Tuesday 3 July 2007

Turn it on again...again...

This Sunday, Elder Daught is treating me to a trip to Twickenham to see the best band ever! It’s for my 60th Birthday, later this month.

I was quite a late convert to Genesis; not really buying anything until ‘Duke’ came out in 1978, but I still remember going into the record shop in Hastings in 1973, and asking them if I could buy a record called ‘I know what I like’. The young chap kindly showed me the album ‘Selling England by the pound’, but sadly, £3.50 was beyond our newly-wed’s budget, and I couldn’t afford it!

Since then I reckon between us, we’ve amassed most of their tracks in some form or other. Elder Daught actually wrote and produced a half-hour radio programme on seminal Genesis works like ‘The Lamb lies down on Broadway’ as part of her degree. We still rave over Youtube showing ‘Cinema show’. Our favourite is ‘Vancouver’, but I will always play ‘Duke’s end’ at full blast in the car, and feel drained as always!

Their big stuff which was originally recorded with Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett is bound to raise the roof. The real visual one is ‘I know what I like in your wardrobe’, and they can reel that one out for ages and ages…(I only wish they would do ‘Lilith’; then life would be complete…)!

We both went to Knebworth in 1992, and it was so well attended that it took us five hours to get out of the car park! Earls Court a few years later was easier; but as there were only two members of the original line-up, we didn’t really rate the evening.

Elder Daught emailed me the news of the Twickenham bash within hours of it being announced. She sat on the phone for half an hour when they went on sale, and got the best seats in the house. The rest sold out in an hour!

What a fabulous way to celebrate the big 60! Sorry to all you younger brigade who don’t want to spend five hours in the company of a boring old fart though…

19 comments:

Tuscan Tony said...

Ahh, another late July boy - surely not the 29th?!?!?!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Naaaah...

19th actually...

That's why I'm so thick...school terms an' that. (well that's my excuse anyway)!

Hercules said...

A great birthday gift Scroblene, how very sweet of your daughter!

Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Scroblene,

I came across this entry when I was posting on TT's blog.

I am 47 and am going with Mrs (the real Dr) Hemlock to see Genesis at Old Trafford, this coming Saturday.

I've never seen then play live, but have everything they have ever recorded on LP (remember them?) CD, DVD etc and most of it fills my Ipod. I never get bored of their work.

I do prefer the Peter Gabriel era stuff and really don't like the really later stuff when Phil Collins started using horn sections. Jeez!

Still, I'm really looking forward to Saturday night and suspect that Amazon will benefit from the re-release CDs and DVDs that are selling on the back of this tour.

Sod it...you're only a teenager twice!

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Morning Herc - Yup, she's a Grand Lass! Her idea all along, so lunch will be on me!

Jonathan - Thanks for that; you've managed to lower the average age for me and that can't be bad! I agree with all your comments too...Trumpets and Willow Farm just don't appeal do they!

Peter Gabriel's stuff is marvellous IMO. When Elder Daught was first going away to College, we bought the album 'Shaking the tree', and used to play it in the car on holiday in France. There is an immortal track on it, called 'Mercy Street'.

I still get the lump in the throat when I hear that and recall how it really signalled her going away for the first time...

I do hope you have a great time on Saturday - just soak it all up (and I don't mean the rain)!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful band Scrobie! I am sure you will have a wonderful night. I went to see Status Quo with my girl when she was 13, it was an hilarious evening great fun! I love bands that have nothing to proof!!

Electro-Kevin said...

Do have a nice time, Scrobs and congrats on your 60th.

I was at the Knebworth gig in 1992 as well and I remember the nightmare getting out of the car park. Was it really that long ago ?

(Looks like my internet is back.)

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Mutters - You were in a great time of life then! What an experience with her. Your Pupette was certainly thrilled to be there with you, as was my Elder Daught...although she was 19 then...!

Electro...What a time that was! I was on empty (no petrol) and dreading having to restart everytime they let us onwards! Then, when we got on the A1, and it was getting light, we had to queue for ages to get on the M25. Never has South Mimms looked so appealing! We got home around 6.30am, and I had to be at work in Canterbury at 9.00.

Mrs S obliged with the Wifely phonecall, and I eventually got there at 10.00am!

This Sunday's going to be a route march as well, but I'm older now, and wiser...

lilith said...

You will have a lovely time Scroblene! It is lovely to treat your Dad. Took mine sailing for his 70th, (which he loves but never makes time for) and we had a great time.

Scouse Doris said...

Enjoy - a colleague of mine saw them in Brussels the other week and was blown away (not literally of course)!

Electro-Kevin said...

If your car broke down you would have ... adacab.

;-)

Electro-Kevin said...

Abacab ???

Ms Smack said...

I totally love Genesis too. And I agree with Hercules, its a very sweet perfect birthday gift for you, dear old dad.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Oh yes...

Lilith - you've made the link; thanks...

immortal...

"Lilywhite lilith,
She gonna take you thru the tunnel of night
Lilywhite lilith,
She gonna lead you right."

Lady Liverpool...the Brussels event was acclaimed apparently; and better than Amsterdam!

E-K...Yes; and Yes! There's a bit on Radio 2 for an hour only you can hear for free. Actually, the guitar solo and finale on 'Abacab' from "Three sides live" needs to be played at maximum volume, preferably on a deserted motorway!

Ms Smacklette; Yup, she's done me praaaard; we're so looking forward to it!

Thanks all; (gotta find the tee shirt, Phil Collins key fob, pack the air guitar for 'I know what I like', learn the words to 'Carpet Crawlers' again, recharge the pacemaker...)!

Anonymous said...

HOT OFF THE PRESS:

Back from Old Trafford and still trying to come back down to earth.

Genesis are better than ever. They have no new album to promote, so the repertoire is totally made up of all the crowd pleasers.

Phil Collins is on top form and his rapport with the audience is fantastic from the word "go."

They do a two and three-quarter hour set. The lighting rig, LED screen, dry ice and firework finale are pure Genesis.

If Old Trafford is anything to go by, my only advice is - avoid the catering on site. It's dreadful and utterly overpriced. Bring your own.

All in all, a great evening. Have fun! We did.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Morning Jonathan!

I'm so glad you enjoyed 'Your show'...

I agree, it's good to know there are still a few bands - and followers of course - who can forget the commercialisation and just sit back and enjoy the good bits!

ps good tip about the catering; it smelt awful! See new post anyway!

Anonymous said...

60? I would never have believed it Mr. O'Blene. You have the mind of a twelve year old!

Anonymous said...

... and you must have been a right push over of a father for your daughter to think that much of you.

Sen. C.R.O'Blene said...

Mr Modo,

You have an engaging principle there!

Yes I am a pushover where family is concerned, and yes, I have the vague feeling for mucking around a lot of the time - hence I am taking a long time to retire...