Phil Collins around 400 replies. After a lengthy auditioning process, during which he sang backup vocals for applicants, Collins became the band's lead vocalist during the recording of their album "A Trick of the Tail". "A Trick of the Tail" was a commercial and critical success, reaching number 3 in the UK charts and 31 in the U.S; "Rolling Stone" wrote that Genesis had managed to turn the possible catastrophe of Gabriel's departure into their first broad-based American success." For the album's 1976 tour, Collins accepted an offer from former Yes and King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford to play drums while Collins
Phil Collins alongside Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and Sting. The Phil Collins Big Band completed a world tour in 1998 that included a performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1999 they released the CD "A Hot Night in Paris" including big band versions of "Invisible Touch", "Sussudio", and "The Los Endos Suite" from "A Trick of the Tail". His first compilation album "...Hits" was released in 1998 and sold well, returning Collins to multi-platinum status in the US. The album's one new track, a cover of the Cyndi Lauper hit "True Colors", was produced by Kenneth "Babyface"