Recently, Genesis thrilled with the start of their European tour in the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin – an evening that was tantamount to a “recognition of a lifetime achievement”, as ROLLING STONE editor Sassan Niasseri wrote about the concert evening. Since their founding in 1967, Genesis have changed not only in line-up, but also musically. We take a look at the different phases of the band — and pick out Genesis’ ten most important albums.
Trespass (1970)
“Trespass”, the second Genesis album, is not only the group’s first prog work, but also a special feature in the Genesis back catalogue: It is the only work with John Mayhew on drums, a year later Phil Collins joined the band . At the same time, guitarist Anthony Philipps left the band.
Nursery Cryme (1971)
“Nursery Cryme” was a milestone not only for Genesis but also for the guitar world – because Steve Hackett practiced the tapping technique on the guitar on it. Instead of using a plectrum with your right hand or hitting the string with your finger, the accompanying hand also “taps” one or more notes on the fretboard and thus has completely new possibilities. Eddie Van Halen is often credited with being the father of this technique, but historically Hackett came before him!
“Foxtrot” (1972)
The year before Selling England By The Pound, Genesis released Foxtrot. The heart of the record: The almost 23-minute epic “Supper’s Ready”.
Sell England By The Pound (1973)
With their fifth studio album “Selling England By The Pound” in 1973, Genesis in the line-up Peter Gabriel/Tony Banks/Steve Hackett/Mike Rutherford/Phil Collins created a milestone in progressive rock. Great arcs of melody and suspense, orchestral arrangements – and texts that made their way from the imaginative of earlier days to the contemplation of the present.
The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974)
“The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” marks the end of the first Genesis incarnation with Peter Gabriel as vocalist. This is a concept album that tells the story of a boy named Rael. The story took up a lot of space — so much that Genesis made a double album out of it.
A Trick Of The Tail (1976)
After Peter Gabriel left the band, Phil Collins took over the main vocals. “A Trick Of The Tail” is the first testimony of this new line-up – and turned out to be a commercial success for the band… despite the fact that it was quite complex with intricate rhythms.
“…And Then There Were Three…” (1978)
The name says it all: Suddenly there were only three of them, Collins, Banks and Rutherford – after Peter Gabriel, Steve Hackett had also left. Genesis became more catchy, the prog part became less and the long-lived trio line-up established itself.
Duke (1980)
“Duke” can be seen as the transition from Genesis into more commercial pop realms. The band acted now as a trio, Collins also took over the singing. Along with Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, Collins made the band’s first number one in the UK album charts. The long player was recorded at ABBA’s Polar Studios in Stockholm.
Invisible Touch (1986)
When “Invisible Touch” was released, Phil Collins had already reached Olympus with his solo career. The year before, his album No Jacket Required had hit number one not only in the UK but also in the US, and everything was going like clockwork. Musically, “Invisible Touch” is entirely indebted to the sound aesthetics of the 1980s.
We Can’t Dance (1991)
“We Can’t Dance” isn’t the best Genesis album — but it is the most successful with 18 million copies sold, ahead of “Invisible Touch”. Everyone knows the title track, as well as the dance to it.