Genesis (band)

===1980–1985: ''Abacab'' and ''Genesis''===
[[File:The Farm recording studio 2006.jpg|thumb|right|240px|The band's remodelled studio in [[Chiddingfold]], Surrey, known as the Farm. ''Abacab'' was the first album recorded there.]]
In November 1980, Genesis bought [[The Farm (recording studio)|Fisher Lane Farm]], a farmhouse with an adjoining cowshed near [[Chiddingfold]], Surrey, as their new rehearsal and recording facility. The building was remodelled into a studio in four months before recording for ''[[Abacab]]'' began in March 1981.{{sfn|Genesis|2007|p=238}} The new environment had a productive effect on the writing process as the band wrote enough for a double album, but they discarded one hour's worth of songs that sounded too similar to their past albums. Banks said the band made an effort to keep melodies as simple as possible, which signalled further changes in their direction.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=170}} The shift was underlined in its production when Hentschel, their producer and engineer since 1975, was replaced by [[Hugh Padgham]] after Collins liked his production on ''Face Value'' and Gabriel's [[Peter Gabriel (1980 album)|third solo album]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Flans |first=Robyn |title=Classic Tracks: Phil Collins' ''In the Air Tonight'' |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html |magazine=[[Mix (magazine)|Mix]] |date=1 May 2005 |access-date=25 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317065230/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html|archive-date=17 March 2007}}</ref> Production duties were solely credited to the band for the first time with Padgham as their engineer.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=171}} The album is formed of group written material with an individual song from each member. "[[No Reply at All]]" features the [[Phenix Horns]], the [[horn section]] of American band [[Earth, Wind & Fire]].{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=175}}

''Abacab'' was released in September 1981 and reached No. 1 in the UK{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=248}} and No. 7 in the US.<ref name=billboardchart/> Three singles from the album entered the top forty in both countries; "[[Abacab (song)|Abacab]]" reached No. 9 in the UK{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=249}} and No. 26 in the US, "No Reply at All" reached No. 29 in the US,<ref name=billboardchart/> and "[[Keep It Dark]]", a European-only single, went to No. 33 in the UK.<ref name=UKchart/> ''Abacab'' was supported with a tour of Europe and North America from September to December 1981, ending with shows at Wembley Arena and the NEC Birmingham.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=176}} The tour marked the band's first use of the [[Vari-Lite]], a computer-controlled [[intelligent lighting]] system. Following a demonstration at The Farm, the band and Smith showed an immediate interest in the technology and became shareholders of the company.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Genesis of the Moving Beam |url=http://www.tpimagazine.com/Chronicle/505966/genesis_of_the_moving_beam.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Total Production International |issue=128 |date=April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712220927/http://www.tpimagazine.com/Chronicle/505966/genesis_of_the_moving_beam.html |archive-date=12 July 2011}}</ref> In May 1982, three tracks recorded during the ''Abacab'' sessions – "[[Paperlate]]", "You Might Recall" and "Me and Virgil" – were released as an EP in Europe, ''[[3×3]]'',{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=249}} which peaked at No. 10 in the UK.<ref name=UKchart/> Its cover is a homage to the ''[[Twist and Shout (EP)|Twist and Shout]]'' EP by [[the Beatles]], with sleeve notes written by that group's former publicist [[Tony Barrow]].{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=178}}

{{quote box|style=padding:10px;|quote=Basically, we reached the point&nbsp;... where we either became a caricature of ourselves, and settled into a rut, or we changed. There was no doubt in our minds that change was the answer.| source =—Mike Rutherford on the band's change in direction<ref>{{cite news |last=Griffin |first=John |title=Genesis in orbit with new image and album topping Top Twenty |url=http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/genesis-interview-the-montreal-gazette-28th-august/ |newspaper=The Montreal Gazette |date=28 August 1982 |page=E-2 |access-date=9 October 2015 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211001951/http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/genesis-interview-the-montreal-gazette-28th-august/ |url-status=live }}</ref>|width=25%|align=right}}
In June 1982, Genesis released the double live album ''[[Three Sides Live]]'' in two different versions. The North American edition contains three sides of live recordings with the fourth comprising the ''3×3'' tracks and two from the ''Duke'' sessions. The European release contains a fourth side of extra live tracks.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=179}} The album coincided with the home video release of the [[Three Sides Live (film)|''Three Sides Live'' concert film]] recorded in 1981. A tour of North America and Europe followed that ran from August to September 1982, featuring guest appearances from [[Bill Bruford]] and the Phenix Horns.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=179}} On 2 October, Genesis headlined a one-off concert with Gabriel at the [[National Bowl|Milton Keynes Bowl]] under the name [[Six of the Best]]. The concert was organised to raise money for Gabriel's [[World of Music, Arts and Dance]] project that was, by that point, in considerable debt.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Strange |first=Paul |title=The lamp wakes up |url=http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/melody-maker-9th-oct-the-lamb-wakes-up/ |magazine=Melody Maker |access-date=23 September 2015 |archive-date=11 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011103653/http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/melody-maker-9th-oct-the-lamb-wakes-up/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Hackett, who flew in from abroad, arrived in time to perform the last two songs.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=182}}

Work on the twelfth Genesis album, ''[[Genesis (Genesis album)|Genesis]]'', began in March 1983 with Padgham returning as engineer.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=186}} It was the first album written, recorded and mixed at the remodelled studio at the Farm. Banks remembered the band were scarce for new musical ideas that "felt at times as though we were stretching the material as far as we could".{{sfn|Genesis|2007|p=263}} "[[Mama (Genesis song)|Mama]]" concerns a man's obsession with a prostitute at a [[Cuba]]n brothel.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=187}} It originated from a beat Rutherford came up with on a [[LinnDrum]] machine that was fed through his guitar amplifier and an echo gate.{{sfn|Genesis|2007|p=263}} Collins' laugh on the track originated from "[[The Message (Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five song)|The Message]]" by [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five]].{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=188}} Released in October 1983, ''Genesis'' went to No. 1 in the UK{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=248}} and peaked at No. 9 in the US,<ref name=billboardchart/><ref name=UKchart/> where it reached Platinum by December that year and went on to sell over four million copies.<ref name=RIAAsearch/> Three tracks were released as singles; "Mama" reached No. 4 in the UK, their highest-charting UK single to date,{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=249}} and "[[That's All (Genesis song)|That's All]]" reached No. 6 in the US.<ref name=billboardchart/> The Mama Tour ran from late 1983 through to 1984, covering North America and five UK shows in [[Birmingham]]. The latter shows were filmed and released as ''[[The Mama Tour|Genesis Live – The Mama Tour]]''.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|pp=191,251}}

In February 1984, Genesis took a break in activity to allow each member to continue with their solo careers.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=190}} Rutherford formed his group [[Mike + The Mechanics]], Banks worked on his solo album ''[[Soundtracks (Tony Banks album)|Soundtracks]]'' and Collins released ''[[No Jacket Required]]'', which achieved worldwide success and increased his popularity as a result. The music press took note that Collins' success as a solo artist made him more popular than Genesis.<ref name=odds/> Before the release of ''No Jacket Required'', Collins insisted that he would not leave the band. "The next one to leave the band will finish it", Collins told ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in May 1985. "I feel happier with what we're doing now, because I feel it's closer to me. I won't be the one." He added, "Poor old Genesis does get in the way sometimes. I still won't leave the group, but I imagine it will end by mutual consent."<ref name=odds>{{cite magazine |last=Hoerburger |first=Rob |title=Phil Collins Beats the Odds |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/phil-collins-beats-the-odds-19850523 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=23 May 1985 |access-date=6 July 2015 |archive-date=18 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118222636/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/phil-collins-beats-the-odds-19850523 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June, Collins spoke of the band's intention to start work on a new album that year,<ref name=NYDNM>{{cite magazine |last=Hinkley |first=David |title=Rock's Little Drummer Boy Goes Pop |magazine=New York Daily News Magazine |date=30 June 1985 |page=6}}</ref> ending rumours to a false announcement that aired on [[BBC Radio 1]] suggesting Genesis had split.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=198}}