Anthony Phillips 1977 to 1990 On Track

In the mid-1960s, two notable bands emerged from the rarified cloisters of Charterhouse Public School in rural Surrey: The Anon, with guitarists Anthony Phillips and Mike Rutherford and The Garden Wall, a unit driven by the duo of Peter Gabriel and Tony Banks. Following the 1966 end-of-term school concert, these two bands merged, leading to the first lineup of Genesis. Phillips remained with Genesis until July 1970, when stage fright and ill health forced him to quit. He embarked on a long course of musical self-improvement that would eventually lead to an impressive technique on both guitar and keyboards, leading to a flourishing solo career, commencing with his first solo album The Geese & The Ghost in 1977.

   In this book, Alan Draper looks at Anthony Phillips’ solo output, from his 1977 debut album through to his most successful long-form work, Slow Dance, in 1990. Also included are the two Archive Collection albums, released after this date, as they contain previously unreleased material from the pre-1990 period. In the 21st century, Phillips’ albums have become widely available via rereleased and beautifully packaged box sets, providing the perfect opportunity to explore his impressive body of work once again.