Mike Rutherford "Smallcreep’s Day"

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#130 in the Series) is Mike Rutherford, Smallcreep’s Day.

OK, it’s time to go a little more obscure.  Not as much obscurity in the artist, but in the material chosen.

Smallcreep’s Day is the first solo work by guitarist Mike Rutherford.  Rutherford is known, of course, mainly for his work with Genesis.  But like all members in that band, he’s done work outside the group.

His main solo project that he’s known for is Mike and the Mechanics. They had some popular songs in the mid eighties. “All I Need is a Miracle” and “The Living Years” being the best known of them.

Smallcreep’s Day was more of a progressive album as compared to the pop of the Mechanics.

Side one was a seven part epic piece of the title cut. Side two is traditional five song setting.

Ex-Genesis member Anthony ‘Ant’ Phillips plays keys, Brand X member Morris Pert plays percussion.  Simon Phillips was on drums.  He’s played with everyone from Roger Daltrey, Judas Priest, Garry Moore and can currently be found behind the kit for ‘Toto.’

Smallcreep’s Day was produced by David Hentschel.  He’s been around forever. He produced Genesis’ Duke among many other artists.

It was a very good record but got shitty reviews like most progressive music.

The cover work was another design by the great Hipgnosis. (As was yesterday’s UFO album, Force It.)

It was released in 1980 and reached #163 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.

Michael Rutherford was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2009.

Track listing

All tracks written by Mike Rutherford.

1. “Smallcreep’s Day” (Total Time 24:38)

I. Between the Tick & the Tock – 3:59

II. Working In Line – 3:07

III. After Hours – 1:45

IV. Cats and Rats (In This Neighbourhood) – 4:50

V. Smallcreep Alone – 1:33

VI. Out Into the Daylight – 3:49

VII. At the End of the Day – 5:35

1. “Moonshine” – 6:23
2. “Time and Time Again” – 4:52
3. “Romani” – 5:25
4. “Every Road” – 4:13
5. “Overnight Job” – 5:43

Personnel

• Mike Rutherford – guitars, basses
• Ant Phillips – keyboards
• Noel McCalla – vocals
• Simon Phillips – drums
• Morris Pert – percussion

Related Links

• See our piece on Geneis, Foxtrot
• See our piece on Genesis, Selling England By the Pound
• See our piece on Genesis, Duke
• See our piece on Genesis, Seconds Out
• See our piece on Genesis, Wind and Wuthering