Editing We Can't Dance (section)

==Recording==
[[File:The Farm recording studio 2006.jpg|thumb|right|[[The Farm (recording studio)|The Farm]], where ''We Can't Dance'' was written and recorded]]
Genesis recorded ''We Can't Dance'' from March to September 1991 at their private recording studio named [[The Farm (recording studio)|The Farm]] in [[Chiddingfold]], [[Surrey]].<ref name=1991CD/>{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=217}} The trio were keen to work together after such an extensive break, and after two-and-a-half months of what Collins described as "chopping away, fine-tuning, and honing down all these ideas", they had completed some fifteen tracks.<ref name=1991presskit>{{cite book|url=http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/we-cant-dance-press-kit/|title=Genesis: We Can't Dance – Atlantic Press Kit|via=The Genesis Archive |publisher=Atlantic Records|date=1991|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref><ref name=mcall1992/> They originally considered releasing a [[double album]], but realised most people would be listening to their work on [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|CD]] which gave them the additional time they wanted to present more of their musical ideas.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=219}} As with ''[[Genesis (Genesis album)|Genesis]]'' (1983) and ''Invisible Touch'', none of the material on ''We Can't Dance'' was conceived beforehand, and the band instead developed songs through lengthy improvisational jams in the studio. This was a deciding factor for Collins to remain in the band despite his solo success as he enjoyed the task of writing songs with his bandmates from nothing.<ref name=detroitpress1991>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17947277/|title=Genesis: Free to be secure in a group|first=Gary|last=Graff|date=10 November 1991|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|pages=Q1, Q6|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref> A typical session would involve Banks and Rutherford playing chords on the keyboard or guitar, respectively, with Collins devising a drum pattern with a [[drum machine]], which allows him to sing notes and dummy lyrics. The words he sang may then be used to form a lyric or help create atmosphere for the song.<ref name=cincinnati1991>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17947441/|title=Together again|first=Cliff|last=Radel|date=10 November 1991|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|pages=K1|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=3 March 2018}}</ref>

Genesis authorised the filming of some recording sessions for the first time for their ''No Admittance'' documentary, which aired on national television. Banks later admitted that the band avoided "any creative work" with the film crew present because they found it difficult, adding: "As soon as they were there, we shut off".<ref name=musician1992/> Collins supported his view and pointed out a change in the atmosphere of working when someone from the filming crew entered the room.<ref name=detroitpress1991/>

In a departure from their previous albums, Rutherford avoided playing a [[guitar synthesiser]] and only plays a [[Fender Stratocaster]] and two [[Steinberger]]s, one of them a GM series model that was new for the time, but on the song "Tell Me Why", he is playing a [[Rickenbacker]] 12-string electric guitar.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.songmeaningsandfacts.com/meaning-tell-genesis/|title = Meaning of "Tell Me Why" by Genesis|date = 6 August 2017}}</ref> He had asked the manufacturer to customise one with a larger body to suit his tall frame but they declined, leaving him to use a cardboard cutout of a body he wished for and sending it to luthier [[Roger Giffin]] to make it.<ref name=guitarmag1992/> He played all his guitar parts with a Groove Tubes amplifier that was suggested to him by his roadie and technician Geoff Banks.<ref name=guitarmag1992/>

For recording, they enlisted then 28-year-old [[Nick Davis (record producer)|Nick Davis]] as co-producer and engineer who had previously worked with Banks and Rutherford on their solo projects, with the band also handling production duties.<ref name=1991CD/><ref name=1991presskit/> This marked the end of their association with [[Hugh Padgham]] which had begun with ''[[Abacab]]'' (1981). Rutherford said the group decided to switch producers before work on the album had begun, and insisted they were pleased with Padgham's contributions, but felt it was the right time for a change after having done three albums with him (Padgham had also produced Collins's four solo albums throughout the 1980s).<ref name=guitarmag1992>{{cite magazine|url=http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/guitar-magazine-interviews-mike-rutherford-we-cant-dance-february/|title=Rutherford's Revelations|first=Theresa|last=Fowler|date=February 1992|magazine=The Guitar Magazine|volume=1|issue=10|pages=27, 28, 30|access-date=24 February 2018}}</ref><ref name=vox1991>{{cite magazine|url=http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/interview-genesis-vox-magazine-december/|title=We Can't Dance|magazine=Vox|date=December 1991|pages=12–|first=Martin|last=Townsend|access-date=18 February 2018}}</ref> Davis was keen to feature Rutherford's guitar more prominently as an instrument than previous Genesis albums, and felt his approach was successful on some of the tracks on ''We Can't Dance''.{{sfn|Bowler|Dray|1992|p=220}} Banks took a liking to some of Davis's strong opinions towards certain aspects of recording and instruments which presented him the challenge of finding other ways of recording.<ref name=vox1991/>

Following a six-week break during the summer of 1991 the band reconvened and completed the mixing in late September, selecting a final 12-track running order that spanned 71 minutes.<ref name=1991presskit/> Banks said that compared to the more direct nature of ''Invisible Touch'', the style of ''We Can't Dance'' offered more of a sense of mystery with effort put into each track having its own "individual quality", yet have an atmosphere that runs through the entire album.<ref name=1991presskit/>