I know conventional wisdom says that Phil Collins caused Genesis to abandon its prog roots, and become a pop band. However, I was looking at the chronology of albums, and it seems to me that what actually made Genesis into a pop band was Steve Hackett’s leaving.
Consider that after Phil Collins took over, but before Hackett left, they released Trick of the Tail and Wind & Wuthering with such tracks as Squonk, Entangled, All In a Mouse’s Night, Wot Gorilla and …In that Quiet Earth. Which are both clearly still prog. However, after Hackett left, they almost immediately shift to albums like Duke and Abacab, the start of the Genesis pop albums. I’m told the first non Hackett album …and then there was three was prog but I have not heard it.
It could be that it took Phil Collins awhile to find the sound he wanted to break into the pop scene with, or had trouble convincing the rest of the band, but I think it is very telling that Genesis went to pop almost immediately after Hackett left.
From the stories I’ve read, the change in direction was mutual. Mike and Tony wanted to do shorter songs as much as Phil.
“Follow You Follow Me” (from …and then there were three) was a minor pop hit in the US. This opened the door to a new legion of fans (albeit of the post-Gabriel lineup).
The band acknowledged upsetting fans of the old days, but didn’t apologize for it.
Check out Genesis: A History or VH1’s Legends. Lots of great stories about the transition.
Two things:
(a) In a Genesis documentary I have on VHS tape, Tony Banks is given much credit for Genesis’ overall sound and direction - more than Phil Collins.
(b) On that same tape, Phil mentions how he never really wanted to be bucketed with Yes and King Crimson (it’s been awhile since I’ve watched it, but I’m pretty sure he specifically names those two bands), but rather with musicians like Sam (Moore) and Dave (Prater) and Sam Cooke.
No more so than Duke, and it contains the first truly rancid Genesis song, “Follow You Follow Me” (some would nominate “Your Own Special Way” for that title, but I find that one tolerable).
There was a Yahoo headline this week that talked about a reunion of the Gabriel-era Genesis. I’d like that (and am pissed that I missed The Musical Box’s show in Cleveland last weekend).
But if your “hope they stay dead” sentiment is based on 80’s Genesis, I agree.
To address the OP - I think the three of them intentionally sold out. But to be fair, prog was in its death throes even by the time Trick of the Tail came out around 1975. They had to change or die.
I first got into Genesis with Abacab and Genesis. Lots of good stuff there. It wasn’t until the last few years that I started getting into the Gabriel years. From Genesis to Revelation has a lot of amazing songs on it (no Collins yet). I’m slowly working my way through those years.
The Collins years took a decided turn for the worse with Invisible Touch and We Can’t Dance sucked.
[resurrects old thread] And Then There Were Three is full-on prog, don’t be fooled by “Follow You, Follow Me”. But prog or not, it’s one of their best albums. “Down and Out”, “Many Too Many”, “Undertow”, “Burning Rope”… these are really good songs whatever the genre. I think of it as a Tony Banks album, and that’s no bad thing.
