Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

So successful an album was Three Sides Live that those who seek to hear the songs of Genesis in their rawest form, away from the polish of the studio, stood in front of thousands of fans in venues spanning the globe, that any gig that was recorded at the time would arguably be met with the same sense of urgency, of informing those unable at the time to attend what became a legendary gig, or hadn’t been able to catch the likely live broadcast by whichever radio station had gained the rights to transmit, would be soon enjoyed in the comfort of the home and with the lights down, and imagination allowed to be precise, be heard in an almost technicolour aural dream.

Following on from the live sets at the Lyceum in 1980 and the 1992 concert at Knebworth, the third volume deals squarely with the evening at The Spectrum in Philadelphia as part of The Mama Tour in 1983 and captured thankfully for posterity of an FM broadcast, and whilst once again there are niggles for those with slim patience for breaks and speaking over the music by radio’s need to explain verbally what the listener is listening to, to hear via vinyl or cd this milestone of the band’s time at the top is a bonus, and one that the fan will hope leads onto further gigs being released, not least the hoped for outside broadcast by the B.B.C. of the terrific night at Wembley in 1987.

This was perhaps Genesis not quite at the height of their public popularity, reaching arguably the crescendo of the wave a few years later, but it proved a point, that whilst the purist fans will always nostalgically adhere themselves to the time before the band became a threesome as being the finer example of stage presence, there is something quite down to earth about them being fronted by the only member who never went to public school, who used his early stage and film training to bring the band closer to the audience than ever before.

Even in audio form the sense of fun on stage and which is being felt by those in the crowd is palpable, and as the opening salvo of songs, Dodo, Lurker, Abacab, and That’s All excited the crowd, as Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, Darryl Stuermer, and Chester Thompson took in the sight before them as the American crowds were wowed by the timing, skill, and rock sounds, so the gig captured on record highlights the enormous respect shown in each direction.

With other tracks from the previous couple of albums, including the tour titled track of Mama, Home By The Sea, Keep It Dark, Misunderstanding, and Illegal Alien, as well as the In The Cage medley which honoured both Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett’s time within the band, all combining to deliver a fantastic evening for the audience, and now captured for all time for all.

Another fine example of Genesis’ ability to turn the crowd on, that the Progressive turned stadium rock band’s metamorphosis was complete and ready to shine brightly. Six Sides Live – Volume 3 is another edition in the comprehensive list of must have recordings by the much-loved band.

Ian D. Hall