Genesis – Abacab (2LP, 45RPM)
ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER
Genesis [click here to see more vinyl by Genesis]
Drums, Vocals – Phil Collins [click here to see more vinyl featuring Phil Collins]
Guitar, Bass – Mike Rutherford
Keyboards – Tony Banks
Written by Genesis (A1-2, B2, C1-3, D3), Tony Banks (B1), Phil Collins (D1), Mike Rutherford (D2)
2LPs, gatefold jacket printed by Stoughton Printing
Limited edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : Black
Speed : 45 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : Quality Record Pressings
Label : Analogue Productions - Atlantic 75 series
Original Label : Atlantic
Recorded March–June 1981 at Studio The Farm, Chiddingfold, Surrey
Engineered by Hugh Padgham
Produced by Genesis
Cover by Bill Smith
Originally released in September 1981
Reissued in 2024
Tracks:
Side A:
- Abacab
- No Reply At All
Side B:
- Me And Sarah Jane
- Keep It Dark
Side C:
- Dodo
- Lurker
- Who Dunnit?
Side D:
- Man On The Corner
- LIke It Or Not
- Another Record
Reviews:
"Duke showcased a new Genesis -- a sleek, hard, stylish trio that truly sounded like a different band from its first incarnation -- but Abacab was where this new incarnation of the band came into its own. Working with producer Hugh Padgham, the group escalated the innovations of Duke, increasing the pop hooks, working them seamlessly into the artiest rock here. And even if the brash, glorious pop of "No Reply at All" -- powered by the percolating horns of Earth, Wind & Fire, yet polished into a precise piece of nearly new wave pop by Padgham -- suggests otherwise, this is still art rock at its core, or at least album-oriented rock, as the band works serious syncopations and instrumental forays into a sound that's as bright, bold, and jagged as the modernist artwork on the cover. They dabble in other genres, lacing "Me and Sarah Jane" with a reggae beat, for instance, which often adds dimension to their sound, as when "Dodo" rides a hard funk beat and greasy organ synths yet doesn't become obvious; it turns inward, requiring active listening. Truly, only "No Reply at All," the rampaging title track (possibly their hardest-rocking song to date), and the sleek and spooky "Man on the Corner" (which hides a real melancholy heart underneath its glistening surface) are immediate and accessible -- although the Mockney jokes of "Who Dunnit?" could count, it's too much of a geeky novelty to be pop. The rest of Abacab is truly modern art rock, their last album that could bear that tag comfortably." AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
"Genesis, British progressive rock group noted for its atmospheric sound in the 1970s and extremely popular albums and singles of the 1980s and ’90s. The principal members were Peter Gabriel (b. February 13, 1950, Woking, Surrey, England), Tony Banks (b. March 27, 1950, East Hoathly, East Sussex), Michael Rutherford (b. October 2, 1950, Guildford, Surrey), Phil Collins (b. January 31, 1951, London), and Steve Hackett (b. February 12, 1950, London).
Founded in 1967 by schoolmates at the Charterhouse public school, Genesis was first known for their songwriting talents and Gabriel’s uniquely theatrical onstage performances. After their lineup stabilized with the addition of drummer Collins and guitarist Hackett in 1970, the group developed a style that featured heavy synthesizers and arrangements emphasizing group performance over the individual pyrotechnics favoured by many progressive rock groups. The band developed a dedicated following in the early 1970s. After the release of their acclaimed The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway (1974), Gabriel left to pursue a solo career.
With Collins performing lead vocals, the band slowly developed a more mainstream sound marked by the successful albums Duke (1980), Abacab (1981), and Invisible Touch (1986) and scored a host of hit singles. Despite many successful side projects—most notably Rutherford’s pop combo Mike + the Mechanics—and the departure of Collins in 1995, the band continued to record with the 1997 release Calling All Stations. This proved to be the group’s final studio album, however, as a 2007 reunion tour, with Collins back as lead vocalist, did not lead to any new material. Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010." Britannica Review by Adam Augustyn
Ratings:
Discogs : 4.21 / 5 ; AllMusic : 4.5 / 5 ; The Rolling Stone Album Guide : 4 / 5