Foxtrot

In 1972 Genesis started working on a new album including material already played live ("Watcher of the Skies" and "Can-Utility and the Coastliners"). They were very famous by that time espcially in Italy after their last tour. Some of the material written by Steve Hacket would later materialize on Hacket's first solo album: "Voyage of the Acolyte". During the album's sessions, Genesis recorded the live favourite "Twilight Alehouse" which was adapted by Hacket on his debut solo album as "Shadow of the Hierophant". The group already came up with "Firth of Fifth" but at that time they decided not to use it. Finally it would be used on their next album "Selling England By The Pound" in 1973.

Genesis in 1972

The band line-up at that time was: Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and Steve Hacket.

"Watcher Of The Skies" single cover

"Watcher Of The Skies" started with a solo played on a Mellotron that the band had bought from King Crimson. It was inspired by the sci-fi fantasy "Childhood's End" by Arthur C. Clarke. "Time Table" holds a romantic theme from the age of queens and kings. "Get 'Em Out by Friday" is a comic opera partly inspired by Gabriel's own landlord problems he was having with his flat (apartment) on Campden Hill Road and a television documentary he had seen about housing in the borough of Islington. "Can-Utility and the Coastliners" based on king Canute (a viking king who ruled England, Denmark and Norway) and his inability to hold back the incoming tide. "Horizons" is a short guitar instrumental by Hacket. The album closes with their longest recording so far: The 23-minute epic "Supper's Ready" which was was formed of seven pieces.

Peter Gabriel in 1972 in one of his live outfits

The cover was the final Genesis work to be designed by Paul Whitehead featuring a fox wearing a red dress. During the next tour Peter Gabriel would be wearing a red dress and a fox's head on stage. The album was the first Genesis album to chart in the UK reaching #12.