After spending the 1980s moving in an
increasingly pop-friendly direction, 1991's We Can't Dance
marked a return to earlier aesthetics for Genesis. Edgier with
more prominent guitars and live drums than on Invisible Touch,
the record was the band's strongest musical statement in over a decade. With
"Driving the Last Spike" and the dark "Dreaming While You Sleep" the group
revisited one of their forgotten strengths, telling extended stories. That's not
to say the album is a return to The
Lamb Lies Down on Broadway or Trick of the
Tail. Indeed, while there are several extended pieces on the record, there
is none of the eccentricities, odd meters, or extended virtuoso solos of the
band's progressive heyday. The album's closer, "Fading Lights," comes the
closest, featuring an outstanding instrumental mid-section. Unfortunately, the
record also contains some gutless ballads and peons for world understanding that
sound miles away from any immediacy. However, the surprisingly gritty singles
"No Son of Mine," "Jesus He Knows Me," and "I Can't Dance" help make up for the
album's weaker moments.
Released
11 November 1991
Recorded
March–September 1991 at The Farm, Surrey
Length
71:31
Label
Atlantic, Virgin
Producer
Genesis,
Nick Davis
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By Terrence J. Reardon "Classic rock and old sch... (Wareham, MA)
Genesis' last studio album with Phil Collins to date called We Can't Dance was released in November of 1991.
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By Terrence J. Reardon "Classic rock and old sch... (Wareham, MA)
Genesis' last studio album with Phil Collins to date called We Can't Dance was released in November of 1991.
The album was the band's first album in five years since the monster smash Invisible Touch. In between that album and its tour, singer/drummer Phil Collins appeared in the movie Buster (which its soundtrack spawned two #1 hits for Phil out of "A Groovy Kind of Love" and "Two Hearts") and released his fourth solo album But Seriously (which hit #1 and sold millions Stateside) and went on the Serious Tour. Guitarist/bass player Mike Rutherford released two more Mike and the Mechanics albums The Living Years (which its title track was a US #1 hit) and Word of Mouth and also pursued his interest in polo. Keyboard player Tony Banks recorded his third solo album Bankstatement and was recording his solo disc Still (which would not be released until 1992).
Then in 1991, Banks, Collins and Rutherford got together with Nick Davis (whom had done solo projects for Banks and Rutherford) and began recording the album We Can't Dance. When the album was released in late 1991 fans didn't know if either it was a great record or the band ran out of energy, read on.
We begin the album with the six minute epic "No Son of Mine" which deals with a very personal and troubled Father-Son relationship. The song was a US hit single and what a great album opener. Next is the comedic "Jesus He Knows Me" which pokes fun at the TV evangelists that occurred during that time. Its video was hilarious with the guys in leisure suits and fake wigs mocking the preachers. This track was the last US single from the album. Next is the first of two 10 plus minute epics "Driving the Last Spike" which is about England's railway workers. Next is "I Can't Dance" which was a rightfully great hit single. Its video was priceless with the band poking fun at the jean and model ads popular at the time. Next is the ballad "Never a Time" which is a great ballad. Next is the epic "Dreaming While You Sleep". This seven minutes epic shows Genesis didn't lose their prog side to their music.
The album's second half starts with "Tell Me Why" which is a nice Beatles-ish sounding piece about thr sociological problems of the world. Next is the excellent poppish "Living Forever" with excellent guitar work by Rutherford. Next is the album's third single and most memorable ballad "Hold on My Heart". Nice ballad. Next is the excellent "Way of the World" which is another piece about the problems in the world. Next is Phil's song for Eric Clapton's son who passed away that March called "Since I Lost You" which is a nice piece. We close the album and the Collins tenure with Genesis with the epic "Fading Lights". This piece includes a lot of elements of Genesis from their progressive days (long instrumental) in between the short vocal passages.
We Can't Dance reached #4 on the Billboard album chart and has sold four million copies in the US alone to date. While some fans don't like the record, We Can't Dance was a great album.
In 2007, the album was re-released as a CD and DVD combo pack remixed and remastered. The DVD has videos for No Son of Mine, I Can't Dance, Hold On My Heart, Jesus He Knows Me and Tell Me Why. Plus interviews with the band. Also, there is a documentary on the making of the album. Also there is the 1992 tour program on the DVD as well.
RECOMMENDED!
Then in 1991, Banks, Collins and Rutherford got together with Nick Davis (whom had done solo projects for Banks and Rutherford) and began recording the album We Can't Dance. When the album was released in late 1991 fans didn't know if either it was a great record or the band ran out of energy, read on.
We begin the album with the six minute epic "No Son of Mine" which deals with a very personal and troubled Father-Son relationship. The song was a US hit single and what a great album opener. Next is the comedic "Jesus He Knows Me" which pokes fun at the TV evangelists that occurred during that time. Its video was hilarious with the guys in leisure suits and fake wigs mocking the preachers. This track was the last US single from the album. Next is the first of two 10 plus minute epics "Driving the Last Spike" which is about England's railway workers. Next is "I Can't Dance" which was a rightfully great hit single. Its video was priceless with the band poking fun at the jean and model ads popular at the time. Next is the ballad "Never a Time" which is a great ballad. Next is the epic "Dreaming While You Sleep". This seven minutes epic shows Genesis didn't lose their prog side to their music.
The album's second half starts with "Tell Me Why" which is a nice Beatles-ish sounding piece about thr sociological problems of the world. Next is the excellent poppish "Living Forever" with excellent guitar work by Rutherford. Next is the album's third single and most memorable ballad "Hold on My Heart". Nice ballad. Next is the excellent "Way of the World" which is another piece about the problems in the world. Next is Phil's song for Eric Clapton's son who passed away that March called "Since I Lost You" which is a nice piece. We close the album and the Collins tenure with Genesis with the epic "Fading Lights". This piece includes a lot of elements of Genesis from their progressive days (long instrumental) in between the short vocal passages.
We Can't Dance reached #4 on the Billboard album chart and has sold four million copies in the US alone to date. While some fans don't like the record, We Can't Dance was a great album.
In 2007, the album was re-released as a CD and DVD combo pack remixed and remastered. The DVD has videos for No Son of Mine, I Can't Dance, Hold On My Heart, Jesus He Knows Me and Tell Me Why. Plus interviews with the band. Also, there is a documentary on the making of the album. Also there is the 1992 tour program on the DVD as well.
RECOMMENDED!
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