Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 23 - Genesis (The Brazilian)

The 23rd song in my list of favourite songs is this little-known instrumental from UK rock band Genesis.  "The Brazilian", featured as the last track on their four-times platinum UK hit album Invisible Touch from 1986.

Name a Genesis song from the mid-1980s and most people will probably say Invisible Touch or Land of Confusion, but ask them if they've heard of The Brazillian and they will just look at you with a confused look.  Yes, Genesis also did some amazing experimental instrumental work too.  

As great as their more familiar songs are, I've always had a soft spot for this track, but then I think it's because I've always preferred instrumentals to songs with vocals in.  This is just great, especially Mike Rutherford's guitar finale.  A perfect excuse to turn the volume up to maximum, and let those goosebumps appear.

The track was featured in an episode of Magnum, P.I, used extensively by the BBC during their TV coverage of the 1987 World Athletics Championships, and in 1987 it had a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, but lost out to Harold Faltermeyer and Steve Stevens with the "Top Gun" anthem.  Sorry Top Gun fans, but I prefer this!

Big thanks to my sister Stephanie for introducing me to this song all those years ago.  Enjoy.

Now That's What I Call Stuart's Favourite Music 8 - Invisible Touch (Genesis)

When I was young, my parents would quite often take me and my sister to Leigh-On-Sea, and we would then walk along the seafront to Southend, stopping off at the various "drinking establishments" along the way (where I would spend many pennies on arcade hits like Pac-Land, Hard Drivin', Commando and Paperboy - thanks Mum and Dad!). It really was enjoyable, and even to this day when I take my family back home to visit Laindon, we still do the walk. 

Anyway, this song always reminds me of the walk because when it came out back in 1986, it was practically the only song being played in all the pubs we went in!

Released in 86' as a single from the album with the same name, Invisible Touch remained in the UK charts for 8 weeks, but only managed to reach 15.  Can you believe it was even beaten by The Chicken Song by Spitting Image! The song had a better reception in the US where it got to number 1 in the Billboard charts.