Genesis – Wind & Wuthering

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
Wind & Wuthering is the eighth studio album from English progressive rock band Genesis. It was released on 17 December 1976 on Charisma Records in the UK and the following January in the United States. It was the last studio album to feature guitarist Steve Hackett before his departure to pursue a solo career. Following the success of their 1976 tour to support their previous album A Trick of the Tail, the group relocated to Hilvarenbeek, the Netherlands to record a follow up album, their first recorded outside the UK. Writing and recording caused some internal friction as Hackett felt some of his contributions were dropped in favour of material by keyboardist Tony Banks. Wind & Wuthering received a mostly positive response from critics which contributed to the band’s growing popularity in the US. It reached No. 7 in the UK and No. 26 in the US and continued to sell, eventually reaching Gold certification by the British Phonographic Institute and the Recording Industry Association of America. The album’s sole single, “Your Own Special Way”, peaked at No. 62 in the US. The band’s 1977 tour, their last with Hackett, was their first with Chester Thompson hired as their live drummer. Three tracks left off the album were released during this time as an extended play, Spot the Pigeon. The album was reissued with a new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mix in 2007. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_%26_Wuthering

Cover Location: Hipgnosis Studio, London, UK
Who Did What: Cover Design – Hipgnosis/C. Elgie, Illustration – C. Elgie
Label: ATCO SD 38-100(US), Charisma CDS4005(UK)
Source: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art, The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue: Aubrey Powell

Tracklist

Credits
Bass [4, 6 & 8 String], Electric Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar [Acoustic], Synthesizer [Bass Pedals] – Mike Rutherford
Co-producer, Arranged By – Genesis
Co-producer, Engineer – David Hentschel
Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar [Nylon], Twelve-String Guitar, Kalimba, Autoharp [Auto-Harp] – Steve Hackett
Engineer [Assistant, Relight Studios] – Pierre Geoffroy Chateau
Engineer [Assistant, Trident Studios] – Nick “Cod” Bradford*
Grand Piano [Steinway], Synthesizer [ARP 2600 And Pro-Soloist], Organ [Hammond], Mellotron, Synthesizer [Roland String], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Tony Banks
Other [Equipment] – Tex (Nibs) Read, Andy Mackrill, Paul Padun & Dale
Tape Op [Tape Operators] – Geoff, John, Neil, Steve
Vocals [Voices], Drums, Cymbal [Cymbals], Percussion – Phil Collins
Written-By – Mike Rutherford (tracks: A1, A3, B3, B4), Phil Collins (tracks: A4, B2, B4), Steve Hackett (tracks: A1, B2 to B4), Tony Banks (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B1, B4, B5)