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Genesis — The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

What the critics heard when these records were new. Original reviews, release anniversaries and chart histories.

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First release · United Kingdom
Album cover: Genesis — The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (Original 1974 UK release, Charisma Records CGS 101 (gatefold sleeve))
Cover source ↗Cover Art Archive / MusicBrainz – front cover of the original 1974 UK Charisma release (CGS 101)
1974

Genesis

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

progressive rock
Hostile review

The prog rock double album the critics slashed

Released in the UK on 22 November 1974. A hostile contemporary NME review, chart evidence from three markets, and later classic status.

The verdict at the time

Pete Erskine of New Musical Express delivered a hostile verdict on 30 November 1974: he savaged Genesis's double concept album. Brian Eno later recalled that Erskine 'absolutely slated' it.

Pete Erskine · New Musical Express ·

Read the contemporary review

Chart peaks

USA#41Billboard 2001974-12-14 · Original release periodChart source
UK#10Official Albums Chart1974-12-07 · Original release periodChart source
Europe · Austria#75Ö3 Austria Top 402025 · Later chart entryChart source

European positions are listed by country. Later chart entries are labelled separately.

Sources & context

Contemporary verdict: Pete Erskine, New Musical Express, 30 November 1974 — negative. Later reassessment documented on PeterGabriel.com.

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