video - the contribution of the visuals and music working to great effect. This does of course bring to mind the idea that there are several older songs that would benefit from such visual interpretation - let’s hope this is held in mind for the next tour. Domino is another great moment the use of those extra unexpected camera angles providing a new dimension to this tour de force. I wondered what that creaking contraption on a wire above the audience was - the viewpoint given by it confirms it was a camera, despite some suggestions that it might be the answer to Pink Floyd’s flying bed!

The Drum Duet is also included in the video, although its not actually listed on the sleeve. Also of note is the fact that a snippet of Misunderstanding replaces Your Own Special Way during the course of the Old Medley. Production and direction on this video is by the long-term Genesis associates, Jim Yukich and Paul Flattery - which gives the video a direction that is more appreciative of the band’s live show. Overall, this is a recommended release - it serves as a good “souvenir” for those of us that went to the shows and as a visual record of the Genesis show in 1992.

One final point that the video does bring to light is the fact that there is a considerable amount of official footage of Genesis live in the Eighties and Nineties. What is lacking is official footage from the Seventies, a major gap just waiting to be filled. A video release in the mould of Queen’s Rare Live video is desperately needed being tailored to “please the collector”. After all, how many readers would like to see an official release of the Tony Stratton-Smith Presents… film from 1973 coupled with some of the other film that is lurking out there such as the Rock Of The Seventies show, the footage from 1977 tour etc? I am sure people out there would much rather purchase a master quality officially sanctioned video than a murky nth generation illicit copy. This sounds like a topic for debate, so if anyone has any pro or anti views on this, please write in and let us know!