GENESIS – THE LAMB LIES DOWN ON BROADWAY (Atlantic Rhino) (various formats): Release date: 13th June, 2025 delayed to late Autumn

Way back when I did a survey on fans’ 100 favourite progressive rock albums and “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” finished 4th behind Yes’s “Close to the Edge” and another Genesis album “Selling England by the Pound” which finished third. Two days ago, it celebrated its 50th birthday. Back then I commented that Peter Gabriel had said on the sleeve, “Rael likes a good time, I like a good rhyme” and so the saga of Gabriel’s alter-ego, a half Puerto Rican New York ‘punk’ began on a double LP on which it was noticeable that Steve Hackett played a relatively minor role while Tony Banks seemed to commandeer the solos. Apart from the ‘On the Broadway’ chorus there was even a pastiche of Charles Aznavour’s ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head’! Now, if this all seems a bit out of character for a prog rock giant like Genesis the album did include timeless songs like ‘Fly on the Windshield’.  ‘Carpet Crawl’ and the title track (with a reprise); very theatrical, very ‘music industry disillusionment’ in focus with a very pleasant, if unsuccessful single ‘Counting out Time’. My summary: “A very demanding double album that has endured remarkably well”. I am confident that prog fans will want to discover or rediscover the tale of the lamb vs. Broadway with the help of the 60 page book explaining the whole concept.