The Video Show is the most complete collection of Genesis videos to appear on DVD. It also must be said that this is a colection of videos basically from the Phil Collins years as well as a few from the Calling All Stations album, as the band did not do any videos while Peter Gabriel manned the vocal helm in the early 70's. So, if you are a fan of the Genesis hits of the 80's and 90's, this will be a perfect addition to your DVD collection, as it covers each video that the band made in that era, plus a few surprises from the late 70's.
It's great to see some video here of songs that were left off the Platinum Collection 3CD set, like "Man on the Corner" and "No Reply at All". Even though some of the videos here are just plain hokey ("Jesus He Knows Me" and 'I Can't Dance", with a hammy Phil Collins mugging for the camera) or sleep inducing ('Tell Me Why"), there are some fun and influential examples of video-making here. "Land of Confusion" still is a great watch even today with its effective use of humor and puppets. The band also went for some dark atmosphere on the videos for "Mama" and "Tonight Tonight Tonight" which was also pretty effective. Benny Hill's appearance on "Anything She Does" adds some British star power to an otherwise silly setting. For the most part many of the songs here folks will remember as excusus for the band to be in one goofy setting or another pretening to be playing the songs while acting out some silly storyline. It's all lighthearted, fun stuff, that will bring back memories for many. What they were thinking on "Paperlate" though remains to be seen, as the band comes off as playing at a teeny-bopper dance hall, which seems to be a strange place for an arena rock superband, which Genesis was at the time.
The most appealing for the prog rock fans will be the videos of "Abacab" or "Home By the Sea", with the band on stage surrounded by mounds of amps, keyboards, and lights flashing. Plus, any excuse to see Phil Collins play his drums is a good one. In addition, songs like "Turn It On Again", "Duchess", "Misunderstood" (all from the Duke album), "Follow You Follow Me", "Many Too Many", " A Trick of the Tail", "Ripples" and "Robbery Assault and Battery" (the latter three featuring Steve Hackett) all are considered songs from Genesis' last days as a true prog rock band. The inclusion of "The Carpet Crawlers 1999" is probably reason enough for the long time fan to get this set, and although the members are not on camera at all, hearing Gabriel playing with the guys again is a treat. I think that judging by the quality of the re-recording of this classic song, if the original band were to get together again some day, magic might indeed happen.
In summary, a fun DVD collection that will find a welcome spot in any Genesis lover's collection.
Song Listing
1. No Son Of Mine
2. I Can't Dance
3. Hold On My Heart
4. Jesus He Knows Me
5. Tell Me Why
6. Invisible Touch
7. Throwing It All Away
8. Land Of Confusion
9. Tonight Tonight Tonight
10. Anything She Does
11. In Too Deep
12. That's All
13. Mama
14. Illegal Alien
15. Home By The Sea/ Second Home By The Sea
16. Paperlate
17. Abacab
18. Keep It Dark
19. No Reply At All
20. Man On The Corner
21. Turn It On Again
22. Duchess
23. Misunderstanding
24. Follow You Follow Me
25. Many Too Many
26. A Trick Of The Tail
27. Ripples
28. Robbery, Assault And Battery
29. Congo
30. Shipwrecked
31. Not About Us
32. The Carpet Crawlers 1999
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