Your Own Special Way

"Your Own Special Way" is a song by the English progressive rock band Genesis. The song was written by the band's bassist and guitarist Mike Rutherford. Released (in edited form) as the first and only single from their eighth studio album Wind & Wuthering, it became the band's first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 62.[2] The laid-back nature of the song stood in stark contrast to much of the band's earlier material and foreshadowed many of the band's later hits, such as the following album's "Follow You Follow Me".

"Your Own Special Way"
Single by Genesis
from the album Wind & Wuthering
B-side"It's Yourself"
Released18 February 1977
StudioRelight Studios (Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands)
Genre
Length6:19
3:49 (single edit)
LabelCharisma
Songwriter(s)Mike Rutherford
Producer(s)
Genesis singles chronology
"Ripples…"
(1976)		 "Your Own Special Way"
(1977)		 "Follow You Follow Me"
(1978)

"Your Own Special Way" was the last single Genesis would release with guitarist Steve Hackett until the band's 1999 re-recording of "The Carpet Crawlers" (which also included original lead vocalist Peter Gabriel).

Background

"Your Own Special Way" was written solely by Rutherford and is the third track on Wind & Wuthering. It was written and performed in an open tuning.[3] The main body of the song was merged with an unrelated piece of music (performed on a Fender Rhodes electric piano) to create the finalized song.[3]

In keeping with the theme of literary references common throughout the album, the lyrics reference the title of Christina Rossetti's poem "Who Has Seen the Wind?".[4]

Release

"Your Own Special Way" was released as a single on 18 February 1977 (backed with the non-album track "It's Yourself"). It became Genesis' greatest success in the US at the time of its release, peaking at number 62 and becoming their first song to chart in that country.[2] The song was also the band's second to reach the chart in their native UK (after the number 21 hit "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)", peaking at number 43.[5] The success of the song, alongside Genesis' increasing profile, made Wind & Wuthering their most successful album in the US at the time, making it to number 26 and becoming their first top 30 album.[2]

In a contemporary review of the single, Record World said that it "should assure some degree of single success" and that "Phil Collins' vocal could set the spark."[6]

The song has been included on numerous compilations, including Turn it on Again: The Hits (The Tour Edition) and Platinum Collection.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Your Own Special Way"Mike Rutherford3:49
2."It's Yourself"
4:30

Charts
Chart (1977) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[7] 83
UK Singles (OCC)[5] 43
US Billboard Hot 100[2] 62

References
  1. Molanphy, Chris (May 31, 2019). "The Invisible Miracle Sledgehammer Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  2. "Genesis Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  3. Easlea, Daryl (22 April 2017). "Wind & Wuthering: Genesis look back on their bold prog statement". Louder Sound. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. Watts, Michael. Genesis 1976-1982 (Media notes).
  5. "Genesis". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  6. "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 26, 1977. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. "RPM Search Engine" (PHP). Library and Archives Canada. 31 March 2004.
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