The Geese and the Ghost

Infobox Album |
Name = The Geese and the Ghost
Type = Album
Artist = Anthony Phillips


Released = March 1977
Recorded = 1973, 1975-76
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 45.01
Label = Passport Records, Hit & Run Music, Virgin Records, Vertigo Records
Producer = Simon Heyworth, Michael Rutherford, and Anthony Phillips
Reviews =|
Last album =
This album = "The Geese and the Ghost" (1977)
Next album = "Wise After the Event" (1978)

"The Geese and the Ghost" is the debut solo album from former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips. It was released in 1977 on Passport Records in the US and Hit & Run Music in the UK.

Production

In 1969, just prior to an extensive tour for Genesis, Phillips and bassist Mike Rutherford wrote a good deal of music, committing the material to tape in order to preserve a record of the work. Among the tracks, was a piece entitled "D Instrumental", a song that would eventually become the album's title track. Following his departure from Genesis in 1970, Phillips wrote many of the songs that would ultimately constitute the rest of the album. Phillips at this time became more interested in his musical studies and work on the material was put aside until 1973 when he re-connected with Rutherford to work on small projects including a prosceptive single release, "Silver Song"/"Only Your Love", that included Genesis drummer Phil Collins on vocals. This material convinced Genesis label Charisma Records to front the money for initial work on an album to begin.

Always intending the album project to be a collaboration with Rutherford, Phillips found it difficult to schedule time when the two could work together, as Rutherford's Genesis schedule was proving hectic during the recording of their double album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. In 1974, an injury to Phillips' Genesis successor, Steve Hackett, provided the opening Phillips and Rutherford needed and a great deal of work on the album was recorded in October of that year. While Rutherford rejoined Genesis, Phillips continued work on the album until another break allowed them to continue work on the album in the summer of 1975.

With the album in a nearly-finished state in 1976, Charisma Records ultimately decided against releasing it, leaving Phillips without the financing to complete recording. After meetings with Virgin, Phillips put the material aside and concentrated on his burgeoning career in library music and other projects. In October of 1976, however, word came that US record label Passport Records was interested in releasing the album. This gave Phillips the impetus he needed to complete "The Geese and the Ghost". Still unable to find a UK distributor, Phillips and Genesis manager Tony Smith created the "Hit & Run" label in order to secure a UK release for the album.

Original track listing

All titles written by Anthony Phillips except where indicated
# "Wind — Tales" – 0:59
# "Which Way the Wind Blows" – 5:52 "Henry: Portraits From Tudor Times" (Phillips/Rutherford)
# i) "Fanfare" – 1:02
# ii) "Lutes' Chorus" – 1:05
# iii) "Misty Battlements" – 2:06
# iv) "Henry Goes to War" – 3:52
# v) "Death of a Knight" – 2:09
# vi) "Triumphant Return" – 1:51
# "God if I Saw Her Now" – 4:12
# "Chinese Mushroom Cloud" (Phillips/Rutherford) – 0:46
# "The Geese and the Ghost Part I" (Phillips/Rutherford) – 8:12
# "The Geese and the Ghost Part II" (Phillips/Rutherford) – 7:32
# "Collections" – 3:07
# "Sleepfall: The Geese Fly West" – 4:33

2008 reissue bonus CD

# "Master Of Time" (demo)
# "Title Inspiration"
# "The Geese and the Ghost - Part One(basic track)
# "Collections link"
# "Which Way The Wind Blows" (basic track)
# "Silver Song" (Geese sessions)
# "Henry: Portraits From Tudor Times" (basic track):
## Fanfare
## Lute's Chorus
## Lute's Chorus Reprise
## Misty Battlement
# "The Geese and the Ghost - Part Two (basic track)
# "God If I Saw Her Now" (basic track)
# "Sleepfall" (basic track)
# "Silver Song" (unreleased single version, 1973)

Personnel

* Anthony Phillips; Acoustic 12 string, 6 string, classical guitar, electric 6 and 12 string guitars, basses, appalachian dulcimer, bazouki, synthesizers, mellotron, harmonium, piano, organ, celeste, pin piano, drums, glockenspiel, timbales, bells and chimes, gong. Vocal on "Collections"
* Mike Rutherford; Acoustic 12 string, 6 string, classical guitars, electric 6 and 12 string guitars, basses, organ, drums, timbales, glockenspiel, cymbals, bells.
* Phil Collins; vocals (2, 9)
* Rob Phillips; Oboes (11, 12, 14)
* Lazo Momulovich; Oboes, Cor Anglais (3, 11)
* John Hackett; Flutes (9, 13, 14)
* Wil Sleath; Flute, Baroque flute, recorder, piccolo (3)
* Jack Lancaster; Flutes, Lyricon (14)
* Charlie Martin; Cello (10-12)
* Kirk Trevor; Cello (10-12)
* Nick Hayley; Violins (11, 12)
* Martin Westlake; Timpani (3, 10-12)
* Tom Newman; Hecklephone and bulk eraser
* Viv McCauliffe; Vocals (9)
* Send Barns Orchestra and Barge Rabble conducted by Jeremy Gilbert
* Ralph Bernascone; Soloist
* David Thomas: Classical guitar (15)
* Ronnie Gunn: Harmonium (15)

References

* Dann, Jonathan (2008). "liner notes to The Geese and the Ghost", Houghton Le Spring: Voiceprint.