Taking It All Too Hard

The Zoo Crew is spinning the heartfelt track Taking It All Too Hard by Genesis from their 1983 self-titled album, and Zoo Freaks are in for some intriguing trivia. This song, a lesser-known gem from the album often called "Shapes" due to its geometric cover art, is one of the few Genesis tracks that has never been performed live, a curious fact given its emotional depth and popularity among fans. In a rare interview clip, Phil Collins shared a story about the song’s creation, noting it was primarily written by Mike Rutherford. Collins described how the track came together during jam sessions at The Farm, the band’s studio in Surrey, where the trio—Collins, Rutherford, and Tony Banks—crafted the album collaboratively, a return to their earlier, unified songwriting approach. A Reddit discussion on r/Genesis highlighted fans’ fascination with the song’s obscurity, with one user pointing out that Tony Banks, in a 1997 interview with author Mario Giametti, called it a “quiet, reflective piece” that captured the band’s shift toward introspective pop. The song’s lack of live performances has only fueled its mystique, with fans speculating it was overshadowed by bigger hits like Mama and That’s All.

Another tidbit comes from Daryl Stuermer, Genesis’s longtime touring guitarist, who recorded a cover of Taking It All Too Hard for his 2000 album Another Side of Genesis. Fans on r/Genesis praised Stuermer’s version for bringing renewed attention to the track, with some noting its smoother, almost jazzy arrangement. The song’s lyrics, which explore themes of emotional struggle and resignation, resonate with listeners who see it as a counterbalance to the album’s more upbeat singles. Despite its understated presence, the track’s enduring appeal is evident in fan discussions on platforms like Turn It On Again: A Genesis Forum, where users frequently debate its place in the band’s discography, often calling it a hidden masterpiece from the Phil Collins era.

Genesis began in 1967 at Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, where teenage classmates Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, Peter Gabriel, Anthony Phillips, and drummer Chris Stewart formed a band under the name suggested by their early mentor, pop impresario Jonathan King. King signed them to Decca Records, and their debut album, From Genesis to Revelation, released in 1969, was a psychedelic-pop effort that sold poorly but planted seeds of their folk-prog sound. After parting with King, the band honed their progressive rock style through relentless touring and albums like Trespass (1970) and Nursery Cryme (1971), with Phil Collins joining as drummer in 1970 and Steve Hackett as guitarist in 1971. Gabriel’s theatrical vocals and the band’s ambitious, classical-tinged compositions made them pioneers of prog rock, with albums like Foxtrot (1972) and Selling England by the Pound (1973) earning critical acclaim. Gabriel left in 1975, and Collins stepped up as lead vocalist, steering Genesis toward a more accessible, pop-rock sound by the 1980s, as seen on the Genesis album. Despite lineup changes, Banks and Rutherford remained the constants, guiding the band through decades of evolution until their final tour in 2022.

Fans can stay connected with Genesis through their official website, which offers updates on releases like the 2023 BBC Broadcasts box set. Their Facebook page, with over 2 million likes, shares nostalgic posts and tour memorabilia, while their Instagram features rare photos and fan engagement. On X, the band occasionally posts about reissues and solo projects. For deeper fan interaction, the Deutscher Genesis Fanclub provides news, interviews, and reviews, while Genesis Links tracks historical milestones. The Turn It On Again forum and r/Genesis subreddit are vibrant spaces for Zoo Freaks to discuss trivia, share bootlegs, and celebrate the band’s legacy.