Nursery Cryme

Nursery Cryme is the third studio album by Genesis and was recorded and released in 1971. It is also the first album to feature the classic five-piece line-up of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins and Steve Hackett; the latter two replacing John Mayhew and Anthony Phillips, on drums and guitar respectively, in 1970 and 1971. This line-up remained consistent until A Trick of the Tail, when Phil Collins became lead singer instead of Peter Gabriel after his departure from the band in 1975.

Album history

Although not a success upon release in their homeland, Nursery Cryme became an unexpected hit in Italy, reaching number 4 in the LP charts^[1] – spurring on Genesis' European success—with the album eventually reaching No.39 in the UK charts for one week in May 1974, and the re-issue reached No.68 for one week in March 1984.

The album also marked the beginning of a steady, cohesive line-up for Genesis.

Sound

Like Trespass, the preceding Genesis album, Nursery Cryme was recorded at London's famous Trident Studios. Trident was one of only a handful of British studios to have 16-track equipment, which was state of the art for the time.

For some time before Hackett's recruitment, Genesis had performed live as a four-piece, with Banks substituting for guitar by playing lead solos on his Hohner "Pianet" electric piano, played through a fuzz box. This technique can be heard on "The Musical Box" and the intro to "The Return of the Giant Hogweed". In addition, the band purchased their own Mellotron Mark II (from King Crimson).^[2] Banks employed the Mk II "three violins" sound in "The Fountain Of Salmacis" and "Seven Stones", while the climax of "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" uses fuzzed Mk. II "combined brass". Rutherford also began using the standalone electronic bass pedal unit Dewtron "Mister Bassman".

Songs

Though credited solely to Banks/Collins/Gabriel/Hackett/Rutherford, "The Musical Box" began as an instrumental piece written by Anthony Phillips called "F#" (later released as "Manipulation" on the Box Set remaster). The lyrics are based on a Victorian fairy story written by Gabriel, about two children in a country house. The girl, Cynthia, kills the boy, Henry, by removing his head with a croquet mallet. She later discovers Henry's musical box. When she opens it, Henry returns as a spirit, and starts aging very quickly. This causes him to experience a lifetime's sexual desires in a few moments, and he tries to persuade Cynthia to have sexual intercourse with him. However, his nurse arrives and throws the musical box at him, destroying them both. The album cover shows Cynthia holding a croquet mallet, with a few heads lying on the ground.

In live performances, Peter Gabriel would wear an "old man" mask for the final verse and unzip the chest part of his black jumpsuit. Dramatic lighting would be used each time he shouted "NOW!" "The Musical Box" was featured in their live repertoire right up to Phil Collins' departure after the We Can't Dance tour in 1992, albeit with only the closing section being included as part of a medley.

A Genesis tribute band, The Musical Box, is named after the song.

"For Absent Friends" is a song about two widows going to church and praying for their deceased husbands. It is the first song by the band to feature drummer Phil Collins as the lead vocalist and was the first song written by the new members Collins and Steve Hackett within the band context. Progressive death metal band Opeth wrote a short instrumental with the same name, as a tribute to Genesis on their 2002 release, Deliverance. Guitarist Steve Hackett recorded a waltz version of the song for Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited, with vocals by Colin Blunstone.

The lyrics to "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" tell an apocalyptic story about a "regal hogweed" being brought from Russia by a Victorian explorer to the Royal Gardens at Kew. The inspiration for this story is a large, phototoxic weed, Heracleum mantegazzianum, which poses a hazard in the United Kingdom and other countries. The song was a staple of Genesis' live performances.

"The Fountain of Salmacis" tells the story of the nymph Salmacis, who in Greek mythology attempted to rape Hermaphroditus. In the story Salmacis and Hermaphroditus become joined as one, which is mirrored in the lyrics where Peter Gabriel sings "We shall be joined as one." Pete Lazonby used a sample of the song for the 1994 trance track Sacred Cycles.

"Harold the Barrel" tells the story of a restaurant owner who commits suicide. The song suddenly dies to a droning whisper at the end, symbolising Harold's sudden death. The meaning of the title is unclear, since the song has nothing to do with barrels, and Harold himself is not a barrel.

Reception

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford. 

B Sides

Personnel

• Peter Gabriel – lead vocals, flute, bass drum, tambourine
• Steve Hackett – electric guitar, 12 string guitar
• Tony Banks – organ, Mellotron, piano, electric piano, 12 string guitar, vocals
• Mike Rutherford – bass, bass pedals, 12 string guitar, vocals
• Phil Collins – drums, vocals, percussion, lead vocal (uncredited) on "For Absent Friends"

Artwork

The albums' artwork, which depicts scenes from each song, was painted by Paul Whitehead. Whitehead was also responsible for the artwork on Genesis Trespass and Foxtrot albums.

Release history

All releases of Nursery Cryme on Charisma Records in the U.S. were distributed by Buddah Records.

U.S. LP releases

• Charisma Records CAS-1052 (1971): 1st issue with large "Mad Hatter" label design. Gatefold cover.
• Charisma Records CAS-1052 (1973): 2nd issue with "pink scroll" label. No gatefold cover.
• Charisma Records CAS-1052 (1974): 3rd issue with small "Mad Hatter" label. No gatefold cover.
• Atlantic 80030-1 (1982): Reissue with no gatefold cover

References