A Trick of the Tail
A Trick of the Tail is the seventh studio album by English progressive rock band Genesis. It was released in February 1976 on Charisma Records and was the first album to feature drummer Phil Collins as lead vocalist following the departure of Peter Gabriel. It was a critical and commercial success in the UK and U.S., reaching No. 3 and No. 31 respectively.
A Trick of the Tail | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 1976 | |||
Recorded | October–November 1975 | |||
Studio | Trident Studios in London | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 51:01 | |||
Label | Charisma | |||
Producer | David Hentschel and Genesis | |||
Genesis chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from A Trick of the Tail | ||||
|
Following Gabriel's decision to leave the band, the remaining members wanted to carry on and show they could still write and record successful material. The group wrote and rehearsed new songs during mid-1975, and listened to numerous audition tapes for a replacement frontman. They entered Trident Studios in October with producer David Hentschel to record the album without a definitive idea of who was going to perform lead vocals. After the search for a singer proved unfruitful, Collins was persuaded to sing "Squonk", and the performance was so strong, he sang lead on the rest of the album.
Upon release, critics were impressed by the improved sound quality and the group's ability to survive the loss of Gabriel without sacrificing the quality of the music. The group went out on tour with Collins as frontman and Bill Bruford as an additional drummer, and the resulting performances in the US raised Genesis' profile there. The album has been reissued on CD several times, including a deluxe package with bonus tracks in 2007.
Background
Founding member and lead singer Peter Gabriel decided to leave Genesis in late 1974, midway through the tour for the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.[1] His bandmates hoped he would reconsider, as they were still in debt and felt his departure could destroy the band's future, but ultimately accepted that he would leave. His final concert before leaving Genesis was on May 22nd, 1975, in Besancon, France. [2] The remaining members felt they still wanted to collaborate musically, and show journalists and critics they were primarily a song writing team that could still produce good music.[3] Keyboardist Tony Banks had been close to Gabriel personally, and did not want the band to split up on top of seeing less of one of his best friends.[4] He had written a number of songs for a possible solo project before deciding they should be used on the new Genesis album.[5]
Following the end of the tour, guitarist Steve Hackett recorded a solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte with guitarist/bassist Mike Rutherford and drummer Phil Collins, feeling unsure that Genesis would survive.[6][3] He reconvened with the remaining group members in July 1975.[7] Banks and Rutherford were particularly keen to write and record new material so that critics and fans would accept Gabriel's departure.[4] The group began rehearsals in a basement studio in Acton, and quickly wrote material they were happy with, but had not yet found a replacement lead singer. They placed an anonymous advertisement in the music paper Melody Maker for "a singer for a Genesis-type group", which received around 400 replies. Some applicants sent photographs of themselves in costume and wearing masks, as Gabriel had done on stage. A few weeks into rehearsals, Melody Maker managed to find out about Gabriel leaving the band, and their story made the front page of the 16 August issue, where journalist Chris Welch declared Genesis dead. The group spoke to the music papers to deny they were splitting up and explained they had a new album written and waiting to be recorded.[8][6]
Recording
Phil Collins recalling the choice of a new lead singer to replace Peter Gabriel[9]
Recording began in Trident Studios in October 1975 with producer David Hentschel. On previous Genesis albums Hentschel had served as tape op and (later) as engineer; Collins had become a fan of his album Startling Music, a re-recording of Ringo Starr's album Ringo on an ARP 2500 synthesizer.[10] Collins thought the group could carry on as an instrumental act, but the others felt that it would be boring without vocals.[6] The group had still not decided on a replacement singer, so they decided to start recording backing tracks and audition singers as they went.[10] Gabriel visited the band in the studio and listened to the album, and thought they had succeeded in proving to others that they still were "a whole, strong band without me".[11] He knew that the group could write strong material, but the little effort it took them surprised him the most.[12]
Some songs such as "Ripples..." were written with the intention that Collins could sing them, similar to "More Fool Me" on Selling England by the Pound, but he did not want to take over as a permanent replacement, opting instead to teach potential lead singers the songs.[13] The group still wanted a regular frontman for live performances, as they thought Collins would not be able to handle all the material, and it would be problematic trying to sing Gabriel's vocal parts while drumming on tour.[14] One of the auditionees, Mick Stickland, was invited into the studio to sing, but the backing tracks were in a key outside of his natural range and the band decided not to work with him.[15][16] Having failed to produce a suitable vocalist, Collins reluctantly went in the studio to sing "Squonk". His performance was well received by the band, and they decided that he should be their new lead singer.[16] Hentschel stayed on as co-producer for future Genesis albums up to 1980's Duke.[17]
Songs
![](../I/m/Squonk.png)
The opening track, "Dance on a Volcano" was the first song written for the album. Rutherford felt in contrast to the material on The Lamb..., it was easy to write, and was intended to show how Genesis would move forward.[6] "Entangled" originated from a piece by Hackett that Banks particularly liked and went on to write the chorus and closing synthesiser solo. Hackett also wrote the lyrics which Collins thought had a Mary Poppins feel to them.[18] Rutherford recalled that Hackett "started writing verses which were very airy-fairy and then he came down with a bang".[16] "Squonk" is based on the North American tale of the Squonk which, when captured, dissolves in a pool of tears.[19] The song combines a main theme written by Rutherford against a middle section written by Banks, and was designed to sound like Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir".[6][4]
"Robbery, Assault and Battery" was mostly written by Banks, in an attempt to replicate the humour in some of Gabriel's lyrics. Collins, who also contributed to the writing, sang the song in character, inspired by his earlier role as the Artful Dodger in Oliver! before he became a professional musician.[18][20] "Ripples..." was a combination of a 12-string guitar piece composed by Rutherford and a piano-led middle section written by Banks.[4] Banks's track "A Trick of the Tail" took form as a song some years before the band recorded it. He was inspired from reading the novel The Inheritors by William Golding and "Getting Better" by the Beatles, and wrote about an alien visiting Earth.[20] When it came to selecting tracks for the album, he wanted to include "something lighter and more quirky."[18]
The closing song, "Los Endos", was written by the whole band. Collins came up with the basic rhythmic structure, inspired by his work in side project Brand X and "Promise of a Fisherman" by Santana, wanting to take the looser playing style into Genesis.[21] Banks and Hackett wrote the main themes, including reprises of "Dance on a Volcano" and "Squonk", and Collins sang a few lines from "Supper's Ready" (on the 1972 album Foxtrot) on the fade-out, as a tribute to Gabriel. The opening piece was recorded for a completely different song, "It's Yourself", which was later released as a B-side.[22] The track became a live favourite, and continued to be played through to the 2007 Turn It On Again tour.[23] In 2014, Hackett added the song to the playlist of his extended Genesis Revisited II tour.[24]
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Music Box | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Tony Banks discussing the positive critical reception to the album[30]
A Trick of the Tail had a positive reception from music critics, who were impressed that the group could not only survive the loss of Gabriel but still deliver a good album.[31] The sound quality had improved from previous albums as a result of Hentschel's production skills.[32] The album reached No. 3 in the UK, remaining on the charts for 39 weeks, and No. 31 in the U.S.[33] It was certified Gold in the UK by the British Phonographic Industry in June[34] and in the US by the RIAA in March 1990.[35] The album remained in the UK charts for 39 weeks and recouped a significant amount of $400,000 worth of debt they had accumulated by the time Gabriel left.[36]
For the first time in their career, Genesis filmed promotional videos for their songs. The first to be filmed was the title track, which features the band playing to the song together around a piano, including composite shots of a miniature Collins hopping around on a piano and a guitar.[15] The group also produced promotional films of "Ripples..." and "Robbery, Assault and Battery".[37]
Tour
Even after the album had been completed, Collins was unhappy about leaving the drumkit to sing lead, and the band were unsure he would be comfortable as frontman on tour.[6] The group decided to try anyway, and needed someone to drum while Collins was singing. Collins insisted on choosing the touring drummer himself, selecting Bill Bruford, with whom he had already worked in Brand X. Collins continued to drum during instrumental sections.[31]
The new line-up rehearsed in Dallas for a North American tour, which began in London, Ontario. Collins was nervous about what to say to the audience between songs, so Rutherford and Hackett helped with some announcements. Unlike Gabriel's theatrical approach, Collins developed a humorous rapport with the audience, and it was immediately successful.[38] Audiences were happy to hear Collins sing old material such as "Supper's Ready" in concert, and the resulting tour raised Genesis' profile in the U.S., where they had been relatively unknown while Gabriel was in the band.[39]
Track listing
This is the first Genesis album to credit songwriters individually, as opposed to the band as a whole.[6]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dance on a Volcano" | Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins | 5:55 |
2. | "Entangled" | Hackett, Banks | 6:27 |
3. | "Squonk" | Rutherford, Banks | 6:29 |
4. | "Mad Man Moon" | Banks | 7:36 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Robbery, Assault and Battery" | Banks, Collins | 6:16 |
2. | "Ripples..." | Rutherford, Banks | 8:06 |
3. | "A Trick of the Tail" | Banks | 4:35 |
4. | "Los Endos" | Collins, Hackett, Rutherford, Banks | 5:46[19] |
Total length: | 51:01 |
2007 SACD/CD/DVD release
A new version of A Trick of the Tail was released in the UK/Europe/Japan by Virgin/EMI & in the US by Atlantic/Rhino in 2007 as part of the Genesis 1976–1982 box set. This includes the entire album in remixed stereo, surround sound, and related video tracks. A further DVD release includes audio and video tracks, including an interview with the band, the promotional videos, and the film Genesis: In Concert, filmed during the 1976 tour promoting the album.[40]
Personnel
Genesis
- Mike Rutherford – 12-string guitar, bass, bass pedals
- Tony Banks – pianos, synthesizers, organ, Mellotron, 12-string guitar, backing vocals
- Phil Collins – drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals
- Steve Hackett – electric guitar, 12-string guitars[19]
Production
- Genesis – production
- David Hentschel – production, engineering
- Nick "Haddock" Bradford – engineering
- Tex and Jeff – equipment
- Neal, John and Terry – liquid sustenance
- Hipgnosis – sleeve design
- Colin Elgie – sleeve design
- Special thanks to Tony Smith, Alex Sim and Regis
- Recorded at Trident Studios, London[19]
Certifications
Organization | Level | Date |
---|---|---|
BPI – UK | Gold[34] | 1 June 1976 |
RIAA – US | Gold[35] | 20 April 1990 |
References
Citations
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 103.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 104.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 108.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 113.
- "Interview with Tony Banks by Dave Negrin". 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- Rutherford 2014, p. 76.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 111.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 114–115.
- Reed, Ryan (10 October 2014). "Phil Collins Talks Frontman Transition in Genesis 'Sum of the Parts' Preview". Rollingstone.com. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 117.
- Welch, Chris (6 December 1975). "Behind Peter Gabriel's mask". Melody Maker. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- Charone, Barbara (2 October 1976). "Toronto tales of the overkill kid". Sounds. pp. 24–26. Retrieved 25 June 2019 – via The Genesis Archive.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 114.
- Dallas, Karl (27 September 1975). "Here beginneth the second chapter of Genesis". Melody Maker: 3. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
- Rutherford 2014, p. 77.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 118.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 165.
- Blake, Mark (1 February 2019). "Genesis: the miracle of A Trick of The Tail and life without Peter Gabriel". Prog. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- A Trick of the Tail (Media notes). Charisma Records. 1976. CDS 4001.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 120.
- Blake, Mark (26 February 2016). "Phil Collins: from Genesis to resurrection". Loudersound. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, pp. 113–114.
- "Genesis – When in Room 2007". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- "Review: Steve Hackett, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham". Nottingham Post. 27 October 2014. Archived from the original on 3 June 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2011). "A Trick of the Tail – Genesis | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
- Andy Fyfe Q, May 2007, Issue 250.
- Mick Houghton Uncut, May 2007, Issue 120.
- Nathan Brackett; Christian David Hoard (2004). The new Rolling Stone album guide. New York: Simon & Schuster. pp. 327–328. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
rolling stone genesis album guide.
- John Metzger (18 June 2007). "Genesis – A Trick of the Tail (Album / Surround Sound Review)". Musicbox-online.com. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 125.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 122.
- Smith, Bradley (1997). The Billboard Guide to Progressive Music. Billboard Books. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-823-07665-9.
- "Happy anniversary : Genesis, A Trick of the Tail". Rhino. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- "Certified Awards". BPI. Select keyword "Genesis", By award : Gold, By Format : Album, navigate to page 3. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- "RIAA Gold and Platinum Search for albums by Genesis". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
- Zammitt, David (16 November 2014). "Beyond the Stool : Drummers in the Spotlight". DIY Magazine. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- "See Mike Rutherford's Career From Genesis to the Mechanics in 13 Videos". Rollingstone.com. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 123.
- Bowler & Dray 1992, p. 124.
- "Trick of the Tail (CD/DVD)". Genesis (official web store). Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
Sources
- Bowler, Dave; Dray, Bryan (1992). Genesis: A Biography. Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 978-0-283-06132-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Rutherford, Mike (2014). The Living Years. Hachette UK. ISBN 978-1-472-11035-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)