Steve Hackett classic or dud, search and destroy

Surprised there was dedicated thread, but he has three box sets out right now. I've never listened to any of his albums.

5 Classic Albums

A selection of 5 classic studio albums packaged together in a new slim-line slipcase from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Steve Hackett. Includes the albums: Voyage Of The Acolyte, Spectral Mornings, Defector, Highly Strung and Please Don’t Touch.

Premonitions - The Charisma Recordings 1975-1983

Prog rock pioneer Steve Hackett is releasing ‘Premonitions - The Charisma Recordings 1975-1983’, a comprehensive reissue project that includes his first 6 albums, together with a wealth of previously unavailable recordings as well as remixes by Steven Wilson. ‘Premonitions’ comes in a super deluxe box set featuring a total of 135 songs on 10 CDs and 4 DVDs, plus an extensive booklet. Also included in this version are 67 previously unreleased recordings between old and new tracks, live and remixes.

Original Album Collection: Discovering Steve Hackett Box

Former Genesis guitarist STEVE HACKETT offers five studio albums on this specially priced box set, which is being released as part of our ongoing “Original Album Collection” series. Widely considered one of the leading guitarists in the realm of prog rock, this set contains the studio albums “Till We Have Faces” (1984), “Guitar Noir” (1993), “Darktown” (1999), “To Watch The Storms” (2003), and “Wild Orchids” (2006).

I think I'll go with the first one, although it lacks a lot of bonus tracks and I'm normally into getting the fullest versions. The individual reissues do seem a bit overstuffed and Premonitions is very very expensive.

Aaaghh, I meant I'm surprised there was no dedicated thread.

I've heard the first three. Voyage is essential for anyone who likes prog Genesis, it really does sound like a missing album recorded between Trick of the Tail and W&W. But I think Spectral Mornings is better as a whole. Haven't gone further than that those I'm tempted to check out Wolflight because of that cover alone. Woof!

it's somewhat atypical, but I really like the Randy Crawford sung "Hoping Love Will Last" from Please Don’t Touch

https://youtu.be/FEyNVfJ6_HU

apparently this was going to be on Wind & Wuthering, but Hackett wanted to bring a female singer in to record it and the rest of the band didn't

ok so Defector is pretty good, I'd definitely get that if you don't have it Robert

though I'm sure most people love him for the proggy guitar instrumentals he packs these albums with, I actually think his ear for pop is quite keen - "Time to Get Out" and "The Show" are both terrific and foreshadow the neo-prog sound to some degree.

that said the next album in line has a cover photo of him sipping on a Mai Tai in front of the beach, which is pretty lol

Loving Voyage Of The Acolyte, I thought it was all going to be soundscapes but theres a lot of fun in here.

Having a great time with Please Don't Touch. Randy Crawford is indeed great on it. But "Carry On Up The Vicarage" might be my favorite, so ridiculous sounding and joyous.

Can't believe it's been 2 years! Voyage Of The Acolyte is a masterpiece.

Voyage Of The Acolyte is a masterpiece.

That's the only one I've heard, I'd like to hear some of the later records because it didn't really excite me. I prefer The Geese and the Ghost by Anthony Phillips in the narrow field of debut solo albums by Genesis guitarists.

This guy probably has written the most detailed Steve Hackett reviews available, if you need help sorting them out:

http://www.johnmcferrinmusicreviews.org/shackett.htm

I’ll just throw in that Steve is all over Liz Fraser’s new band’s first EP from earlier this year, Sun’s Signature — some fiery solos, and lots of sparkly 12-string magic

https://open.spotify.com/artist/112n8pqLHAybFBHk2nB9yp?si=KvIhVOpJRm-SHhP-xcGcqA

Ugh, why am I posting Spotify links, here’s Bandcamp: https://sunssignature.bandcamp.com/album/suns-signature

Side 2 of Voyage of the Acolyte is where it's at; "Star Of Sirius" and "Shadow Of The Hierophant" would have been highlights on any Genesis album. Apparently "Hierophant" was rehearsed during the Foxtrot sessions but didn't make the cut. It's a shame, to my ears the outro of "Hierophant" sounds more apocalyptic than the "Apocalypse in 9/8" section of "Supper's Ready"

"I'd like to hear some of the later records because it didn't really excite me"

I like Spectral Mornings and Defector an awful lot. His recent output, from Out of the Tunnel's Mouth on, is all pretty strong too, but it gets a bit samey in approach, and isn't that memorable; but it does sound good while you're listening to it.

The title track from Spectral Mornings is magnificent, with enough varied nuances to keep it from being too simple and repetitive.

"The Virgin and the Gypsy" is gorgeous too, lovely misty mythopoetic stuff.

Onto Defector, "Jacuzzi" is such a funny name for music like that, joyous

"Hammer in the Sand" another super gorgeous track. I think Defector is the first album not to end with an epic track but with a sort of comedic pastiche. I think this is the first one with a bside not my collection: "Hercules Unchained"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEGh13ISQ-M

I see that my boxed set skips Cured and goes onto Highly Strung next

Highly Strung has some really good frantic, energetic tracks but there's a few that seem to be designed as singles that are not bad but definitely make it less enjoyable than the first 4 albums.

So that's the end of this 5 Classic Albums set, it's probably the most consistently enjoyable box set of this kind that I've heard so far. I don't know if I'll go for Cured next because it sounds like he's not as happy with it.

actually heard his latest one a couple days ago, first 'modern' Hackett album I've heard actually. it is pretty good though I can't say I remember much about it.

Ha, yeah, I hadn't realized until recently that he'd also been cranking out a pretty steady run of studio albums too. I guess I thought he was spending most of his time with the live Genesis material.

as far as I've heard they're all pretty good but a bit samey. when I saw him live he played a decent amount of recent stuff and I liked it all. but of course we were mostly just waiting for them to launch into Foxtrot. was an amazing show btw