The 1969-1971 period during Genesis

Genesis (band)

Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...

' career in which many shows were played across the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 without an organized tour is commonly referred to by fans as The Early Gigs or The Early Days. The band played many shows at various locations in England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

, Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

, and Belgium

Belgium

Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...

 during 1969, 1970, and 1971.

History

Genesis' contract with Decca Records

Decca Records

Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....

, in which their debut album

From Genesis to Revelation

From Genesis to Revelation was the first album by Genesis, released in March 1969 on Decca Records in England...

 was released, had expired. Before they were signed with Charisma Records

Charisma Records

Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...

, the shows were played in search of a new record label

Record label

In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...

. During the "tour," Genesis mostly performed at parties, schools, and small clubs and was not a well-known band at the time. Occasionally, Genesis was a support act for other bands such as David Bowie

David Bowie

David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...

 and Queen

Queen (band)

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...

. They also performed as part of a package tour in early 1971 alongside the bands Van der Graaf Generator

Van der Graaf Generator

Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...

 and Lindisfarne

Lindisfarne (band)

Lindisfarne were a British folk/rock group from Newcastle upon Tyne established in 1970 and fronted by singer/songwriter Alan Hull. Their music combined a strong sense of yearning with an even stronger sense of fun...

.

Set lists

Details of the set lists for these shows are very sketchy. Many of the songs played during this period were never recorded in any form, even in the studio. Set lists changed often; a group of songs could be played at one show, and the next show's set list could be entirely different.

Songs from the period

Most of the songs played during this tour include (in alphabetical order):

• Babies
• Black Sheep
  SRC (band)
  The SRC was a Detroit-based rock band from the late 1960s. From 1966 to 1972, they were a staple at many Detroit rock venues, such as the Grande Ballroom.-The early years:...
  
   (A cover of a single by SRC
  SRC (band)
  The SRC was a Detroit-based rock band from the late 1960s. From 1966 to 1972, they were a staple at many Detroit rock venues, such as the Grande Ballroom.-The early years:...
  
  , a contemporary Detroit-based psychedelic rock band)
• Build me a Mountain
• Classic
• Chobham Chords
• The Conquerer
• Crossroads
  Cross Road Blues
  "Cross Road Blues" is a song by Delta Blues singer Robert Johnson; released on a 78 rpm record in 1936 by Vocalion Records, catalogue 3519. The original version remained out of print after its initial release until the appearance of The Complete Recordings in 1990...
  
   (A cover of blues singer Robert Johnson's song, which was made famous by Eric Clapton
  Eric Clapton
  Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
  
  .)
• Digby of the Rambling Lake (Also known simply as "Digby.")
• Do I Still Figure in Your Life? (A cover of a Honeybus
  Honeybus
  Honeybus were a 1960s pop group formed in April 1967, in London. They were best known for their 1968 UK Top 10 hit single, "I Can't Let Maggie Go".-Line-up:The best known line-up consisted of:...
  
   single, titled "(Do I Figure) In Your Life.")
• Eastern Magic Boogie
• Epic
• Family (Possibly named after progressive rock group Family
  Family (band)
  Family were an English rock band that formed in late 1966 and disbanded in October 1973. Their style has been characterised as progressive rock, although their sound often explored other genres, incorporating elements of styles like as folk, psychedelia, acid, jazz fusion and rock and roll...
  
   and later known as "Dusk.")
• The Fountain of Salmacis
• Going out to get you
• Grandma
• Happy the Man
• In Hiding
• In Limbo
• In the Beginning
• In the Meanwhile
• In the Wilderness
• I've Been Traveling all Night Long (Also known as "Rock my Baby" and "Bye-Bye Johnny" and later re-worked as "Can-Utility and the Coastliners" for Genesis' 1972 Foxtrot album.)
• Jamaican Longboat
• Johnny B. Goode
  Johnny B. Goode
  "Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
  
   (A cover of the song by American rock and roll artist Chuck Berry
  Chuck Berry
  Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
  
  .)
• Key to Love
• The Knife
  The Knife (song)
  The Knife is a song by progressive rock band Genesis from their second album Trespass from 1970. It was performed live often in the band's early days and has appeared sporadically in the band's setlists all the way up through 1982...
  
  
• Let us now Make Love
• The Light (Never recorded in full, but pieces of it ended up as "Lilywhite Lilith" and "The Colony of Slippermen," both on the 1974 album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
  The Lamb Lies down on Broadway
  The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
  
  .)
• Little Leaf (Later re-worked by Anthony Phillips
  Anthony Phillips
  Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
  
   on his Private Parts and Pieces III: Antiques
  Private Parts and Pieces III: Antiques
  Private Parts and Pieces III: Antiques is an album by Anthony Phillips, released in 1982. The album is a collaboration with Enrique Berro Garcia.-Track listing :#Motherforest – 1:55#Hurlingham Suite :Ivied Castles – 4:44...
  
   album from 1981 as "Old Wives' Tale.")
• Looking for Someone
• Masochistic Man
• The Musical Box
• Moss (Also known as "The Epilogue.")
• Movement (Possibly a name given for an early version of "Stagnation.")
• The Mystery of the Flannan Isle Lighthouse
• The Nice (Later known as The Knife
  The Knife (song)
  The Knife is a song by progressive rock band Genesis from their second album Trespass from 1970. It was performed live often in the band's early days and has appeared sporadically in the band's setlists all the way up through 1982...
  
  .)
• One Day
• Pacidy
• The Return of the Giant Hogweed
• The Serpent
• The Shepherd
• Silver Song
• Sitting on Top of the World
  Sitting on Top of the World
  "Sitting on Top of the World" is a folk-blues song written by Walter Vinson and Lonnie Chatmon, core members of the Mississippi Sheiks, a popular country blues band of the 1930s...
  
   (A cover of a single released the blues-folk group Mississippi Sheiks
  Mississippi Sheiks
  The Mississippi Sheiks were a popular and influential guitar and fiddle group of the 1930s. They were notable mostly for playing country blues, but were adept at many styles of United States popular music of the time, and their records were bought by both black and white audiences.In 2004, they...
  
   and made famous by many different artists.)
• Stagnation
• Stranger (Avaliable on the reissue of Anthony Phillips' 1978 album Private Parts and Pieces
  Private Parts and Pieces
  Private Parts and Pieces is officially the fourth solo album from guitarist Anthony Phillips. Unlike his previous releases, this one was assembled as a collection of instrumental music, rather than as an explicit attempt at a commercial album. It was first released in the U.S. in November 1978...
  
  .)
• Stumble
  The Stumble
  "The Stumble" is an instrumental blues song originally composed by the guitarist Freddie King. It has been recorded by scores of artists including: Anthony Hawkins of "Black Merda", Luther Allison, Jeff Beck, Eric Bell, Canned Heat, Dave Edmunds, Peter Green, Steve Hackett, Bugs Henderson, Love...
  
   (A cover of blues guitarist Freddie King's
  Freddie King
  Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
  
   song, which was made famous by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
  John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
  John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers are a pioneering English blues band, led by singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist John Mayall, OBE. Mayall used the band name between 1963 and 1967, but then dropped it for some fifteen years. However, in 1982 a 'Return of the Bluesbreakers' was announced and...
  
  .)
• Think Again
• Twilight Alehouse
• Visions of Angels
• Wandering
• Waterlily
• White Mountain
• Window
• Winter Flies by
• Wooden Mask

23 September 1969: Balmes’s Dance in Chobham, England

Set One:

1. In the Beginning
2. The Serpent
3. Going out to get you
4. Masochistic Man
5. Stumble
6. Black Sheep
7. Visions of Angels

Set Two:

1. Build me a Mountain
2. In Limbo
3. Sitting on top of the World
4. Key To Love
5. Chobham Chords
6. Digby of the Rambling Lake
7. The Nice

Set Three:

1. Little Leaf
2. Pacidy
3. Family
4. White Mountain
5. Window
6. Stranger
7. Babies

Set Four:

1. Movement
2. One Day
3. Grandma
4. Let us now Make Love
5. The Conqueror
6. Crossroads

1 November 1969: Brunel University Student's Hall in Acton, England

The order of the songs played this date is not certain.

• In the Wilderness
• Masochistic Man
• Stumble
• Black Sheep
• Build Me a Mountain
• In Limbo
• Digby
• Little Leaf
• Babies
• Key to Love
• Looking For Someone
• Twilight Alehouse
• Sitting on Top of the World
• Pacidy

10 April 1970: Eel Pie Island

Eel Pie Island

Eel Pie Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Twickenham, in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London. It is situated on the Tideway and can be reached only by footbridge or boat...

 in London, England

1. Grandma
2. Let us now Make Love
3. Little Leaf
4. Stagnation
5. Dusk
6. Visions of Angels
7. White Mountain
8. Twilight Alehouse
9. I've Been Traveling all Night Long
10. Shepherd
11. Looking for Someone
12. Jamaican Longboat
13. Pacidy
14. Going Out to Get You
15. The Knife

7 March 1971: La Ferme V in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert

Woluwe-Saint-Lambert or Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium...

, Belgium

1. Happy the Man
2. Stagnation
3. The Light
4. Twilight Alehouse
5. The Musical Box
6. The Knife
7. Going Out to Get You

Tour dates

Date	City	Country	Venue
23 September 1969	Chobham Chobham, Surrey Chobham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Surrey Heath in Surrey, England, about 15 minutes drive from the London railway line stations at Woking to the south and Sunningdale to the north...	England	Balmes' Dance
10 October 1969	Tamworth Tamworth Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...		Kingsbury Working Mens' Club
11 October 1969			Wood End Youth Centre
24 October 1969	Uxbridge Uxbridge Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...		Brunel University Students' Hall
1 November 1969	Acton Acton, London Acton is a district of west London, England, located in the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross.At the time of the 2001 census, Acton, comprising the wards of East Acton, Acton Central, South Acton and Southfield, had a population of 53,689 people...		Brunel University
15 November 1969	London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...		Twickenham Technical College
23 November 1969			Klingston Hotel
28 November 1969			Woolwich Polytechnic
12 December 1969	Uxbridge Uxbridge Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...		Brunel University
14 December 1969	Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...		Warley Social Club
16 December 1969	Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...		Cheadle Hulme Social Club
17 December 1969	Acton		Brunel University
18 December 1969	London		Twickenham Technical College
19 December 1969			Klingston Hotel
20 December 1969	Rolleston Rolleston Rolleston could be*Rolleston, New Zealand*Rolleston, Queensland in AustraliaIn England :*Rolleston, Devon*Rolleston, Leicestershire*Rolleston, Nottinghamshire**Rolleston railway station*Rolleston, Staffordshire-Surname:* Sir John Rolleston...		Rolleston Youth Club
1 January 1970	London		BBC Studios
4 January 1970	Haverstock Haverstock Haverstock is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Camden. It is centred around Haverstock Hill and Chalk Farm, with Gospel Oak to the north; Kentish Town to the east; Camden Town to the south, and Swiss Cottage to the west....		Haverstock Hill Country Club
9 January 1970	London		Shepherd's Bush Shepherd's Bush -Commerce:Commercial activity in Shepherd's Bush is now focused on the Westfield shopping centre next to Shepherd's Bush Central line station and on the many small shops which run along the northern side of the Green....  BBC Studios
17 January 1970	Watford Watford Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...		Watford College of Technology
24 January 1970	Ewell Ewell Ewell is a village in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, close to the southern boundary of Greater London. It is located 14 miles south-south-west of Charing Cross and forms part of the suburbia that surrounds Greater London. Despite its growing population it is still referred to as a...		Ewell Technical College
28 January 1970	London		Kingston Technical College
29 January 1970	Leicester Leicester Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...		Leicester Technical College
30 January 1970	Sunderland		Locarno Ballroom
4 February 1970	London		Queen Mary College
4 February 1970			Marquee Club
12 February 1970	Uxbridge		Brunel University
13 February 1970			Uxbridge Technical College
14 February 1970	Leicester		Leicester University Students Union
15 February 1970	London		Kingston Hotel
18 February 1970	Brighton Brighton Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...		The Dome
19 February 1970	London		Marquee Club
20 February 1970	Fulham Fulham Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...		Hurlingham Tennis Club
22 February 1970	London		Maida Vale BBC Studios Maida Vale Studios Maida Vale Studios is a complex of seven BBC studios on Delaware Road, Maida Vale, London.It has been used to record thousands of classical music, popular music and drama sessions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 from 1946 to the present...
25 February 1970	London		Revolution Club
26 February 1970	London		Blaises Club
27 February 1970	Uxbridge		Brunel University
28 February 1970	Colchester Colchester Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...		Essex University
1 March 1970	Southall Southall Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...		Farx Club
2 March 1970	Beckenham Beckenham Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is located 8.4 miles south east of Charing Cross and 1.75 miles west of Bromley town...		Mistrale Club
3 March 1970	London		Ronnie Scott's Club
10 March 1970
11 March 1970			Roundhouse Club

• Unsure date

Personnel

From 23 September 1969 to 18 July 1970:

• Peter Gabriel
  Peter Gabriel
  Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
  
   - lead vocals, flute, bass drum
• Anthony Phillips
  Anthony Phillips
  Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
  
   - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Tony Banks
  Tony Banks (musician)
  This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
  
   - organ, piano, 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Mike Rutherford
  Mike Rutherford
  Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
  
   - bass guitar, twelve string acoustic guitar, cello, backing vocals
• John Mayhew - drums, percussion

In late July, Anthony Phillips left. From 6 August to 17 September 1970, Genesis played as a four piece without a lead guitarist (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Mayhew). This lineup played ten concerts.

In late September, John Mayhew was replaced by Phil Collins

Phil Collins

Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....

. From 2 October to 23 October, Genesis continued to play as a four piece without a lead guitarist (Gabriel, Banks, Rutherford, Collins). This lineup played eleven concerts.

At the end of October, Mick Barnard

Mick Barnard

Mick Barnard was a guitarist in the UK rock band, The Farm. He was also the guitarist of the band Genesis for a brief time, following the departure of founding member Anthony Phillips, the role for which he is perhaps best remembered today.-Stint in Genesis:...

 joined as lead guitarist. From 3 November 1970 to 10 January 1971, the band played as a five piece (Gabriel, Barnard, Banks, Rutherford, Collins). This lineup played thirty concerts and one television appearance.

After this, Steve Hackett

Steve Hackett

Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...

 replaced Mick Barnard, and from 14 January 1971 until 1975 Genesis lineup was as follows:

• Peter Gabriel
  Peter Gabriel
  Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
  
   - lead vocals, flute, oboe, bass drum
• Steve Hackett
  Steve Hackett
  Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
  
   - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Tony Banks
  Tony Banks (musician)
  This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
  
   - organ, piano, other keyboards, 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Mike Rutherford
  Mike Rutherford
  Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis . He also fronts Mike + The...
  
   - bass guitar, twelve string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
• Phil Collins
  Phil Collins
  Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
  
  - drums, percussion, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals