1970s Genesis, especially the Peter Gabriel era, generated some of the most magical and well-constructed popular music ever. But the excellent music didn't stop once bandmembers began peeling away one by one. While the total output is uneven, some of the music made was just as good, if not better, than the band did together, even though each member took his music in a different direction.

The premiere alumnus of Genesis is Peter Gabriel. Much more than just a performer, Gabriel has become a moral force in the world. Beginning with WOMAD and progressing through Real World, Gabriel has brought us music from other cultures that we as westerners would otherwise never hear. His Witness project puts video cameras in the hands of people, who then go into troubled areas like Burma and the Sudan, and document the atrocities there. He has even allied with Sir Richard Branson to found the Elders, a group of respected world political leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter, to try to tackle the world's most intractable problems.

While he has been doing all this, he never stopped making wonderful music. While all his solo albums have their merits, and it is interesting to follow his progression and growth as a musician, his best (in my humble opinion) are Peter Gabriel 3 (1980), otherwise known as Melt, and Secret World Live (1993), which also launched Paula Cole's career. For those wanting a visual treat, get Play, a DVD compilation of his intriguing and challenging videos. In the New Age/Ambient/World Music category, Passion (1989 - The soundtrack for the film The Last Temptation of Christ) is some of the most beautiful, haunting and compelling music you will ever hear.

Phil Collins is the other well-known name out of Genesis. While Phil is an amazing drummer, a passable singer, and an excellent producer, he chose a poppier route, and actively set out to make hit singles, which he did in rapid succession. Collins is well known enough that you don't need my help finding him, but amongst his more obscure solo projects is a band called Brand X, which was formed by a bunch of studio musicians (Phil was one at the time). Their best offering is Product (1979).

Steve Hackett broke away from Genesis a few years after Peter Gabriel, and has been quite prolific since. He tends to alternate hard rock albums with classical guitar works, giving a wider range and depth to his music than most mucisians. His best solo works are Spectral Mornings (1979) and Guitar Noir (1993).

Mike Rutherford is best known for his work as the leader of Mike + The Mechanics, who, like Phil Collins, headed for pop territory. However, before he embarked down that road, he put out a minor Prog Rock Classic, Smallcreep's Day (1979). It is excellent, amongst other reasons, in showing that Rutherford obviously had a strong hand in creating Genesis' progressive sound.

Tony Banks struggled along for years, chasing and never quite catching the elusive fame that came to his bandmates Collins and Rutherford. Therefore, most of his music has a poppier sound than I would like, especially listening to his stellar keyboard work on early Genesis albums. Nonetheless, his first outing, A Curious Feeling (1979) has some wonderful passages on it, and Bankstatement (1989) features a song or two that can still put a tear in my eye.

Anthony Phillips, Genesis' first guitarist, has labored away in relative security, but has put out more albums than all his other mates. Most of it, if they were actually stocked in the music stores (remember those?) would get thrown in the New Age bin (which I actually like, when it resists falling into Yuppie Elevator Music mode). Some of his best efforts here are Slow Dance (1990) and Private Parts & Pieces II (1978). His more conventional rock albums include Sides (1978) and Invisible Men (1984).

Granted, this crowd, especially Collins and Rutherford, has put out some real crap, but don't let that deter you from exploring the wonderfully rich soundscape they left us. The albums I discussed here deserve to be rescued from obscurity. Give a listen; you won't regret it.