Mild Mannered Supermen - A Genesis Podcast

Mild Mannered Supermen

Welcome to Mild Mannered Supermen. A tribute to Prog Rock and the early days of Genesis. We'll feature songs from the Peter Gabriel era from a fan's perspective with a twist...Listen as our professional musician host breaks down the intricate details of the songs that kicked off the careers of some of the most famous names in 80s and 90s pop; Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and Steve Hackett.

  1. 3d ago

    Misunderstanding & Please Don't Ask

    😢Sad Bastard Balladry Two Phil Collins songs. Two completely different emotional journeys. One landmark Genesis album. In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we continue our deep dive into Genesis’ 1980 album Duke with two songs written by Phil Collins: “Misunderstanding” and “Please Don’t Ask.” Both tracks originated as Collins compositions before finding a home on Duke, but they reveal very different sides of the drummer, singer, and emerging solo artist. “Misunderstanding” brought a distinctly American pop-rock influence to Genesis, with an infectious groove, an irresistible chorus, and a sound that helped introduce the band to a wider audience. We explore its musical influences, the story behind the lyrics, and how it became one of Genesis’ early breakthrough singles in the United States. “Please Don’t Ask” takes us somewhere far more personal. Written during the painful breakdown of Collins’ first marriage, the song offers a vulnerable glimpse into the emotional turmoil that would also shape his debut solo album, Face Value. It’s a beautifully understated performance that shows just how much Collins was evolving as a songwriter. Together, these two tracks capture a fascinating turning point in Genesis history: the moment Phil Collins’ increasingly personal songwriting began helping shape the band’s commercial direction without completely abandoning its progressive rock identity. Join Jarrett and Jake as we break down the music, the lyrics, the influences, and the stories behind these two remarkable songs. In this episode: The origins of “Misunderstanding” and its musical influences How the song helped Genesis reach a broader American audience The deeply personal story behind “Please Don’t Ask” Phil Collins’ marriage breakdown and its impact on his songwriting The connection between Duke and Face Value How Collins’ songwriting helped shape the next chapter of Genesis If you love Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Steve Hackett, or the golden age of progressive rock, you’re in the right place. Subscribe to Mild Mannered Supermen for more Genesis album deep dives, classic rock discussions, song histories, and listening parties. #Genesis #PhilCollins #Duke #Misunderstanding #PleaseDontAsk #ProgressiveRock #ClassicRock #FaceValue SPECIAL THANKS: John Edgington Documentaries for the Phil Collins interview!

    Misunderstanding & Please Don't Ask

  2. Oct 5

    Duke Suite: Behind the Lines, Duchess, Guide Vocal, Turn It On Again, Duke’s Travels and Duke’s End

    💃Kill What You Fear: Join us for another Mild Mannered Supermen deep dive as we explore the legendary Duke Suite from Genesis’ 1980 album Duke — the six-song sequence made up of “Behind the Lines,” “Duchess,” “Guide Vocal,” “Turn It On Again,” “Duke’s Travels,” and “Duke’s End.” Rather than treating these tracks as separate songs, we follow the story of Albert and Duchess as one continuous narrative: a relationship built on obsession, dependence, fantasy, and emotional imbalance. We talk about how Albert’s fixation on Duchess becomes increasingly unhealthy, how the story reflects codependency, and why the relationship would still feel surprisingly relevant in today’s world of social media, parasocial attachment, and online identity. We also dig into one of the most important production moments in Genesis history: the emergence of the gated drum sound. In “Duke’s Travels,” Phil Collins’ drums feature the explosive gated effect that would soon become one of the defining sounds of the 1980s. The remarkable part is the timing — Duke was released before Peter Gabriel’s third solo album, meaning Genesis actually put the sound into the world before “Intruder” made it famous. Along the way, we break down the musical links between the six tracks, the recurring themes that tie the suite together, and why the Duke Suite remains one of the most satisfying examples of Genesis blending progressive rock ambition with the tighter, more modern sound they were moving toward in 1980. If you’re a fan of Genesis, Phil Collins, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, progressive rock, concept albums, or the evolution of 1980s production, this episode is for you. 🎧 Put on Duke and listen along as we unpack the full story and sound of the Duke Suite. Album: Duke Artist: Genesis Released: 1980 Featured tracks: Behind the Lines, Duchess, Guide Vocal, Turn It On Again, Duke’s Travels, Duke’s End Episode: Mild Mannered Supermen #Genesis #Duke #DukeSuite #PhilCollins #TonyBanks #MikeRutherford #BehindTheLines #Duchess #TurnItOnAgain #DukesTravels #ProgressiveRock #ProgRock #ClassicRock #GatedDrums #PeterGabriel #MildManneredSupermen

    Duke Suite: Behind the Lines, Duchess, Guide Vocal, Turn It On Again, Duke’s Travels and Duke’s End

  3. Sep 29

    Smallcreep’s Day (Music Only)

    We just wanted a place to listen to this album since it’s not on the streaming services.

    Smallcreep’s Day (Music Only)

  4. Sep 28

    Mike Rutherford: Smallcreep’s Day (Listening Party)

    ⏰Clock on But Out of Life Join us for another Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party as we dive into Mike Rutherford’s 1980 debut solo album, Smallcreep’s Day — one of the most ambitious and underrated solo projects to come out of the Genesis family. Based on Peter Currell Brown’s novel Smallcreep’s Day, the album follows the strange journey of factory worker Pinquean Smallcreep as he leaves the assembly line and ventures deeper into the vast, surreal factory world around him. In this episode, we break down the story song by song and compare Rutherford’s musical adaptation with the original book — including where he stayed faithful, where he simplified the narrative, and where the album becomes something entirely its own. One of the things that makes Smallcreep’s Day so fascinating is just how progressive it is. Rather than telling the entire story through lyrics, Rutherford lets long instrumental passages carry major parts of the narrative, using recurring themes, atmosphere, and arrangement to move the story forward. The result feels less like a collection of songs and more like a true prog-rock suite. We also explore Rutherford’s musical approach outside Genesis and the important contribution of his longtime friend and former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips, whose presence adds another layer of connection to the band’s earliest years. Along the way, we discuss the album’s concept, musicianship, storytelling, production, and why Smallcreep’s Day deserves far more attention from fans of Genesis, progressive rock, concept albums, Mike Rutherford, Anthony Phillips, and classic British prog. If you love the more adventurous side of Genesis — especially albums like A Trick of the Tail, Wind & Wuthering, and …And Then There Were Three… — this is a record worth rediscovering. 🎧 Put on the album and listen along with us as we explore the strange world of Smallcreep’s Day. Artist: Mike Rutherford Album: Smallcreep’s Day Released: 1980 Based on: the novel Smallcreep’s Day by Peter Currell Brown Featuring: Anthony Phillips Episode: Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party #MikeRutherford #SmallcreepsDay #Genesis #AnthonyPhillips #ProgressiveRock #ProgRock #ConceptAlbum #GenesisBand #ClassicRock #1980Music #ListeningParty #MildManneredSupermen #GenesisSolo #ProgRockAlbums

    Mike Rutherford: Smallcreep’s Day (Listening Party)

  5. Sep 21

    Tony Banks: A Curious Feeling (Listening Party)

    🐁Good For A While: Join us for another Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party as we dive into Tony Banks’ 1979 debut solo album, A Curious Feeling — one of the most overlooked and fascinating solo records to emerge from the Genesis family. Originally inspired by Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon, the concept evolved after Tony encountered the 1978 musical Charlie, leading him to reshape the story into something more supernatural and less directly tied to the original source. The result is a deeply atmospheric concept album about memory, identity, loss, and the consequences of changing the mind. In this episode, we listen through the entire album and tell the story behind every song, tracing the narrative from beginning to end while exploring how the music supports the concept. We also dig into the performances that make A Curious Feeling so distinctive. Tony Banks handled virtually all of the instrumentation himself, with Chester Thompson on drums and Kim Beacon delivering the lead vocals. That combination gives the album a unique character — unmistakably connected to late-’70s Genesis, but also very much its own world. Along the way, we discuss Tony’s songwriting, keyboards, arrangements, production choices, and why this album deserves far more attention from fans of Genesis, progressive rock, concept albums, and classic 1970s prog. If you love albums like Wind & Wuthering, …And Then There Were Three…, or the more atmospheric and keyboard-driven side of Genesis, A Curious Feeling is essential listening. 🎧 Put on the album and listen along with us as we explore the full story of Tony Banks’ A Curious Feeling. Artist: Tony Banks Album: A Curious Feeling Released: 1979 Vocals: Kim Beacon Drums: Chester Thompson Episode: Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party #TonyBanks #ACuriousFeeling #Genesis #ChesterThompson #KimBeacon #ProgressiveRock #ProgRock #ConceptAlbum #GenesisBand #ClassicRock #1979Music #ListeningParty #MildManneredSupermen #FlowersForAlgernon

    Tony Banks: A Curious Feeling (Listening Party)

  6. Sep 15

    Peter Gabriel: 2 Scratch (Listening Party)

    ☑️Like a White Shadow: Join us for another Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party as we dive into Peter Gabriel’s second solo album, Peter Gabriel 2 — often known as Scratch — released in 1978 and produced by King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp. After the eclectic experimentation of Gabriel’s first solo record, Scratch feels noticeably more focused: darker, tighter, and much more like a unified rock album. Fripp’s fingerprints are all over the record, helping give it a consistent sonic identity built around sharp guitars, muscular arrangements, and a more disciplined approach to the songs. But that cohesion raises an interesting question: did making a more straightforward rock record actually leave Peter Gabriel feeling less creatively fulfilled? In this episode, we listen through the album and explore the tension at the heart of Peter Gabriel 2. We discuss how Robert Fripp’s production helped shape the sound, why songs like “On the Air,” “D.I.Y.,” “Mother of Violence,” “White Shadow,” and “Exposure” feel so different from the debut, and whether Gabriel’s experience making this record may have influenced the way he approached the rest of his solo career. Rather than settling into a conventional rock path, Gabriel would soon move further toward experimentation, unusual recording techniques, world-music influences, electronic textures, and a much stronger desire to control the creative process himself. In that sense, Scratch may be one of the most important transitional albums in his catalogue. Was Peter Gabriel 2 a stronger, more cohesive album than its predecessor — or did that very cohesion come at the expense of some of the unpredictability that made Gabriel so compelling? Pour a drink, put on the record, and listen along with us. Artist: Peter Gabriel Album: Peter Gabriel 2 (Scratch) Released: 1978 Producer: Robert Fripp Episode: Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party #PeterGabriel #PeterGabriel2 #Scratch #RobertFripp #KingCrimson #Genesis #ProgressiveRock #ProgRock #ClassicRock #1978Music #ListeningParty #MildManneredSupermen #OnTheAir #DIY #Exposure

    Peter Gabriel: 2 Scratch (Listening Party)

  7. Sep 7

    Anthony Phillips: The Geese & the Ghost (Listening Party)

    Stage Fright Be Damned Join us for a new Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party as we dive into Anthony Phillips' 1977 debut solo album, The Geese & the Ghost — a beautiful, pastoral, deeply atmospheric record that feels like a lost branch of early Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1970, Phillips spent years developing material that would eventually become The Geese & the Ghost, an album filled with 12-string guitars, orchestral textures, English folk influences, progressive rock arrangements, and unmistakable echoes of the band's earliest sound. In this episode, we listen through the album together and react in real time, exploring the compositions, performances, production, and the connection between Anthony Phillips' solo work and the musical world Genesis was creating in the early 1970s. We also discuss the contributions of familiar Genesis-related musicians, including Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins, and why The Geese & the Ghost remains such a fascinating record for fans of Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, and the pastoral side of progressive rock. If you're a fan of Genesis, Anthony Phillips, Steve Hackett, Peter Gabriel, progressive rock, British folk rock, or classic 1970s prog, this is an album worth discovering. Pour a drink, put on the record, and listen along with us. Album: The Geese & the GhostArtist: Anthony PhillipsReleased: 1977Episode: Mild Mannered Supermen Listening Party #AnthonyPhillips #TheGeeseAndTheGhost #Genesis #ProgressiveRock #ProgRock #GenesisBand #MikeRutherford #PhilCollins #PeterGabriel #SteveHackett #ClassicRock #1970sMusic #ListeningParty #MildManneredSupermen

  8. Aug 31

    Ballad of Big, Scenes From a Night’s Dream, Follow You Follow Me

    Poor Little Nemo: We've reached the end of …And Then There Were Three…. In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we wrap up our journey through Genesis's 1978 album by exploring the remaining songs credited to the entire trio of Tony Banks, Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford: “Ballad of Big,” “Scenes from a Night's Dream,” and the breakthrough hit that changed everything—“Follow You Follow Me.” We start with the strange tale of “Ballad of Big,” Genesis's excursion into the American West, before moving into the surreal world of “Scenes from a Night's Dream,” inspired by the adventures of comic-strip character Little Nemo. They're two quirky deep cuts that show Genesis could still embrace storytelling, humor and fantasy even as the band's music was beginning to change. And then comes “Follow You Follow Me.” Built from a Mike Rutherford guitar idea and developed collaboratively by the trio, the song became Genesis's first major international pop breakthrough. Its warmth, simplicity and unmistakable melody sounded very different from the sprawling progressive rock that had defined much of the band's past—but rather than being a calculated attempt to “go pop,” it emerged naturally from the three musicians working together. We discuss why “Follow You Follow Me” became such an important turning point for Genesis, Phil Collins's increasingly recognizable voice, and how its success offered a glimpse of just how enormous this three-man version of the band could eventually become. With Steve Hackett gone, …And Then There Were Three… began with Genesis facing uncertainty. By the album's final song, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins had accidentally discovered part of the formula that would define their future. So we say goodbye to 1978 and to a fascinating transitional Genesis album—one that still contained plenty of progressive rock, but quietly opened the door to Duke, Abacab and the extraordinary success that lay ahead. #Genesis #FollowYouFollowMe #AndThenThereWereThree #BalladOfBig #ScenesFromANightsDream #PhilCollins #TonyBanks #MikeRutherford #ProgressiveRock #ProgRock #ClassicRock #GenesisPodcast #MildManneredSupermen #Genesis1978 #MusicHistory

    Ballad of Big, Scenes From a Night’s Dream, Follow You Follow Me
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5
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About

Welcome to Mild Mannered Supermen. A tribute to Prog Rock and the early days of Genesis. We'll feature songs from the Peter Gabriel era from a fan's perspective with a twist...Listen as our professional musician host breaks down the intricate details of the songs that kicked off the careers of some of the most famous names in 80s and 90s pop; Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks and Steve Hackett.

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