On this day June 6, 1986, Genesis released their thirteenth studio album Invisible Touch. Blending polished pop with progressive roots, the album became the band’s most commercially successful release, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard charts and topping the charts in the UK, Canada, and New Zealand.
Invisible Touch produced five US Top 5 singles, including the title track, Land of Confusion, and In Too Deep. Its sleek production and radio friendly hooks marked a peak in Genesis’s evolution from prog rock innovators to mainstream hitmakers during the 80s.
The album sold over 6 million copies in the United States alone and became a defining moment for the band’s Phil Collins fronted era. Its videos, especially for Land of Confusion, helped cement their place in pop culture during the MTV generation.
80s insight: Invisible Touch showed how veteran rock bands adapted to the 80s by embracing new sounds and technology. Genesis managed to keep their identity while crafting a sound that fit perfectly with the era’s pop and rock landscape.