GENESIS Album Art ABACAB Lithograph COA Phil Collins Mike Rutherford Tony Banks

Description

Earth Day 2000 by Bob Masse Auction on E-Bay
Produced in 1990 by Music Art. Obtained from the original distributor in 2001. Approx 22x32". Based on the original artwork for the album "ABACAB". Plate signed edition and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Art by Bill Smith. Retail values ~0. BIG
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The album's artwork was designed by English artist Bill Smith, who recalled that the group were difficult to design for as "they only ever knew what they didn't like".
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The design was conceived after Rutherford spotted a collection of torn pieces of paper of one inch in size taken from a Pantone swatch of colours for a book design in Smith's sketchbook, depicting a bright abstract design. Smith then reproduced it in four different colour schemes with an embossed finish.
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The band liked all four and thought it would have an effective presentation on shop displays. Three of the designs had a limited print, after which just one of the designs remained in stock.
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In a contrast to previous Genesis albums, the sleeve is absent of lyrics. Banks reasoned this to reducing the emphasis on the words, which he thought had been overdone on previous albums, in order to make them a greater part in the album's overall sound.
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Abacab
is the eleventh studio album by English rock band
Genesis
, released on 18 September 1981 by
Charisma Records
. After their 1980 tour in support of their previous album,
Duke
(1980), the band took a break before they reconvened in 1981 to write and record a new album.
Abacab
is the first Genesis album recorded at
The Farm
, a recording studio bought by the group in
Chiddingfold
,
Surrey
. It marked the band's development from their progressive roots into more accessible and pop-oriented songs, and their conscious decision to write songs unlike their previous albums.
Abacab
received a mostly positive reception from critics and was a commercial success for the band, becoming their second No. 1 LP on the
UK Albums Chart
and their first to reach the top ten of the US
Billboard
200
, peaking at No. 7. Genesis released four singles from the album, the most successful being "
Abacab
" and "
No Reply at All
". The album continued to sell, and was certified double
platinum
in 1988 by the
Recording Industry Association of America
for two million copies sold in the US. The Abacab Tour visited North America and Europe in 1981, recordings from which formed most of their 1982 live album and concert video
Three Sides Live
. Three tracks left off the album were released on the EP
3×3
. The album was reissued with a new stereo and
5.1 surround sound
mix in 2007.