When 1984 began, people didn’t know that the members of an English prog rock band were about to put a stranglehold on the pop charts the entire back half of the decade.
Originally led by Peter Gabriel, Genesis undoubtedly entered a new era after his departure. Vocal duties were handed over to the band’s drummer Phil Collins, and the talented, witty former child actor would not only shoot to solo stardom, he would lift the band along with him.
And while both the band and Collins himself had had minor hits, the takeover really touched off in 1984.
(Note: Collins had already released the stone-cold solo classic “In The Air Tonight” in 1981, but at the time of its release, it only peaked at #19 on the pop chart. Its legend would grow as the 80s wore on.)
The first Genesis song to hit the American top 10 came from their self-titled 1983 LP. The band had already started to embrace more radio-friendly song structures and move away from the extended ruminations that were the calling card of progressive rock on their previous 80s output, 1980’s Duke and 1981’s Abacab.
Collins admitted that he was trying to write something Beatles-esque, attempting what he called a “Ringo Starr drum part.” The tune also features keyboardist Tony Banks front and center with an electric piano riff and an organ solo. The third member of the trio, guitarist Mike Rutherford, also gets to show off a bit with a solo of his own to play the song to the fade.
But Collins is the glue holding everything together with his trademark impassioned delivery.
The countdown may not be over yet, but “That’s All” from Genesis comes in at #34.