Progressive rock's 1970s boom saw musicians pursuing increasingly complex harmonic arrangements, leading artists like Steely Dan and Queen to construct songs drawing from dozens of distinct chords. Genesis exemplified this trend through their 1972 album Foxtrot, which culminated in an extended composition structured across seven distinct movements with evocative titles.

The track 'Supper's Ready' spans nearly 23 minutes and integrates multiple musical genres—folk, hard rock, and classical influences—alongside rapid key modulations and intricate voice arrangements, resulting in the use of 30 separate chords throughout its structure. The composition remained a centrepiece of Genesis' live repertoire during their early years, continuing to feature in performances well into the following decade under vocalist Peter Gabriel's direction.