Genesis: Tony Banks (vocals, guitar, electronic piano, organ, Mellotron); Michael Rutherford (vocals, guitar, bass, bass pedals); Peter Gabriel (vocals, flute, bass drum, tambourine); Phil Collins (vocals, drums, percussion); Steve Hackett (guitar).

Recorded at The De Montfort Hall, Leicester, England and The Free Trade Hall, Manchester, England in February 1973.

Digitally remastered by Nick Davis, Geoff Callingham & Chris Blair (The Farm, Abbey Road, England).

Aside from a portion of the box set, this is the only commercially available live document of vintage Gabriel-era Genesis. LIVE was recorded at the group's 1973 peak, and features hardcore fans' favorite lineup, including Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett. The flawless song selection favors tunes from the beloved albums FOXTROT and TRESPASS. The semi-baroque keyboards of Tony Banks and the whisper-to-a-scream dynamic of Hackett are displayed in all their glory.

The songs tend toward the long side (not one is under eight minutes long--prog-rock heaven!), giving the group ample time to work its complex, time signature-shifting, contrapuntal magic. Though we're denied the visual aspect of Gabriel's notoriously elaborate costume changes and onstage antics, the energy of his performance comes through in his urgent vocals, and he delivers some of his most sharply penned lyrics. Subsequent Collins-era live albums serve the legacy well, but this is the Genesis concert album with which to start.

Q (11/96, p.64) - 3 Stars - Good - "...a splendid record of a classic progressive rock group taped for US radio..."

Q (12/94, pp.162-3) - 3 Stars - Good - "...the oddest and most interesting [of Genesis' live albums]..."

Mojo (Publisher) (3/01, p.82) - "...Acceptable account of the FOXTROT-era set..."