“Saw it on the TV...heard it on the radio...” - TWR looks at some of the more recent items to have surfaced in the collecting world. Photographs by Mike Ellison and Stuart Barnes.

To tie in with the above feature of bootlegs, and also because it has been quite some time since we have done so, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look at some of the latest video and audio material which has surfaced from the band and its members.

This is a truly fascinating area of collecting – frustrating at times too! The arrival of the Internet has certainly been a blessing to anyone interested in the field of video and audio recording collecting and that field is getting ever more extensive and fertile every day!

TV...

We shall start with Phil Collins, whose fans have been treated to some interesting items recently. Of these the most important and certainly the longest is the Drumeo project which was finally released in 2022. Opening with the line... “I'm Phil Collins... and I'm a drummer” what we get during the following several hours is without doubt the most honest and in depth look at Phil's career behind the drum kit that has ever been done. What surprises me is his admission that he is not a fan of the And Then There Were Three period of the band – shame on you Phil! If you have any interest in Phil's career and how his music developed then this documentary is a must!

Taking several steps back in time next for a pair of recordings from his second solo tour in 1985. First of these is a recording from the band's tour rehearsals at Shepperton Film Studios on 8th February 1985. Featuring extracts from thirteen songs that were played at the shows. This has the feel of an Electronic Press Kit but if it was, I don't know for sure that it was used in the end. Nonetheless, a fascinating item for collectors.

Staying on that some tour we have what is the earliest complete concert film recording by Phil in circulation – the show from the Opera House in Sydney Australia on 3rd April 1985. This is an entire recording filmed by a member of the audience on one camcorder. Visually it has to be said this is not the greatest recording but its historical significance can't be denied,

Of more recent vintage is the film of the gig from the band's gig in Bucharest Romania as part of the last leg of the First Final Farewell tour in October 2005. This is an excellent film from the and takes us from the arrival of the band on their plane to an edited highlights of the show all in perfect broadcast quality which is a delight. It is a shame that the gig is edited but we shouldn't complain as footsage of this quality is damn hard to find!

Moving briefly from Mr Collins senior to Mr Collins junior, another fascinating item which has surfaced recently is a film of Nic Collins giving us a run through of his drum kits for both live and studio work. Most of which goes completely over my head but for the drum nerds out there this will be manna from heaven!

Moving on to Peter Gabriel who has been equally well served by various releases. Including some truly remarkable recordings, not least one compilation which gets under way with a TV documentary...not about Peter, but about the company which transported him...and so many other musicians around the UK and beyond – Edwin Shirley Trucking. Why is this of significance? Becuase of the footage from Peter's first tour which appears throughout it. Gigs both in the UK and in Europe are featured in this making it a fascinating ...and frustrating document of that first tour ...if only the rest of that footage survived! This is accompanied by a series of documentaries spanning the 1970's through to the time of the So album in 1986, all equally fascinating stuff.

Of much more recent vintage is the recording from the I/O show at the Toyota Centre Houston TX on 21st October 2023 which was the last gig of the US tour. Visually and sond wise this is an excellent recording with crystal clear sound and vision throughout apart from a couple of wobbles. Sadly it is not the complete show but what there is of it is an extremely enjoyable recording and in lieu of the promised official film which we are still WAITING for, recordings like these plug the gap nicely.

There have been a fair few Genesis items surfacing recently to the delight of collectors. Perhaps the ones which have caused the most excitement ar the brace of single camera shots from the legendary Bataclan performance in 1973. What we have here is the camera work from stage left and stage right at the rear of the stage behind the band. It is fascinating to see how the cameramen managed to move around without falling over either themselves or the band! Visually perfect, the sound on one of them is unfortunately subject to distortion which begs the question of how it was edited into the final cut, which as we have all seen is quite superb. Nonetheless, another fine item for fans' collections.

Of more recent vintage we have what will be without doubt the definitive (there's that word again) edition of the equally famous Lyceum Ballroom shows from 6th and 7th May 1980. Restored and cleaned up by the legenadary people at Bill Film, this one is absolutely stunning. The entire gig in crystal clear quality sound and vision and capturing the band at the very height of their powers.

There has also been a restoration of sorts of a complete private recording of the band's gig from Toronto in 1982. Previously available as a very poor film, this one has been lovingly restored to something like a viewable condition.

Perhaps the most surprising Genesis related item to emerge recently is the complete film of the band's gig at the Montreux Casino in May of 1987. Many of you will recall that extracts from this were broadcast by the BBC at the time as indeed were extracts from a similar performance in 1986. Here we have the entire unedited show in perfect quality – OK the screen ratio could do with readjusting but that's a minor quibble. What has not been established is who the broadcaster is; it is not the BBC although their presence can be seen by the presence of the BBC Logo on what may be their recording mobile van at the far side of the room. Most likely this is the TV Suisse Romande footage. Who cares? It is complete and in excellent quailty making another excellent addition.

Several clips from rehearsals and soundchecks form the 1992 tour have also been cobbled together recently. Mainly backstage footage but with some snippets of soundchecks and even some from one of the gigs. Obviously filmed by someone in the road crew they give a fascinating and occasionally amusing glimpse behind the scenes. Mr Hackett has been incredibly well served recently with numerous recordings which augment his almost annual official live album/DVD releases, there really are too many to mention and usually of excellent quality. Phil too has been well served by unofficial releases covering most legs of his Not Dead Yet tour between 2017 - 19. Sadly no official document of this is ever likely to be released for obvious reasons so make the most of the abundance that is out there in the field of private recordings. One that particularly stands out however is the show from Nottingham in 2017 where we have a particularly good privately shot film AND a sounbdboard recording of the gig available making this probably the closest we will ever get to an official release.

RADIO...

I'm going to indulge myself if I may by starting this half of the feature with a look back at a couple of recently surfaced recordings from gigs which I was actually fortunate enough to have attended. Yes, a wonderful brace of soundboard recordings from the band's gigs at that massive shed called Madison Square Garden in New York. On 1st and 3rd October 1986. These shows were towards the beginning of the band's massive Invisible Touch tour and capture the band in great form. Anyone who saw any of the gig on this tour will tell you just how stunning they were visually with the now famous Vari Lites finally coming in to their own to provide a stage show which has never really been equalled since. What these recordings also demonstrate however is just how good the band were sonically, they are evidently having a blast here – I can vouch for this as the five nights at this venue remain among the most impressive performances that I ever saw by the band. Too many highlights really but here the performance of Domino, The Brazilian, Home By The Sea and of course, the In The Cage medley complete with its Apocalypse in 9/8 section from Supper's Ready will excite and astonish in equal measure and are thoroughly enjoyable on both recordings.

Moving back a few years, another historically important recording has recently surfaced. This one is from the second night of the Lamb... tour in Chicago. Sadly the opening night of the tour does not appear to have survived and so here we have the second night of the tour. The Lamb... was to prove to be a tricky proposition both for the band, and the fans . Despite all the internal drama going on within the band diring this period, the show itself is totally immersed in the drama of “Rael” which is laid out before an unsuspecting Chicago audience whose initial reaction is somewhat muted but not unreceptive to the strange goings on on stage.

Already we can see that certain tracks from the album are destined to become longtime favourites, not least the album opener, The Lamb... which sees Mr Banks at his finest. Fly On A Windshield Back In NYC and In The Cage too all have a power and majesty which was lacking on the studio album, the latter here is simply astonishing with Gabriel going from restrained to manic throughout the song whilst Phil's percussion and Mike's hammer blow bass are matched by equally powerful performances from Tony and Steve. By the time we get to the aural nightmare that is The Waiting Room, the band have exceeded expectations and have taken the stage – and the audience by storm! A historic recording thankfully presevered for posterity.

Barely a year later, the band were back, sans Peter with their most susccessful album to date: A Trick Of The Tail and another lengthy tour to promote it. We are already lucky to have several excellent recordings from this tour but here, with this, the last show from the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, at last we have the real jewel in the crown! Effectively this is the soundtrack to the In Concert film most of which was filmed at this gig and an earlier one in Stafford. So, lacking the rest of the film, immerse yourself instead in the aural glories of this truly remarkable recording.

The band are at the absolute peak of their game here tonight not surprising after almost four months on the road. Here we have so many highlights it really is difficult to try and single out some but, here goes.. The show opens with Dance On A Volcano destined to remain in the band's set for many a year along with the show closer; Los Endos, both of which feature a Bill Bruford who at last appears to have mastered the rhythmic nuances of a Genesis show! He nails it throughout the show. For me though the real highlights are the acoustically marvellous ballet between Steve and Tony during Entangled which never ceases to impress and the real blast from the past which is White Mountain both of which are captured in perfect sound on this recording which, if there was any juwtice would be released officially!

The next recording took me completely by surprise. In fact, when I received it, I thought that there had been an error. Received wisdom had it that Genesis were performing elsewhere on 14th October 1978 but no... here's the proof (glorious proof) that they in fact settled for a second night at the Uptown Theatre in Chicago. Chicago certainly seems to bring out the very best in the band and as any self respecting fan will know, the preceding night is without doubt one of the band's most famous recordings under its title “From The Mouth Of The Monster”. I never believed that that recording would ever be matched for quality but... its predecessor is, if anything even better!

Getting under way with a dramatic Eleventh Earl Of Mar and In The Cage both of which are delivered in totally amazing performances. For me though, the highlights of the show are the tracks from the band's new album: And Then There Were Three, none more so than Burning Rope which features some marvellous guitar playing from Daryl Stuermer who is already making a name for himself and his playing here is remarkable. The band repeat the surprise of incorporating Dancing With The Moonlit Knight and The Musical Box , Phil is in fine voice on both while Mike unleashes a ferocious bass on the audience augmented by some fine riffing from Daryl who puts his own stamp on Steve's parts.

If you have “From The Mouth Of The Monster” then you will know what the rest of the show comprises, and if you can imagine this one being ...to paraphrase a Spinal Tap moment 11/10 then this one is it truly a recording that any Genesis fan MUST get their hands on!

And fast forward two years to the massive Duke Tour. Once again, we are lucky in having some fine audio examples from this tour and for the first time since the early Seventies some equally fine visual recordings. Here we have the band's final night in Saratoga Springs NY on 30th June 1980. Soundboard recordings from this tour are few and far between and so to add thos one to that list is a delight. From the opener: Deep In The Motherlode onwards we have a band at the very peak of their game. Squonk is no timid shrinking violet tonight but a bass driven monster through which the rest of the band have to battle.

The Duke Suite too is delivered flawlessly with particular honours going to Duke's Travels/Duke's End which see the entire band flex their considerable musical muscles throughout. Phil's increasingly eccentric tale of “Albert” doesn't improve with age but what the hell, its part of the scenery innit Guv? A truly representative set list featuring many songs for whom “retirement” was to beckon when next the band took to the road.

The Abacab tour was well documented by audience recordings but until very recently, the show in Frankfurt was the only soundboard docunent of the tour. Recently we have been spoilt with a series of recordings from the American leg of the tour which really serve to demonstrate just how HEAVY the Genesis sound was during this period. Anyone who attended any of the gigs on this tour will tell you that Genesis were loud and proud during these gigs. But they could also do gentler music too none more impresive than in the respectful performance of Carpet Crawlers which was always a highlight of the tour. The 1981 tour saw also to see the removal of many older stage favourites in favour of promoting the newer album and occasionally the band liked to throw in a curved ball and at the shows in Landover MD and Hartford CT this was in the shape of Like It Or Not. Once again, it is amazing at how songs sound different in the live context. This was never a favourite of mine on Abacab (or my First Favourite Frisbee as I affectionately call it these days) but live, it is actually quite a decent song. Thankfully both these performances are among those soundboard recordings whuch surfaced recently and it is wonderful to have such hugh quality recordings available from this tour at last!

And moving forward again to the Mama tour. Probably one of the most spectacular rock shows ever staged as you can see on the Mama Tour Live concert film. Musically too it was an incredible experience as this recording from the band's last US show in Oakland demonstrates. A crystal clear soundboard which brings every track to us in perfect quality. By now the show had crystalised into the one which we in the UK would see a few days later and so the show gets under way with a rollicking Dodo/Lurker and Abacab. I am still amazed at how much a track can change from the studio to the concert stage as Abacab does – and tonight's performance is astonishing in its raw power.

Peter Gabriel has been well represented by audio recordings, especially from his most recent I/O tour but I am going to start at the beginning with a superb recording from his show in Cardiff on 1st October 1977. as anyone who saw Peter in the early days of his solo career will tell you, just about anything could happen onstage at a Gabriel gig back then and what we have here is an unpolished, raw and incredibly exciting recording which gets under way quietly enough with Here Comes The Flood before the pace picks up with Slowburn before we get the urban paranoia of Moribund The Burgermeister introduced by an effect which sounds like someone with asthma! Modern Love and Indigo are played pretty much straight here as is Humdrum which is incredibly effective and emotionally charged.

As usual, Peter at this stage of his career is experimenting with new and patently unfinished songs and we have a brace of them. What we now know as White Shadow is next and here we see Peter and his band at their most experimental with some fine examples of incomprehensible “Gabrielese” on display and musically this differs radically from the version we would eventually hear on Peter's second album a few months later. Peter's love of Motown is well known and here we have his brace, if somewhat deranged stab at Marvin Gaye's classic, Heard It Through the Grapevine... which bears practially no resemblance to the original and features some grossly out of tune flute playing – Peter revisiting his past perhaps? Either way, it is not his finest moment that's for sure. One element of it does make a reappearance however; part of the rhythm was reused as the main riff of Kiss Of Life some years later.

The rest of the recording, with the exception of another highly experimental stab at All Day And All Of The Night is played relatively straight with some excursions into extemporisation which were the norm during a Gabriel gig back then and a recording of this quality is to be relished as a hark back to the times before the industry smoothed Peter's rough edges off.

We have to mix audio with video next as several recordings from Peter's performances have recently appeared as “official” releases – well, you can buy them on Amazon AND surprisingly enough in HMV too. The brace labelled “''86 Live Broadcasts” are exactly as advertised, a pair of superb quality audio recordings, the former from Peter's performance at the Giants Stadium East Rutherford NJ during the Conspiracy of Hope tour and the latter from one of his performances at the Jingu Stadium in Tokyo in December of that year as a fundraiser for the University For Peace in Nicaragua. Both give you the highlights from what would go on to be the lengthy So tour. Fortunately for us, there is also excellent quality film of both these gigs available so sound AND vision are both taken care of and the former is worth it for the absolutely stunning performances of San Jacinto and Biko.

The other recordings span 1983, 1988 and 1994 all pivotal years in Peter's career and the latter from the anniversary of the Woodstock Festival are all equally good quality and welcome additions to any collection.

Steve too has seen a welcome addition to our archives appear in this fashion with the relesse of the complete radio broadcast from his Cured show at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland on 20th October 1981. This is a vital recording documenting as it does, the pivotal Cured album and tour. Radio broadcasts and/or sounbdboards from Steve are quite hard to come by and so this one is more than welcome and it features the entire show which is even better.

Phil Collins fans too have at least one similar recording available in the shape of the radio broadcast (probably for the King Biscuit Flower Hour series) of his show in Philadelphia on 10th December 1982 another votal document of his first solo tour. Highly enjoyable and featuring several tracks Phil would seldom or never perform live again.

Mike + The Mechanics have yet to be graced with a proper live recording (audio or video) featuring the new line up but there haven been many decent audio recordings over the years and also a handful of top notch TV shows of which the broadcasts from Basle in 2011 and Frankfurt and New Jersey in 2017 manage to capture the new line up in great form – if only the band would release an official live album!

Quite frankly put, there is simply too much material, visual and audio available and becoming available to document thoroughly here. Gradually those wardrobes are revealing their secrets and the anoraks among us are relishing each new (Genesis) revelation!