Seconds Out is the second live album by Genesis following 1973’s Genesis Live. It was released as a double LP on 14 October 1977 by Charisma Records and was their last with guitarist Steve Hackett before his departure. The majority of the recordings were made in June 1977 at the Palais des Sports in Paris during the Wind & Wuthering Tour. One track, “The Cinema Show”, was recorded the previous year at the Pavillon de Paris during the A Trick of the Tail Tour with drummer Bill Bruford.

Seconds Out received average to positive reviews upon its release, reaching No. 4 in the UK and No. 47 in the US. Its release coincided with the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett from the band during the album’s mixing, reducing Genesis to the core trio of Tony Banks on keyboards, Mike Rutherford on guitar, and Phil Collins on vocals and drums who were recording … And Then There Were Three… during this period. Seconds Out was reissued on CD in 1994 and 2009, as the final part of the Genesis Live 1973–2007 box set.

In July 1977, Genesis, with the addition of drummer Chester Thompson for the tour, completed a seven-month tour in support of their 1976 album Wind & Wuthering. As a next step, the group began the process of selecting the live recordings from the 1977 tour for official release.

The track selections for Seconds Out focus primarily on the band’s four dates at the Palais des Sports in Paris, between 11 and 14 June 1977. The recordings were partially broadcast by the French radio station RTL, with the track “I Know What I Like” containing a sample of the 1953 song “I Love Paris”.

The announcement of Seconds Out to the press on 8 October 1977 coincided with Hackett’s departure from Genesis. He had announced his decision to the group two months earlier, when the tracks for the album had already been selected and mixed.

In the US, the album was released by Atlantic Records. It reached No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 47 on the US Billboard 200.

Rolling Stone magazine praised the band’s modern incarnation, noting that they were “less reliant on theatrics” than before Peter Gabriel’s departure, and with an added jazz-rock edge.

In a later review, AllMusic wrote that Genesis’ performances of “A Trick Of The Tail” and “Wind & Wuthering” surpass even their studio counterparts, with Collins’s magnificent vocals and Chester Thompson’s drums providing the perfect combination.

From this excellent live album I select the track “Squonk”.
 
Tracklist

1. Squonk 6:36
2. The Carpet Crawl 5:26
3. Robbery Assault & Battery 6:04
4. Afterglow 5:25
5. Firth Of Fifth 8:55
6. I Know What I Like 8:45
7. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 5:00
8. The Musical Box (Closing Section) 3:08
9. Supper’s Ready 24:32
10. Cinema Show 11:00
11. Dance On A Volcano 8:26
12. Los Endos 3:10