The Carpet Crawlers, also sometimes listed as Carpet Crawl, The Carpet Crawl or Carpet Crawlers, is a song originally from the 1974 Genesis concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. The song was re-recorded in 1999 with the name "The Carpet Crawlers 1999".
In this portion of The Lamb story, the main character Rael finds himself in a red carpeted corridor, filled with kneeling people that are slowly crawling towards a wooden door at the end of the hall. Rael dashes by them towards the door and goes through it. Behind the door is a table with a candlelit feast on it, and behind that, a spiral staircase that leads upwards out of sight.
It was the last single of Genesis featuring lead vocalist Peter Gabriel, until 1999 with the re-recorded version.
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[hide] *1 Releases
Releases[edit][]
The Carpet Crawlers reappears on the 1976 Genesis: In Concert with Bill Bruford on drums, and on Seconds Out, Genesis's 1977 live album, with Chester Thompson on drums. It was also played on subsequent tours in 1978, 1980, 1981 and the Six of the Best reunion concert with Peter Gabriel. A re-recorded version, called "Carpet Crawlers 1999", was released on the compilation album Turn It on Again: The Hits; this is the last recording to date by the 5-man line-up of Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett, Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford, and was also the last recording by Genesis in any incarnation. "Carpet Crawlers 1999" is interesting in that both Gabriel and Collins share the role of lead vocals, ultimately harmonizing toward the end of the song. Collins contributes percussion programing as well, under a more contemporary Drum and bass influence.[1]
The B-sides of the 1999 single were "Turn it on Again" and "Follow You Follow Me". The song is also included as the final track of the 2007 live album Live Over Europe 2007 and on the live DVD When in Rome 2007.
Performance Variations[edit][]
On the 1974 studio version, Peter Gabriel sang an introductory verse beginning with "There is lambs' wool under my naked feet...", while from 1976 onwards Phil Collins omitted the introduction, and started the song with "The crawlers cover the floor...". The song as sung by Phil was a notable fixture through the 1981/1982 tours, and was revived for each night of the Turn It On Again Tour as the final number.
Cover versions[edit][]
The song was covered by the French band Matis on their album "Encore" released in 2006. A version was also recorded by John Ford (ex-Strawbs) for a tribute album. Another version was covered by the jazz band Fragile on their 2007 cover album smile and by Human Drama on their 1993 'Pin Ups' release. Leon Alvarado covered the song in his album "Leon Plays Genesis and Other Original Stuff" released in 2008. Nick D’Virgilio, the drummer on 1997 Calling All Stations Album and Mark Hornsby covered the song as part of their Rewiring Genesis: A Tribute To The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Project in 2008.[2] It was covered by Mark Kozelek on his 2013 covers album Like Rats.
Personnel[edit][]
- Tony Banks - ARP Pro-Soloist, RMI electra-piano
- Phil Collins - drums, backing vocals, lead vocals (1999)
- Peter Gabriel - lead vocals (1974-1975, 1999)
- Steve Hackett - electric guitar
- Mike Rutherford - 12-string guitar, bass guitar, bass pedals