Genesis - "Congo" - Song Review
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Let's talk about the song, "Congo" from the 1997 Genesis album, "Calling All Stations"
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A review of “Calling All Stations”? I can’t wait! Thank you to the Patreon Members for suggesting this song. A good song which is under appreciated. Excellent analysis by you. As always, great post and you rock!!
Thank you!!
It’s actually three songs in one - the African intro/ending, the bulk of the song with that gritty, industrial sound and that bridge with that key change. I thought the bridge was great too - probably one of the great Genesis moments.
The bridge is my favourite part of the song.
@@thegoldenpanther6986 I think it’s quite lovely and catchy
This album definitely has some good moments on it.
Yep!
I got mine in the mail today! It was double boxed and each corner had cardboard protection. The wrapping was sealed with a "batwing" sticker! Very cool! I would not have known about this book without your upload! Thanks! I got copy 199! it came with a postcard from the Genesis Museum.
Enjoy!!
@@EverythingPhilCollins Hey have you heard about the Atlantic 75th releases by Analog Production? They are releasing vinyl pressings of Face Value, and Hello I Must Be Going. Along with Genesis titles SEBTP, The Lamb, Abacab, Nursery Chryme, Foxtrot, and the MAMA album. on vinyl, and Hybrid Stereo SACDs?
I bought it, the day it came out on CD single. It was released as 2 CD singles. One with the radio edit. The other with the album version. One of the CD singles had a CD video clip that could be played on a PC and Second Home By The Sea was included on it
I really really like ‘Congo’! And thanks for pointing out both versions of it. It drives me crazy that all music streamers only have the radio edit and not the album version. Also, there’s another radio edit that completely eliminates the tribal intro. Good luck tracking it down along with the other seven songs that were left off of ‘Calling All Stations’. Cheers!
:) ❤️
Scott??? Darrin here. GRAB the 2LP Calling All Stations Deluxe Edition from Mike. You'll appreciate it so much more.
I remember when Congo came out in 1997....I just LOVED it. That dirty guitar sound is actually Tony. Plus, yes you're right that bridge is totally cool. The cool part is Tony's funky outro which blends in with the chorus as the outro.
I used to work out on the treadmill to this song.....as I did Alien Afternoon and One Man's Fool.
I don't care what anyone says....it's Tony's chords that make Genesis music work.
LOVE this channel.
So true. Tony is Genesis and Genesis is Tony.
Scott, you're right, the fade outs in CAS are for another post, both the first couple of tunes are faded out in "non traditional" places. Which made them sound "clunky".
Got it used a few years ago!! Love it!
Tony is not Genesis as same claim. Listen to his solo albums. All three members need each other to make the sound of Genesis. Though I believe Tony is the backbone of the music.
The drums on Congo, are great!
The single has 2 Non Album Tracks which are killers “Papa he said” & “Banjo Man” and Congo has only the gritty part on it.
Some good bsides out there!!
I am so glad you’re finally diving into the “Calling All Stations” album. I love the song Congo and think it was a great choice for a lead single. The album version has the unique African percussion intro before becoming an electrifying rock anthem before changing keys and closing out. The single version cuts out the final part and fades early before this outro happens.
Though im a diehard fan of Genesis, as well as both Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins solo works, im forever furious at Banks and Rutherford for chickening out so early and folding after CAS. They could’ve at least tried one more time with Ray Wilson. Either way, though im happy they reunited with Phil for two subsequent tours, I’ve never fully forgiven Banks and Rutherford for chucking Wilson like a hot potatoes after CAS. Even the PC-era fans IMO bear some responsibility for roasting CAS.
Anyway, I’m glad it’s been remastered and reissued since. Hopefully any B-Sides from that era will surface someday.
Great thoughts!!! Thank you!
Thank you for introducing me to the Genesis music treasure 😊. I just love all the three songs on Congo. I do agree though, with your alanysis.
♥️
I DO like the cheeky moments/videos in the Genesis cannon, but I remember seeing the Congo video and going yeah, a bit more serious approach (like 'hey, remember we are ALSO a serious ROCK band as well) which I REALLY appreciated that approach and sometimes wish they had done it more with Phil (Like the Mama video) although I like the 'funny' videos as well. I recently bought a second hand Calling All Stations CD and am willing to give it another listen/chance.
I love "Congo". I also have the edited version without the African style intro on CD the single of this song. The bridge section is fantastic too! A brilliant song from a brilliant album.
When I first heard CAS I really thought the fade-out of the opening song was weird. But actually, fading into that tribal theme Congo starts with, it kinda made sense. I've always thought of it as fading into memories (Congo) that led up to where the main character is at this point in life (Calling All Stations, Shipwrecked etc.).. But I do agree that Congo could definitely be split into two actual songs. Thanks for the review!!😃
Nice. Thanks for watching!!
Hi Scott,
I really like Calling All Stations.
They should have made a Follow Up.
Congo, is a very good Song.
Agree!!
I love Congo. Nice, heavy song which boded well for the new album. The middle eight is one of their best and I love the intro/outro. Should have been a huge hit.
Great track indeed!
I played this album a lot when it first came out, but it did not grow on me like all the other Genesis albums did. I can't explain it (although no Phil is definitely a factor). Take care, Ian
That’s fair!
I bought CAS the day it came out. The Local radio station in Tulsa, KMOD played it and the made a point to mention Ray Wilson was the new singer. Genesis had the album launch and I was hoping it would do well. This did not last long, and, in the news they had cancel the US tour. The video on the Congo CD single showed the screen in back with individual blocks moving spreading out and coming together and it looked a bit too ambitious. CAS itself doesn't get a lot of repeat plays these days from me.
They used those screens on thr We Can't Dance tour and they worked brilliantly. They abandoned the screens for a cloth backdrop in 97/98 which just looked cheap.
@@stefanlivesey8068 They used video screens on the CAS tour, but not at all venues.
@@EHiggins Cheers. I only saw them once on this tour, at Manchester. I saw the cloth backdrop and thought "Oh dear."
Would’ve loved to grab it on release day! Fun memory!!
This song was playing when I crashed my car.....Nuff said.
Fortunately said car has since been replaced with a lookalike.
On an alternative note, the "like a soldier ant" line makes me think of Ant Phillips.
The truth is that when I finally listened to this Album CAS in full was when I saw/heard all the materials contained in all the Boxsets released in 2007, which I was lucky to collect fully..So, I liked the Album, my Favs are Shipwrecked-The Dividing Line & Uncertain Weather ( My Absolute Favorite )..I love Ray’s Voice…I don’t miss Phil’s Vocals but I missed Phil’s Drums…Because Phil, for me, as you know, Scott, is the Best Drummer Ever so…But the drums are good on that Album, not Impressive as if they were played by Phil but…liked the Album a lot..In terms of Congo, I think it’s a good song but not into my fav tracks on this Album..Maybe all this Commentary should’ve been on your review of the Album but…I’ll make another commentary on your album review ( maybe quite similar but…I’ll try it’s not exactly the same )
Great thoughts! Love it!
Guess , I'm an Odd Duck. My Faves are " Please Don't Touch", and Smallcreeps Day. Even Seconds Out. I'm Critical about CAS. It's like a Sub Par Mike & the Mechanics Album.
Did you hear there will be an audiophile pressing of face value?
I did. Very exciting!!
I'm Thrilled, Your Talking about this album. I Think their Management Set them Up to Fail.
Excited for the review!!
Atlantic did not get behind them as much as they would have with Phil in the group.
Probably so. I remember back then that they had to cancel the US leg of the tour because so few Americans bought tickets.
The manager Tony smith seems like money. I’m sure he was most disappointed. 😜
OK, here we go…
1. CAS was doomed from the beginning because of the musical landscape at the time. Even if it was the equivalent of Sgt. Peppers, it was destined to fail because of the press’ and the generic general public’s view that “No Phil Collins, No Genesis”.
2. The fade-outs are really bad, as you stated.
3. There is an outstanding album within this album. Take out “Alien Afternoon” and “Small Talk” and it’s a killer album.
4. Yes, Ray’s singing of the pop hits in concert was a mistake. They should have stuck with the longer, grittier tracks.
5. Ray once stated that Mike Rutherford and Tony Smith kept him in the dark about no 2nd album. Only, Tony spoke with him afterwards when they met for lunch one day.
6. One Man’s Fool is one of their best songs. Listen to it when you are working out or running. The 2nd half will have you sprinting, especially with the drumming. “Dividing Line” live is also a great workout song.
7. Your subscribers’ comments are excellent. Whether I agree or not, they are legitimate and interesting.
8. “Not About Us” is a great song and video.
9. CAS is very interesting to discuss.
10. This is your best post yet, in my opinion. Great job. As always, you rock!!
Great thoughts and thank so much! Love talking about CAS. Such an interesting part of the story!
Not a fan of the lyrics of this song. I dislike how the songs on the album fade out while the vocals get cut off.
So true!!
Calling All Stations? Meh😕I was in my mid twenties when it came out. A devoted fan of all things Genesis since I was 7 , I had started to feel they were becoming set in their ways by this point. Phils Both Sides album didn’t hold any interest for me either. Maybe I’d just grown apart from them, like a son leaving his parents😆…We Can’t Dance was the last Genesis album as far as I was concerned, and even that had the early signs of Dad Rock creeping in….Sorry guys…Calling all Stations, apart from a few interesting moments was pretty weak….in MY opinion…🙂
Fair points!
Congo was a meh song...great water video, but the song wasn't good enough to climb the charts. Had the band done a 4 minute version of The Dividing Line, that would have grabbed listeners attention; and moved them up on the charts. I feel bad for Ray Wilson...kind of equivalent to Gary Cherone when he was briefly with Van Halen.
Yah feel bad for Ray!
I loved your analysis.
But let’s mention the video. It’s fairly creepy. What’s up with the androgynous black guy in the car? Not sure what they were going for there.
Congo isn't bad, but I absolutely HATE Tony's ugly keyboard sound on his solo.