3X3

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3X3
EP by Genesis
Released 21 May 1982
Recorded May–June 1981
Genre Pop rock
Length 15:10
Label Charisma (UK), Vertigo
Producer Genesis
Professional reviews
Genesis chronology
Spot the Pigeon
(1977)		 3X3
(1982)

3X3 was the second and last EP by the rock band Genesis. It was released in 1982. Its three songs were recorded during the Abacab sessions. The lead single, "Paperlate", peaked at number 10 on the UK charts, number 32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number 2 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart.

Contents

[edit] Production

Collins claims that the packaging for 3X3 was a throwback to The Beatles' first EP release in 1963, entitled Twist and Shout.[1] The front cover photo is similar to the Beatles' EP cover. The liner notes and design of the back cover were done by the man who was in charge of designing the Beatles' EP, Tony Barrow.[1] "these cheeky chappies from Guildford ... treasure these three audio-visual representations..." are parts that Phil recalls.[1] The title itself is also a nod to The Rolling Stones, who released both an EP titled Five by Five and an LP entitled 12 X 5.[1][2] Collins recalls that the album's cover and interior text received negative reviews from a reviewer who wasn't alive when the original Stones' EP was released, thereby misunderstanding the parody.[1]

All of the songs were recorded during sessions for the album Abacab.[3] A bootleg demo tape exists of the band playing an entire session of songs for Abacab, with the three songs from this EP also included.[3]

For the song "Paperlate", Collins used the horn section of the band Earth, Wind & Fire in the background.[4] Collins has often used the group for other projects, including Collins' debut solo album, Face Value.[5] A music video was also created, with the band playing in a concert arena.[6] According to "Connolly & Company", "You Might Recall" is a song about a lost love.[7] Collins wrote the song "Me and Virgil". He has called it "a dog", and cites it as one of his worst ever pieces of writing. According to Collins, the group was trying to do something similar to the work of The Band, but "we couldn't."[8] The song is written as a story.[9]

[edit] Reception

The response to the album was mixed. Dave Thompson of Allmusic gives it three stars out of five, citing "Paperlate" as the EP's selling point.[2] Thompson describes "Paperlate" as "a horn-honking romp with just the ghosts of '60s soul playing around its chorus and a buoyancy that fed readily into the mood of the U.K. charts of the day."[2] Thompson called "You Might Recall" and "Me and Virgil" "somewhat calmer", describing "Me and Virgil" as "introspective", and "You Might Recall" as "the latest in the band's long line of bubbly romantic numbers."[2]

Guillermo Vázquez Malagamba of "Prog Archives" gave the EP a rating of two stars out of five, saying that "Yes, these songs were more for the Pop Rock market... but they still have some good quality."[9] Of "Paperlate", Malagamba says that the song has a lot of Phil Collins' influence, due to the horns of Earth, Wind & Fire.[9] He adds that "This song has very good drums and some "Prog-like" tempos."[9] Malagamba cites "You Might Recall" as the EP's best song, saying it has "a good use of a glockenspiel played by Tony Banks. This song also has a good electric piano, very characteristic in Banks' sound, and he also plays very good synth in the background."[9] However, Malagamba agrees with Phil Collins in that "Me and Virgil" is the worst song of the EP.[9] "...the song is not very good, because the story is very detailed, and the song as a whole tends to boredom."[9] Malagamba however does add that the song has some "Prog influences".[9]

"Connolly & Company" says that "Paperlate" featured a "peppy horn section,"[7] and that "You Might Recall" "recalled Mike Rutherford's earlier contributions ("Alone Tonight", "Say It's Alright Joe".)[7] Connolly also says that "Three Sides Live" was worth buying for just "Paperlate".[7]

Upon its release, 3X3's lead song was "Paperlate", and the EP debuted at number 30 on the UK charts, peaking at number 10 later on.[10] Because the EP market never took off in North America, Atlantic Records instead decided to release its three songs as part of Three Sides Live for its initial release, while the UK had extra exclusive live music.[11] "Paperlate" peaked at number 32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and number 2 on the Billboard Rock Tracks chart.[12] As of 1994, however, Three Sides Live was remastered and reissued with the extra live material internationally.

[edit] Later releases

3X3 never saw a CD release. However, its tracks appeared on the world edition of Three Sides Live.[11] In addition, two of its three tracks, "Paperlate" and "You Might Recall", appeared on the box set Genesis Archive 2: 1976-1992 (2000), however "Me and Virgil" was not added, possibly due to the dislike band members feel for the song, including Phil Collins.[8] The track is now available on the bonus CD of the boxed set Genesis 1976-1982, in a modern-day remixed version.[13][14] The original mix remains out of print.

[edit] Track listing

All songs by Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford.

[edit] Side A

  1. "Paperlate" – 3:20
  2. "You Might Recall" – 5:30

[edit] Side B

  1. "Me and Virgil" – 6:18

[edit] Personnel

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e Waller, Johnny (December 25, 1982), "Phil Collins", Sounds, http://www.philcollins.co.uk/sounds251282.htm 
  2. ^ a b c d "allmusic ((( 3 X 3 > Overview )))". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5mkbu3q5an1k. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  3. ^ a b Abacab Complete (bootleg) (1980)
  4. ^ a b "Genesis - 3 X 3 (7", EP) at Discogs". discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/release/1026772. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  5. ^ Classic Albums: Face Value VH-1, 1999
  6. ^ Genesis: The Video Show (DVD), 2005
  7. ^ a b c d "Paperlate". connollyco.com. http://www.connollyco.com/discography/genesis/paperlate7.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  8. ^ a b "Phil Collins Q&A - 17th January 2005". philcollins.co.uk. http://www.philcollins.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=111. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "GENESIS 3 X 3 music review by Guillermo". progarchives.com. http://www.progarchives.com/Review.asp?id=87744. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  10. ^ "Chart Stats - Genesis - 3 x 3 (EP)". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=9951. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  11. ^ a b "Ripped Vinyl & Other Rarities: 3 X 3 (1982)". blogspot.com. http://rippedvinyl.blogspot.com/2007/04/3-x3-1982.html. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  12. ^ "allmusic ((( Genesis > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fiftxqe5ldke~T51. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  13. ^ "Rhino rewrites the book of Genesis". monstersandcritics.com. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/music/news/article_1299313.php. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  14. ^ "ProgressiveWorld.net - Genesis New Reissues Available For Pre-Order". progressiveworld.com. http://www.progressiveworld.net/html/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=410. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
v • d • e
Genesis
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Related articles
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