Wise After the Event
Encyclopedia
Wise After the Event is the second solo album from former Genesis
guitarist Anthony Phillips
. It was released in 1978 by Passport Records. It marks the only time Phillips sang lead vocals on an entire album.
As originally planned, Wise After the Event was to be an album and an accompanying EP
. At some point subsequent to the commissioning of the artwork for the record jacket, the material was pared down to just enough for an album. Discrepancies between Peter Cross
' original artwork and the actual running order of the album were corrected when it was re-released in 1990.
Two tracks cut from the album came out on a contemporaneous single. "Squirrel" and the brief "Sitars and Nebulous" were coupled on the B-side of the May, 1978, "We're All As We Lie" single. "Squirrel" was later reunited with the album as a bonus track on the 1990 CD reissue.
The rest of the missing music was released on Phillips' 1980 album, Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion
. This included three songs (actually just short links) that were definitely planned and sequenced for the earlier album, "Chinaman" (based on the intro to "Paperchase"), "Romany's Aria" (part of "We're All As We Lie" played backwards), and "Von Runkel's Yorker Music" (previously called "Sitars and Nebulous"). Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion includes two additional songs, "Tremulous" and "Magic Garden", that date from the Wise After the Event sessions, but whose position on that album was less certain.
A remastered 2CD version of the album was released in Japan
by Arcangelo Records in July 2007 as a limited edition mini-vinyl sleeve. A standard jewel case version was released in the UK by Voiceprint Records
in May 2008.
Note: "Squirrel" was originally released as the B-side of the 7" single release of "We're All As We Lie"
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...
guitarist 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...
. It was released in 1978 by Passport Records. It marks the only time Phillips sang lead vocals on an entire album.
As originally planned, Wise After the Event was to be an album and an accompanying EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. At some point subsequent to the commissioning of the artwork for the record jacket, the material was pared down to just enough for an album. Discrepancies between Peter Cross
Peter Cross
Peter Cross is a British illustrator.He first worked as a technical illustrator for Hawker Siddeley.His style features lifelike drawings of British wildlife, in cartoon-like situations...
' original artwork and the actual running order of the album were corrected when it was re-released in 1990.
Two tracks cut from the album came out on a contemporaneous single. "Squirrel" and the brief "Sitars and Nebulous" were coupled on the B-side of the May, 1978, "We're All As We Lie" single. "Squirrel" was later reunited with the album as a bonus track on the 1990 CD reissue.
The rest of the missing music was released on Phillips' 1980 album, Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion
Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion
Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion is the second "generic" album by Anthony Phillips. The album is composed of previously recorded pieces that had been parts of or intended for other projects. The album was released at a time when Phillips was between his Arista Records and RCA...
. This included three songs (actually just short links) that were definitely planned and sequenced for the earlier album, "Chinaman" (based on the intro to "Paperchase"), "Romany's Aria" (part of "We're All As We Lie" played backwards), and "Von Runkel's Yorker Music" (previously called "Sitars and Nebulous"). Private Parts and Pieces II: Back to the Pavilion includes two additional songs, "Tremulous" and "Magic Garden", that date from the Wise After the Event sessions, but whose position on that album was less certain.
A remastered 2CD version of the album was released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by Arcangelo Records in July 2007 as a limited edition mini-vinyl sleeve. A standard jewel case version was released in the UK by Voiceprint Records
Voiceprint Records
Voiceprint Records is a company and record label based in England, founded in 1990 by Rob Ayling. They specialise in re-releasing old material, especially progressive rock, but also have new releases, all under the Voiceprint and other imprints....
in May 2008.
Original track listing
All songs written by Anthony Phillips except where indicated- "We're All As We Lie" – 4:37
- "Birdsong and Reprise" – 6:45
- "Moonshooter" – 5:58
- "Wise After the Event" – 10:28
- "Pulling Faces" – 4:37
- "Regrets" – 6:02
- "Greenhouse" (Anthony Phillips, Jeremy Gilbert) – 3:03
- "Paperchase" – 5:34
- "Now What (Are They Doing to my Little Friends?)" – 8:23
- "Squirrel" – 4:30 (CD bonus track)
Note: "Squirrel" was originally released as the B-side of the 7" single release of "We're All As We Lie"
2008 reissue bonus CD
- "We're All As We Lie" (link) - 1:23
- "Sleeping On An Interstellar Plane" ("Greenhouse" demo) (Anthony Phillips, Jeremy Gilbert) - 3:04)
- "Paperchase" (Instrumental demo) - 5:31
- "Birdsong" (Instrumental demo) - 5:33
- "Moonshooter" (Cottage Tapes demo) - 5:37
- "We're All As We Lie" (Cottage Tapes demo) - 3:53
- "Pulling Faces" (Cottage Tapes demo) - 4:29
- "Squirrel" (Instrumental mix) - 4:28
- "Wise After The Event" (Instrumental mix) - 8:54
- "Magic Garden" (Solo Piano Mix) - 1:55
- "We're All As We Lie" (7" single version) - 3:49
- "Regrets" (Piano mix) - 6:00
- "Chinaman" (Basic guitar mix) - 0:44
- "Now What (Are They Doing To My Little Friends)?" (Instrumental mix) - 8:14
Personnel
- Anthony PhillipsAnthony PhillipsAnthony 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...
: vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and HarmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Michael GilesMichael GilesMichael Giles is an English drummer, best known as a co-founder of King Crimson in 1969...
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - John G. Perry: BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
(Wal customWal (bass)Wal is a brand of electric bass manufactured by Electric Wood Ltd. in High Wycombe, England. It was started in 1974 by electronics expert Ian Waller and luthier Pete Stevens...
) - The Vicar: guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
and sundries - Jeremy Gilbert: Keyboards on "Greenhouse", Harp on "Now What?"
- Mel CollinsMel CollinsMel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
: Soprano SaxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
on "We’re All As We Lie", Flutes on "Birdsong" - Robin Phillips: OboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
on "Sitars & Nebulous" - Rupert HineRupert HineRupert Neville Hine is an English musician, songwriter and prolific record producer, having produced albums for artists including Kevin Ayers, Tina Turner, Howard Jones, Saga, The Fixx, Bob Geldof, Thompson Twins, Stevie Nicks, Chris de Burgh, Suzanne Vega, Rush, Underworld, Duncan Sheik, and ...
: percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, Locks, Probs, Modes & Vibes - Perkin Alanbeck: synthesiserSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
on "Birdsong" - Humbert Ruse & Vic Stench: Drums & Bass on "Greenhouse"
- Rodent Rabble (including "No Hours from Neasden"): Clicks, Claps and Crampons
- Orchestra on "Regrets" conducted by Gilbert Biberian. Assembled by David Katz, arranged by Anthony Phillips