Selling England By The Pound was the fifth studio album by Genesis, released in 1973, so it's celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Peter Gabriel was still in the group as the lead singer with Steve Hackett on lead guitar, Mike Rutherford on bass guitar, Tony Banks on keyboards and Phil Collins on drums. While receiving mixed reviews at the time, it now seems to be acknowledged as the group's finest album and it's probably my own favourite by them.

 

The opening track, Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, includes the album's title in its lyrics and is a commentary on the Americanisation of England at the time. It's followed by I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) which is about a man with no ambition who is content to mow lawns for a living. It was commercial enough to be a hit single, reaching number 21, the group's only top 40 hit with Gabriel as their singer.

 

Next is Firth Of Fifth, the best track on the album and a favourite of many Genesis fans from their whole discography (my own would be Supper's Ready from the previous album, Foxtrot). Written about the Scottish landscape they travelled through going from one gig to another, it starts with the classically influenced piano intro by Tony Banks and includes a flute melody played by Peter Gabriel as well as the legendary guitar solo by Steve Hackett which I think is my favourite guitar solo by anyone. Side one concludes with More Fool Me, a quiet ballad sung by Phil Collins, one of just two songs he sang lead vocal on while Peter was in the band.

 

Side two opens with The Battle Of Epping Forest which is about an East London gangland dispute. It's followed by a guitar led instrumental, After The Ordeal. The highlight of this side is The Cinema Show, with Tony Banks magnificent keyboard solo at its centre. It segues into the final track, Aisle Of Plenty, which is a short reprise of the opening song.

 

Selling England By The Pound, reached number 3 on the album chart, the group's first top 10 album.

 

 

 

 

Been aware of this album for 50 years...never heard it! :o

 

I do love I Know What I Like though, quirky and folky progrock with a very British feel to it....

Side one concludes with More Fool Me, a quiet ballad sung by Phil Collins, one of just two songs he sang lead vocal on while Peter was in the band.

I don’t suppose More Fool Me is so quiet that we can’t hear him sing?

Would be interesting in listening to some pre 1980s Genesis!

The listenthrough will be tomorrow evening, combined with OK Computer.

 

Dandy can put the kettle on during the Phil Collins song.

I do quite enjoy Peter Gabriel so will be interesting to see what all bar two of the tracks are like

The other one was on a different album so you only have to skip one track.