Gourt Home::Gourt :: Calling All Stations
Calling All Stations is an album by veteran progressive rock/pop band Genesis and was released in 1997. Recorded following Phil Collins' departure from the band in 1996, it was an attempt by bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks to continue the Genesis moniker while returning, to a certain degree, to Genesis' roots as an album-oriented band.
Vocalist Ray Wilson, who had fronted a brief but popular grunge-influenced outfit called Stiltskin, was brought on board after a lengthy auditioning period. Wilson's darker vocals were more reminiscent of Peter Gabriel than Collins, and he occupied the role of frontman with authority. Because of the fact that Wilson was not a drummer, both Nir Zidkyahu and Nick D'Virgilio were called in to supply the necessary percussion work.
But while Calling All Stations sold well throughout Europe, it failed to find an audience in the United States, despite an elaborate publicity launch at, of all places, Cape Canaveral in Florida. Critics were derisive, and while Calling All Stations was notable for attempting to bring Genesis' progressive rock roots more to the forefront, many found the results somber and lacking the dynamics of their 1970s work, let alone the fact pop and hip hop were in vogue at the time - genres far removed from progressive rock. As a result of the slim North American sales, the American leg of the tour was cancelled. Although a European tour was undertaken in 1998, Banks and Rutherford ultimately decided to relieve Wilson of his vocal duties and put Genesis on an extended hiatus, leaving Calling All Stations as Genesis' most recent studio release.
While many observers maintain that Phil Collins' absence contributed to Genesis' dramatic loss of commercial standing, it is interesting to note that Collins' solo career began stalling as early as 1993 with the release of his Both Sides album.
Since the album's release there has been, among some Genesis fans, a belated appreciation for Wilson's contribution to the band's history. There is agreement even among many fans who dislike this album that Wilson was a strong vocalist. Bootleg recordings of the 1998 European tour have been sought-after downloads on peer-to-peer networks, if only for the opportunity to hear Wilson's rendition of older Genesis songs like "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway," "The Carpet Crawlers," and "Lover's Leap" (the opening section of "Supper's Ready").
Of the three singles excerpted from the album, only "Congo" met with a limited measure of success.
Calling All Stations, which reached #2 in the UK, remains the only Genesis album to have been deleted in North America, having only reached #54 in the US in a brief chart stay.
Track listing
All songs by Tony Banks/Mike Rutherford, except where noted.
- "Calling All Stations" - 5:43
- "Congo" - 4:51
- "Shipwrecked" - 4:23
- "Alien Afternoon" - 7:51
- "Not About Us" (Tony Banks/Mike Rutherford/Ray Wilson) - 4:38
- "If That's What You Need" - 5:12
- "The Dividing Line" - 7:45
- "Uncertain Weather" - 5:29
- "Small Talk" (Tony Banks/Mike Rutherford/Ray Wilson) - 5:02
- "There Must Be Some Other Way" (Tony Banks/Mike Rutherford/Ray Wilson) - 7:54
- "One Man's Fool" - 8:46
Personnel
- Ray Wilson: lead and backing vocals
- Tony Banks: keyboards/backing vocals
- Mike Rutherford: bass and lead guitar/backing vocals
Additional musicians
- Nir Zidkyahu and Nick D'Virgilio: drums
1997 albums | Atlantic Records albums | Genesis albums | Virgin Records albums
"Calling All Stations"