Abacab (song)

Infobox Single |
Name = Abacab


Artist = Genesis
from Album = Abacab
B-side = Another Record
Released = August 1981
Format = 7"
Recorded = May - June 1981 at The Farm/Surrey
Genre = Rock
Length = 7:02 (studio version)
4:10 (single edit)
Label = Charisma/Virgin (UK)
Atlantic (US)
Producer = Genesis
Last single = "Misunderstanding"
(1980)
This single = "Abacab"
(1981)
Next single = Keep It Dark
(1981)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Abacab
Type = studio
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Abacab"
track_no = Track 1
next_track = "No Reply At All"
next_no = Track 2

"Abacab" is a song by the British rock band Genesis, released on September 14 1981. It was produced by Genesis and distributed in the United States by Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group. [ [http://www.amazon.com/Abacab-Genesis/dp/B000002J2H Abacab at Amazon: information] Retrieved on July 17 2007] The song, written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford, was featured on Genesis' album of the same name. The B-side of "Abacab" is the track "Another Record." The song was the second single from the album in the U.S., where it peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in early 1982. It stayed in the Top 40 for 6 weeks. It was also a top 10 hit on the British pop chart, where it peaked at #9.

The title is taken from the structure of an early version of the song. Guitarist Mike Rutherford explained in an interview that the band labeled various sections of the song with letters of the alphabet, and at one point the sections were ordered A-B-A-C-A-B. Rutherford commented that the completed song no longer followed this format, but the name was kept nevertheless.

The track was regularly performed on the band's 1981 Abacab tour, the 1982 Three Sides Live Encore Tour, the 1983/84 Mama Tour and the 1986/87 Invisible Touch tours. On the first two tours, Phil Collins would sing the chorus in a high falsetto while Banks and Rutherford sang the lower harmonies. Then for the latter two tours, Collins would sing the chorus in a lower octave while Rutherford sang the higher falsetto harmonies.

Personnel on studio version

*Phil Collins - Lead and Backing Vocals, Drums, Percussion
*Tony Banks - Keyboards
*Mike Rutherford - Electric Guitar, bass pedals
*Earth, Wind & Fire horn section (uncredited) - sped-up horn noises in ending instrumental section

Personnel on live versions

*Phil Collins - Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion, Simmons Pads (1983-87 performances)
*Tony Banks - Keyboards, Backing Vocals (only for 1981/82 performances)
*Mike Rutherford - Electric Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Daryl Stuermer - Bass guitar
*Chester Thompson - Drums, percussion

References