'Selling England by the Pound'

Genesis, a prog-rock band!

Why didn't anyone tell me this?

When someone is born, the parents should receive an instruction booklet. The child should receive some kind of orientation like Austin Powers after he is thawed from cyrogenic freezing showing the Berlin Wall falling, the moon landing and Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Part of that early orientation should include letting everyone know that Genesis wasn't just the retarded band known for Abacab and "I Can't Dance." Otherwise, you'll end up like me listening to some nice Selling England by the Pound and basically discovering an entirely different band.

It's erratic, wandering and, at times, heavy. Filled with nonsensical 1970s rock lyrics (see: Steely Dan) and insane drumming. Even some young Phil Collins.

I just want to know what happened. Has anyone asked Collins this? How do you go from progressive rock and roll to the song about the guy drowning and the incredibly awful "I Can't Dance." It's not like the two choices are even close. Somehow Collins and the guy from Mike and the Mechanics bridged that gap.

Probably why Peter Gabriel left and never looked back.