Genesis (Genesis album)

Genesis is the 12th studio album by Genesis. It was recorded and released in 1983. It is sometimes referred to as the "Mama" album. In some cases, it has been referred to as the "Shapes" or "Gold Shapes" album because of the front cover. The shapes are from the Tupperware "Shape O Toy Ball." The toy consists of a blue and red hollow ball with different shaped holes cut into the surface, into which the shaped pieces can be inserted.

Genesis (so named for the fact that all three band members composed every song on it together) marked the beginning of Hugh Padgham's formal production assistance after engineering Abacab.

"Mama", a song about a man's obsession with a prostitute, became Genesis' biggest UK hit, reaching No.20 upon release (and ultimately peaking at No.4), although the song did not do well in the US singles chart. Further successes "That's All" (which became the band's first US Top 10 hit), "Illegal Alien" and "Taking It All Too Hard" ensured that Genesis was well received, and it reached No.1 in the UK, remaining in the charts for 51 weeks. It also reached No.9 in the US, eventually selling over four million copies there alone.

A SACD / DVD double disc set (including new 5.1 and Stereo mixes) was released in October 2007 in Europe and as a CD and DVD double disc set in the US and Canada a month later.

Background

A "bit" (fragment of music too short to be used as a complete piece) written during Genesis sessions was later developed into the song "A Call to Arms" on Mike + The Mechanics (1985). Collins and Banks were unenthusiastic about the "bit" and had voted against developing it.^[1]

Reception

In their retrospective review, Allmusic criticized the album for lacking coherency, but found that a majority of the tracks are outstanding, "balancing such sleek, pulsating pop tunes as 'That's All' with a newfound touch for aching ballads." They also praised the band's completely redefining themselves as a pop group.^[2]

Track listing

All songs written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford.

Side one

1. "Mama" – 6:46
2. "That's All" – 4:22
3. "Home by the Sea" – 4:46
4. "Second Home by the Sea" – 6:22

Side two

1. "Illegal Alien" – 5:12
2. "Taking It All Too Hard" – 3:54
3. "Just a Job to Do" – 4:44
4. "Silver Rainbow" – 4:27
5. "It's Gonna Get Better" – 5:00

Personnel

• Phil Collins – vocals, drums, percussion
• Tony Banks – keyboards, background vocals
• Mike Rutherford – guitars, bass guitar, background vocals

Tour

Genesis toured in support of the self-titled album nicknaming the tour The Mama Tour between November 1983 and March 1984.

Setlist

1. Dodo/Lurker*
2. Abacab*
3. That's All*
4. Mama*
5. Old Medley
6. Man On The Corner*
7. Illegal Alien
8. Home by the Sea/Second Home By the Sea*
9. Keep It Dark
10. It's Gonna Get Better
11. Follow You Follow Me*
12. In the Cage
13. The Cinema Show (closing section)/Riding the Scree (teaser)/The Cinema Show/...In That Quiet Earth/The Colony of Slippermen (c) The Raven
14. Afterglow
15. Drum Duet
16. Los Endos

Encore:

1. Misunderstanding
2. Turn It On Again (In the Midnight Hour, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, Pinball Wizard)

The Carpet Crawlers and Who Dunnit?* were played early on in the tour, but were dropped a short while in.

Personnel

• Phil Collins – Lead Vocals, Drums, Electric and Acoustic Percussion
• Tony Banks – Keyboards, Vocals
• Mike Rutherford – Guitars, Bass guitar, Bass Pedals, Vocals

with

• Daryl Stuermer – Guitars, Bass guitar*, backing vocals on "Illegal Alien"
• Chester Thompson – Drums, percussion
• The group's road crew - backing vocals on "Illegal Alien"

References