Artist: GENESIS
Album: A TRICK OF THE TAIL REMASTERED (CD)

Year: 1976/ 2008
Media type: CD

A Trick of the Tail was the seventh studio album by the progressive rock band Genesis and the first to feature Phil Collins as full-time lead vocalist following the departure of original vocalist Peter Gabriel. It was released in February 1976.

After Peter Gabriel left Genesis, the remaining members held auditions for a permanent lead singer, although some members (most notably Banks) considered continuing as an instrumental act, while most songs were written without knowledge as to how they would be sung. Initially, Phil Collins did not wish to take over from Gabriel, instead teaching the potential lead singers the songs. It has been noted[who?] over 400 people auditioned. One of the auditionees, Mick Strickland, came close, but the band and Strickland decided against working together in the end. According to the band members, the backing tracks for A Trick Of The Tail had already been recorded and were in a key in which Strickland was not comfortable singing. When the auditions failed to produce a suitable vocalist, Collins reluctantly went in the studio to sing "Squonk" and the band decided that Collins should be the new vocalist.

The album was recorded and mixed at Trident Studios in October / November 1975. It also marked the first album that the band would co-produce with David Hentschel. They would work with David for the next four years.

A Trick of the Tail reached #3 in the UK and #31 in the US. Additionally, the album was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA in March of 1990. Also according to Tony Banks in the essay that comes with Platinum Collection, the album doubled the band's previous albums sales. This success was also financially crucial for Genesis who were $400,000 in debt by the time Peter Gabriel left.

A Trick of the Tail was the first Genesis album to credit specific band members to each track. Previous albums had been credited entirely to "Genesis".

TRACKLIST :

"Dance on a Volcano" (Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Steve Hackett/Mike Rutherford) – 5:54
"Entangled" (Tony Banks/Steve Hackett) – 6:27
"Squonk" (Tony Banks/Mike Rutherford) – 6:27
"Mad Man Moon" (Tony Banks) – 7:34

"Robbery, Assault and Battery" (Tony Banks/Phil Collins) – 6:16
"Ripples" (Tony Banks/Mike Rutherford) – 8:04
"A Trick of the Tail" (Tony Banks) – 4:35
"Los Endos" (Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Steve Hackett/Mike Rutherford) – 5:47

LINE-UP :

Phil Collins – vocals, background vocals, percussion, drums
Steve Hackett – electric guitar, 12-string guitars
Tony Banks – organ, synthesizers, pianos, background vocals, 12-string guitar, mellotron
Mike Rutherford – bass guitar, 12-string guitar, bass pedals