TotW 12/16/2024 - 12/22/2024: GENESIS - Do The Neurotic

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    Your rating for "Do The Neurotic" by GENESIS 28

    1. 15 points - outstanding (4) 14%
    2. 14 points - very good (4) 14%
    3. 13 points - very good - (5) 18%
    4. 12 points - good + (7) 25%
    5. 11 points - good (1) 4%
    6. 10 points - good - (2) 7%
    7. 09 points - satisfactory + (0) 0%
    8. 08 points - satisfactory (4) 14%
    9. 07 points - satisfactory - (0) 0%
    10. 06 points - sufficient + (0) 0%
    11. 05 points - sufficient (0) 0%
    12. 04 points - sufficient - (0) 0%
    13. 03 points - poor + (1) 4%
    14. 02 points - poor (0) 0%
    15. 01 points - poor - (0) 0%
    16. 00 points - abysmal (0) 0%

    We invite you to share interesting facts and tidbits about this track. Let's look at the track in the context of the band's / the artist's history, at the music, the songwriting and all other aspects that are relevant for this track. Please do stick to the discussion of the track above. Comparisons to other tracks are okay, but remember that the other track you may be keen to talk about has or will have its own Track Of The Week thread. If you spot a mistake or if you can close a gap in the fact sheet above please feel free to contact martinus or Christian about it; we will gladly add and improve!


    GENESIS - Do The Neurotic

    Year: 1986
    Album: B-Side / 1983-1997 Extra Disc / Archive #2
    Working title: ?
    Credits: Banks/Collins/Rutherford
    Lyrics: No
    Length: 7:03
    Musicians: Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford
    Played live: never, but rehearsed for the 1986/87 tour
    Cover versions: ?

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    Notes: Do The Neurotic, recorded during the “Invisible Touch” sessions in 1985-86 in the band's own “Farm” studio in Surrey, was probably a victim of the length restriction for vinyl LPs at the time, although the CD version of the album was released at the same time. Perhaps they didn't want to have two instrumentals on the album and so the shorter The Brazilian was preferred. Do The Neurotic ended up on a single B-side. It could be that not only many fans regretted this.
    After all, it seems rather unusual that the cover of the 12” maxi had the words ‘DO THE NEUROTIC’ on the front, as if this title was the A-side and not In Too Deep (whose lettering was much smaller on the back). This suggests that the quality of the instrumental was certainly appreciated in the band's environment. In addition, 12” maxis at that time often contained ‘extended dance’ remixes and were therefore particularly attractive to DJs. Since the A-side of this single really couldn't generate one, it was probably intended to draw attention to the up-tempo B-side, which was certainly danceable. But that ultimately remains speculation.
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    It's ok. I've never got the fuss about it and all the "this should've replaced The Brazilian" stuff. Plus I much prefer the edit on the 7", in fact I started my compilation with that version. The passage they chopped out added nothing. Overall it has a good energy to it and it's a particularly good performance by PC.

    Abandon all reason

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    An edited version of this song was over the credits for the 1987 Wembley concerts video release. After watching the video a few times, this credits music sorts of gets into you. I remember in old forums people would start asking "what's that song on the credits?"


    Last year (2023) some videos started surfacing in youtube showcasing Do the neurotic being used in soundchecks for the 1987 tour.


    ...and, for the record, the song file should read "Lyrics: no"

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    Quote from estrelow

    An edited version of this song was over the credits for the 1987 Wembley concerts video release.

    In fact the original VHS issue had it written at the end of the track listing. I think it vanished from the listing when the dvd was issued. (The VHS also had the far superior front cover).

    Abandon all reason

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    Quote from Backdrifter

    In fact the original VHS issue had it written at the end of the track listing. I think it vanished from the listing when the dvd was issued. (The VHS also had the far superior front cover).

    I had that! I remember being very excited about this new track I hadn't heard and then it was a minute or so over the credits.


    I'm very fond of DTN myself, it has very nice connotations along with Feeding the Fire of when i received the Land of Confusion CD for Christmas one year (along with a few other Genesis odds and ends) and feeling like i was opening some sort of treasure chest with rare and exotic things inside. it holds up pretty well I think. Very energetic and I think Mike contributes some nice lead lines. Really interesting they played part of it for sound checks! I would not have replaced the Brazilian with it though. 14 (generous, biased).

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    It’s a decent enough doodle. I wouldn’t put it any stronger than that. It is a nice reminder though of how well they gelled as a unit and good to hear them stretch out a bit. But it would need a lot of work to become fully fledged and would probably be more use for raiding bits from, except it seems they didn’t need to at that point.

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    Full score!

    This is one of the example that Genesis indeed had their outstanding moments until the very end. It's just a shame this was a B-side only. But this is ok for me, since they also did a 5.1 version in 2007....

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    Absolutely love this. I can't remember what interview it was, but I recall Banks saying it was one of their greatest moments, and I agree. He was keen to stress that it was recorded as live in the studio. No sequencing etc. The musicianship and energy is off the scale, and would shame even the most technical math rock bands.


    I don't necessarily think it should have been on the album, but I do wish they'd done more things like this! But either way, we got a 45rpm 12" of it, back when they really knew how to press records, and it sounds AMAZING

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    I think the leftover tracks from the INVISIBLE TOUCH sessions would have made a great EP -- Feeding the Fire / I'd Rather Be You // Do the Neurotic. Don't know what it would be called, though.

    Sorry, but I don't have a signature at the moment.

    Like 1
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    Wow, I expected opinions of this song to be higher.


    Here's what one curmudgeonly reviewer, who's not a particular Genesis fan, had to say about it:


    ...the excellent instrumental 'Do The Neurotic', which - I'm not joking - should officially get the title of "most energetic Genesis track ever put to tape", narrowly beating out the instrumental passages on 'Dancing With The Moonlit Knight'. It's fast, reckless, and full of great synth and guitar riffs - gee, I never thought Genesis could still be rocking out like this in friggin' 1986. What the HELL made them put all that crap on their records when they had powerful driving tracks like these? That main theme drives me crazy!



    Sorry, but I don't have a signature at the moment.

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    Quote from DecomposingMan

    Here's what one curmudgeonly reviewer, who's not a particular Genesis fan, had to say about it

    I'm not convinced 'curmudgeonly' is the right word to describe that guy. From what I've seen of his reviews he's a bit shouty and writes quite overbaked comments. Plus he seems to think PG wrote and steered pretty much everything, thinks PC isn't a good singer and ranks TB as an untalented keyboardist inferior to Emerson and Wakeman. He's quite positive about some songs and albums, and everyone's entitled to their opinions about music, but given his general tone I wouldn't place much value on his reviews.

    Abandon all reason