BBC Broadcasts
BBC Broadcasts is a box set by the English rock band Genesis, released on 3 March 2023 by EMI Records.[1] It features live performances recorded for BBC Radio broadcasts from 1970 to 1998, spanning the band's career from its early progressive rock era through to the lineup with Ray Wilson.[2] Curated by Genesis founder Tony Banks and longtime engineer/producer Nick Davis, the set includes 53 tracks across a 5-CD edition (totaling 349 minutes) and a 3-LP vinyl edition with 24 selected highlights (144 minutes).[3] Notable content includes the full "Duke Suite" from a 1980 Lyceum Theatre performance and previously unreleased live tracks from the Ray Wilson era, marking the first official release of such material beyond acoustic single versions.[1]Background
Conception and curation
The project for the BBC Broadcasts box set was first teased by longtime Genesis engineer and producer Nick Davis in a September 2022 interview, with the official announcement coming from the band in January 2023.[4][5] Curated by founding keyboardist Tony Banks and Davis, the collection aimed to compile a comprehensive overview of the band's BBC radio and concert performances, drawing on material spanning nearly three decades.[6][7] Track selection emphasized unreleased or rare live recordings from BBC sessions and broadcasts between 1970 and 1998, with priority given to high audio quality and balanced representation across the band's evolving lineups, including vocalists Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Ray Wilson.[5][8] The curation process involved extensive archival research into the BBC's vaults, supplemented by the band's own private recordings, to locate and authenticate original masters from key sessions such as early 1970s Night Ride appearances and later 1990s shows.[9][5] Key challenges included editing extended broadcasts to fit the 53-track format while preserving performance integrity, and arranging the five discs in chronological order to create a cohesive narrative flow that highlights the band's progression from progressive rock origins to pop-rock stadium anthems.[10][11] This approach ensured the set not only documented rare material but also served as an accessible entry point to Genesis's extensive history of BBC interactions, which began in the band's formative years.[12]Historical context of BBC sessions
Genesis's association with the BBC began in the early progressive rock era, with their debut session recorded on 22 February 1970 at Maida Vale Studios for the Night Ride program on BBC Radio 2.[13] This performance, featuring tracks from their nascent repertoire, captured the band's intricate compositions and theatrical style during a period when they were still establishing their identity beyond art school origins.[14] Subsequent sessions for John Peel's Top Gear and Sounds of the 70s in 1971 and 1972 further documented their growth, including a September 1972 Top Gear appearance that previewed material from the upcoming album Foxtrot, released later that year, thereby aiding promotion of their breakthrough progressive work.[15] Through the 1970s, BBC sessions evolved alongside the band's lineup changes and musical experimentation, with live recordings like the March 1972 Paris Theatre concert broadcast on Sounds of the 70s showcasing extended improvisations that highlighted their live prowess.[13] As Genesis transitioned into the 1980s pop-oriented phase following Peter Gabriel's departure, BBC broadcasts adapted to reflect this shift, including the 1980 Lyceum Theatre performance aired on Radio 1, which emphasized shorter, more accessible arrangements.[14] By the mid-1980s, sessions such as the 1987 Wembley Stadium concert for Radio 1 Live in Concert tied directly to the Invisible Touch album cycle, broadcasting hits like "Land of Confusion" to a broad audience and underscoring the BBC's role in amplifying the band's commercial success during peak popularity.[12] Into the 1990s, broadcasts like the 1992 Knebworth Festival set continued this tradition, capturing the band's matured sound amid lineup shifts including Ray Wilson's tenure.[14] These BBC sessions held significant promotional value, often timed with album releases to expose Genesis's evolving styles—from progressive epics to synth-driven pop— to UK listeners without relying solely on commercial tours.[9] However, much of this material was notably absent from earlier compilations; the 1998 Archive #1 (1967–1975) box set included only select studio outtakes and limited live excerpts, prioritizing rarities over full BBC broadcasts due to archival focus on the Gabriel era.[16] Similarly, Archive #2 (1976–1992) from 2000 overlooked most BBC live content, as the emphasis was on multitrack demos rather than radio performances.[14] The 2023 BBC Broadcasts release revisited this trove to rectify these omissions, compiling 39 previously unreleased tracks from 1970 to 1998 as an official celebration of the band's BBC legacy amid their retirement from touring.[5]Release
Formats and editions
BBC Broadcasts was released on 3 March 2023 by EMI Records in the UK and by Rhino/Atlantic internationally.[5][1] The CD edition is a five-disc box set containing 53 tracks recorded between 1970 and 1998, with a total runtime of approximately 5 hours and 47 minutes.[17] This comprehensive collection includes remastered audio from various BBC sessions and live broadcasts, packaged with a 40-page illustrated booklet. In contrast, the LP edition is a three-disc vinyl set featuring 24 selected tracks, offering an abbreviated selection of highlights from the same era; it is pressed on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl, marking the first vinyl release for many of these recordings.[17][18] Digital versions became available for streaming on platforms such as Spotify starting from the release date, including high-resolution audio options on services like Apple Music. Initial retail prices were approximately £50 for the CD box set and £60 for the LP edition in the UK, with limited quantities for both physical formats; no major reissues have followed as of 2025.Promotion and packaging
The release of BBC Broadcasts was announced on January 12, 2023, through official channels by Rhino Records, emphasizing its role as a career-spanning archival collection of 53 live BBC recordings from 1970 to 1998, curated by founding member Tony Banks and longtime engineer Nick Davis.[5] This promotional campaign positioned the box set as a definitive retrospective following the band's retirement from touring, with the final show of The Last Domino? Tour occurring on March 26, 2022, at London's O2 Arena, framing it as a lasting gift to fans amid the group's transition to archival projects.[5][19] The packaging adopted a premium, collector-oriented design, featuring a sturdy portrait-format custom box housing either the five-CD edition with all 53 tracks or the three-LP edition with a curated 24-track selection.[5] Accompanying the sets is a 40-page booklet with liner notes by music journalist Michael Hann, rare session photos spanning the Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, and Ray Wilson eras, and a detailed timeline chronicling Genesis's BBC appearances from early progressive rock sessions to later pop-rock broadcasts.[5][14] The LP edition further includes gatefold sleeves for the vinyl discs, enhancing accessibility to the analog format while maintaining visual cohesion with the overall aesthetic.[20] Distribution focused on direct-to-consumer channels, with pre-orders launching immediately via the official Rhino store and major platforms like Amazon, allowing fans to secure exclusive editions alongside complementary Genesis merchandise such as apparel and posters through bundled offers.[21][22] This strategy underscored the release's appeal to dedicated collectors, leveraging the band's enduring legacy to drive engagement post-retirement.[19]Content
Track listing
The BBC Broadcasts is a five-CD box set compiling 53 live performances from Genesis' BBC radio sessions and concerts, spanning from early 1970s studio recordings to late 1990s festival appearances. Tracks are grouped by recording session, with metadata indicating the original broadcast program, date, and location where applicable.[1]Disc 1
| No. | Title | Original Session |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shepherd | Night Ride, BBC Radio Two, February 22, 1970 |
| 2 | Pacidy | Night Ride, BBC Radio Two, February 22, 1970 |
| 3 | Let Us Now Make Love | Night Ride, BBC Radio Two, February 22, 1970 |
| 4 | The Fountain of Salmacis | Paris Studios, London, March 2, 1972 |
| 5 | The Musical Box | Paris Studios, London, March 2, 1972 |
| 6 | Stagnation | Sounds of the 70s, BBC Radio One, May 10, 1971 |
| 7 | Harlequin | John Peel Session, BBC Radio One, January 1972 |
| 8 | Get 'Em Out by Friday | John Peel Session, BBC Radio One, September 1972 |
| 9 | Harold the Barrel | John Peel Session, BBC Radio One, September 1972 |
| 10 | Twilight Alehouse | John Peel Session, BBC Radio One, September 1972 |
| 11 | Watcher of the Skies | In Concert, BBC Radio One, Wembley Empire Pool, London, April 15, 1975 |
Disc 2
| No. | Title | Original Session |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squonk | Knebworth Festival, June 24, 1978 |
| 2 | Burning Rope | Knebworth Festival, June 24, 1978 |
| 3 | Dance on a Volcano | Knebworth Festival, June 24, 1978 |
| 4 | Drum Duet | Knebworth Festival, June 24, 1978 |
| 5 | Los Endos | Knebworth Festival, June 24, 1978 |
| 6 | Deep in the Motherlode | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 7 | Dancing with the Moonlit Knight | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 8 | The Carpet Crawlers | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 9 | One for the Vine | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 10 | Behind the Lines | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 11 | Duchess | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 12 | Guide Vocal | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 13 | Turn It On Again | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 14 | Duke's Travels | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 15 | Duke's End | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
Disc 3
| No. | Title | Original Session |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Say It's Alright Joe | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 2 | The Lady Lies | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 3 | Ripples | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 4 | In the Cage | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 5 | The Raven | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 6 | Afterglow | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 7 | Follow You, Follow Me | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 8 | I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 9 | The Knife | Lyceum Theatre, London, May 6-7, 1980 |
| 10 | Mama | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 11 | Domino | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
Disc 4
| No. | Title | Original Session |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | That's All | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 2 | The Brazilian | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 3 | Throwing It All Away | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 4 | Home by the Sea | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 5 | Second Home by the Sea | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 6 | Invisible Touch | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 7 | Drum Duet | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 8 | Los Endos | Wembley Stadium, London, July 1987 |
| 9 | Not About Us | NEC Arena, Birmingham, February 25-26, 1998 |
| 10 | The Dividing Line | NEC Arena, Birmingham, February 25-26, 1998 |
Disc 5
| No. | Title | Original Session |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No Son of Mine | Knebworth Festival, August 2, 1992 |
| 2 | Driving the Last Spike | Knebworth Festival, August 2, 1992 |
| 3 | Old Medley | Knebworth Festival, August 2, 1992 |
| 4 | Fading Lights | Knebworth Festival, August 2, 1992 |
| 5 | Hold on My Heart | Knebworth Festival, August 2, 1992 |
| 6 | I Can't Dance | Knebworth Festival, August 2, 1992 |