Genesis (2007 Remaster) - Genesis

For my tastes, the most solid Phil Collins era Genesis album. When it was new, I didn't pay much attention to it, as I was just out of high school, and I was in the grip of the hair metal time in the 80's. I did like a lot of the songs then, but I never actually bought the album as such.

Fast forward to now, and as I look back on myself then, I'm fortunate I know as much of the album as I do, given how deep into hard rock I was at the time. This album is quite solid, it isn't until track seven where I start to get a bit antsy. Side one is badass. Mama, That's All, Home by the Sea, Second Home by the Sea are all killer. Illegal Alien was the first song from "Side 2", then "Taking it all too Hard" came after that. There's a ton of really good stuff here.

This was probably the first of the albums in their "mega uber hyper popular" period with Phil Collins (that lasted through the next album and one beyond). Was enormously popular at the time, although as I've said, not really with me personally. :)

Mama has got to be one of their all time favorite tracks. If you listen to the bonus disc interview, Phil Collins talks about the origins of that laugh, was quite a surprising story.

The 2007 remaster series has two discs. The second has a DVD Audio 5.1 mix of the album, plus new interviews, videos, live footage, etc. I got this version of the CD in the 1983-1998 Genesis Box Set. You can order that here, but the cover art here links to the individual 2007 remaster version of this album, as it's cheaper to buy them individually, but you don't get the bonus discs in the box set.