…But Seriously

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...But Seriously
...But Seriously cover
Studio album by Phil Collins
Released November 7, 1989
Recorded April - October 1989, at The Farm, England, and A & M Studios, USA
Genre Rock / Pop
Length 54:16
59:35 (Japan)
Label Virgin (UK and Ireland)
Atlantic (US and Canada)
WEA (rest of the world)
Producer Phil Collins and
Hugh Padgham
Professional reviews
Phil Collins chronology
12"ers
(1987)		 ...But Seriously
(1989)		 Serious Hits... Live!
(1990)

...But Seriously is the fourth full-length studio album by Phil Collins. It was recorded at The Farm, Surrey, England, and at A & M Studios, Los Angeles, USA. It was released on November 7, 1989 on Virgin in the UK, Atlantic in the US and Canada, WEA Records (now Warner Music Group) in Europe, Australasia, Germany, Mexico, Brazil and Japan. The Japanese release features a different track listing as well as bonus tracks "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning" and "Heat on the Street".

Contents

[edit] Musical style

While much of the album follows the same formula as Collins' previous album, No Jacket Required, there was also a move towards more organic production as Collins chose to utilise live instrumentation instead of drum machines and prominently used keyboards.

[edit] Themes in the album

The tone of the album is serious, as the title suggests. Instead of focusing entirely on personal relationships, dark psychedelics, and simple fun, Collins expands his focus to the exploration of socio-economic and political themes. There is great emotional turmoil underneath the polished studio production, and many of the songs are unambiguous and unveiled in their melancholy.

"Another Day in Paradise" is a critical look at the plight of the homeless. The song was inspired by Collins' visit to Washington, D.C. There, he was struck with the widespread poverty in which so many people live, and the struggles that homeless people face. He was equally struck by the perfect abandonment of these needy people, and the complacency of the city as a whole, despite being the nation's centre of government (hence the sarcasm used in the title of the song).

Another politically-themed song on the album is "Colours", which voices Collins' condemnation of the segregation and oppression of black and coloured people in South Africa under apartheid (see History of South Africa in the apartheid era). Arguably the song with the most progressive rock influence in this album (á la Genesis), it is quite popular with some fans. But it did not see much commercial success as it is almost nine minutes long, and radio stations had no interest in playing it. The political theme is also evident in the second song on the album "That's Just The Way It Is", which deals with The Troubles of Northern Ireland. This was a minor chart hit in the summer of 1990 and in the lyrics Collins makes reference to the gridlock of Ulster's sectarian differences most notably in the line If we'd agree that we can disagree, we could stop all of this today.

While incorporating political themes, ...But Seriously does not abandon the theme of relationships. But unlike some of his earlier work, Collins takes a more mature and reflective approach when looking at the relationships in his life. During the album's creation, he was dealing with a range of estrangements: from society, from his father, and from his wife.

These influences can be seen in the dramatic gospel-influenced track, "I Wish it Would Rain Down", which features Eric Clapton.

"Father to Son" is another song in which Collins explores his connections with people, in this case, his own son. The song has a positive, inspirational tone (which some fans have described as "cheesey"), as he seeks to guide his son through some of the trials of life and love, and to reassure him that, "if you look behind you, I will be there".

[edit] Track listing

All tracks are written by Phil Collins, except where noted.

[edit] Compact Disc

  1. "Hang In Long Enough" – 4:44
  2. "That’s Just the Way it is" – 5:10
  3. "Do You Remember?" – 4:36
  4. "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" (Lyrics: Collins / Music: Daryl Stuermer) – 4:50
  5. "Colours" – 8:51
  6. "I Wish It Would Rain Down" – 5:28
  7. "Another Day in Paradise" – 5:21
  8. "Heat on the Street" – 3:51
  9. "All of My Life" – 5:36
  10. "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning" — (Collins / Thomas Washington) – 1:26
  11. "Father to Son" – 3:34
  12. "Find a Way to My Heart" – 6:08

[edit] Vinyl

  1. "Hang In Long Enough" – 4:44
  2. "That's Just the Way it is" – 5:10
  3. "Find a Way to My Heart" – 6:08
  4. "Colours" – 8:51
  5. "Father to Son" – 3:34
  6. "Another Day in Paradise" – 5:21
  7. "All of My Life" – 5:36
  8. "Something Happened On the Way to Heaven" (Lyrics: Collins / Music: Stuermer) – 4:50
  9. "Do You Remember?" – 4:36
  10. "I Wish It Would Rain Down" – 5:28

[edit] Working Titles

The original title of "Do You Remember?" was originally "Lionel".

[edit] Audio sample

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Instrumental contributions

  1. "Hang In Long Enough"
  2. "That’s Just the Way it is"
  3. "Do You Remember?"
  4. "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, vocals
    • Nathan East — bass
    • Daryl Stuermer — guitar
    • Dominic Miller — guitar
    • The Phenix Horns
    • Alex Brown — backing vocals
    • Marva King — backing vocals
    • Lynn Fiddmont — backing vocals
  5. "Colours"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, vocals
    • Leland Sklar — bass
    • Dominic Miller — guitars
    • The Phenix Horns
  6. "I Wish it Would Rain Down"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, vocals, tambourine
    • Pino Palladino — bass
    • Eric Clapton — guitar
  7. "Another Day in Paradise"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, vocals
    • David Crosby — vocals
    • Leland Sklar — bass
    • Dominic Miller — guitars
  8. "Heat on the Street"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, vocals, tambourine
    • Leland Sklar — bass
    • Daryl Stuermer — guitars
    • The Phenix Horns
    • Alex Brown — backing vocals
    • Marva King — backing vocals
    • Lynn Fiddmont — backing vocals
  9. "All of My Life"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, vocals
    • Leland Sklar — bass
    • Steve Winwood — Hammond organ
    • Dominic Miller — guitars
    • Don Myrick — alto saxophone
    • Alex Brown — backing vocals
    • Marva King — backing vocals
    • Lynn Fiddmont — backing vocals
  10. "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning"
    • Phil Collins — drums, percussion
    • The Phenix Horns
    • Leland Sklar — bass
  11. "Father to Son"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, vocals
    • Leland Sklar — bass
    • Daryl Stuermer — guitars
  12. "Find a Way to My Heart"
    • Phil Collins — keyboards, drums, percussion, vocals
    • Leland Sklar — bass
    • Daryl Stuermer — guitars
    • The Phenix Horns

[edit] Production and technical contributions

  • All songs written by Phil Collins except 'Something Happened on the Way to Heaven' Written by Phil Collins and Daryl Stuermer and 'Saturday Night And Sunday Morning Written by Phil Collins and Thomas Washington.
  • Published by © 1989 Philip Collins Ltd/Hit and Run Music (Publishing) Ltd except
  • © 1989 Philip Collins Ltd/Stuermer Sound Inc/Hit and Run Music (Publishing) Ltd and

+ © 1989 Philip Collins Ltd/Thesaurus Music Inc/Hit and Run Music (Publishing) Ltd

  • Produced by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham.
  • Engineered by Hugh Padgham.
  • Assisted by Simon Osborne.
  • Mixed by Hugh Padgham and Phil Collins.
  • Recorded at The Farm, Surrey, England and A & M Studios, LA, USA.
  • Assistant Engineer in LA Mr Ed Goodreau.
  • Recorded digitally except bass and drums
  • All horns recorded in Real Time!
  • The Phenix Horns are: Don Myrick - saxophones, Louis Satterfield - trombone, Harry Kim - trumpet, Rhamlee Michael Davis - trumpet
  • Horns arranged by Tom Tom 99
  • Music prepared by Maurice Spears
  • Cover photography: Mr Trevor Key

Many thanks to: Tony Smith, Carole Willis, Vicky Andrews and all at Hit and Run Music without whom, etc. Geoff Callingham, Steve Jones, Mike Bowen, Dale Newman, Geoff Banks and Howie a fearless crew Angela for feeding us Danny Gillen, friend and general good egg Chris Hollebone and Sony for the tape machine! Sue McGonigle, Lamont and Barbara Dozier All the crew at A&M Studios Crosby... we finally did it! Mr Osborne for sterling work with the S1000 All my friends at Atlantic, Virgin and WEA Records and of course, love to my wife Jill, Lily, Simon and Joely, what would I do without you!

[edit] Charts and awards

[edit] Album

Year Chart Position
1989 The Billboard 200 1
1990
  • In the UK, the success of ...But Seriously was impressive. It spent 15 non-consecutive weeks at #1, including the whole competitive Christmas season, and became the third best-selling album of the year in the country. In 1990, it was the best-selling album of the year.
  • ...But Seriously also peaked #1 on the Billboard 200 during four weeks. It became the second best-selling album of 1990, according to Billboard.

[edit] Singles

In the US, ...But Seriously contained five singles, all of which reached the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. In terms of the number of hit singles from one release, ...But Seriously remains the most successful album by Phil Collins.

  • "Another Day in Paradise" reached #1 (1989)
  • "I Wish it Would Rain Down" reached #3 (1990)
  • "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" reached #4 (1990)
  • "Do You Remember" reached #4 (1990)
  • "Hang In Long Enough" reached #23 (1991)

[edit] References

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Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
Preceded by
Storm Front by Billy Joel		 Billboard 200 number-one album
December 30, 1989 - January 12, 1990
January 20, 1990 - February 2, 1990		 Succeeded by
Nick of Time by Bonnie Raitt
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