trespass is really underrated. it's a transition record between their first one and nursery cryme, demonstrating aspects of both and focusing a little more on the feminine side of the band (more earth than sea, as the line goes) - which is where it shines, if you like it. i mean, you've gotta take it for what it is. there's no collins & no hackett but they were both always in a supporting role - important supporting roles, for sure, but not really directly involved in the core of the writing. the real writers in the classic line-up were banks (core song structures), gabriel (lyrics & themes) and rutherford (guitar & bass riffs). collins was a top notch drummer and hackett was a tasty lead player, but they were both providing extensions to the core writing. this is really the first point where that trio clicks - where gabriel is exploring interesting themes, and banks/rutherford are backing him up well - and every bit as classic a record as the others. when i was a kid (around ten), my uncle dubbed me a cassette with trespass on side a and nursery cryme on side b, and since then i've always considered them as a double record. they work well understood that way.

but i learned today that this track samples i am the walrus. i can't hear it. anybody have better ears than me and can point it out?