Face Value [LP]

by Phil Collins

Overview

Phil Collins' first solo album, 1981's Face Value, was a long time coming, but it proved worth the wait, both for the Genesis drummer/vocalist himself and fans of thoughtful, emotionally charged pop. He'd been wrestling with the idea of doing a solo record for years, finding great inspiration in the pain caused by an impending divorce and craving artistic independence after years of collaboration. Many of the songs ended up on Genesis' 1980 album Duke -- and "Against All Odds" was pocketed for later use -- but he kept enough to make an album that stands as a classic moment of '80s pop/rock. Collins produced the album himself and played keyboards and drums, calling in friends and the Earth, Wind & Fire horns to fill out the songs. Kicking off with the bitter anthem "In the Air Tonight," rightly considered one of the great heartbreak songs of all time, the album alternates between moody ballads and bouncily soulful tracks that try to put a smile on the pain. On the quieter songs like "If Leaving Me Is Easy," Collins' wracked vocals leave no doubt that he's not sugarcoating his emotional devastation as he sorts through the wreckage of his life. The poppier tracks, like the snappy "Behind the Lines" and the impossibly hooky "I Missed Again," show off his skills as a hitmaker and vocalist. The pulsing "I'm Not Moving" marries one of Collins' catchiest melodies and airiest productions with the most forceful lyrics on the record. His everyman style of singing translates to both types of songs; he's just as good at wringing every drop of emotion out of the ballads as he is at sailing through the deceptive breezy tunes. His production is very much of the era; fretless bass pops and lush synth pads are very '80s-sounding, as are the huge gated drums. It's also surprisingly subtle at times, though considering that Collins worked with Brian Eno, maybe it's not so shocking. The new agey "Droned" and the swinging "Hand in Hand" give the album some instrumental texture and allow a break from all the desperate emotion on display. The gently sung, sweet-as-punch "This Must Be Love," which was written post-divorce about a new love, also gives an early respite after the lurching, bruising "In the Air Tonight." This range of sound and emotion is part of what helps the album succeed as much as it does; so does the feeling that Collins felt driven to make this album to help him heal. It's not a career move or a cash grab; it's a transmission from a wounded soul delivered with a soft touch and sensitivity. As such, it's Collins' most honest, most compelling work. He went on to become a huge star, with loads more hits, but Face Value stands as his masterpiece and one of the finest moments of the '80s musical landscape. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	01/29/2016
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0081227953935

Tracks

1. In the Air Tonight
2. This Must Be Love
3. Behind the Lines
4. The Roof Is Leaking
5. Droned
6. Hand in Hand
7. I Missed Again
8. You Know What I Mean
9. Thunder and Lightning
10. I'm Not Moving
11. If Leaving Me Is Easy
12. Tomorrow Never Knows

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Phil Collins   Primary Artist,Drums,Piano,Congas,Violin,Vocals,Voices,Marimba,Vocoder,Clapping,Recorder,Tamboura,Keyboards,Prophet 5,Percussion,Synthesizer,Drum Machine,Handclapping,Fender Rhodes,Piano (Electric),Prophet Synthesizer
Daryl Stuermer   Guest Artist,Banjo,Guitar,Violin,Featured Artist,Guitar (12 String)
Eric Clapton   Guest Artist,Guitar
Earth, Wind & Fire Horns   Guest Artist
Stephen Bishop   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Irvine Arditti   Violin,Strings
Bruce Dukov   Violin
Alphonso Johnson   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Earth, Wind & Fire   Horn,Guest Artist
Shankar   Drums,Violin,Vocals,Tamboura
Gary Wright   Violin
Brian Hawkins   Viola,Strings,Viola da Gamba
John Giblin   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Ronnie Scott's Quintet   Soloist,Tenor (Vocal)
Peter Manning Robinson   Prophet Synthesizer
Ronnie Scott   Saxophone,Sax (Tenor),Violin,Soloist
Louis Satterfield   Trombone
Richard Studt   Violin,Strings
Jo Partridge   Guitar,Slide Guitar
Ravi Shankar   Violin
Martyn Ford   Conductor
Michael Harris   Trumpet,Flugelhorn,Trumpet,Flugelhorn,Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Rahmlee Michael Davis   Trumpet,Flugelhorn
Gavyn Wright   Violin,Strings
Chris Laurence   Double Bass
Chris Lawrence   Bass,Contrabass,Cello,Double Bass
The Choir   Vocals
Liz Edwards   Violin,Strings
Don Myrick   Saxophone,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Tenor (Vocal)
Peter Robinson   Keyboards,Prophet 5,Prophet Synthesizer
Roger Best   Viola,Strings
Nigel Warren-Green   Cello,Viola
Kevin Sillitoe   Violin,Strings
Shovokav   Violin,Percussion
Clive Anstee   Cello,Strings
Tony Pleeth   Cello
Darryl Steurmer   Banjo,Guitar,Guest Artist,Guitar (12 String)
Simon Whistler   Viola,Strings
Tony Pleet   Cello,Strings
Lakshminarayana Shankar   Violin,Vocals,Tamboura
David Woodcock   Violin,Strings
Bill Benham   Violin,Strings
Joe Partridge   Slide Guitar
Ken Sillitoe   Violin
Peter Oxen   Violin
John Peter Robinson   Prophet 5,Synthesizer
Bill Benhem   Violin

Technical Credits

Paul McCartney   Composer,Lyricist
Shankar   Vocal Effect
Maurice Spears   Music Preparation
John Lennon   Composer,Lyricist
Hugh Padgham   Engineer,Producer,Assistant,Assistant Producer
Nick Launay   Assistant Engineer
Phil Collins   Composer,Engineer,Lyricist,Producer,Group Member,Drum Programming
Mike Rutherford   Composer
Tom Tom 84   Arranger
Arif Mardin   Arranger,String Arrangements
Tony Banks   Composer
Gavyn Wright   Leader
Mark Mancina   Composer
Peter Robinson   Group Member
Trevor Key   Photography
Bob Kaus   Liner Notes
Tom Tom   Arranger
Geoff Banks   Consultant,Transportation
Karen Segal   Assistant Engineer
Michael Rutherford   Composer
John Peter Robinson   Group Member