Mark Hornsby is a engineer/producer who has a truly diverse background in the music business. As a studio owner, Mark co-owned Ridenour Studios, one of the largest recording and rehearsal studios in South Florida, who's cl... more »ients included New Found Glory, Foreigner, Ricky Martin, Joey Kramer, Steve Winwood, and Johnny Depp, just to name a few. As a sound designer, he has developed and consulted on plug-in development for a variety of high-profile audio technology companies including IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality and writes a regular column for Recording Magazine on music production. He is a certified Pro Tools Expert by Digidesign and as an engineer, he has won two awards for engineering in the a cappella field. Mark is currently based out of Java Jive Studio in Nashville, where he continues to work with a number of highly-successful artists in the rock and contemporary christian genres.
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and singer, also known as "NDV". Perhaps best known as a member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard, D'Virgilio took over lead vocals in 2002 and has since recorded three studio CDs: "Feel Euphoria", "Octane", and the self titled "Spock's Beard". In addition, they have released the live CD "Gluttons For Punishment" and the newly released live DVD Spock s Beard Live . He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the "Calling All Stations" album. While living outside of LA, he continues to do sessions and tours with many artists including Tears for Fears, Kevin Gilbert, Jonatha Brooke, Eric Burdon, Mike Keneally, and Fates Warning.
A Nashville-based recording engineer/producer and a Los Angeles-based performer have teamed up to create a unique twist on a classic Genesis album. This fall, Nick D'Virgilio of Spock's Beard fame and engineer/producer Mark Hornsby are re-recording the Genesis classic: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, in it's entirety. Produced at Java Jive Studio in Nashville, the album features some of Music City s best musicians, taking the songs in a whole new direction.
"We wanted to see what would happen if we exposed the songs to a different climate of musicians," says D'Virgilio, "The early Genesis recordings are so musical and very bluesy when you get right down to it. They really lend themselves to some different interpretations."
Although all of the original elements of the songs are still included such as drums, bass, guitar and piano, the recordings now take on a more "theatrical" vibe. This, coupled with orchestra, rock guitars, and some fantastic horn arrangements, the songs now enter an entirely different place.
"We had talked about doing something like this for awhile," says Hornsby, "With the recent attention our version of The Colony of Slippermen received, and the re-release of the original album in 5.1, the time seemed right to see what we could come up with."« less
Mark Hornsby is a engineer/producer who has a truly diverse background in the music business. As a studio owner, Mark co-owned Ridenour Studios, one of the largest recording and rehearsal studios in South Florida, who's clients included New Found Glory, Foreigner, Ricky Martin, Joey Kramer, Steve Winwood, and Johnny Depp, just to name a few. As a sound designer, he has developed and consulted on plug-in development for a variety of high-profile audio technology companies including IK Multimedia and Sonic Reality and writes a regular column for Recording Magazine on music production. He is a certified Pro Tools Expert by Digidesign and as an engineer, he has won two awards for engineering in the a cappella field. Mark is currently based out of Java Jive Studio in Nashville, where he continues to work with a number of highly-successful artists in the rock and contemporary christian genres.
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and singer, also known as "NDV". Perhaps best known as a member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard, D'Virgilio took over lead vocals in 2002 and has since recorded three studio CDs: "Feel Euphoria", "Octane", and the self titled "Spock's Beard". In addition, they have released the live CD "Gluttons For Punishment" and the newly released live DVD Spock s Beard Live . He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the "Calling All Stations" album. While living outside of LA, he continues to do sessions and tours with many artists including Tears for Fears, Kevin Gilbert, Jonatha Brooke, Eric Burdon, Mike Keneally, and Fates Warning.
A Nashville-based recording engineer/producer and a Los Angeles-based performer have teamed up to create a unique twist on a classic Genesis album. This fall, Nick D'Virgilio of Spock's Beard fame and engineer/producer Mark Hornsby are re-recording the Genesis classic: The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, in it's entirety. Produced at Java Jive Studio in Nashville, the album features some of Music City s best musicians, taking the songs in a whole new direction.
"We wanted to see what would happen if we exposed the songs to a different climate of musicians," says D'Virgilio, "The early Genesis recordings are so musical and very bluesy when you get right down to it. They really lend themselves to some different interpretations."
Although all of the original elements of the songs are still included such as drums, bass, guitar and piano, the recordings now take on a more "theatrical" vibe. This, coupled with orchestra, rock guitars, and some fantastic horn arrangements, the songs now enter an entirely different place.
"We had talked about doing something like this for awhile," says Hornsby, "With the recent attention our version of The Colony of Slippermen received, and the re-release of the original album in 5.1, the time seemed right to see what we could come up with."
CD Reviews
Admirable, but utterly unnecessary
R. M. Bowen | Earth | 05/15/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"As a Genesis fan and home recording enthusiast, I can absolutely understand why fellow fans and musicians would try to recreate a classic album in its entirety. It's a great challenge to do something like that.
However, it is wrong to assume that one's genuine love and respect for a great album, coupled with improvements in music technology in the 35 years since it was recorded, will necessarily result in a "fresh take" on the source material. There is simply nothing here that adds to or improves upon the original. The musicians play all the right parts, but there's not much "feel" to it, and the singer has none of Peter Gabriel's depth and character. And I'm sorry, just because you can easily embellish tracks with brass, strings and other instruments in Pro Tools doesn't mean you should.
An admirable and monumental effort, but since Genesis got it exactly right the first time, utterly unnecessary."
Stunning Interpretation of A PROG Classic !
A fan from Meriden, CT | 11/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I just rec'd my copy of this last Satuday & it has not left my playlist since. I absolutely love it. I've always been a sucker for cover songs in general, but this may be the best I've ever heard. I know there are going to be purists who think it Sacrilege to redo "The Lamb..." but you need to get past that & give this a listen.
The instrumentation is definitely NOT what you'd expect. A lot of Strings & horns in place of Synths. In some places it almost sounds like Walter Murphy & the Big Apple Band or Barry' White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. From reading the liner notes, all the musicians on the record had little or no knowledge of the original, so they just played what they thought the sheet music needed. The result is a respectful tribute to a Masterpiece, that still manages to breathe new life into it. How Much ? Well, the first time I heard "In The Rapids" I was nearly moved to tears ! And as much as I love the original, I never had that reaction to it.
Bottom line, forget your prejudices & misconceptions regarding Cover treatments & BUY THIS DISC. It deserves to be heard !"
Excellent Re-Interpretation Of A Masterpiece
Russ Bellinger | Bradenton, Florida USA | 11/13/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD delivers in its slightly different take on "The Lamb". Spocks Beard drummer Nick D'Virgilio partners up with friend Mark Hornsby to make this classic come alive again. Violins, horns and accordians perform many of the classic Tony Banks keyboard parts along with cellos, violas, clarinets and flute. Nicks vocals portray the classic and intricate vocal work of Peter Gabriel, albeit a slight bit sterile - lacking the ballsyness of Gabriels, still comes very close. The guitar work of Don Carr also is excellent as he weaves many of the classic Steve Hackett riffs. Nick's drumming is spot on with all the Phil Collins drum parts. All in all, it really is worth owning a copy of this CD if you are a fan of Genesis. The only other interpretation of "The Lamb" that lives up to this level of excellence is the Kevin Gilbert version that is only available as a bootleg."
Rewiring Appreciation
J. Wynn | Mid Atlantic, USA | 12/24/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"NDV's interpretation or rewiring of Lamb is incredible. Strings, winds, horns add to the mystique of Genesis' finest opus. NDV has enabled this listener to not just enjoy this rewiring but gain a whole new appreciation of the original. Every nook and cranny has been rewired. It's that good.
As a side note, NDV served as drummer on the much under appreciated " Calling All Stations""
Revisiting the past in style.
W. Beardsley | CA | 04/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I decided to purchase this little gem after seeing some footage of Kevin Gilbert's 1994 ProgFest performance of LLDOB on YouTube. It had been years since I'd listened to "The Lamb" and between the original and Gilbert's versions I thought that this version had to be given a chance, after all the primary performer, Nick D'Virgilio, was the drummer in Gilbert's band for the performance, how bad could he mess it up now?!
My initial listen held many surprises; accordions and horn sections in the place of sythesizer, strings in the place of a mellotron, and even Nick sounding somewhat "Lounge Lizard-ish" in Counting Out Time. About 3 plays and I was hooked, the recording is exceptional, the musicians are tight, and all in all I thought this to be a tastefully done resurrection and redefinition of the original. I highly recommend this CD to any true Genesis or progressive music afficionado!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1