The Fountain Of Salmacis (track)
by Genesis (UK)
Year: 1971
From the album Nursery Cryme (track #7)
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The Fountain Of Salmacis appears on the following album(s) by Genesis:
- Nursery Cryme (track #7) (this album) (1971)
- 1970-1975 (Box Set) (track #13) (compilation) (2008)
- Three Sides Live (track #12) (1982)
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The Fountain Of Salmacis ratings
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Showing latest 3 ratings for this track. | Show all 176 ratings for this track.
| Rating | Date updated | Member | Track ratings | Avg. track rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ! | 10/10/2026 16:55 | michelefarina | 392 | 89/100 |
| ! | 09/10/2026 13:27 | FrancK | 5,250 | 82/100 |
| ! | 06/15/2026 17:32 |  DommeDamian | 79,430 | 51/100 |
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This track is rated in the top 1% of all tracks on BestEverAlbums.com. This track has a Bayesian average rating of 86.4/100, a mean average of 86.2/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 87.0/100. The standard deviation for this track is 12.0.
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The rhythm section really shines on this one, as Banks brings power with the orchestral feel of the mellotron, while Rutherford and Collins provide a somewhat groovy feel to the backdrop of the verses. The roaring soundscape that begins the song in particular is super captivating, and the fact that it reprises itself multiple times throughout shows that Genesis knew this. Of course, Hackett shines too with a short but tight guitar solo midway through, as well as a perfectly prog solo in the final minute to lead the track into the swell of the closing. I'm so often captivated by the music here that the lyrics and vocals are usually secondary in my mind, which is a shame because it tells a rather interesting story. I do wish this song were a bit more cohesive and easier to follow along with, but as it stands, it's a really nice finish to the album.
Great mellotron heavy track, great rhythm section and a great story. One of the highlights of the album.
neilgee 09/26/2015 14:15 | #150509
This is another good Gabriel vocal against a shimmering backdrop.
Early example of Genesis's masterful songwriting/arranging. A prog classic
Grouse
