Smallcreep's Day (album)
Encyclopedia
Smallcreep's Day is the first solo album by Genesis
bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford
. The title suite (occupying side 1 of the original European vinyl version and side 2 of the original US and Canadian vinyl versions) is based on the dark, surrealist novel of the same name
by Peter Currell Brown
. It was released in 1980. The album was produced by David Hentschel
, who also produced the Genesis
album Duke
the same year. Anthony Phillips
, Rutherford's original songwriting partner in Genesis, plays keyboards on the album.
It was recorded at ABBA
's Polar Studios
in Stockholm
, Sweden
, for tax purposes, in the fall of 1979.
The multi-part suite took up side one of the original UK LP, with the five other tracks on side two. Sides were swapped for US release on Passport Records.
One other track recorded during the sessions for the album, "Compression", was released as the B-side to "Working in Line" (an edited segment from the album's title suite).
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...
bassist and guitarist 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 title suite (occupying side 1 of the original European vinyl version and side 2 of the original US and Canadian vinyl versions) is based on the dark, surrealist novel of the same name
Smallcreep's Day
Smallcreep's Day is Peter Currell Brown's only novel and was first published by Victor Gollancz Ltd in 1965. The story is a surreal satire on modern industrial life....
by Peter Currell Brown
Peter Currell Brown
Peter Currell Brown is the author of the cult classic 1965 surrealist novel, Smallcreep's Day.He was born in Colchester, Essex, and went to Colchester Royal Grammar School, which he left at fifteen...
. It was released in 1980. The album was produced by David Hentschel
David Hentschel
David Hentschel is an English recording engineer, writer and music producer who engineered on George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, as well as with artists including Genesis, Elton John, Ringo Starr, Queen, Marti Webb, Andy Summers, Mike Oldfield, Peter...
, who also produced the 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...
album Duke
Duke (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 ....
the same year. 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...
, Rutherford's original songwriting partner in Genesis, plays keyboards on the album.
It was recorded at ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
's Polar Studios
Polar Studios
Polar Studios is one of the most famous recording studios in Scandinavia. Originally located in a former movie theater from 1934 at Sankt Eriksgatan 58-60 on Kungsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden, Polar Studios was founded by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA in 1977 and had its grand opening on...
in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, for tax purposes, in the fall of 1979.
Track listing
All tracks written by Mike Rutherford.- "Smallcreep's Day" (Total Time 24:38)
- I. Between the Tick and the Tock – 3:59
- II. Working In Line – 3:07
- III. After Hours – 1:45
- IV. Cats and Rats (In This Neighbourhood) – 4:50
- V. Smallcreep Alone – 1:33
- VI. Out Into the Daylight – 3:49
- VII. At the End of the Day – 5:35
- "Moonshine" – 6:23
- "Time and Time Again" – 4:52
- "Romani" – 5:25
- "Every Road" – 4:13
- "Overnight Job" – 5:43
The multi-part suite took up side one of the original UK LP, with the five other tracks on side two. Sides were swapped for US release on Passport Records.
One other track recorded during the sessions for the album, "Compression", was released as the B-side to "Working in Line" (an edited segment from the album's title suite).
Personnel
- Ant PhillipsAnthony PhillipsAnthony 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...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Noel McCallaNoel McCallaNoel McCalla is a British rock singer. He was the lead vocalist for the rock group Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1991 until September 2009, when his mutually accepted departure was announced...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Simon PhillipsSimon PhillipsSimon Phillips is an English jazz, pop and rock drummer.-Career:Phillips began to play professionally at the age of twelve in his father's Dixieland band for four years. He was then offered the chance to play in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person .... - Morris PertMorris PertMorris David Brough Pert was a Scottish composer, drummer/percussionist, and pianist who composed in the fields of both contemporary classical and jazz-rock music...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Mike RutherfordMike RutherfordMichael 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...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s, bassesBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Produced & Engineered by David Hentschel of Dukeslodge Enterprises, Assisted by David Bascombe
- Recorded at Polar StudiosPolar StudiosPolar Studios is one of the most famous recording studios in Scandinavia. Originally located in a former movie theater from 1934 at Sankt Eriksgatan 58-60 on Kungsholmen in Stockholm, Sweden, Polar Studios was founded by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA in 1977 and had its grand opening on...
, Stockholm - Mixed at Maison Rouge Studios, London
- Cover designed and photography by HipgnosisHipgnosisHipgnosis was a British art design group that specialized in creating cover art for the albums of rock musicians and bands, most notably Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Pretty Things, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, ELO and XTC...
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | UK Album Chart | 13 |
| US Billboard 200 | 163 |