"Put Another Bootleg On" - A look at some of the unofficial recordings from the 1981 and 1982 tours.

The 1981 and 1982 tours or the "Abacab" and "Encore" tours as they have become known since, were vital successes in the band's development. Similar to the shows in 1977, the Abacab and Encore tour drew a similar line under the band's live set with the 1982 shows in particular being the last time that a truly representative set of the band's career was to be performed without recourse to various medleys.

Fortunately, both of these tours have been captured by a whole slew of bootlegs although, sadly, neither seems to have been as well served by either radio broadcasts or soundboard recordings. Nevertheless, what we do have is well presented and gives a flavour of the period.

Abacab Complete - Studio Sessions

An intriguing disc, this one. Purporting to be the demos for the album as originally intended it is a difficult one to assess. The sound quality is unusually good for a start but that is to the benefit of the listener. Some of the tracks sound more or less complete finalised versions while others still have a certain degree of rough edges to them. Either way, it is a rarity to have a peek behind the finished album for a change.

Track Listing: Abacab/Jangley (You Might Recall)/Nationwide (No Reply At All)/German I & II (Dodo/Lurker)/Sub (Submarine)/Vocal 3/4 (Naminanu)/Chunky (Me & Virgil)/Odd (Keep It Dark)/Spike (Me & Sarah Jane)/Westside (Another Record)/Wierdsynth (Who-Dunnit?)/Lonely Man (Man On The Corner)/Don (Like It Or Not)/Paperlate/Abacab (Single Version). 1 CD. Source: Mixing desk (?) Quality: Good.

"Picture About" Frejus Amphitheatre 27th September 1981

This was a well known vinyl bootleg in the days when vinyl was king (remember them?). Taken from an audience recording of decent quality it is one of the first gigs from the tour and gives a fair idea of the overall band sound and set list for the tour although the transfer to CD has resulted in some change around in the actual running order of the set (see review of Leiden gig for actual correct running order).

Track Listing: Behind The Lines/Duchess/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/ Dodo/Lurker/Abacab/Misunderstanding/Firth Of Fifth/No Reply At All/Me And Sarah Jane/In The Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn It On Again/Los Endos/Man On The Corner/Who-Dunnit?/I Know What I Like. 2 CD Set. Source: Audience. Quality: Fair.

"Master Of The Booing Concert" Groenoordhal Leiden 3rd October 1981

A now famous bootleg of an infamous show. The reaction to the new album had been mixed among the fan base but nowhere was it to reach the levels of vehemence which were displayed by Dutch fans at this gig! Every attempt to introduce new material was met with displays of disapproval and choruses of booing from the fans. Genesis, being the perverse buggers that they always have been; not only persevered with the gig but returned the following night for more of the same! With such a vocal audience, the recording quality of this gig is not of the greatest but another interesting historical document none the less!

Track Listing: Behind The Lines/Duchess/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/ Dodo/Lurker/Abacab/Misunderstanding/Man On The Corner/Who-Dunnit?/No Reply At All/Firth Of Fifth/Me And Sarah Jane/In The Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn It On Again/Dance On A Volcano/Drum Duet/Los Endos/I Know What I Like. 2 CD Set. Source: Audience. Quality: Poor.

Eilenriedhalle Hannover 13th October 1981

Another audience recording of what by now had pretty much become a standardised set with nothing unusual about it. Recording quality is reasonable and with a listen.

Track Listing: As above. Source: Audience 2 CD Set. Quality: Fair.

Congresscentrum Hamburg 15th October 1981

Yet another standard set and standard quality audience recording.

Track Listing: As above. Source: As above. Quality: Good.

"Cincinatti 81" Riverfront Coliseum Cincinatti 21st November 1981

First of the crop of recordings from the US tour and the version in my possession is an average sounding audience recording. There is an improved version of this gig doing the rounds but so far it hasn't reached TWR HQ!

Track Listing: As above. Source: As above. Quality: Fair.

"Perfect Three Sides Live" Nassau Colisseum 27th November 1981

At last! A recording that really manages to capture the excitement of the 1981 shows properly! Opening with a radio introduction and tantalising snippet from the band's sound check, this recording suffers from some bad edits and in fact not all of it is even from the 1981 tour! Yes, this is a bootleg "ringer" comprised from several gigs from the 1981 and 1983 tours - disappointing for that fact but excellent quality throughout!

Track Listing: Radio announcement and soundcheck/Behind The Lines/Duchess/Dodo-Lurker/Abacab/Misunderstanding/No Reply At All/Firth Of Fifth/Man On The Corner/Keep It Dark (*)/Follow You Follow Me (*)/Turn It On Again (*)/In The Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Dance On A Volcano/Drum Duet/Los Endos. (*) Tracks from 1983/84 tour. Source: Radio Broadcast (?)/Video Soundtrack 2 CD Set. Quality: Excellent.

"Abacab To The Savoy" Savoy Theater New York 28th November 1981

Unlike its predecessor, this recording is a bona fide show possibly a mix desk recording (the audience are audible but not overpoweringly so). Either way, this recording genuinely captures the pure energy that Genesis generated during these gigs - an energy which on this recording was repaid tenfold by the audience! This recording also throws up several unusual performances including a marvellous rendition of Carpet Crawlers, an even rarer performance of Like It Or Not and The Knife round off the disc in fine style and I am sure sent everyone home happy on the night!

Track Listing: Behind The Lines/Duchess/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/ Dodo/Lurker/Abacab/Carpet Crawlers/Me And Sarah Jane/Misunderstanding/No Reply At All/Firth Of Fifth/Man On The Corner/Who-Dunnit?/In The Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn It On Again/Dance On A Volcano/Drum Duet/Los Endos/I Know What I Like/Like It Or Not/The Knife. Source: Mix Desk/Audience (?) 2 CD Set. Quality: Very Good.

Other recordings from the 1981 tour generally available include….

(Europe): Barcelona 25.9.81, San Sebastian 26.9.81; Lyon 1.10.81; Leiden 4.10.81; Bremen 5.10.81; Essen 6.10.81; Munich 8.10.81; Nuernburg 9.10.81; Wurzburg 10.10.81; Kassel 13.10.81; Kiel 14.10.81; Hamburg 15.10.81; Cologne 17.10.81; Paris 19 - 21.10.81; Brussels 22.10.81; Zurich 24 -25.10.81; Dortmund 27.10.81; Stuttgart 29.10.81; Frankfurt 30 - 31.10.81; Berlin 2.11.81.

(USA/Canada): Madison 12.11.81, Chicago 13 -15.11.81; Milwaukee 16.11.81; Cleveland 22 -23.11.81; Philadelphia 25 - 27.11.81; Hartford 2.12.81; Montreal 3 - 4.12.81; Toronto 6 - 7 .12.81; Buffalo 8.12.81; New York 12.12.81.

(UK): Wembley 17 - 19.12.81; Birmingham 21 - 23.12.81.

The Abacab tour was extended into the following year to accommodate the enormous demand for tickets and the second leg; usually referred to as the "Encore" or "Three Sides Live" Tour took in the USA, Europe and a further batch of UK dates throughout August and September 1982. Rather than merely repeat the same set list, the band radically changed their live set to include several old favourites which had not been heard in concert for several years - culminating in the Genesis "event" of the decade: the "Six Of The Best" reunion concert with Peter Gabriel on 2nd October 1982.

Forest Hills New York 22nd August 1982

The band opened their 1982 tour in the USA and several of the shows featured a couple of notable departures from what was later in to become the standard live set. This has been well captured on this recording, of one of the two nights which Genesis played at this venue. An above average audience recording not only giving an excellent idea of how well received the new set was but also capturing for posterity rare performances of both Man On The Corner and Paperlate for which the band were joined by the Earth Wind & Fire horn section!

Track Listing: Dance On A Volcano/Behind The Lines/Follow You Follow Me/Dodo/ Lurker/Abacab/No Reply At All/Paperlate/Supper's Ready/Misunderstanding/Man On The Corner/Who-Dunnit?/In the Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn It On Again/Drum Duet/ Los Endos/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/It-Watcher Of The Skies. 2 CD Set. Source: Audience. Quality: Good.

"Live At Saratoga" Performing Arts Centre Saratoga Springs 26th August 1982

Without doubt, one of the best (if not the best) recordings from the entire 1981/82 tour and another bona fide rarity in the shape of I Know What I Like as an extra encore. Taken from a mixing desk tape, this is the kind of recording that appeals to most fans and capturing another excellent performance from a band which were obviously having a great time performing - this one is a must!

Track Listing: Dance On A Volcano/Behind The Lines/Follow You Follow Me/Dodo/ Lurker/Abacab/Supper's Ready/Misunderstanding/Man On The Corner/Who-Dunnit?/ In The Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn It On Again/Drum Duet/Los Endos/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/It-Watcher Of The Skies/I Know What I Like. 2 CD Set. Source: Mixing Desk. Quality: Excellent.

"Autumnal Movement" Wilhelm Koch Stadion Hamburg 10th September 1982

A firm favourite with TWR's editor this one, mainly because this was the first time I had ventured out of the UK to see a gig - and what a gig! Not only did we get to see Genesis in fine form but their "guests" for this gig were none other than King Crimson! The recording manages to capture perfectly the excitement of the crowd and the banter between Phil and the crowd and the friendly rivalry between the local German fans and the 4-500 British fans who had made the trip can plainly be heard. With a set which spans the old and the new to perfection; this is another highly enjoyable recording from that most memorable of tours!

Track Listing: Dance On A Volcano/Behind The Lines/Follow You Follow Me/Dodo/ Lurker/Abacab/Supper's Ready/Misunderstanding/In The Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn It On Again/Drum Duet/Los Endos/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/It-Watcher Of The Skies. 2CD Set. Source: Audience. Quality: Good.

"Genesis On Ice" Deeside Leisure Centre 22nd September 1982

Not literally "on ice". The venue was an ice rink and it was the audience who were on the ice and bloody cold it was too, I can tell ya! One of the better sounding audience recordings captures Phil's banter with the enthusiastic crowd extremely well and musically the band don't put a foot wrong - now, about those crushed nipples, Phil??!

Track Listing: Dance On A Volcano/Behind The Lines/Follow You Follow Me/Dodo/ Lurker/Abacab/Supper's Ready/Misunderstanding/Man On The Corner/Who-Dunnit?/In the Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn It On Again/Drum Duet/Los Endos/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/It-Watcher Of The Skies/I Know What I Like. 2 CD Set. Source: Audience. Quality: Very Good.

"Small Club At Marquee" Marquee Club London 27th September 1982

A rare trip back to the band's roots for this gig at London's Marquee Club, scene of so many of their early triumphs! An excellent audience recording which captures what must have been the truly claustrophobic atmosphere of this sell-out gig. Musically, the band are on top form which is to be expected after almost two months on the road!

Track Listing: Dance On A Volcano/Behind The Lines/Follow You Follow Me/Dodo/ Lurker/Abacab/Supper's Ready/Man On The Corner/No Reply At All/In The Cage-Medley-Afterglow/Turn it On Again/Drum Duet/Los Endos/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/I Know What I Like. 2 CD Set. Source: Audience. Quality: Very Good.

Hammersmith Odeon London 28th September 1982

The first night of the three nights' "dress rehearsal" for the Milton Keynes gig found the band at another of their old stomping grounds; the Hammersmith Odeon. Another capacity crowd gave the band a rapturous reception and from the sound of this good quality audience recording, the band reciprocated in kind with yet another excellent performance.

Track Listing: As above plus Who-Dunnit? And It-Watcher Of The Skies. 2 CD Set. Source: Audience. Quality: Good.

Milton Keynes Concert Bowl 2nd October 1982.

Ah well, no reminiscences of 1982 would be complete without this gig would they? An appalling choice of venue for the gig. Rain? Monsoon would be closer to the truth but what could you expect from England at the beginning of October? But for the sixty or so thousand fans who crammed into the mudbath that was the venue, there was no place on Earth that we would rather have been - was there, folks? Not the best of performances, Gabriel was disgracefully under-rehearsed but that didn't really matter as the band romped through a selection of their finest moments. Sadly, the soundboard of this gig is unlikely to be released but the compilation edition made by the FAde Group from several different audience sources, represents the best available recording of this special gig.

Track Listing: Back In NYC/Carpet Crawlers/Firth Of Fifth/Musical Box/Solsbury Hill/ Turn It On Again/The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway/Fly On A Windshield/Broadway Melody of 74/In The Cage/Supper's Ready/I Know What I Like/The Knife. 2 CD Set. Source: Compiled from several audience recordings. Quality: Fair.

Other recordings available from the 1982 tour include…

(USA/Canada): Peoria 1.8.82, Chicago 2-3.8.82; Berkeley 6-8.8.82; Los Angeles 9-10.8.82; Dallas 13.8.82; Houston 14.8.82; Oklahoma 15.8.82; Detroit 18.8.82; Merryweather 19.8.82; Philadelphia 21.8.82; Forest Hills 23.8.82; Rochester 27.8.82; Toronto 28.8.82; Montreal 29.8.82.

(Europe): Pisa 6.9.82, Rome 7-8.9.82; Stockholm 12.9.82; Copenhagen 13.9.82; Gothenburg 14.9.82; Brussels 16.9.82.

(UK): Shepton Mallet 19.9.82, Birmingham 20-21.9.82; Edinburgh 25.9.82; Hammersmith 29-30.9.82