Over the course of their multi-decade spanning career, Genesis released fifteen studio albums, as well as numerous live and compilation albums.
Known both as progressive rock titans and as chart-topping, stadium-filling pop-rockers, the band Genesis means many different things to many different types of music fans.
In this article, we delve into the band’s studio recordings, ranking and reviewing the top ten best Genesis albums. We also provide a detailed list of the group’s entire studio discography.
Whether you’re new to Genesis, or a seasoned fan wishing to compare our rankings with your own, read on to explore some of the most exciting, innovative and moving music ever made…
You can click on any of the Amazon links on this page to sample the album on your own country's Amazon store. If you subsequently make a purchase, we will receive a small commission.
Best Genesis Albums: Our Top Three Picks
Haven't got time to read the whole article? Here are our top three best Genesis albums. Click on the links to view at your local Amazon.
Genesis: The Band
Genesis was a British rock band formed at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey in 1967. The band would become one of the biggest names in progressive rock, before shifting towards pop-rock and achieving massive commercial success.
The band's classic lineup featured Peter Gabriel's theatrical lead vocals, Tony Banks' intricate keyboard arrangements, Mike Rutherford's versatile guitar and bass, Phil Collins' dynamic drumming and distinctive vocals, and Steve Hackett's innovative lead guitar techniques.
Genesis initially carved their niche with complex musical compositions, concept albums, and elaborate live shows, epitomized in records like "Foxtrot" and the ambitious double album "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway."
After Gabriel's departure in 1975, Collins stepped into the role of frontman, steering the band to even greater international fame with a turn towards a more accessible pop-rock sound, resulting in hits like "Invisible Touch" and "I Can't Dance."
Throughout their evolution, Genesis proved to be masters of reinvention, leaving an indelible mark on the rock landscape, influencing countless artists, and selling over 100 million albums worldwide, before their eventual induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
Below is a list of the best Genesis albums. As with all lists of this type, it represents the writer’s personal views and is by no means definitive.
Let us know your own favorite Genesis albums in the comments section at the bottom of the page!
Best Genesis Albums Ranked
10. Genesis
- Release Date: 3 October 1983
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: The Farm, Surrey, England
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 1 in the UK, No. 9 in the USA
The eponymous album Genesis, released in 1983, marks the band's twelfth studio venture and represents a pinnacle in their transition from progressive rock pioneers to pop-rock stalwarts.
This platinum-selling record blends the group's art-rock legacy with contemporary 80s production, characterized by synthesizers and drum machines that complement the band's established musicianship.
The result of collective songwriting sessions, the tracks on Genesis range from the reflective to the upbeat. Tracks like "Mama," with its haunting drum machine pattern and emotive vocals and "That’s All," featuring a catchy pop melody and relatable lyrics, showcase Genesis' adeptness at creating music that could satisfy both pop radio sensibilities and the desires of long-time fans.
Standout tracks on the album are the live favorites “Home By The Sea” and “Second Home By The Sea”.
9. Nursery Crime
- Release Date: 12 November 1971
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Trident Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 39 in the UK, No. 70 in the USA
Nursery Cryme, Genesis' third studio album, released on 12 November 1971, represents one of several junctures in the band's evolution, with the group leaving their folk-pop roots and delving deeper into the progressive rock genre.
The arrival of drummer Phil Collins and guitarist Steve Hackett bolstered the band's lineup, infusing new energy and technical prowess into their sound. The record is renowned for its fusion of rock with classical and folk influences, intricate arrangements, and fantastical lyrics.
The opening track, "The Musical Box," encapsulates the album's spirit with its elaborate storytelling and musical shifts. Other standout tracks include "The Return of the Giant Hogweed" and "The Fountain of Salmacis," showcasing the band's ability to craft vivid narratives alongside complex, symphonic rock. The whimsical cover art by Paul Whitehead reflects the album's fairytale-like storytelling.
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/01/1990 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
8. Trespass
- Release Date: 23 October 1970
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Trident Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips (replaced by Steve Hackett after the album's completion), John Mayhew
- Peak Chart Position: Did not chart in the UK, No. 98 in the USA
Trespass, the second studio album by Genesis, marks a move away from the pop-oriented sound of their debut towards a more progressive sound.
The album introduces a more pastoral and melancholic tone, featuring longer compositions with complex arrangements and poetic lyrics. This was the band’s first (and only) record with drummer John Mayhew, and the last with founding member Anthony Phillips, whose delicate guitar work heavily influenced the album's ethereal sound.
The six tracks of Trespass showcase a blend of acoustic elements with the Mellotron and organ, creating a distinct, immersive soundscape. The album features the epic "The Knife," which became a live staple and fan favorite, displaying the band's flair for dramatic, aggressive compositions.
Although Trespass initially had modest commercial success, this atmospheric album captures Genesis's embryonic creativity and paves the way for their great progressive rock era albums.
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 03/02/1993 (Publication Date) - Geffen (Publisher)
7. Duke
- Release Date: 28 March 1980
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 1 in the UK, No. 11 in the USA
Released on 28 March 1980, Duke is a pivotal album in Genesis’ discography, seeing the band refine its direction towards a more mainstream pop-rock sound. However, with Duke, Genesis still haven't fully abandoned their progressive roots, which are still definitely alive and kicking in tracks such as “Behind The Lines” and “Duke’s Travels”.
Duke features the band’s trio lineup—Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford—and includes the singles "Turn It On Again," "Duchess,", and “Misunderstanding”. For us, “Misunderstanding” is the album’s weakest track, and one that we usually skip.
The so-called "Duke Suite" encompasses several tracks (“Behind The Lines”, “Duchess”, “Guide Vocal”, “Turn It On Again”, “Duke's Travels” and “Duke's End”) and weaves a semi-cohesive story, hinting at the band's progressive concept album past.
Duke climbed to No. 1 on the UK charts, marking Genesis’ first chart-topping album.
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/28/2024 (Publication Date) - Atlantic Catalog Group (Publisher)
6. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
- Release Date: 18 November 1974
- Record Label: Charisma/Atco
- Recording Location: Island Studios, London; Glaspant Manor, Wales
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 10 in the UK, No. 41 in the USA
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, known as “The Lamb” by fans, is a double album that stands as Genesis’ most ambitious and enigmatic work, representing the pinnacle of their progressive rock era. It is also the last to feature original frontman Peter Gabriel.
The inclusion of The Lamb at a lowly number six in this list of Best Genesis Albums may raise some eyebrows among other diehard fans, many of whom would put it at number three (or higher). For me, The Lamb, despite having some great moments, misses some of the magic present in recordings ranked later in this list.
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a concept album, telling the surreal story of Rael, a Puerto Rican street punk who embarks on a bizarre journey of self-discovery and redemption through a dreamlike New York Cityscape and otherworldly realms.
The majority of the lyrics on The Lamb were written by Gabriel in seclusion, while the rest of the band worked on the music.
Through twenty-three tracks, the album unfolds a complex narrative layered with mythological and psychological themes, showcased through a tapestry of intricate musical compositions and Gabriel's expressive storytelling.
Signature tracks like the title song, "In the Cage," and "Carpet Crawlers" highlight the band's musicianship and creative depth.
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 03/23/2009 (Publication Date) - Emi Europe Generic (Publisher)
5. And Then There Were Three
- Release Date: 7 April 1978
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: Relight Studios, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 3 in the UK, No. 14 in the USA
The title …And Then There Were Three… reflects Genesis' transition into a three-piece following the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett. The album symbolizes a shift in the band’s musical journey, embracing more concise songwriting and moving towards a style that would define their successful era in the 1980s.
The inclusion of …And Then There Were Three… in fifth place, and above The Lamb, in this list might be controversial to some. I admit that, for years, I regarded Hackett’s departure as the end of Genesis proper. Some years ago, however, I revisited this album, and now rate it as one of my favorites.
Although Genesis were now set on a path towards shorter, simpler songs, …And Then There Were Three… still sparkles with some of the band’s former magic. Tracks like “Down And Out”, and "Burning Rope" retain complex arrangements and stand among the band’s best.
Interestingly, Hackett was not replaced, with Rutherford taking over six-string duties, while remaining the band’s bassist. For touring, the band recruited drummer Chester Thompson and guitarist Daryl Stuermer.
Behind the kit, Phil Collins is on fire on …And Then There Were Three…, reminding the listener that, despite now being best known as a singer, he was still one of the world’s best rock drummers.
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/28/2024 (Publication Date) - Warner (Publisher)
4. A Trick Of The Tail
- Release Date: 20 February 1976
- Record Label: Charisma/Atco
- Recording Location: Trident Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 3 in the UK, No. 31 in the USA
A Trick of the Tail, Genesis' seventh studio album, marks a transformative period in the band's history as the first album without Peter Gabriel, and the first on which Phil Collins assumes the role of lead vocalist. Collins remained the band’s drummer, with Bill Bruford of Yes and King Crimson taking his place behind the kit on the subsequent tour.
Featuring eight tracks, A Trick of the Tail is characterized by its mythological and fantasy-inspired narratives, particularly evident in songs like the whimsical title track and the epic "Dance on a Volcano." “Los Endos”, the album’s closing track, became a live favorite.
A Trick of the Tail was a critical and commercial success, reaching No. 3 in the UK charts, proving that Genesis could thrive post-Gabriel. It preserved the band's intricate instrumental passages and complex song structures while showcasing a warmer, more melodic approach that expanded their appeal.
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/28/2024 (Publication Date) - Atlantic Catalog Group (Publisher)
3. Wind And Wuthering
- Release Date: 17 December 1976
- Record Label: Charisma/Atco
- Recording Location: Relight Studios, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 7 in the UK, No. 26 in the USA
Wind & Wuthering, Genesis' eighth studio album, released on 17 December 1976, is the band's final album with guitarist Steve Hackett. The title, inspired by Emily Brontë's novel "Wuthering Heights," reflects the album's atmospheric and pastoral themes, rich with emotional depth and complex musical landscapes.
Wind & Wuthering could be considered the band’s last truly progressive rock record, with subsequent releases becoming ever more mainstream.
The album’s weakest track is “Your Own Special Way”, a Rutherford-penned ballad that sounds incongruous after the magic of "One for the Vine".
Tracks like "Eleventh Earl of Mar" and "One for the Vine" showcase the band's narrative storytelling wrapped in layers of lush keyboards and intricate guitar work, while "Afterglow" offers a powerful, anthemic closer.
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/01/1990 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
2. Foxtrot
- Release Date: 6 October 1972
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Island Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 12 in the UK, No. 101 in the USA
"Foxtrot," released on 6 October 1972, is the album where Genesis fully embraced the progressive rock mantle, weaving elaborate compositions with fantastical and literary narratives. It stands as a defining moment in the band's career, showcasing the quintessential Genesis line-up with Peter Gabriel's theatrical vocals, Tony Banks’ intricate keyboard arrangements, Steve Hackett’s innovative guitar work, Mike Rutherford's versatile bass lines, and Phil Collins' dynamic drumming.
The album features the epic "Supper's Ready," a 23-minute masterpiece divided into seven sections, which remains one of the band’s most ambitious and celebrated pieces.
Other tracks, like the politically charged "Get 'em Out by Friday" and the whimsical "Watcher of the Skies," display the band's growing confidence in merging storytelling with complex, layered music.
Many guitarists have taken their first steps towards playing classical guitar by learning Hackett’s “Horizon’s”, an instrumental guitar track that introduces “Supper’s Ready”.
"Foxtrot" was the band’s first brush with commercial success, reaching the top 20 in the UK charts, and solidified their reputation as progressive rock innovators, setting the stage for their subsequent influential works.
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- 04/27/1990 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
1. Selling England By The Pound
- Release Date: 13 October 1973
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Island Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 3 in the UK, No. 70 in the USA
Selling England by the Pound, released on 12 October 1973, is often hailed as Genesis' magnum opus, a pinnacle of progressive rock that masterfully combines musical sophistication with English pastoral themes. It showcases the band at the peak of their collective creativity with Peter Gabriel's evocative storytelling, Tony Banks' lush keyboard landscapes, Steve Hackett's guitar virtuosity, Phil Collins' nuanced percussion, and Mike Rutherford's bass and guitar work.
The album strikes a perfect balance between the band's rock roots and their classical and folk influences. It features the hit "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)," Genesis' first charting single, embodying a more accessible sound. Meanwhile, tracks like "Firth of Fifth" and "The Cinema Show" exemplify the band's complex arrangements and capacity for extended, expressive instrumentals. The album's lyrical content, a satirical take on English society and commercialism, cemented Selling England by the Pound as a critical and commercial success, revered for its artful production and enduring influence on the progressive rock genre.
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/05/1995 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
Why No “Invisible Touch”?!?
- GENESIS
- R&P INTERNATIONAL
- INTERNATIONAL
- MUSIC
- Audio CD – Audiobook
Invisible Touch is a great 80’s pop-rock album, but for us, it lacks the depth of the other albums on this list (perhaps we should have included it at joint #10, as it is the best of Genesis’ “pop” albums).
As we said at the beginning of this article, Genesis means different things to different people. For some, Invisible Touch will be the definitive Genesis album, and albums such as Foxtrot and Selling England By The Pound nothing more than curiosities.
Complete Genesis Studio Album Discography
Below is a list of Genesis studio albums released chronologically, along with their respective release dates, record labels, recording locations, band line-ups during recording, and peak chart positions in both the UK and the USA:
From Genesis to Revelation
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 06/17/2008 (Publication Date) - Varese Vintage (Publisher)
- Release Date: 7 March 1969
- Record Label: Decca
- Recording Location: Regent Sound Studio, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips, Chris Stewart (later replaced by John Silver on drums)
- Peak Chart Position: Did not chart in the UK or USA
Trespass
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 03/02/1993 (Publication Date) - Geffen (Publisher)
- Release Date: 23 October 1970
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Trident Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips (replaced by Steve Hackett after the album's completion), John Mayhew
- Peak Chart Position: Did not chart in the UK, No. 98 in the USA
Nursery Cryme
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/01/1990 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
- Release Date: 12 November 1971
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Trident Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 39 in the UK, No. 70 in the USA
Foxtrot
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- 04/27/1990 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
- Release Date: 6 October 1972
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Island Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 12 in the UK, No. 101 in the USA
Selling England by the Pound
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/05/1995 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
- Release Date: 13 October 1973
- Record Label: Charisma
- Recording Location: Island Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 3 in the UK, No. 70 in the USA
The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 03/23/2009 (Publication Date) - Emi Europe Generic (Publisher)
- Release Date: 18 November 1974
- Record Label: Charisma/Atco
- Recording Location: Island Studios, London; Glaspant Manor, Wales
- Band Line-up: Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 10 in the UK, No. 41 in the USA
A Trick of the Tail
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/28/2024 (Publication Date) - Atlantic Catalog Group (Publisher)
- Release Date: 20 February 1976
- Record Label: Charisma/Atco
- Recording Location: Trident Studios, London
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 3 in the UK, No. 31 in the USA
Wind & Wuthering
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 01/01/1990 (Publication Date) - Wea Int'L (Publisher)
- Release Date: 17 December 1976
- Record Label: Charisma/Atco
- Recording Location: Relight Studios, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 7 in the UK, No. 26 in the USA
...And Then There Were Three...
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/28/2024 (Publication Date) - Warner (Publisher)
- Release Date: 7 April 1978
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: Relight Studios, Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 3 in the UK, No. 14 in the USA
Duke
- Shrink-wrapped
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- English (Publication Language)
- 04/28/2024 (Publication Date) - Atlantic Catalog Group (Publisher)
- Release Date: 28 March 1980
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 1 in the UK, No. 11 in the USA
Abacab
- Release Date: 18 September 1981
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: The Farm, Surrey, England
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 1 in the UK, No. 7 in the USA
Genesis
- Release Date: 3 October 1983
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: The Farm, Surrey, England
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 1 in the UK, No. 9 in the USA
Invisible Touch
- GENESIS
- R&P INTERNATIONAL
- INTERNATIONAL
- MUSIC
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Release Date: 6 June 1986
- Record Label: Charisma/Atlantic
- Recording Location: The Farm, Surrey, England
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 1 in the UK, No. 3 in the USA
We Can’t Dance
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
- Atlantic (Publisher)
- Release Date: 28 October 1991
- Record Label: Atlantic/Virgin
- Recording Location: The Farm, Surrey, England
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins
- Peak Chart Position: No. 1 in the UK, No. 4 in the USA
Calling All Stations
- Audio CD – Audiobook
- Wea/Atlantic (Publisher)
- Release Date: 1 September 1997
- Record Label: Virgin/Atlantic
- Recording Location: The Farm, Surrey, England
- Band Line-up: Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Ray Wilson (on vocals)
- Peak Chart Position: No. 2 in the UK, No. 54 in the USA
Note that chart positions can vary between sources and over time. The band line-ups may not include additional musicians who contributed to the recordings. The peak chart positions listed are reflective of the album's highest rank achieved on the official UK Albums Chart and the Billboard 200 chart in the USA.
