Throwing It All Away
Encyclopedia
"Throwing It All Away" is the seventh track on the 1986 album Invisible Touch
by Genesis
. It was issued as the second single
from the album in 1986, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100
and number 22 in Britain, where it was released as the last single of the album in 1987. In the US, it also went to number one on Billboard
's Adult Contemporary
chart in October 1986 and the Album Rock Tracks
chart in August 1986. The working title was "Zephyr and Zeppo".
The song begins with a guitar riff. The lyric of the song was written by Mike Rutherford
. The US single included the instrumental "Do the Neurotic" as the B-side, while the UK edition featured the track "I'd Rather Be You
".
The CD
version of the Invisible Touch album incorrectly lists the running time as 4'41": correct time is 3'50".
, The Way We Walk
,Calling All Stations
, and Turn It On Again
tours; aside from the 1986 leg of the Invisible Touch tour), the song was transposed to a lower key to accommodate Collins' deepening voice.
A live version appears on their albums The Way We Walk, Volume One: The Shorts, and Live Over Europe 2007
; as well as on their DVD When in Rome 2007
.
During the intro and just before the end of the live performances, Collins would engage in Call and response
with the audience using nonsensical
language.
A music video
for the song was composed of soundcheck
footage and shots of the band traveling whilst on tour. It is currently featured on their DVD The Video Show
.
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...
by 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...
. It was issued as the second single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
from the album in 1986, reaching number four on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and number 22 in Britain, where it was released as the last single of the album in 1987. In the US, it also went to number one on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Adult Contemporary
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart in October 1986 and the Album Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
chart in August 1986. The working title was "Zephyr and Zeppo".
The song begins with a guitar riff. The lyric of the song was written by Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford
Michael John Cleote Crawford Rutherford 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 . He also fronts Mike + The...
. The US single included the instrumental "Do the Neurotic" as the B-side, while the UK edition featured the track "I'd Rather Be You
I'd Rather Be You
"I'd Rather Be You" is a pop song by the English band Genesis. It was first released as the B-side to "Throwing It All Away" in June 1987, and later appeared on the rarities compilation Archive #2 1976-1992 in November 2000.-Releases:...
".
The CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
version of the Invisible Touch album incorrectly lists the running time as 4'41": correct time is 3'50".
Live performances & music video
Throwing It All Away was performed live during the Invisible TouchInvisible 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...
, The Way We Walk
We Can't Dance
Rolling 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...
,Calling All Stations
Calling All Stations
Calling 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...
, and Turn It On Again
Turn It on Again: The Tour
Turn It On Again: The Tour was a 2007 concert tour of Europe and North America by progressive rock band Genesis. The tour was notable for the return of drummer and vocalist Phil Collins, who left the group in 1996.-History:...
tours; aside from the 1986 leg of the Invisible Touch tour), the song was transposed to a lower key to accommodate Collins' deepening voice.
A live version appears on their albums The Way We Walk, Volume One: The Shorts, and Live Over Europe 2007
Live Over Europe 2007
Live over Europe 2007 is the sixth live album by British band Genesis recorded during the Turn It on Again: The Tour of 2007. It was released in North America by Atlantic Records on 20 November 2007, and in Europe on by Virgin Records on 26 November 2007.-Disc 1:# "Duke's Intro" – Manchester –...
; as well as on their DVD When in Rome 2007
When in Rome 2007
When In Rome 2007 is a live DVD by Genesis recorded at Circo Massimo, Rome, Italy, on 14 July 2007, during the successful Turn It On Again Tour. The concert was directed by David Mallet. The collection was released on 26 May 2008 in most of the world and 10 June 2008 in North America...
.
During the intro and just before the end of the live performances, Collins would engage in Call and response
Call and response (music)
In music, a call and response is a succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different musicians, where the second phrase is heard as a direct commentary on or response to the first...
with the audience using nonsensical
Nonsense
Nonsense is a communication, via speech, writing, or any other symbolic system, that lacks any coherent meaning. Sometimes in ordinary usage, nonsense is synonymous with absurdity or the ridiculous...
language.
A music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was composed of soundcheck
Soundcheck
A soundcheck is the preparation that takes place before a concert, speech, or similar performance, when the performer and the sound crew run through a small portion of the upcoming show on the venue's sound system to make sure that the sound in the venue's "Front Of House" and stage monitor sound...
footage and shots of the band traveling whilst on tour. It is currently featured on their DVD The Video Show
The Video Show
The Video Show is a DVD by British band Genesis containing music videos produced between 1976 and 1999....
.
7": Atlantic / 7-89372 (US)
- "Throwing It All Away" - 3:41
- "Do The Neurotic" (Edit) - 5:21
12": Virgin / GENS 5-12 (UK)
- "Throwing It All Away" (live)
- "I'd Rather Be You"
- "Invisible Touch" (live)
- Also released on MC (GENSC5)
- Live tracks recorded at The Forum, Los Angeles
Release history
| Country | Date |
|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
August 1986 |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
June 1987 |