Album · Genesis
A Trick of the Tail by Genesis
A Trick of the Tail is an album by Genesis, released in 1976. 3 songs from it have charted on rock radio countdowns, with 9 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “Squonk”, on 7 lists with a best position of #76.
A Trick of the Tail, Genesis's seventh studio album, came out on Charisma on 13 February 1976, and it's the sound of a band refusing to fold after Peter Gabriel walked out. Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford had been writing most of the music anyway, so the four who remained wrote through mid-1975, sifted a pile of audition tapes for a new singer, and went into London's Trident Studios that October with David Hentschel producing, still not knowing who would take the mike. The answer was sitting behind the drums: Phil Collins was talked into trying "Squonk", nailed it, and the job was his.
What comes out is lush, pastoral prog, all shimmering keyboards and Steve Hackett's filigreed guitar. Critics praised the fuller sound and marveled that the band had survived losing Gabriel, it went to number 3 in Britain, and the US tour, with ex-Yes and King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford behind the kit, raised their profile over there.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from A Trick of the Tail on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Squonk | 7 | #76 | – | 2010–2026 | |
| 2 | Ripples | 1 | #785 | – | 2020 | |
| 3 | A Trick of the Tail | 1 | #474 | – | 2004 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.