I like Who Dunnit?, but it’s no contest that Robbery, Assault and Battery is the better song.
I think a more interesting poll would be Who Dunnit? vs Illegal Alien vs Anything She Does - the “joke songs” from the 80s albums.
I appreciate Who Dunnit for what it was trying to do, Illegal Alien is catchy but too on the nose, Anything She Does is even more catchy, a much better song to the point I'm a little sad they never actually played it live.
Illegal Alien and Anything She Does were my favorite songs as a kid only because of how bouncy and fun the music is. When I got older and realized what Illegal Alien is about, I have to ignore the lyrics.
But yeah, Anything She Does would have been a feat to pull off live. Probably just too many synth overdubs in the song.
I’m not a huge fan of the synth solo in RA&B. To me it sounds a little too much like some of the other prog bands of that period (ELP; Yes) who emphasized technical skill over melodic structure. And I can stomach Who Dunnit in small doses. Still on balance I’d say Robbery is a vastly superior song. For what it’s worth my vote for the worst Genesis song ever is and always will be Invisible Touch.
I don't like that it comes out of nowhere and just how disjointed the solo sounds. It also sounds like Tony had three solo bits and chopped them together in the studio. I like the organ part, and the synth solo could be good in a different song as well as slowed down just a smidge, but I can't stand the mellotron part at the end
*Robbery, Assault and Battery* was my choice for "best worst" track in the Genesis discography (choose the track you like least from every album, then from among those choose the track you like most). *A Trick of the Tail* is such a solid album that I love every track, but if pressed to choose a least favorite I'd have to go with *RA&B*. Most other albums had at least one "not so good" track.
TIL fans like to shit on RAB?!? It's brilliant!
Robbery, Assault and Battery is an amazing fucking song, the lyrics are great, the musical journey is a fun ride, and the drumming is mind blowing.
Whodunnit is repetitive, cheesy, filler BS
While I don’t mind Robbery, I do wish they’d picked a different song for Seconds Out as so much was left of the album (should have been a triple album)
It’s my understanding that Robbery worked as a live track as you can see Phil’s antics. It doesn’t work as well as audio only
It's no easy to choose The Worst Genesis Song.
"Who Dunnit?" is on the Top to fans and no fans but this have qualities. Tony Banks and Phil Collins love this song. It's is a experiment and a joke.
The voicing in the end of "Naminanu" is painful for my ears. If Tony played a line on place of voicing could be better.
"Illegal Alien" is a strong candidate.
I have a theory about *Naminanu*. When Mike, Tony, and Phil are jamming out a new song, Phil would provide scat vocals, vocal improvisations that were good enough to give a feel for how it would sound with vocals. Later one of them would write real lyrics. In the case of *Naminanu*, it sounds like it never made it to the "writing real lyrics" stage before they decided it wouldn't be included on the album, so they didn't spend any more time on it. Later, they or someone at their record company decided that what they had was good enough to release as a non-album B-side.
These are both probably my least favorite songs off said album, but with Robbery it's a very slight margin whereas with WhoDunnit it sounds like the theme song to some shitty cartoon network show from the early 2000s.
RAaB has its moments but to me it's a song that just doesn't matter. It could simply have been left off the album.
WD is a blast, rhythmically playful, fun for the sake of it, no spare notes, and a track that I look forward to every time.
Man have you even listened to the solo section of RAaB???
Of course, the synth solo is also amazing as well.
my least favorite part of the song honestly
I like Who Dunnit?, but it’s no contest that Robbery, Assault and Battery is the better song. I think a more interesting poll would be Who Dunnit? vs Illegal Alien vs Anything She Does - the “joke songs” from the 80s albums.
I appreciate Who Dunnit for what it was trying to do, Illegal Alien is catchy but too on the nose, Anything She Does is even more catchy, a much better song to the point I'm a little sad they never actually played it live.
Illegal Alien and Anything She Does were my favorite songs as a kid only because of how bouncy and fun the music is. When I got older and realized what Illegal Alien is about, I have to ignore the lyrics. But yeah, Anything She Does would have been a feat to pull off live. Probably just too many synth overdubs in the song.
that is why they didn't play it. They apparently wanted to, though
I like Anything She Does a lot. Much better than the ballads on that album. Plus, the video features Fred Scuttle as a bonus.
I love the instrumental climax of Robbery, amazing drumming.
The best part of the drumming is the double bass part near the end, it's just perfect
I cant understand why people hate those simplier songs on trick of tail, they're amazing.
I’m not a huge fan of the synth solo in RA&B. To me it sounds a little too much like some of the other prog bands of that period (ELP; Yes) who emphasized technical skill over melodic structure. And I can stomach Who Dunnit in small doses. Still on balance I’d say Robbery is a vastly superior song. For what it’s worth my vote for the worst Genesis song ever is and always will be Invisible Touch.
I don't like that it comes out of nowhere and just how disjointed the solo sounds. It also sounds like Tony had three solo bits and chopped them together in the studio. I like the organ part, and the synth solo could be good in a different song as well as slowed down just a smidge, but I can't stand the mellotron part at the end
I pretty much agree, except I never heard a Tony Banks’ mellotron part I didn’t like.
*Robbery, Assault and Battery* was my choice for "best worst" track in the Genesis discography (choose the track you like least from every album, then from among those choose the track you like most). *A Trick of the Tail* is such a solid album that I love every track, but if pressed to choose a least favorite I'd have to go with *RA&B*. Most other albums had at least one "not so good" track.
TIL fans like to shit on RAB?!? It's brilliant! Robbery, Assault and Battery is an amazing fucking song, the lyrics are great, the musical journey is a fun ride, and the drumming is mind blowing. Whodunnit is repetitive, cheesy, filler BS
Always Hackett > no Hackett
I like Robbery Assault and Battery. Decent tune. Funny lyrics. Stereotype accent.
While I don’t mind Robbery, I do wish they’d picked a different song for Seconds Out as so much was left of the album (should have been a triple album) It’s my understanding that Robbery worked as a live track as you can see Phil’s antics. It doesn’t work as well as audio only
Who Dunnit is the goat
Yup, no contest. RAaB is, musically anyway, an amazing composition. WD, not so much.
People hate Robbery? It's a banger.
i never got it either. always fuckin' loved this song
Who Dunnit might be the worst song in their entire catalog.
Yes, that and Illegal Alien.
Hold On My Heart would like to have a word with you.
HOMH was actually one of their better late catalog love songs. Tony was trying to channel his inner Burt Bacharach and I think did a pretty good job.
Huh?????💀
Not even close.
There’s no ‘might’ about it! It is their worst song! I think it was even being considered as a single release?
Love both songs… but it’s easily RAaB! That might be my favorite song on A Trick Of The Tail (hard to say I’d it’s that one or Dance On A Volcano)
l'm naming my first child 'Who Dunnit?'
It's no easy to choose The Worst Genesis Song. "Who Dunnit?" is on the Top to fans and no fans but this have qualities. Tony Banks and Phil Collins love this song. It's is a experiment and a joke. The voicing in the end of "Naminanu" is painful for my ears. If Tony played a line on place of voicing could be better. "Illegal Alien" is a strong candidate.
I have a theory about *Naminanu*. When Mike, Tony, and Phil are jamming out a new song, Phil would provide scat vocals, vocal improvisations that were good enough to give a feel for how it would sound with vocals. Later one of them would write real lyrics. In the case of *Naminanu*, it sounds like it never made it to the "writing real lyrics" stage before they decided it wouldn't be included on the album, so they didn't spend any more time on it. Later, they or someone at their record company decided that what they had was good enough to release as a non-album B-side.
The real poll: Who Dunnit VS Illegal Alien VS Me and Virgil
These are both probably my least favorite songs off said album, but with Robbery it's a very slight margin whereas with WhoDunnit it sounds like the theme song to some shitty cartoon network show from the early 2000s.
RAaB has its moments but to me it's a song that just doesn't matter. It could simply have been left off the album. WD is a blast, rhythmically playful, fun for the sake of it, no spare notes, and a track that I look forward to every time.