Genesis is a weird band. Not "weird" in a bad way, but they've lived three different lives. First, they were the darlings of the avant-garde, led by a guy who wore a fox head and a dress on stage. Then, they were the world’s biggest pop-rock trio. Finally, they became the elder statesmen of the arena circuit. If you want the roadmap for that entire journey, you basically have to look at Genesis Turn It On Again The Hits.
Released in 1999, this compilation was more than just a cash grab. Honestly, it was a necessary bridge. At the time, the band was in a strange spot. Phil Collins had left. Ray Wilson had stepped in for Calling All Stations, but the commercial engine had stalled. People were starting to forget that this was the same group that produced both the prog-rock masterpiece "The Musical Box" and the infectious earworm "Invisible Touch." This album fixed that. It put everything in one place, even if it favored the radio years.
The 1999 Factor: More Than Just a Tracklist
Most people remember 1999 as the year of the Millennium Bug and Britney Spears. For Genesis fans, it was the year of "The Carpet Crawlers 1999." This was a huge deal. The band brought back Peter Gabriel and Steve Hackett—the classic five-man lineup—to re-record their 1974 ballad.
It’s a haunting, slickly produced version. Trevor Horn, the guy who did "Video Killed the Radio Star" and produced Seal, was at the helm. You can hear the difference immediately. It’s got these "skippy" drum loops and lush synth pads. Hearing Gabriel and Collins trade vocals on the same track after decades of solo stardom felt like a fever dream. It remains the last time the "classic" lineup ever recorded together. That alone makes Genesis Turn It On Again The Hits a piece of history.
But the album wasn't just about nostalgia for the seventies. It was a juggernaut. It hit Number 4 in the UK. In the US, it went Gold. It reminded everyone that between 1978 and 1991, these guys were basically inescapable.
Why the Track "Turn It On Again" Defined the Band
The title track itself is a bit of a trick. If you just tap your foot to it, it sounds like a straightforward 1980s rocker. But try to dance to it. You can't. Not really.
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The song is written in a bizarre 13/4 time signature. Most pop songs are in 4/4. Genesis managed to take a complex, prog-rock rhythmic idea and disguise it as a Top 10 hit. Mike Rutherford once admitted that the riff started as a leftover from his solo sessions. Phil Collins took that odd rhythm and made it swing.
"It caught us all by surprise," Tony Banks said about the song's success. "But it's such a great song."
That’s the essence of the band. They were smart guys playing pop music. On Genesis Turn It On Again The Hits, you see this play out over and over. "Mama" is dark and industrial, influenced by the same "gated reverb" drum sound that made Phil’s "In the Air Tonight" a legend. "Land of Confusion" is a political anthem that somehow worked as a puppet-filled MTV video.
The Evolution from Prog to Pop
The collection doesn't go in chronological order, which is kind of annoying for purists but great for casual listening. You jump from "Invisible Touch" (1986) straight into "Mama" (1983). Then you hit "Follow You Follow Me" (1978), the song that changed everything.
Before 1978, Genesis didn't really do "hits." They did ten-minute epics about giant hogweeds and Greek mythology. "Follow You Follow Me" was the moment they realized they could be simple and direct. It brought women to their shows—a first for a band previously followed only by "hirsute proggers," as Mark Blake from Classic Rock once put it.
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The 2007 Tour Edition: A Massive Expansion
If you were around in 2007, you might remember a different version of this album. When the trio (Collins, Banks, and Rutherford) decided to reunite for a world tour, they re-released the compilation. They didn't just slap a new sticker on it. They turned it into a 34-track monster.
Tony Banks himself hand-picked the running order for the 2007 version. It dug much deeper into the Peter Gabriel era, including "The Knife" and "A Trick of the Tail." It also used the new 5.1 surround sound remixes that Nick Davis had been working on.
If you're an audiophile, the 2007 version is the one you want. The drum sounds on the early 80s tracks, like "Abacab," have way more "oomph." The older songs sound warmer. It’s a sonically superior experience compared to the 1999 original, even if it loses some of that "single-disc" tightness.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Era
There's a common narrative that Genesis "sold out." People think they ditched their artistic integrity the second Phil Collins stepped up to the mic. That’s a massive oversimplification.
If you listen to Genesis Turn It On Again The Hits, you realize the complexity never left. It just shifted. "No Son of Mine" is a heavy, emotional song about domestic abuse. "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" is a sprawling, atmospheric piece that keeps a foot in their progressive roots while the other foot is on a stadium stage.
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The band didn't change because they wanted more money (though they certainly got it). They changed because they grew up. They got better at editing. They stopped needing twenty minutes to tell a story when they could do it in four.
The Legacy of the Compilation
In 2024, the album finally made its debut on vinyl. It took 25 years! You can get it on black vinyl or a "clear" version inspired by Invisible Touch. It’s a testament to the staying power of these songs.
Even today, in 2026, these tracks are the foundation of classic rock radio. You can't go an hour without hearing "That's All" or "Throwing It All Away."
Genesis Turn It On Again The Hits isn't just a best-of. It's the definitive document of a band that refused to stay in one lane. They survived the departure of a legendary frontman, the loss of a virtuoso guitarist, and the shifting tides of three different decades.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Listeners
- Hunt for the 2007 Tour Edition: If you want the full story, the 2CD version is vastly superior. It includes the Peter Gabriel tracks that the 1999 version ignored.
- Listen to the "Carpet Crawlers 1999" closely: It’s a masterclass in production. Pay attention to how the voices of Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins blend. It’s a bit of studio magic that we’ll likely never see again.
- Check the Vinyl Pressings: If you're a collector, the 2024 vinyl release was cut at Abbey Road by Miles Showell. The sound quality is exceptional, even if the source is digital.
- Compare the "Edits": Many of the songs on the 1999 disc are "radio edits." If you find yourself loving a track like "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight," go back to the original Invisible Touch album to hear the full-length version. It’s a completely different beast.
The story of Genesis is finished now. Their final tour in 2022 made that clear. But as long as this compilation exists, that 13/4 riff from "Turn It On Again" will keep find its way to new ears. It's a weird, wonderful legacy.