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GENESIS released their fourth studio album Foxtrot on October 6, 1972 by Charisma Records. The album was recorded after touring in support of his previous album, Nursery Cryme. Side two featured “Supper’s Ready”, a 23-minute track that is considered one of the band’s greatest compositions. The album was recorded in August–September 1972 at Island Studios, London, England with producers Dave Hitchcock and Genesis.
Foxtrot was a major commercial and critical success at the time of its release, reaching No. 12 in the UK and received a very positive response. Allmusic gave 5 out of 5 stars for this album. Similar to their previous two albums, Foxtrot failed to chart in the US. The single from the album, “Watcher of the Skies”, was released as a single in October 1972. Foxtrot was reissued with new stereo sound and 5.1 surround as part of their 1970-1975 Genesis box set in 2008.
The album cover was done by Paul Whitehead, a former artistic stylist for the London-based magazine Time Out who also designed the covers for Trespass and Nursery Cryme. The original illustrations for all three albums were stolen from Charisma Records when the label was sold to Virgin Records in 1983.
On Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, the album is at No. 2 on the list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”. The album is number 14 on Rolling Stones magazine’s list of the 50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time.
Track List: (1). Watchers of the Skies, (2). Timetable, (3). Get ‘Em Out by Friday, (4). Can-Utility and the Coastliners, (5). Horizons, (6). Supper’s Ready, (7). Lover’s Leap, (8). The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man, (9). Ikhnaton and Itsacon and Their Band of Merry Men, (10). How Dare I Be So Beautiful?, (11). Willow Farm, (12). Apocalypse in 9/8 (Co-Starring the Delicious Talents of Gabble Ratchet), (13). As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs (Aching Men’s Feet).
Personnel: • Tony Banks – organ, Mellotron, piano, electric piano, 12 string guitar, voices, • Steve Hackett – electric guitar, 6 string guitar, 12 string guitar, • Phil Collins – drums, voices, assorted percussion, • Peter Gabriel – lead voice, flute, bass drum, tambourine, oboe, • Michael Rutherford – bass guitar, bass pedals, cello, 12 string guitar, voices. [sources/photo special]
