Paperlate

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title: "Paperlate" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1982-singles", "genesis-(band)-songs", "songs-written-by-tony-banks-(musician)", "songs-written-by-phil-collins", "songs-written-by-mike-rutherford", "1981-songs", "charisma-records-singles", "atlantic-records-singles"] topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paperlate" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

Field	Value
name	Paperlate
cover	Paperlate.jpg
type	single
artist	Genesis
album	Three Sides Live
B-side	You Might Recall
released	May 1982
recorded	May–June 1981
genre	Pop rock
length	3:20
label	Charisma (UK), Atlantic (US)
writer	Tony Banks, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford
producer	Genesis
prev_title	Man on the Corner
prev_year	1982
next_title	Mama
next_year	1983
::

"Paperlate" is a song by the English rock band Genesis from their second of two EPs. The EP, titled 3×3 (for it featured three tracks and the band comprised three musicians), peaked at No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart in mid-1982. The success of the EP led to an appearance on Top of the Pops. In the U.S. and Europe, "Paperlate" was released as a standard single, backed by "You Might Recall". It was also featured on the U.S. version of the band's Three Sides Live album, of which all three tracks from the 3×3 EP are included on side four.

History

The title came from a line in the 1973 Genesis song "Dancing with the Moonlit Knight" ("Paper late, cried a voice in the crowd"), which Genesis rehearsed at a soundcheck, leading to the conception of the song. "Paperlate" is one of two Genesis songs that features the Earth, Wind & Fire horn section, the other being "No Reply at All", also from the Abacab sessions. Phil Collins has often hired the group for other projects, including his debut solo album, Face Value. A music video was also created, utilising the band's 27 May 1982 appearance on Top of the Pops.

Reception

Dave Thompson of AllMusic said that "Paperlate" was *3×3'''s selling point, and describes the song as "a horn-honking romp with just the ghosts of '60s soul playing around its chorus and a buoyancy that fed readily into the mood of the U.K. charts of the day." Dw. Dunphy of *Popdose'' commented that while catchy and enjoyable, "Paperlate" is "a definite cousin to 'No Reply At All', both songs employing the same tempo, attitude, and the Earth, Wind, and Fire horn section."

Upon release, Billboard praised Collins' vocals and the horn section. Cash Box noted a resemblance to Collins' solo single "I Missed Again".

*3×3'''s lead song was "Paperlate", and the EP debuted at No. 30 on the UK charts, peaking at No. 10 later on. "Paperlate" became a top 40 hit in the U.S. and Germany, peaking at No. 36 in the German charts, No. 32 on the U.S. *Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, and No. 2 on the U.S. Top Rock Tracks chart.

Artwork

The cover artwork is a homage to the design of The Beatles' 1963 Twist and Shout EP, with similar typography and with the band jumping in the air. Sleeve artwork by Neil Smith of the Artful Dodgers Ltd for Charisma Records.

References

"Genesis – 3 × 3 (7", EP) at Discogs". discogs.com.
''Classic Albums: Face Value'' [[VH-1]], 1999
''Genesis: The Video Show'' (DVD), 2005
"allmusic ((( 3 × 3 > Overview )))". AllMusic.
Dunphy, Dw.. (March 17, 2011). "Secret Single: Genesis, 'Paperlate'". Popdose.com.
(June 5, 1982). "Top Single Picks".
(June 5, 1982). "News & Reviews: Singles".
"The Official Charts Company – Genesis – 3 × 3 (EP)". [[Official Charts Company]].
"Offizielle Deutsche Charts".
"allmusic ((( Genesis > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". allmusic.com.

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