Artists · Rock

Genesis. Five, four, three.

How a quintet became a trio: 8 Genesis albums from “Nursery Cryme” in 1971 to “Genesis” in 1983, on vinyl and all of them on SACD too. And alongside them, Phil Collins’ first two solo albums.

Explore the line-up →All 10 albums ↓

Tap a cover – you jump straight to the album.

01 / The line-up

Who played when?

Five musicians play on our albums from 1971 to 1974, four on those from 1976 and three from 1981 – with Phil Collins alongside on albums of his own. Tap a name to see his albums.

Follow a musician

As a five-piece1971–1974

  • Peter Gabriel
  • Tony Banks
  • Steve Hackett
  • Mike Rutherford
  • Phil Collins

As a four-piece1976 · Collins as lead singer

  • Peter Gabriel until “The Lamb”
  • Tony Banks
  • Steve Hackett
  • Mike Rutherford
  • Phil Collins vocals and drums

As a trio1981–1983

  • Peter Gabriel until “The Lamb”
  • Tony Banks
  • Steve Hackett until “Wind & Wuthering”
  • Mike Rutherford
  • Phil Collins

His own way: Phil Collins solo1981–1982

  • Phil Collins

Connections: the Earth, Wind & Fire horns play on “Abacab” and on Phil Collins’ “Face Value”. And on the 1976 tour for “A Trick of the Tail”, Bill Bruford joined as an additional drummer – the drummer of Yes. Go to the Yes page →

02 / All albums

All 10 albums

In line-up order. Prices and availability come live from the shop.

As a five-piece · 1971–1974

Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins.

Genesis – Nursery Cryme

released 1971

Nursery Cryme

Genesis

Released in November 1971: the third Genesis album and the first with Steve Hackett and Phil Collins – on “For Absent Friends” Collins sings his first lead vocal on a Genesis album.

“Musically, this is a very, very convincing work by Genesis, from the first song to the last – an amazing album … and the sound really benefits from the 45 RPM format.”
Michael 45 on: Vinyl · 45 RPM · watch from 2:14
Genesis – Foxtrot

released 1972

Foxtrot

Genesis

From pastoral detail to science fiction: in “Get ’Em Out by Friday” Peter Gabriel changes from character to character, and Steve Hackett’s “Horizons” belongs to solo acoustic guitar.

Genesis – Selling England by the Pound

released 1973

Selling England by the Pound

Genesis

1973: an England caught between myth, commerce and everyday life. “Firth of Fifth” opens with Tony Banks’ piano introduction and gives Steve Hackett room for a long guitar melody.

“The Porky cut sounds amazing too – but what we have here with this Atlantic 75 reissue is a whole different ball game.”
Michael 45 on: Vinyl · 45 RPM · watch from 8:11 · Compared with: British first pressing, Porky cut
Genesis – The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

released 1974

The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

Genesis

Released in 1974: a double concept album about Rael in New York – the last Genesis studio album with Peter Gabriel.

“The Atlantic 75 reissue of The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is way better than the original: far more detail, far more dynamics.”
Michael 45 on: Vinyl · 45 RPM · watch from 2:50 · Compared with: two British first pressings

As a four-piece · 1976

Phil Collins now takes the lead vocals – with Tony Banks, Steve Hackett and Mike Rutherford.

Genesis – A Trick of the Tail

released 1976

A Trick of the Tail

Genesis

Released in February 1976: the band searched for a new singer – and found him behind the drums. Phil Collins takes the lead vocals on a whole Genesis album for the first time.

“This masterpiece – at least in my opinion, it’s a masterpiece.”
Michael 45 on: Vinyl · 45 RPM · watch from 7:56
Genesis – Wind & Wuthering

released 1976

Wind & Wuthering

Genesis

Recorded in the Netherlands in September and October 1976 – the first Genesis album made outside Britain and the last studio album with Steve Hackett.

As a trio · 1981–1983

Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford, in their own studio in Surrey.

Genesis – Abacab

released 1981

Abacab

Genesis

In late 1980 the band bought The Farm in Surrey and turned a former cowshed into a studio. That is where “Abacab” took shape – with the Earth, Wind & Fire horns.

“If you like Face Value, you will love Abacab.”
Michael 45 on: Vinyl · 45 RPM · watch from 10:39
Genesis – Genesis

released 1983

Genesis

Genesis

Spring 1983, three musicians starting with an empty page: Banks, Collins and Rutherford share every writing credit, from “Mama” to “Home by the Sea”.

“A wonderful, dynamic, powerful, beautiful version of this ’80s rock-pop classic.”
Michael 45 on: Vinyl · 45 RPM · watch from 8:12

His own way: Phil Collins solo · 1981–1982

His first two solo albums – made while he remained a member of Genesis.

Phil Collins – Face Value

released 1981

Face Value

Phil Collins

His first solo album, released on 13 February 1981 – alongside Genesis, not instead of it. It opens with “In the Air Tonight”.

“The reissue – this 45 RPM version – kills it. I have never, ever had such a huge difference between a reissue and an original, and the reissue is by far the better version.”
Michael 45 · watch from 3:13 · Compared with: US first pressing
Phil Collins – Hello, I Must Be Going!

released 1982

Hello, I Must Be Going!

Phil Collins

Released in November 1982, recorded in May and June 1982. Collins remained a member of Genesis throughout.

“The Analogue Productions 45 RPM is more detailed, has a better soundstage and is more coherent overall.”
Michael 45 · watch from 5:44 · Compared with: US first pressing

03 / Guide

Where do you start?

Eight Genesis albums from “Nursery Cryme” (1971) to “Genesis” (1983), plus Phil Collins’ first two solo albums: on this page a quintet becomes a trio. We carry them in 18 editions, on vinyl and as hybrid SACD. Where you start depends on what you want to hear.

You want to hear Genesis with Peter Gabriel

Illustration: Peter Gabriel, 1971, historically inspired
Illustration, historically inspired · Peter Gabriel in 1971

Then start in 1971 with “Nursery Cryme”, the first album with Steve Hackett and Phil Collins. On “Foxtrot” Peter Gabriel slips from character to character in “Get ’Em Out by Friday”, and on “Selling England by the Pound”, “Firth of Fifth” opens with Tony Banks’ piano introduction and gives Steve Hackett room for a long guitar melody. “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” from 1974 is a double concept album about Rael in New York – the last Genesis studio album with Gabriel.

You want to hear Phil Collins become the singer

Illustration: Phil Collins, 1976
Illustration · Phil Collins in 1976, drawn for “A Trick of the Tail”

Collins had his first lead vocal on a Genesis album back in 1971: “For Absent Friends” on “Nursery Cryme”. The band searched a long time for a new singer and found him behind the drums: on “A Trick of the Tail”, released in February 1976, Collins sings a whole Genesis album for the first time. “Wind & Wuthering” followed the same year, recorded in the Netherlands – the last studio album with Steve Hackett.

You want to hear Genesis as a trio

At the end of 1980 the band bought The Farm in Surrey and turned a cowshed into a studio. That is where “Abacab” was made, with the Earth, Wind & Fire horns. On “Genesis” from 1983 Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford wrote all the pieces together, from “Mama” to “Home by the Sea”.

You want to hear Phil Collins solo

“Face Value”, his first solo album, appeared on 13 February 1981 and opens with “In the Air Tonight”. “Hello, I Must Be Going!” followed in November 1982. Collins remained a member of Genesis throughout – and the Earth, Wind & Fire horns play on “Face Value” as they do on “Abacab”.

Which edition suits you?

All ten albums on this page are available on vinyl at 45 rpm, spreading the same music over more record sides. All eight Genesis albums are also available as hybrid SACDs – the CD layer plays on any CD player, the SACD layer on an SACD player.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

Which Genesis album should I start with?

With Peter Gabriel as singer, start with “Nursery Cryme” (1971) or “Selling England by the Pound” (1973); with Phil Collins as singer, with “A Trick of the Tail” (1976). You hear the band as a trio on “Abacab” (1981) and “Genesis” (1983).

On which albums does Peter Gabriel sing, and on which Phil Collins?

Peter Gabriel sings on “Nursery Cryme”, “Foxtrot”, “Selling England by the Pound” and “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”. From “A Trick of the Tail” (1976) Phil Collins is the lead singer – although he first sang lead back in 1971, on “For Absent Friends” from “Nursery Cryme”.

Which Genesis albums are also available on SACD?

All eight: “Nursery Cryme”, “Foxtrot”, “Selling England by the Pound”, “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway”, “A Trick of the Tail”, “Wind & Wuthering”, “Abacab” and “Genesis”.

Why are Phil Collins albums on this page?

Because he went his own way alongside Genesis: “Face Value” (1981) and “Hello, I Must Be Going!” (1982) were released while he remained a member of Genesis.

Who played in Genesis?

On this page’s albums from 1971 to 1974: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Steve Hackett, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. In 1976 a four-piece, with Collins as singer. From 1981 a trio: Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford.

What links Genesis and Yes?

Bill Bruford, the drummer of Yes: on the 1976 tour for “A Trick of the Tail” he played the second drum kit.

Details from our product texts, years = year of release (as of 19 Sept 2026). Price and availability live from the shop.