Mike Rutherford
Encyclopedia
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford (born 2 October 1950 in Guildford
, Surrey) is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis
, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis (the other is keyboardist Tony Banks
). He also fronts Mike + The Mechanics. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
as a member of Genesis in 2010.
Captain
who became a manager in industry upon his retirement from the service. Mike attended the Leas Preparatory School
in Hoylake
as a boarder, before moving at the age of 13 to Charterhouse School
, where he founded Genesis with Tony Banks
, Peter Gabriel
and Anthony Phillips
.
, and, later, Steve Hackett
(additionally, keyboardist Tony Banks
would occasionally throw his own 12-string into the mix). Genesis "classic" recordings often featured simultaneous 12 string guitar and Dewtron "Mister Bassman" bass pedal synthesiser playing by Rutherford. He used the famous Moog Taurus
bass pedals as well by the Trick of the Tail Tour. Often, bass guitar, 12-string guitar, and bass pedal playing would feature in different sections of a single song, "Supper's Ready
", "Firth of Fifth
", and "The Cinema Show
" being good examples of this. He often played a double necked instrument, custom built from a separate Rickenbacker hollowbody 12-string and 4001 bass. Rickenbacker later issued double neck bass/guitar combinations with 4080/6 and 4080/12 models. However, Rutherford had the guitar in the top position rather than the 4080's stock guitar on bottom. He later had a custom Shergold double neck made with Mike requesting the body be modified so that each neck could be detached and played as a standard single neck instrument.
. Stuermer would typically play all of Hackett's guitar parts and play bass on most songs from the post-Hackett era. Rutherford's style, as evidenced by studio tracks, is reminiscent of David Gilmour's, though less obviously based in the blues. Rutherford often used long, melodic tones, bending the notes into plaintive, almost vocal lines. This results in "singable" solos or the creation of sonic atmospheres rather than showy displays of technical prowess.
As a rhythm guitar player and writer, Rutherford favours melodic, minimalist chords or progressions of single notes, as in Genesis songs "Follow You, Follow Me
," "Turn It On Again
," and "Invisible Touch
," or the Mike + the Mechanics song "The Living Years
".
Rutherford played at the Strat Pack Concert in 2004 along with Brian May
, David Gilmour
and Joe Walsh
.
and Acting Very Strange
. However, he was dissatisfied with his solo work and in 1984 he resolved to never record a solo album again, since he felt his creativity was at its peak when working in collaboration. Because of this, he formed the band Mike + The Mechanics during a break from Genesis in 1985.
Mike + The Mechanics' biggest hits are "All I Need Is a Miracle
", "Word of Mouth
", "The Living Years
", "Silent Running
" and "Over My Shoulder
". To help promote the song, Rutherford and the record label perpetuated the impression that "The Living Years" was inspired by Rutherford's relationship with his father, who died during Genesis's Invisible Touch
Tour. In a 2004 interview, Rutherford confessed that the lyrics were in fact written by B. A. Robertson
, and based entirely on Robertson's relationship with his father.
Rutherford also collaborated with other artists, including associates Peter Gabriel
and Phil Collins
, on the Against All Odds
soundtrack, offering the song "Making A Big Mistake".
and Shergold
basses. He said (in 1979) of the early Rickenbackers he played that 'they were all borrowed from a friend. We'd borrow one, break it, then borrow another. Up until a couple of years ago, I didn't own one myself'. He also developed the idea behind the M-Series Steinberger
guitar with the help of English luthier Roger Giffin and he used this extensively in the '80s and during The Invisible Touch Tour with Genesis. He also had a double-neck Status built for the Mama tour which featured a six string guitar and four string bass placed in a custom body. In the earlier years of Genesis he used to play Moog Taurus
bass pedal synthesiser. Rutherford has also been onstage with various Washburn Idol models. Through the late '70s live tours, Rutherford often used a custom built Rickenbacker double-neck that combined a 12-string hollow-body guitar with a 4-string bass (now on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum). For the Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and Trick of the Tail tours, he incorporated a Rickenbacker 12-string hollow-body guitar and a 6-string bass, custom-built by Microfrets, in two different double-necks. A custom Shergold
double-neck was made that had modules for 4, 6 and 12 strings guitars. The re-tunings required for early Genesis songs led to the development of Peter Gabriel
's stories and introductions. Today with Genesis Rutherford continues to use double-neck instruments, when the arrangements demand quick switches between bass and 12-string instruments. His current double-neck model is a Gibson
12-string guitar with a Yamaha
TRB-4P bass while he prefers Eric Clapton
signature model Fender Stratocasters
when playing guitar on later pieces.
, an organisation promoting issues relating to hunting, angling and shooting, by playing in a concert to raise funds for the organisation.
, England, with wife Angie. The couple were married on 13 November 1976 and have three children Harry, Tom and Kate.
In 2009, Philip Beresford, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, estimated Rutherford's fortune at £30 million from past touring activity, future touring income and the Genesis back catalogue, plus other smaller company assets and accumulated earnings, making him one of the 50 richest residents of Surrey.
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
, Surrey) is an English musician. He is a founding member of Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, initially as a bassist and backup vocalist. In later incarnations of Genesis, he assumed the role of lead guitarist. He is one of only two constant members in Genesis (the other is keyboardist Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
). He also fronts Mike + The Mechanics. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
as a member of Genesis in 2010.
Early life
Rutherford's father, Crawford Rutherford, was a Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Captain
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
who became a manager in industry upon his retirement from the service. Mike attended the Leas Preparatory School
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
in Hoylake
Hoylake
Hoylake is a seaside town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, on Merseyside, England. It is located at the north western corner of the Wirral Peninsula, near to the town of West Kirby and where the River Dee estuary meets the Irish Sea...
as a boarder, before moving at the age of 13 to Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, where he founded Genesis with Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
, Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
and Anthony Phillips
Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
.
Bass/guitar playing
Rutherford's bass playing involved the bass with high treble, use of a pick and a fuzz box in songs like The Knife and The Return of the Giant Hogweed. Rutherford was noted for his use of the 12-string guitar. A distinctive sound of early and classic Genesis recordings was the double acoustic twelve string playing of Rutherford intertwined with that of Anthony PhillipsAnthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
, and, later, Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
(additionally, keyboardist Tony Banks
Tony Banks (musician)
This article is about the musician. For other people named Tony Banks, see Tony BanksAnthony George "Tony" Banks is a British composer, and multi-instrumentalist, who performs as a keyboardist and a guitarist...
would occasionally throw his own 12-string into the mix). Genesis "classic" recordings often featured simultaneous 12 string guitar and Dewtron "Mister Bassman" bass pedal synthesiser playing by Rutherford. He used the famous Moog Taurus
Moog Taurus
The Moog Taurus is a foot-operated analog synthesizer designed and manufactured by Moog Music from 1974 or 1975 to 1981. Commonly called the Taurus I, it has a 13-note organ-style pedal board similar to the pedal keyboard of a spinet organ.-History:...
bass pedals as well by the Trick of the Tail Tour. Often, bass guitar, 12-string guitar, and bass pedal playing would feature in different sections of a single song, "Supper's Ready
Supper's Ready
"Supper's Ready" is a song by the band Genesis. A recorded version appeared on their 1972 album Foxtrot, and the band performed the song regularly on stage for several years following this...
", "Firth of Fifth
Firth of Fifth
"Firth of Fifth" is a progressive rock song by progressive rock band Genesis, from their 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. The title is a pun on the estuary of the River Forth in Scotland, commonly known as the Firth of Forth....
", and "The Cinema Show
The Cinema Show
"The Cinema Show" is an epic rock song by British progressive rock band Genesis from their 1973 album, Selling England by the Pound.Musically, the song is divided into two main sections: The first section is a gentle 12-string guitar-based piece, featuring vocal harmonies between Peter Gabriel and...
" being good examples of this. He often played a double necked instrument, custom built from a separate Rickenbacker hollowbody 12-string and 4001 bass. Rickenbacker later issued double neck bass/guitar combinations with 4080/6 and 4080/12 models. However, Rutherford had the guitar in the top position rather than the 4080's stock guitar on bottom. He later had a custom Shergold double neck made with Mike requesting the body be modified so that each neck could be detached and played as a standard single neck instrument.
Style
After the departure of guitarist Steve Hackett, Rutherford took over all guitarist roles for the band in the recording studio. On live shows, he would alternate between guitar and bass with touring-only guitarist/bassist Daryl StuermerDaryl Stuermer
Daryl Mark Stuermer is an American musician who plays guitar and bass for Genesis during live shows, and lead guitar for Phil Collins during most of his solo tours and albums.-Biography:...
. Stuermer would typically play all of Hackett's guitar parts and play bass on most songs from the post-Hackett era. Rutherford's style, as evidenced by studio tracks, is reminiscent of David Gilmour's, though less obviously based in the blues. Rutherford often used long, melodic tones, bending the notes into plaintive, almost vocal lines. This results in "singable" solos or the creation of sonic atmospheres rather than showy displays of technical prowess.
As a rhythm guitar player and writer, Rutherford favours melodic, minimalist chords or progressions of single notes, as in Genesis songs "Follow You, Follow Me
Follow You, Follow Me
"Follow You Follow Me" is a 1978 single by Genesis. The music was written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford, with lyrics by Rutherford. Originally released as the last track from their 1978 album …And Then There Were Three…, the single was Genesis's first to reach the American Top 40...
," "Turn It On Again
Turn It On Again
"Turn It On Again" is a single from the British progressive rock band Genesis, from their 1980 album Duke.The lyrics deal with a man who does nothing more than watch his television, so much that he becomes obsessed with the people he watches on it, believing them to be his friends.The song is also...
," and "Invisible Touch
Invisible Touch
Invisible Touch is the 13th studio album by the band Genesis, released in 1986. It reached No.1 in the UK where it remained in the charts for 96 weeks, making it by far the most commercially successful album of their career, eventually selling over 15 million copies worldwide...
," or the Mike + the Mechanics song "The Living Years
The Living Years
Living Years is the second album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1988. The album reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.- History :...
".
Rutherford played at the Strat Pack Concert in 2004 along with Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
, David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
and Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
.
Solo
During breaks in Genesis, he recorded two solo albums, Smallcreep's DaySmallcreep's Day (album)
Smallcreep's Day is the first solo album by Genesis bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford. The title suite is based on the dark, surrealist novel of the same name by Peter Currell Brown. It was released in 1980...
and Acting Very Strange
Acting Very Strange
- B Sides and non-album tracks :* "Calypso" from the single "Hideaway"* "Acting Very Strange" , "Couldn't Get Arrested" from the single "Acting Very Strange"- Personnel :* Mike Rutherford - lead and backing vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards...
. However, he was dissatisfied with his solo work and in 1984 he resolved to never record a solo album again, since he felt his creativity was at its peak when working in collaboration. Because of this, he formed the band Mike + The Mechanics during a break from Genesis in 1985.
Mike + The Mechanics' biggest hits are "All I Need Is a Miracle
All I Need Is a Miracle
"All I Need Is a Miracle" is a pop rock song performed by Mike + The Mechanics. Written by guitarist Mike Rutherford and producer Christopher Neil, it was first included on their 1985 self-titled debut album, and later released as a single, where it reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in...
", "Word of Mouth
Word of Mouth (Mike + The Mechanics song)
"Word of Mouth" is the title of a song by Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in March 1991 as the lead single from their album Word of Mouth. It was the most successful single from that album peaking at No.13 on UK singles chart. It also peaked at No.78 in the United States, their last single to...
", "The Living Years
The Living Years (song)
"The Living Years" was written by Mike Rutherford and B. A. Robertson, and recorded by Rutherford's English rock band Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in January 1989 as the second single from their album, Living Years. The song was a top ten chart hit around the world. It peaked at number one...
", "Silent Running
Silent Running (On Dangerous Ground)
"Silent Running " is a pop rock song performed by Mike + The Mechanics. Written by Mike Rutherford and B. A. Robertson, it was the first track from their 1985 self-titled debut album...
" and "Over My Shoulder
Over My Shoulder (Mike + The Mechanics song)
"Over My Shoulder" is a song by Mike + The Mechanics. It was released in February 1995 as the first single from their album Beggar on a Beach of Gold...
". To help promote the song, Rutherford and the record label perpetuated the impression that "The Living Years" was inspired by Rutherford's relationship with his father, who died during Genesis's Invisible Touch
Invisible Touch
Invisible Touch is the 13th studio album by the band Genesis, released in 1986. It reached No.1 in the UK where it remained in the charts for 96 weeks, making it by far the most commercially successful album of their career, eventually selling over 15 million copies worldwide...
Tour. In a 2004 interview, Rutherford confessed that the lyrics were in fact written by B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson
B. A. Robertson is a Scottish musician, actor, composer and songwriter.-Career:...
, and based entirely on Robertson's relationship with his father.
Rutherford also collaborated with other artists, including associates Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
and Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, on the Against All Odds
Against All Odds (soundtrack)
Against All Odds: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack for the 1984 film Against All Odds. The album includes the original score by Larry Carlton, as well as several tracks by artists popular at the time of the film's release...
soundtrack, offering the song "Making A Big Mistake".
Instruments
Rutherford played mainly RickenbackerRickenbacker
Rickenbacker International Corporation, also known as Rickenbacker, is an electric and bass guitar manufacturer based in Santa Ana, California...
and Shergold
Shergold
Shergold Guitars, or Shergold Woodcrafts Limited, was established in October 1967 by former Burns London employees Jack Golder and Norman Houlder...
basses. He said (in 1979) of the early Rickenbackers he played that 'they were all borrowed from a friend. We'd borrow one, break it, then borrow another. Up until a couple of years ago, I didn't own one myself'. He also developed the idea behind the M-Series Steinberger
Steinberger
Steinberger refers to a series of distinctive electric guitars and bass guitars, designed and originally manufactured by Ned Steinberger. The word Steinberger can be used to refer to either the instruments themselves or the company that produced them...
guitar with the help of English luthier Roger Giffin and he used this extensively in the '80s and during The Invisible Touch Tour with Genesis. He also had a double-neck Status built for the Mama tour which featured a six string guitar and four string bass placed in a custom body. In the earlier years of Genesis he used to play Moog Taurus
Moog Taurus
The Moog Taurus is a foot-operated analog synthesizer designed and manufactured by Moog Music from 1974 or 1975 to 1981. Commonly called the Taurus I, it has a 13-note organ-style pedal board similar to the pedal keyboard of a spinet organ.-History:...
bass pedal synthesiser. Rutherford has also been onstage with various Washburn Idol models. Through the late '70s live tours, Rutherford often used a custom built Rickenbacker double-neck that combined a 12-string hollow-body guitar with a 4-string bass (now on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum). For the Lamb Lies Down On Broadway and Trick of the Tail tours, he incorporated a Rickenbacker 12-string hollow-body guitar and a 6-string bass, custom-built by Microfrets, in two different double-necks. A custom Shergold
Shergold
Shergold Guitars, or Shergold Woodcrafts Limited, was established in October 1967 by former Burns London employees Jack Golder and Norman Houlder...
double-neck was made that had modules for 4, 6 and 12 strings guitars. The re-tunings required for early Genesis songs led to the development of Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
's stories and introductions. Today with Genesis Rutherford continues to use double-neck instruments, when the arrangements demand quick switches between bass and 12-string instruments. His current double-neck model is a Gibson
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
12-string guitar with a Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
TRB-4P bass while he prefers Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
signature model Fender Stratocasters
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
when playing guitar on later pieces.
Political views and advocacy
Rutherford has supported the Countryside AllianceCountryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
, an organisation promoting issues relating to hunting, angling and shooting, by playing in a concert to raise funds for the organisation.
Personal life
Rutherford currently lives in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England, with wife Angie. The couple were married on 13 November 1976 and have three children Harry, Tom and Kate.
In 2009, Philip Beresford, compiler of the Sunday Times Rich List, estimated Rutherford's fortune at £30 million from past touring activity, future touring income and the Genesis back catalogue, plus other smaller company assets and accumulated earnings, making him one of the 50 richest residents of Surrey.
With Genesis
- From Genesis to RevelationFrom Genesis to RevelationFrom Genesis to Revelation was the first album by Genesis, released in March 1969 on Decca Records in England...
(1969) - TrespassTrespass (album)Trespass is the second studio album by Genesis and was recorded and released in 1970. Their last with guitarist Anthony Phillips, Trespass had a folk-flavoured progressive rock sound that was a marked departure from their earlier work....
(1970) - Nursery CrymeNursery CrymeNursery Cryme is the third studio album by Genesis and was recorded and released in 1971. It is also the first album to feature the classic five-piece line-up of Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins and Steve Hackett; the latter two replacing John Mayhew and Anthony Phillips, on...
(1971) - FoxtrotFoxtrot (album)Foxtrot is the fourth studio album by English progressive rock band Genesis and the second from the band line-up which included Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Steve Hackett.-History:...
(1972) - Selling England by the PoundSelling England by the Pound- Sound and live performance :The piano introduction to "Firth of Fifth" has not been included in a performance since 1974, in a Drury Lane Theatre concert, when Banks misplayed and Collins covered by starting the song from after the intro...
(1973) - The Lamb Lies Down on BroadwayThe Lamb Lies down on BroadwayThe Lamb Lies Down on Broadway is a double concept album recorded and released in 1974 by the British rock band Genesis. It was their sixth studio album and the last album by the group to feature the involvement of lead singer Peter Gabriel.-Premise:...
(1974) - A Trick of the TailA Trick of the Tail-B Side:*This is the first song in the Genesis catalogue to feature an ellipsis in its name, used to convey the mysteriousness of the track. All future issues of this track omit the elipsis, however....
(1976) - Wind & WutheringWind & Wuthering"It's Yourself" is the B-side to "Your Own Special Way", released February 1977-Related EP:All tracks from the Single Spot the Pigeon 20 May 1977-2007 SACD/CD/DVD Release:...
(1976) - ...And Then There Were Three......And Then There Were Three......And Then There Were Three... is the ninth studio album by the British band Genesis and was released in 1978. It is the band's first album as a trio.-Background and recording:...
(1978) - DukeDuke (album)Duke is the tenth studio album by British band Genesis, released in March 1980.-Overview:The release of Duke followed solo albums by Genesis members Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford ....
(1980) - AbacabAbacabAbacab, released in 1981, is the 11th studio album by British band Genesis. It reached No.1 in the UK, where it remained in the charts for 27 weeks.-Background and recording:...
(1981) - Genesis (1983)
- Invisible TouchInvisible TouchInvisible Touch is the 13th studio album by the band Genesis, released in 1986. It reached No.1 in the UK where it remained in the charts for 96 weeks, making it by far the most commercially successful album of their career, eventually selling over 15 million copies worldwide...
(1986) - We Can't DanceWe Can't DanceRolling Stone chiefly commented on the album's lyrics. They criticized "Tell Me Why" and "Way of the World" for being soulless and impersonal social commentaries, but regarded most of songs as outstanding, and summarized "Although We Can't Dance doesn't quite achieve the vulnerable grace of Duke or...
(1991) - Calling All StationsCalling All StationsCalling All Stations, is the 15th studio album by rock band Genesis. It was recorded following Phil Collins's departure from the band in 1996, and was released in 1997...
(1997)
With Mike + The Mechanics
- Mike + the Mechanics (November 1985)
- The Living YearsThe Living YearsLiving Years is the second album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1988. The album reached number 13 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 on the UK Albums Chart.- History :...
(October 1988) - Word of MouthWord of Mouth (Mike + The Mechanics album)Word of Mouth is the third album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1991.There was some overlap with the marketing of the album and the making of Genesis's We Can't Dance, with Mike Rutherford being committed to both...
(April 1991) - Beggar on a Beach of GoldBeggar on a Beach of GoldBeggar On a Beach of Gold is the fourth album by Mike + the Mechanics, released on 6 March 1995. This album contained three UK hits, the No.12 hit "Over My Shoulder", the No.33 hit "A Better on a Beach of Gold", and the No.51 hit "Another Cup of Coffee". All three songs charted in Germany as well,,...
(6 March 1995) - HitsHits (Mike + The Mechanics album)Hits is a compilation album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1996 except in the USA and Canada, where it was released in 2005.-Track listing:#"All I Need Is a Miracle '96" ...
(4 March 1996) - M6Mike + The Mechanics (1999 album)Mike & The Mechanics is the fifth studio album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 1999. As the name is easily confused with Mike + The Mechanics, it is also referred to as M6...
(31 May 1999) - Favourites/The Very Best OfFavourites/The Very Best OfFavourites/The Very Best Of is the second compilation album by Mike + The Mechanics. It was produced for the Swedish market, and includes a remixed version of a 1995 b-side song, "You Never Change".-Track listing:#"All I Need Is a Miracle '96"...
(27 December 2000) - RewiredRewiredRewired is the sixth studio album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 2004. This was the first album released by the band following the death of co-lead singer Paul Young. Partially because of this, the album was credited to "Mike + The Mechanics" + "Paul Carrack".The album was released in the UK...
(7 June 2004) - The RoadThe Road (Mike + The Mechanics album)The Road is the seventh studio album by Mike + The Mechanics, released in 2011. This was the first album released by the band following the departure of Paul Carrack....
(18 April 2011)
Solo albums
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
CAN RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
NOR VG-lista VG-listen is a Norwegian record chart. It is weekly presented in the newspaper VG and the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation program Topp 20. It is considered the primary Norwegian record chart, charting albums and singles from countries and continent around the world. The data is collected by... |
||
| Smallcreep's Day Smallcreep's Day (album) Smallcreep's Day is the first solo album by Genesis bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford. The title suite is based on the dark, surrealist novel of the same name by Peter Currell Brown. It was released in 1980... |
|
13 | — | 163 | 30 |
| Acting Very Strange Acting Very Strange - B Sides and non-album tracks :* "Calypso" from the single "Hideaway"* "Acting Very Strange" , "Couldn't Get Arrested" from the single "Acting Very Strange"- Personnel :* Mike Rutherford - lead and backing vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards... |
Warner Music Group Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies... , Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... (USA & Canada) |
23 | 32 | 145 | — |
Solo singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
US Main | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1980 | "Moonshine" | — | — | Smallcreep's Day | |||||||||||||||
| "Time and Time Again" | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "Working in Line" | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| 1982 | "Maxine" | 37 | 39 | Acting Very Strange | |||||||||||||||
| "Halfway There" | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "Acting Very Strange" | — | — | |||||||||||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||||||||||||