If I Could Be Like Mike:
In this episode of Mild Mannered Supermen, we continue our deep dive into Genesis's 1978 album …And Then There Were Three… by turning the spotlight on Mike Rutherford and the three songs he wrote entirely on his own: “Snowbound,” “Deep in the Motherlode,” and “Say It's Alright Joe.”
With Steve Hackett gone and Genesis officially reduced to the trio of Rutherford, Tony Banks, and Phil Collins, Mike suddenly found himself taking on an even larger role—not only as a songwriter and bassist, but also handling much of the guitar work on the album.
We begin with the deceptively beautiful “Snowbound,” a song whose warm, almost dreamlike music disguises a surprisingly dark story. Then we head west with “Deep in the Motherlode,” Rutherford's muscular tale of the American gold rush, ambition, family expectations, and the promise of striking it rich—a track that became a powerful part of Genesis's live show.
Finally, we enter the lonely world of “Say It's Alright Joe,” one of the album's most atmospheric songs. With Phil Collins delivering a theatrical vocal performance, Rutherford creates a portrait of isolation, alcohol, and someone desperately looking for reassurance at the end of the night.
Together, these three songs offer a fascinating look at Mike Rutherford's emerging identity as a songwriter. Years before the enormous success of Mike + The Mechanics, we can already hear his instinct for memorable melodies, strong characters, emotional storytelling, and increasingly accessible songwriting beginning to take shape.
Join Mild Mannered Supermen as we celebrate the often-underappreciated songwriting of Mike Rutherford and explore three very different songs from …And Then There Were Three….
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