Genesis – A Trick of The Tail(1976)

Biography
Genesis started life as a progressive rock band, in the manner of Yes and King Crimson, before a series of membership changes brought about a transformation in their sound, into one of the most successful pop/rock bands of the 1980s and 1990s. In addition, the group has provided a launching pad for the superstardom of members Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, and star solo careers for members Tony Banks, Michael Rutherford, and Steve Hackett. Their roots go back to 1965 and a pair of rival groups, the Garden Wall and the Anon, formed by students at the Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey. They merged, with the result that 15-year-olds Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, and Michael Rutherford joined with 14-year-old Anthony Phillips, calling themselves the New Anon and recording a six-song demo featuring songs primarily written by Rutherford and Phillips. Charterhouse alumnus, recording artist, and producer Jonathan King heard the tape and arranged for the group to continue working in the studio, and it was also King who renamed the band Genesis.  Genesis then lost two members. Mayhew left over the unhappiness with aspects of his playing, and was replaced by Phil Collins, a former child actor turned drummer who had previously played with Flaming Youth — he also added an occasional additional lead vocal to their sound. Much more unsettling was the departure of guitarist Anthony Phillips, who had developed crippling stage fright. For some time afterward, Genesis worked as a four-piece with the guitar parts covered by Banks’ keyboards. Finally, just prior to Genesis beginning work on their next album, their lineup was completed with the addition of guitarist Steve Hackett, a former member of Quiet World. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_(band)

Album & Cover
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. 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 around 400 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. Eventually, Collins was persuaded to sing “Squonk”, and the performance was so strong, he sang lead on the rest of 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. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Trick_of_the_Tail

Cover Location: Hipgnosis Studio, London, UK
Who Did What: Cover Design – Hipgnosis/C. Elgie. Illustration – C. Elgie.
Label: ATCO – SD 36-129(US), Charisma CDS4001(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell

Tracklist

Credits
Drums, Percussion, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Phil Collins
Electric Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar – Steve Hackett
Engineer – Nick ‘Haddock’ Bradford
Other [Equipment] – Tex And Jeff
Other [Liquid Sustenance] – Neal, John And Terry
Piano, Synthesizer, Organ, Mellotron, Twelve-String Guitar, Backing Vocals – Tony Banks
Producer, Arranged By, Performer [All Material] – Genesis
Producer, Engineer – David Hentschel
Translated By [Lyrics] – Claude Reimbold
Twelve-String Guitar, Bass Guitar, Performer [Bass Pedals] – Mike Rutherford