"Genesis" is the twelfth studio album by the English rock band Genesis, released on October 3, 1983, by Charisma and Virgin Records in the UK and by Atlantic Records in the US and Canada. Following their tour in support of the 1982 live album Three Sides Live, the band took an eight-month break before regrouping in spring 1983 to record a new album. This was their first album fully written and recorded at their studio, The Farm in Chiddingfold, Surrey, with songs developed through jam sessions rather than pre-written material. Hugh Padgham returned as their engineer.
At the time of its release, Genesis was the group's greatest commercial success, becoming their third consecutive album to reach No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and reaching No. 9 on the US Billboard 200, selling over 4 million copies. Five singles were released from the album, with "Mama" being the lead single and the highest-charting Genesis single in the UK at No. 4. While "Mama" did not perform well on the US charts, the follow-up single "That's All" reached No. 6 and became the band's first US top 10 hit. The band toured in support of the album in 1983 and 1984, resulting in the concert video Genesis Live: The Mama Tour. In 1985, the album received Grammy nominations for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and "Second Home by the Sea" was nominated for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. In 2007, it was re-released with new stereo and 5.1 surround sound mixes.
In October 1982, the Genesis lineup of Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford wrapped up a tour supporting Three Sides Live. They also performed a one-off gig titled Six of the Best with original frontman Peter Gabriel and former guitarist Steve Hackett to support Gabriel's WOMAD festival. Following this, the band entered a period of inactivity, focusing on solo projects.
In spring 1983, the band reconvened at The Farm to work on a new studio album, their first since Abacab. This album was uniquely written, recorded, and mixed entirely in their studio, allowing for a more relaxed environment without the pressure of booking outside studio time. Engineer Hugh Padgham returned, and the band handled most of the production themselves. Initial progress was slow, but after a productive session, they developed several songs, leading to increased excitement about the new material. They considered having Banks or Rutherford take lead vocals but ultimately focused on material written with Collins's voice in mind.
The band aimed for a collaborative writing process, which resulted in tracks emerging from jamming and improvisation, fostering unity and freshness in their music. This approach marked a return to collectively crediting each member for writing the album, a practice not seen since The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. The album's title, Genesis, emphasized this collective effort.
The album features shorter, more straightforward songs, moving towards a more radio-friendly sound. Rutherford noted that the band had explored their progressive rock roots as far as they could and wanted a more relaxed approach. Banks described the music as having an aggressive edge, with side one showcasing the "main act" and side two featuring "character pieces."
"Mama" originated from a jam session where Rutherford experimented with a Linn electronic drum machine. Collins's vocal style on the verses was influenced by John Lennon, and his laugh was inspired by a hip-hop song. The band initially had doubts about Collins recreating the laugh on stage, but he did so without issue. Despite expectations for a different lead single, "Mama" was chosen, and Rutherford praised its commercial performance as representative of what Genesis was about at the time.
"That's All" was based on a piano riff from Banks, with influences from the Beatles evident in Collins's drumming. "Home by the Sea" tells the story of a burglar encountering ghosts, with the title originating from a phrase Collins used during dummy vocals. The track segues into "Second Home by the Sea," an instrumental developed through improvisation.
"Illegal Alien," with lyrics by Rutherford, addresses the plight of illegal immigrants. Banks's contributions to "Silver Rainbow" explored the senselessness of love, while "It's Gonna Get Better" features a keyboard introduction sampled from classical music.
The cover art was designed by Bill Smith, who had also worked on Abacab. The front photograph was inspired by shapes from his son's toy, left on the carpet.
