Mild Mannered Supermen - A Genesis Podcast

Just to Hear Your Call: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we conclude our exploration of Genesis's 1976 masterpiece Wind & Wuthering with its breathtaking closing trilogy: “Unquiet Slumbers for the Sleepers…,” “…In That Quiet Earth,” and “Afterglow.” We uncover the fascinating connection between Emily Brontë's classic novel Wuther...

Monster Mouse: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we explore two very different but equally important tracks from Genesis's 1976 album Wind & Wuthering: “All in a Mouse's Night” and “Your Own Special Way.” First, we dive into Tony Banks's whimsical story-song “All in a Mouse's Night,” a playful tale of a mouse, a cat, and a midnight adventure that sh...

Skip the News: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we continue our exploration of Genesis's 1976 album Wind & Wuthering with a deep dive into two fascinating tracks: “Blood on the Rooftops” and “Wot Gorilla?” We examine what many fans consider one of Steve Hackett's crowning achievements in Genesis, the hauntingly beautiful “Blood on the Rooftops.” Wr...

Daddy, You Promised: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we begin our journey through Genesis's 1976 masterpiece Wind & Wuthering by exploring two of Genesis's most ambitious compositions: “Eleventh Earl of Mar” and “One for the Vine.” First, we examine the historical inspiration behind “Eleventh Earl of Mar,” a sweeping tale of the failed Jacobite Ri...

Just a Pool of Tears: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we close the book on Genesis's landmark 1976 album A Trick of the Tail with two unforgettable tracks: “Squonk” and “Los Endos.” First, we dive into the legendary tale of the Squonk, a mythical creature from Pennsylvania folklore whose tears are said to dissolve its very existence. We explore how Genesis transf...

Same Old Song, Done Me Wrong: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we continue our journey through Genesis's 1976 album A Trick of the Tail with a deep dive into two wildly different tracks: the emotional and mysterious “Mad Man Moon” and the theatrical fan favorite “Robbery, Assault and Battery.” We explore the possibility that “Mad Man Moon” reflects the...

Look Into the Pool: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we dive into “Ripples,” one of the most beautiful and transformative songs from Genesis's 1976 album A Trick of the Tail. We explore how this track captures a band in transition — moving from the intricate progressive rock of the Peter Gabriel era toward a more melodic, accessible sound that would define Genesis in th...

‍⚕️Sleep. Won't You Allow Yourself Fall: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we explore the haunting beauty of “Entangled,” one of the most atmospheric and underrated masterpieces from Genesis's 1976 album A Trick of the Tail. We dive into the song's dreamlike soundscape — from Tony Banks's groundbreaking Mellotron choir, to Steve Hackett's shimmering 12-string guitars...

On Your Left and On Your Right: Season Two of Mild Mannered Supermen kicks off with a bang as we dive into “Dance on a Volcano,” the explosive opening track from Genesis's 1976 album A Trick of the Tail. This episode explores a pivotal moment in the band's history — Phil Collins stepping into the role of lead vocalist following Peter Gabriel's departure, and Steve Hackett tempora...

️ Season One Finale: In the Season One finale of Mild Mannered Supermen, we go back to where it all began — Genesis's 1969 debut album From Genesis to Revelation. Long before the epics, the theatrics, and the progressive rock masterpieces, Genesis were a young band under the guidance of producer Jonathan King, crafting baroque pop songs with hints of the ambition that would later define them...

It is Real. It is Rael: In this final chapter of our Mild Mannered Supermen deep dive into Genesis's legendary 1974 concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, we explore the last side of the record and the dramatic conclusion of Rael's journey. Using live recordings from the January 1975 Lamb tour, we revisit the powerful closing sequence of songs — “Ravine,” “The Light...

Down the Rabbit Hole: In Part 3 of our deep dive into Genesis's 1974 concept masterpiece The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Mild Mannered Supermen explores one of the album's most surreal and unsettling stretches — from “Lilywhite Lilith” through “The Colony of Slippermen.” This chapter of Rael's journey takes a darker, stranger turn as we unpack the symbolism, mythology...

Mild Mannered Supermen Shout Out! : In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we continue our deep dive into Genesis's 1974 masterpiece The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, focusing on Side Two of the album and the next chapter of Rael's surreal journey. We explore the shifting emotional landscape of tracks like “Back in N.Y.C.,” “Hairless Heart,” “Counting Out Time,&rdqu...

Side 1: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we begin our deep dive into Genesis's ambitious 1974 concept album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, focusing on Side One and the first six tracks of the record. We explore the creative tension and internal turmoil within the band during the album's recording, including Peter Gabriel's growing artistic independence and the strain it placed on Genesi...

Ceci s'apelle du Cinema Show: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we explore “The Cinema Show,” one of Genesis's most ambitious and musically sophisticated compositions from Selling England by the Pound (1973). We break down the song's two distinct halves — the romantic, mythological storytelling inspired by Romeo and Juliet in the opening section, and the expansive instru...

Taken From a News Story… …concerning two rival gangs fighting over east-end protection rights. In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we dive into “The Battle of Epping Forest,” one of Genesis's most chaotic, theatrical, and densely packed songs from Selling England by the Pound (1973). Part satire, part social commentary, and part musical endurance test, “The B...

The River of Constant Change In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we explore “Firth of Fifth,” one of Genesis's most iconic and enduring compositions from the 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. Often cited as a pinnacle of progressive rock, “Firth of Fifth” showcases the band at a creative crossroads — balancing classical influence, emotional restraint, an...

Time for Lunch: In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we take a deep dive into “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe),” one of Genesis's most beloved and accessible songs from the 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. We explore how this quirky, character-driven track introduced many listeners to Genesis, blending progressive rock complexity with humor, pastoral English imagery...

Paperlate! In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we explore “Dancing with the Moonlit Knight,” the stunning opening track from Genesis's 1973 album Selling England by the Pound. We unpack the song's shifting movements, pastoral imagery, and biting social commentary, revealing how Peter Gabriel's lyrics reflect a Britain caught between fading tradition and modern commercialism. Fro...

Hey Babe: In this epic episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we take a deep dive into Genesis's 23-minute masterpiece, “Supper's Ready,” the defining progressive rock epic from the 1972 album Foxtrot. We break down each section of the suite—from “Lover's Leap” and “The Guaranteed Eternal Sanctuary Man” all the way to the explosive “Apocalypse in 9/8&rdq...

TWO FOR ONE Episode! In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we explore two often-overlooked gems from Genesis's 1972 masterpiece Foxtrot: “Time Table” and “Can-Utility and the Coastliners.” We break down the musical textures, lyrical themes, and historical inspirations behind these tracks — from the bittersweet reflection on fading chivalry in Time Table, to the s...

️ PROG FANS UNITE! In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we dive deep into “Get 'Em Out by Friday,” Genesis's razor-sharp blend of science fiction, social critique, and theatrical storytelling. This track from Foxtrot (1972) showcases Peter Gabriel at his most dramatic — switching characters, accents, and perspectives as the band paints a dystopian future shaped by corporate...

In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we gaze upward with “Watcher of the Skies,” the monumental opening track from Genesis's Foxtrot (1972). With its eerie Mellotron fanfare and apocalyptic vision, the song captures Genesis at their most cosmic — blending science fiction, existential wonder, and masterful musicianship. We explore how Peter Gabriel's lyrics imagine a lone be...

In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we turn our attention to one of Genesis's most overlooked treasures — “Seven Stones” from Nursery Cryme (1971). Between the sprawling epics and wild theatrics of the album lies this haunting, reflective piece that reveals a deeper side of early Genesis. We explore the song's themes of fate, wisdom, and loss — a fable-like meditatio...

In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we unleash “The Return of the Giant Hogweed” — Genesis's wild, witty, and apocalyptic prog-rock epic from Nursery Cryme (1971). Inspired by a real-life invasive plant from Russia, this overgrown masterpiece blends absurd humor, ecological warning, and musical virtuosity into one of the band's most ambitious early works. We explore how Pe...