Watcher of the Skies
Encyclopedia
Watcher of the Skies is the first track on Genesis
' 1972 album Foxtrot
. The title is borrowed from John Keats
' 1817 poem "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer
":
The song was frequently used to open the group's live performances and features as the first track on their 1973 live album
Genesis Live
. The song opens with a Mellotron
intro. According to Tony Banks
, the introductory section was intended to take advantage of the tonal strengths of the Mellotron model he was using at the time:
The two chords in question are Bmaj7/F# and C#/F#.. The long keyboard introduction crossfades into the main ensemble section, which features a prominent single-note staccato pattern in a 6/4 time signature (reminiscent of the 5/4 rhythmic pattern from "Mars" in Gustav Holst's The Planets
suite) played over a pattern of sustained organ chords. Following the vocal sections of the song, there is an unusual polyrhythm
part, where the staccato riff changes to 8/4 time, played against a Mellotron/organ chord part in 6/4.
The lyric was written by Banks and Mike Rutherford during a soundcheck for a gig in Naples
. While they were surveying the deserted landscape of the airfield where they were rehearsing, they wondered what an empty Earth would look like in this state if surveyed by an alien visitor.
It opened the band's shows during 1972-74 and remained a staple in the band's live set into the 1980s. In later years, it has been played in a medley following the track "It" (from The Lamb
), as can be heard on Three Sides Live
. The song was never performed with lyrics after Gabriel's departure.
During performances, Peter Gabriel
wore bat wings on the side of his head, glowing UV make-up
around his eyes, and a multicoloured cape.
The song was re-recorded in 1972 in a radically altered and shortened single
version. This version was re-released in 1998 as part of the Genesis Archive 1967-75
box set.
The song title was used in naming of the tribute album Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited
by ex-Genesis member Steve Hackett
. On the album, the lead vocal was provided by John Wetton
. In the liner notes to the album, Steve Hackett
wrote:
"I remember pushing the band to acquire a Mellotron
back in the 70's and, luckily, King Crimson
had one to spare at the time - the 'Black Bitch' I think they called it on account of it always breaking down... This song alone was a strong reason for re-approaching the early material - from Phil's inventive morse code rhythm to Tony's momentous introduction which always sounded best in Italian Palasports - an aircraft hangar type of rumble ideally suited to spacecraft impersonation."
The song was performed live by Phish
at the 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 15, 2010 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. The band also performed Genesis' "No Reply At All
" after Trey Anastasio
's induction speech.
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...
' 1972 album Foxtrot
Foxtrot (album)
Foxtrot is the fourth studio album by English progressive rock band Genesis and the second from the band line-up which included Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Steve Hackett.-History:...
. The title is borrowed from John Keats
John Keats
John Keats was an English Romantic poet. Along with Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, he was one of the key figures in the second generation of the Romantic movement, despite the fact that his work had been in publication for only four years before his death.Although his poems were not...
' 1817 poem "On First Looking into Chapman's Homer
On First Looking into Chapman's Homer
Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, And many goodly states and kingdoms seen; Round many western islands have I been Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold. Oft of one wide expanse had I been told...
":
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
The song was frequently used to open the group's live performances and features as the first track on their 1973 live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
Genesis Live
Genesis Live
Genesis Live is the first live album released by rock group Genesis in 1973. It was the band's first top 10 hit in the UK reaching No.9 and remaining on the charts for 10 weeks.-History:...
. The song opens with a Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
intro. According to 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...
, the introductory section was intended to take advantage of the tonal strengths of the Mellotron model he was using at the time:
- "It was intentionally melodramatic to conjure up an impression of incredible size. It was an extraordinary sound. On the old Mellotron Mark 2 there were these two chords that sounded really good on that instrument. There are some chords you can't play on that instrument because they'd be so out of tune. These chords created an incredible atmosphere. That's why it's just an incredible intro number. It never sounded so good on the later Mellotron."
The two chords in question are Bmaj7/F# and C#/F#.. The long keyboard introduction crossfades into the main ensemble section, which features a prominent single-note staccato pattern in a 6/4 time signature (reminiscent of the 5/4 rhythmic pattern from "Mars" in Gustav Holst's The Planets
The Planets
The Planets, Op. 32, is a seven-movement orchestral suite by the English composer Gustav Holst, written between 1914 and 1916. Each movement of the suite is named after a planet of the Solar System and its corresponding astrological character as defined by Holst...
suite) played over a pattern of sustained organ chords. Following the vocal sections of the song, there is an unusual polyrhythm
Polyrhythm
Polyrhythm is the simultaneous sounding of two or more independent rhythms.Polyrhythm in general is a nonspecific term for the simultaneous occurrence of two or more conflicting rhythms, of which cross-rhythm is a specific and definable subset.—Novotney Polyrhythms can be distinguished from...
part, where the staccato riff changes to 8/4 time, played against a Mellotron/organ chord part in 6/4.
The lyric was written by Banks and Mike Rutherford during a soundcheck for a gig in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. While they were surveying the deserted landscape of the airfield where they were rehearsing, they wondered what an empty Earth would look like in this state if surveyed by an alien visitor.
It opened the band's shows during 1972-74 and remained a staple in the band's live set into the 1980s. In later years, it has been played in a medley following the track "It" (from The Lamb
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:...
), as can be heard on Three Sides Live
Three Sides Live
Three Sides Live is the third live album by British Progressive Rock band Genesis, released in 1982.-History:The title for this album comes from the original world release, which contained three sides of live material from the band's 1981-82 tour, and a fourth side of studio tracks, three of which...
. The song was never performed with lyrics after Gabriel's departure.
During performances, 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...
wore bat wings on the side of his head, glowing UV make-up
Blacklight paint
Blacklight ink or blacklight-reactive Ink is ink that glows under a black light, a source of light whose wavelengths are primarily in the ultraviolet. The paint may or may not be colorful under ordinary light...
around his eyes, and a multicoloured cape.
The song was re-recorded in 1972 in a radically altered and shortened single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
version. This version was re-released in 1998 as part of the Genesis Archive 1967-75
Genesis Archive 1967-75
Genesis Archive 1967–75 is a 1998 boxed set by progressive rock band Genesis.This set features live recordings and rarities from the band's classic years when Peter Gabriel was lead singer. The first two of the four discs consist of a previously unreleased live recording of The Lamb Lies Down on...
box set.
The song title was used in naming of the tribute album Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis Revisited was a project put together by Steve Hackett to pay tribute to his former band Genesis. It features songs originally released by Genesis during Hackett's tenure with the group...
by ex-Genesis member 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...
. On the album, the lead vocal was provided by John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
. In the liner notes to the album, 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...
wrote:
"I remember pushing the band to acquire a Mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
back in the 70's and, luckily, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
had one to spare at the time - the 'Black Bitch' I think they called it on account of it always breaking down... This song alone was a strong reason for re-approaching the early material - from Phil's inventive morse code rhythm to Tony's momentous introduction which always sounded best in Italian Palasports - an aircraft hangar type of rumble ideally suited to spacecraft impersonation."
The song was performed live by Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
at the 2010 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 15, 2010 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. The band also performed Genesis' "No Reply At All
No Reply at All
"No Reply at All" is a song by British band Genesis, from their 1981 album Abacab.-Structure:This song, like Phil Collins' solo track "I Missed Again" , makes prominent use of a horn section, arranged by Tom Tom 84 "No Reply at All" is a song by British band Genesis, from their 1981 album...
" after Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
's induction speech.
Personnel
- Peter GabrielPeter GabrielPeter 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...
: vocals, tambourine, bass drum - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen 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 - Mike RutherfordMike RutherfordMichael 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, backing vocals - Phil CollinsPhil CollinsPhilip 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, backing vocals - Tony BanksTony 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...
: Hammond organ, Mellotron, backing vocals