Genesis Album Covers Ranked! - (Every album artwork, from worst to best!)

[@reneelyons6836]

My daughter is drawing Nursery Cryme for me for Mother's Day. I love the music and the cover. Interesting video. I wish I had all your albums. Little jealous. : )

[@mrmajikjr]

I'm 99% sure the figure on Calling All Stations *is* Ray Wilson. There are so many shots of him wearing a long coat with his shoulders pointed up when he was singing on the album's tour.

[@Sammeep02]

I will never not love the Trick cover. All the characters and how they represent each song is so genius. I like the shade of blue on TRESPASS. Nursery Cryme is another all time favorite album art! That font on the we cant dance cover takes away from my enjoyment factor

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Trick is iconic and something really special!

[@jacobayers2391]

My favorite album cover is we can’t dance because I love the genesis logo on the cover so much and the painting is beautiful but I do agree the title could have been way better

[@rk41gator]

Agree about Wind and Wuthering, both the music and the art are so appropriate. Love the graphic simplicity of Duke. Agree and LOVE 'The Lamb'. ABACAB should be Number I. Can we get a T-shirt with all 4 graphics on it? And your use of Matisse is an excellent comparison. Of course, the artwork is spectacular for 'Selling England' and their idea of using it, genius. And a print would be great.

[@claykriese5381]

Wuthering is not just best cover by the band, it's one of the best by any band.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Matches the music so well!

[@warpspeedchic]

A Trick of the Tail suits the music best for me, but I may lean towards it more as it was my first Genesis album. I love the relation between the characters on Trick's cover and the songs, Entangled >> Florence Nightingale-esque Nurse, Squonk >> The Huntsman. Every illustration on the sleeve fills me up with such wonder and fantasy. Very Lewis Caroll. I think your ranking is eerily close to mine (bar a few like ATTWT, it's sunset clouds I always found really warm.) Great video fella! 😁

[@tamellison2334]

ATTENTION EVERYONE‼️‼️‼️ LETS WISH OUR BEAUTIFUL PHIL COLLINS A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY 1/30/2023🎁🎈🎊🎉🎏💎🎂🧁🍦

[@reneelyons6836]

AWE

[@TheChadTI]

We Can't Dance looks like a mental health brochure. The beige matches the music (in my opinion) Also yes title/cover are almost diametrically opposed to each other.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Haha yes. Def a brochure. Lol

[@hogweed1975]

The story behind the cover of ATTWT is that it depicts three mobsters getting together to plot their next kill, or protect themselves from it. It's a pun on band members falling off continually, and also a characterization of the band as a mafia family (which is self depricating in the sense that inside these "families" there is a lot of animosity and threat). The idea is quite good actually, but it doesn't work at all. 15. And Then There Were Three 14. Genesis 13. Calling All Stations 12. Invisible Touch 11. Abacab 10. From Genesis To Revelation 9. Trespass 8. Foxtrot 7. Wind & Wuthering 6. Nursery Cryme 5. A Trick Of The Tail 4. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 3. We Can't Dance 2. Selling England By The Pound 1. Duke

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Very interesting!! Thanks! Love your list too!

[@ronnie6613]

As a Canadian, You must love Vancouver, by GENESIS. Extremely underrated. I have Genesis Album Covers in Frames. All over Living Room. RONNIE 🙂 Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎸

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Love it!

[@ronnie6613]

@@EverythingPhilCollins My Sister lives in Canada.... Near Moncton. New Brunswick.

[@ronnie6613]

@@EverythingPhilCollins PS... Sackville..🙂

[@jonnykhatru]

Love your list, very well thought through and I like how against the grain you were willing to go

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Thank you!

[@chrissharkey3085]

Abacab was always my favorite, though this one with the red and green dominating was my least favorite of the four. I think the logo is great and it fits the music. And I love the music on this album. It all works for me. Duke would be my second favorite for pretty much all the reasons you mentioned. Very clean and simple.

[@absinthedude]

I've always felt that the painting on Nursery Cryme is supposed to look old. The orange cast invokes feelings of summer while the style and cracks in the paint plus the 1871 inscription make it look and feel old. Like Henry coming back as an old man, perhaps. The actual subject of the painting captures the spirit of The Musical Box perfectly. It's one of those album covers, along with the beautiful artwork on the inside of the gatefold, that I almost always look at while I play the record. It also makes me smile. "Shapes", I completely agree it makes you feel the contents of the record are going to be quite dark musically and while Side 1 is mostly dark with a pleasant ditty to break things up, side 2 is very inconsistent and certainly never dark. Overall, the album isn't dark and I feel this cover misses the spot. I'm not a big fan of the Abacab cover either but at least I can say I do understand what the artist was doing, it's quite abstract which the music is compared to what came before. It's also bold and colourful. Though was releasing four different versions a cynical attempt to get people to buy it four times? I do like "We Can't Dance" and I remember at the time the band saying that they were making a point that they were separate from the dance music scene which was taking over the UK charts at the time. They were trying to say "This is different to the other records in the top 20". The artwork on the outer sleeve is wonderful and the pictures on the inner sleeves match the lyrical content of the songs well. Another that I like to look at while listening. I don't like the band name font on this one though, it looks to me like something a child would draw. And the music doesn't fit with that. With Duke, I've tended to separate Albert (and the French children's book where he originates) from the Genesis record. I see the character in the album woven throughout the songs, and perhaps thinks of himself as Duke to the Duchess from that song. He's a sad, lonely man living vicariously through his TV and looking out of his window as the world goes by. He dreams of being more important than he is. He fantasises about living the life, about having a tangible relationship with someone he fancies on the TV (Turn It On Again)....yet if he's ever had relationships in the past, they've gone sour (Please Don't Ask, etc). Meanwhile Duchess gets the fame and plaudits, and finds they're not all they are cracked up to be. Perhaps just my personal take on the record, but it appears to have that theme through it while not being a concept album in the classic sense. Like their music, no two Genesis album covers are alike. I've read that some people view Invisible Touch as having a theme of nuclear war running through it, and they view the cover as being related to that....the orange hand being some sort semi-visible threat to the family with the shapes/design representing a mushroom cloud or fall-out. Personally I don't buy that, but it's one analysis of the cover and music. It's certainly striking and in 1986 Genesis were everywhere (as were Pete and Phil). That record stood out in the shops even if it's far from my own favourite on any level.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Oh that’s good to know about Nursery Crime. The thing with Duke is that they told a story about Albert on the Duke tour that I think adds to my confusion. Anyway. Still my favorite cover despite the confusion.

[@bsilvers1037]

A trick of the tail is my favorite cover. It also makes a great T shirt design.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

It does!

[@aMan-or9ij]

I own the abacab lithograph signed by Bill Smith. I've always been partial to that cover, but I also love others, particularly: Wind & Wuthering, And Then There Were Three, and the very simplistic Three Sides Live.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Would love that Bill Smith piece! Lucky you!

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

25:27 Scott, in my opinion this album cover is the best album cover in Genesis folklore. Just all the pictures fit with the songs perfectly. I’m hoping you feel that same way.

[@IanHargreaves-e7s]

My take on invisible touch here goes the hand on the cover indicator touch with one's hand , the invisible relates to the music as music touches us when we hear it , so that's my take on invisible touch by my all time favourite band there music has certainly touched me over the years....

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

31:13 What can I say about Selling England by the Pound. It’s an absolute MASTERPIECE!!! I love it all. Standout track for me: “The Battle of Epping Forrest.”

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Yes! Love that tune!

[@garri5108]

My fav Genesis album cover is Foxtrot. Damn I love this painting

[@Biscuit-Triscuit]

I think Duke is easily the best. It’s like a total 180 of And Then There Were Three. As opposed to having a very dark cover with so many things going on, you have a very light cover that focuses your attention on one place. It just feels like you’re in for a very interesting and positive experience. But you aren’t wrong about the title, Duke doesn’t mean much compared to cover. It would’ve made more sense to call it Window or even make reference to the man on the cover and call it Albert

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Glad we agree!! Man on the corner could’ve been a cool title for sure!!

[@CanadaMikeB]

All this said, nothing compares to Roger Dean’s covers. I started collecting LPs because of him.

[@Punttipate62]

My favourite album art is Shapes but I'm biased since that was my first genesis vinyl and also my 2nd vinyl I ever got right after a rolling stones compilation album. Duke might be my second favourite.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Nice!!!

[@TheChadTI]

And then there were three felt like a file cabit idea, one they had kicking around (see Rainbows Difficult to Cure)

[@ariesmercurio1869]

Best Cover: Tresspass (Love that shade of blue) Worst Cover: Abacab Looks like something painted by a 4 year old kid Best album title: from genesis to revelation Let 's be honest It 's quite ingenious Worst álbum title: 1983 self titled Having great songs like mama, that 's all or home by the sea they could come with something better I known this album as the "Mama album"or the "toys album" (if you ask for the cover, It 's an excellent cover)

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Nice!!!

[@danielpalmersofficial]

I love all the album covers, except for “From Genesis to Revelation”, “…And Then There Were Three” and “Calling All Stations”. 😀👍

[@IanHargreaves-e7s]

Selling is by far the best record cover plus the record is in my top 3 genesis records ✌️

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Agree!!

[@kaspermichelsen8254]

Thanx again for an interesting video, even though I completely disagree with you on some choices. We Can’t Dance is easily my favourite album artwork by any artist. I also think Nursery Cryme art fits the Victorian atmosphere of The Musical Box and Hodweed perfectly. Abacab artwork always was very meh for me. But I’m glad you acknowledge that how we feel about the art is always influenced by how we feel about the music, because I think that’s very much the case in both our lists.

[@OleVanDole]

I dont seek meaning in album covers like you do, might be the reason i also like Yes :P My quite different top 5 list, only because of the artwork; 1. And then there were three 2. Lamb 3. Wind and Wurthering 4. Seconds Out 5. Abacab Yes i know I’m insane, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The «old style» covers are objectively more beautiful, but that style does not trigger anything in me.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

We agree!! Like your list!!

[@SpaceCattttt]

My feelings about the covers couldn't be much more different! To me, the music comes first. It doesn't hurt if the album cover matches the music in terms of themes and feel, but it's not a requirement. That said, I don't think many Genesis album covers match the music. With the exception of The Lamb, which is a fantastic cover that REALLY captures the relatively grim music exceptionally well, I can't think of any other cover that does the same. Not even Selling England, which, although a gorgeous cover, doesn't really have much to do with the title, even if, as you pointed out, it very much has to do with "I Know What I Like". In fact, several of the band's early album covers seemed to feature visual representations of their various songs. And I also don't agree that a great cover makes the music sound better, or vice versa. For example, Wind and Wuthering has an amazing cover, but it's one of my least favourite Genesis albums. Good but flawed. Duke, on the other hand, is my favourite Genesis album, but I HATE the cover. Just like I hate minimalism in general. So ultimately, I think all this album cover stuff comes down to personal taste. Just as it does with music. Which, of course, means that I'm right.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

:) Great thoughts!! Subjective indeed!

[@uckbee]

Agree about the 'Selling England' cover.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

:)

[@CanadaMikeB]

Not only do I think Trespass is their best album cover, it’s their only perfect album, yet Selling England is my favourite because of 4 of the best songs ever created. I have a t-shirt of Selling that I wore to the second Toronto show that you were standing near me on the floor. I have another suggestion… What’s the best Genesis font? I have a hard time with this. Rush has really good fonts but I can’t stand the We Can’t Dance font. The one on Trick is probably my favourite.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

I really like the Abacab font. But that might change over time. I also like the simple minimalism of invisible touch. 100% agree trespass is perfect. Short and cohesive.

[@chikamotokenji3217]

Duke and the lamb had similar appearance by having a guy looking in album cover and story telling album

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

True good point!!

[@chikamotokenji3217]

@@EverythingPhilCollins thank you cool phil fan

[@TheChadTI]

7:45 Nursery Crime has too many similar colors, nothing pops and tends to mush together.

[@josefc7171]

Suggestion! How about making a list of Phil songs that sound better live than studio recording. This is what I realize pretty early listening to his songs. A lot of his songs sounded better in his live performances. I’m not saying the studio recordings are bad. 😂

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Great idea!!!

[@josefc7171]

@@EverythingPhilCollins BTW, I love the channel. I started listening to Phil about a decade ago when I was in my teenager years but to only his mainstream hits (Against All Odds, You’ll Be in My Heart, Another Day in Paradise). Now that I’m older, my appreciation to his music grew 100x larger and realized how good his deep cuts are. Still my favorite of all time is Two Hearts though. Looking forward to more videos!

[@ariesmercurio1869]

And then only were three It 's a great cover There's the three remainig guys of the band on the corner the place represents a chaotic situation of "What would happen now?" If you notice in the right there's a guy going away from the members of genesis This guy is supposed to be hackett leaving genesis,while the other three stay together Honestly It 's kinda philosophical

[@TheChadTI]

9:18 I feel like they hate all of them 😀

[@mrmajikjr]

Also, Genesis to Revelation wasn't just "Oh, it had a religious name and nothing else." The Serpent and In The Beginning were clearly songs about the Biblical Creation, and In The Wilderness' track title is a biblical reference even if the actual song isn't.

[@rk41gator]

Nursery Cryme wouldn't be a great cover without the music. With the music, it is perfect. It is quirky, like the music.

[@progpuss]

Atott cover is by far the best imho.

[@TheChadTI]

The self titled is a GREAT album but the title and art as 100% afterthought to me.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

💯 agree

[@ronnie6613]

Selling England By The Pound and Nursery Cryme, are My favourite Covers... ABACAB, is worst. Keep Rockin'🎸 RONNIE Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎸📀

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Thanks for watching Ronnie!

[@themindseyecmh]

I love the self title album, or 'Shapes', it's one of my favorites..... but the album cover totally doesn't fit the album... even that, I'm not that crazy about the cover

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Same!!

[@ProductivityOrchard]

My top three would be 3. Duke, 2. Selling England by the Pound, 1 A Trick of the tail. Abacab would be way down the list as it is not just one cover when it was originally released, but they decided to have different colour versions to fleece the fans, apart from that Abacab side 2 has some of the worst tracks with Phil in the band ( Don’t get me started on the travesty of CAS).

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Great list!!!

[@willhemmings]

There's no way I'm going to say that artistically Abacab has the second best album cover. It is art of its time; and that time was tear, scrawl a few squiggles and bang it out to rake in the money. Compare with Foxtrot or Nursery Cryme say; whose cover art is strongly reflective of an inner musical mood that is experimental, expressionistic, often macabre; and not flung out for casual consumption. The same simplistic casualness of Abacab reflected in the music and the covers goes all the way through the self titled toddlers' play shapes, the screenprinted nonsense of Invisible Touch and the whimsical indulgence of We Can't Dance. At least the cover of CAS tried to say something meaningful about the music and the band that was not reductive

[@keithbrandon3660]

The worst has to be abacab looks cheap

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

I can see that perspective! I actually love it’s minimalism!

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

28:31 ABACAB what can I say about this album actually would be a 10/10 but it’s has one downfall: Who Dunnit? In my opinion I do not care for this song but I respect where it is on the track list. However if you take that song away from the track list there goes the album imo. It’s a track that fits within the album. This album and Invisible Touch were the first 2 CDs my dad had bought.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

I think Abacab could stood for an instrumental like Brazilian or Second Home…

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

21:50 Okay,Scott, you asked for it…I’ll give you MY opinion on Duke: The Album Cover is Iconic. As far as I’m concerned that the Dude on the cover is not called “Duke” is irrelevant in my opinion. According to the Band they abandoned this tracklisting: Behind the Lines, Duchess, Guide Vocal, Turn it on again then Duke’s Travels and Duke’s end on side One because it was too dancy/crazy on the first side. Not sure where the other songs come in I’m not sure. But I think the title and the character isn’t called Duke is special. This way you can talk about Duke and the character Albert being two different items. I really think that it’s a wonderful album and the art reflects what’s on the album. Sorry this was so long-winded comment. Let’s just say the character and album name was DUKE, in my opinion it wouldn’t make sense at all.

[@absinthedude]

Surely they changed the running order because they didn't want the Duke suite to be compared to "Supper's Ready". For similar reasons they didn't do a Dodo suite on Abacab (which would have been Dodo/Lurker/Submarine plus some links). They felt they'd done Supper's Ready and didn't want to do anything that might be compared to it. Also side-long songs in 1980 were much less of a thing. Even Yes had stopped doing them. Furthermore the run time of Side 1 would have really stretched the vinyl, wouldn't it clock in at 30 minutes? Technically possible (see Todd Rundgren's Utopia) but far from ideal. Duke is already a bit compressed on vinyl due to it's run time.

[@paulryan3033]

I've read that not creating a song (which would have been 30 mins) to compare to Suppers Ready was one of the reasons, but also as they were entering a more 'single orientated' era for them so the tracks that were going to be singles should be stand alone. Where possible I do still like to listen to the 'Duke Suite' as a whole

[@Original_Lurke_fromthe_Unknown]

I’m sorry Scott of all my comments on this video. I have alot to say on this topic and Genesis as a whole. This is my band to represent to the best of my knowledge. This is the END of my Commentary for tonight.

[@EverythingPhilCollins]

Haha