Calling All Stations was recorded following Phil Collins' departure from the band in 1996, and was released in 1997. The album was an attempt by bandmates Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks to continue the Genesis name while returning, to a certain degree, to Genesis' roots as an album-oriented band.

Vocalist Ray Wilson, who had fronted a short-lived but popular grunge-influenced outfit called Stiltskin, was brought on board after a lengthy auditioning period. Wilson's darker vocals were more reminiscent of Peter Gabriel than Collins.

Other candidates had included Paul Carrack from Rutherford's Mike and the Mechanics, Francis Dunnery (ex-It Bites), David Longdon (ex-Louis Philippe band), Alan Barton (ex-Black Lace) and ex-Marillion vocalist—and two-time Banks collaborator—Fish.[33] Kevin Gilbert was offered an audition just before his death in 1996.[34] On the band's criteria in the search for a singer, Banks noted: "We needed someone who fits as many of the things you require as possible—being able to improvise with the kind of music we write and also someone capable of jumping in at the deep end and fronting a band." Wilson was immediately incorporated into the songwriting process, being given "half-a-dozen" songs to work on and ending up with three co-writing credits on the final album.

Wikipedia also had this to say about Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson: Stuermer was approached, but was touring with Collins at the time; Thompson inquired regarding the vacant drum stool, but after he was refused full-band membership, he ended his 19-year association with the band. Eventually, drumming duties were shared between Nir Zidkyahu, an Israeli session drummer who had played with Hidden Persuaders, and Nick D'Virgilio, from the progressive rock band Spock's Beard.[7] The difference in their playing styles was marked; D'Virgilio played softer, more subtle rhythms in comparison to Zidkyahu's bombastic technique.

1997's Calling All Stations sold well in Europe, while the track "Congo" reached #29 in the UK. The album was not as successful in America, where it failed to reach the Billboard Top 50. During 1997 and 1998, Genesis toured across Europe; Banks, Rutherford, and Wilson were joined live by Zidkyahu and the guitarist Anthony Drennan, who previously worked with Paul Brady and The Corrs. However, a planned American tour was cancelled due to the album's poor sales performance. Following the truncation of the Calling All Stations tour, Genesis dismissed Wilson and went on an extended hiatus, although the members remained in regular contact. In an April 2007 interview, Wilson expressed his disgust at how his dismissal was handled, saying "it was like death by silence."[36] He also said he regretted his time spent with the band, feeling uncomfortable as a self-described "working class" man with the wealthier likes of Banks and Rutherford, and also revealed one of Phil Collins's assistants told him Collins "wasn't happy that they had continued".

As a result of the slim North American sales, the American leg of the tour was cancelled. Following the conclusion of the European tour 1998, Banks and Rutherford put Genesis on an extended hiatus, leaving Calling All Stations as the band's last studio release. Ray Wilson was keen to continue and has continued to include all era Genesis songs on his solo tour, including touring a World of Genesis set.

Since the album's release there has been, among some Genesis fans, a belated appreciation for Wilson's contribution to the band's history. There is agreement even among many fans who dislike this album that Wilson was a strong vocalist. Bootleg recordings of the 1998 European tour have been sought-after downloads on peer-to-peer networks, if only for the opportunity to hear Wilson's rendition of older Genesis songs like "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway," "The Carpet Crawlers," and "Lover's Leap" (the opening section of "Supper's Ready").

The 1998 European tour had the songs from the Phil Collins era transposed to a lower key to accommodate to Ray Wilson's limited vocal range, something Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford had to work out during the rehearsals. Coincidentally, in the 2007 reunion tour this was done again, but with Phil Collins on vocals.

Of the three singles excerpted from the album, only "Congo" met with a limited measure of success.

Music videos were made for "Congo", "Shipwrecked" and "Not About Us." "Congo" was a favourite among MTV UK, however, it had been played on America's MTV only once.

The music videos "Congo" and "Shipwrecked" featured Wilson and also Rutherford, Banks and Zidkyahu playing their respective instruments. "Not About Us," however featured just Banks, Rutherford and Wilson. Unlike "Congo" and "Shipwrecked", Banks and Rutherford were without the instruments.

Calling All Stations, which reached #2 in the UK where it remained in the charts for just 7 weeks. It reached #54 in the US in a brief chart stay. From a recent online interview, Calling All Stations has sold approximately 3 million copies worldwide to date (between 1997–2008).