At almost twenty three minutes in length 'Supper's Ready' is almost more than an epic and is one of progressive rocks true masterpeices. Basically the song is composed in seven parts although there are some repetative themes which reoccur throughout the song. Gabriel goes straight into the lyric to 'Lovers Leap' without any introduction and delivers a beautiful vocal and melody over a backing which features a Hohner pianet which is basically a gentle electric piano, several acoustic twelve string guitars, a cello, a flute and bass pedals which were actually used quite heavily throughout the album by Rutherford. Gabriel claims the lyric was inspired by a real life supernatural experience that happened to him and his wife. He claims that one evening she started talking in a totally different voice and had a violent reaction to him holding up a makeshift cross.
'The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man' is a slightly harder faster peice which sees good use of Hammond organ and the first drum contributions by Collins. On the opening part he had been limited to cymbals, triangles and a bell. Gabriel's vocal is much harder and in more of a rock style than the gentle folkiness of the opener. A short reprise of which leads into 'Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men' which is almost a full blown rock song with a guitar solo and some classic prog interplay of keyboard and guitar. 'How Dare I Be So Beautiful' is another slower section which is based on the Greek myth of Narcissus.
At the end of the peice the lyric suggests turning into a flower to which Gabriel responds quizzically in the voice of a different character "A flower ?". That leads perfectly into 'Willow Farm' which features some truly wonderful lyrics, vocals and characterisation from Gabriel. How can you not like lines like "Mum to mud to mad to dad", "Dad Diddley office" and "Mum diddley washing" etc. Musically, vocally and melody wise the track is bouncy, jaunty, whimsical and total fun. Initially it was going to be a standalone track rather than part of the 'Supper's Ready' peice.
'Appocalypse in 9/8' is the heaviest segment featuring a powerful vocal from Gabriel and some pretty hard and complex playing from the band. It then leads into another reprise of the opening section 'Lovers Leap' during which Gabriel reverts to the gentler melody and vocal delivery of that opener but over the chord progression of the second part of the song 'The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man'.
This acts as a segue into the final part of the song 'As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs' which provides a powerful ending with Gabriel's William Blake inspired lyrics which may also nod in the direction of Shelley with the King of Kings reference belting out over some pretty heavy instrumentation.
I have one criticism and one criticism only of this epic track. Why was it allowed to fade out, surely after twenty three minutes it deserved an ending.
