Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Collins, Phil
Label: Virgin Records
Released: 1989
Length: 59:42
Rating: 4.5/5
Phil Collins, the cheerful singing drummer, was sitting at the commercial peak of his hugely successful music career in the late eighties, riding high as both a solo artist and a member of the legendary Genesis. Once the Genesis tour behind the big studio hit »Invisible Touch« (1986) wrapped up, it was clear the time had come for another solo outing, one with which Mr. Collins would try to repeat, if not top, the monster success of the unforgettable »No Jacket Required« (1985). That one had cemented him for good as one of the most successful and popular solo artists of the eighties, and it’s still downright fascinating that a musician with roots in jazz and prog rock stayed at the top of the world’s pop charts for so long.
With »…But Seriously«, which handed him a fresh pile of hits, some of which have practically become folk songs by now, the charismatic singer and drummer announced that he was ready to rule over Britain’s most exciting pop acts even at the tail end of an incredibly successful decade. The production on »…But Seriously« was, as you’d expect from Mr. Collins, traditionally phenomenal, and on top of that he wrote some of the best arrangements of his entire solo career for a few of the tracks, so that, alongside »No Jacket Rquired«, it’s still his finest work as a solo artist.
Continuing the successful stylistic formula of »No Jacket Required«, this time he teamed up with longtime producer Hugh Padgham and went for a more organic production, which means real drums everywhere instead of drum machines. He modernized the sound, too, by using noticeably fewer synth textures and mostly replacing them with more electric piano and other keyboards, which means »…But Seriously« has aged brilliantly on that front as well.
Collins kept trusting his tried-and-true musical crew, led by longtime guitar buddy Daryl Stuermer and bass oddball Leland Sklar, while Dominic Miller, who later made his name as Sting’s guitarist, rounded out the guitar ranks. Besides an impressive horn section, he also worked with some prestigious guests this time around: Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, David Crosby, Nathan East, Stephen Bishop and Pino Palladino. Unlike Phil’s past lyrical tradition, which mostly revolved around his love troubles and all sorts of amusing mishaps, »…But Seriously« digs into social-critical themes far more than ever before. Still, there are a few love lyrics in there, since this is, after all, the studio album of the eternal romantic dreamer and hard-luck case, but even there he takes a noticeably more mature approach.
»Hang In Long Enough«, one of the album’s many hit singles, is an out-and-out pop-rock bomb of an opener and a real energy catalyst, with Phil teaming up with a big band whose witty horn arrangements spice up the lively atmosphere. Phil is at the top of his vocal form here, especially in the majestic chorus, backed by tasteful harmonies. The return of ‘organic’ drums gives this wonderful track a vivid, dynamic rhythmic balance, while Stuermer’s super dynamic guitar work is a story in itself.
»That’s Just The Way It Is«, the next hit single, is a pacifist power ballad whose deep lyrics about the madness of war are a sharp critique of the long-running conflict in Northern Ireland. Guest singer David Crosby helps Collins out beautifully with the vocal harmonies, while the central, distinctly melancholic arrangement has an unmistakable Celtic touch. The next hit single, »Do You Remember«, continues the stunning string of successful power ballads. Its love lyrics echo some of Phil’s earlier romantic outpourings quite a bit, being a fairly generic tale of an unlucky lover whose girl just won’t give him the time of day. This time Stephen Bishop accompanied Collins in lovely harmony, while the serene percussion and gentle arrangements guarantee a melancholic-romantic mood. What follows is a fascinating ambient contrast, because next up comes one of Collins’ most recognizable hits.
The atmosphere of »…But Seriously« hits its boiling point with the excellent »Something Happened On The Way To Heaven«, one of the album’s highlights, which guitarist Stuermer co-wrote. With its structure and ambient pulse it could easily have landed on any Genesis album from the ‘pop era’. The gorgeous chorus, where Phil is backed by shimmering female vocal harmonies, comes loaded with dynamic horn arrangements and energetic guitar passages, while an incredibly upbeat mood reigns throughout. This pop-rock classic was originally written for the film ‘The War of the Roses’, starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.
The next track, »Colours«, is an even more fascinating achievement and even closer to the Genesis legacy, with Phil actually going back to his progressive rock roots. It was precisely because of its length (almost nine minutes) that it was one of the few tracks on this album that never became a hit, as most radio stations didn’t want to play it for being too long. The socially critical lyrics were aimed at the racist regime and apartheid policies in South Africa, which was just then drawing its last, dying breaths. It opens as a melancholic piano ballad before a pompous arrangement crashes in. Phil once again wows with a moving vocal performance full of empathy and fervor. Dynamic percussion brings a world-music pulse to the instrumental section, followed by a brilliant tempo shift where subtle guitar passages and energetic horn bursts take center stage.
»I Wish It Woul Rain Down«, a moving power ballad with gospel elements, on which Phil’s old friend Eric Clapton left his guitar mark, is still one of the most admired tracks on »…But Seriously« and, of course, yet another huge hit. Clapton’s recognizable, ‘weeping’ guitar lines, paired with wide-open keyboard curtains, build a melancholic backdrop, while Collins, helped by mighty gospel-based female backing vocals, once again turns into a heart-wrenching conduit for a whole range of shattering emotions. By Phil’s own words, this evergreen was the closest he ever came to the blues, or blues rock, in his entire career.
The most recognizable track and biggest hit off »…But Seriously« was the gorgeous power ballad »Another Day In Paradise«, which Phil was inspired to write during a visit to the American capital, Washington D.C., where, as he tells it, a walk down the city streets shook him with all the sad sights of homelessness, which in the heart of the USA looked identical to the so-called third world, if not worse. A short intro with dissonant effects gives way to a sensitive guitar phrase and the formation of probably the most recognizable arrangement and chorus in Phil’s entire solo career, which among other things won him the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1989.
The interplay between soothing piano textures and soft acoustic guitar work creates a melancholic-nostalgic atmosphere, while Phil sings the harrowing lyrics, which don’t lack sarcasm aimed at society’s apathy toward homelessness, in his most subtle manner. The lyrics are sung from a third-person perspective and describe an encounter between a well-off, apathetic man and a homeless woman whom he and people like him would rather look away from. Collins took some flak for the lyrics, with some accusing him of typical rock-star hypocrisy, wondering how a filthy-rich musician cut off from the disenfranchised masses could possibly feel any empathy for the homeless.
»Heat On The Street« is a somewhat more energetic creation again, with plenty of dance and big band elements courtesy of a lively horn section, while Stuermer’s passionate guitar lines supply a solid rock component. The backing harmonies once again complement Phil’s rowdy vocal performance wonderfully, peaking in the pompous chorus. The love ballad »All Of My Life« has a slight jazzy pulse thanks to an opening trumpet solo, while the main arrangement features seductive backing harmonies and the dynamic rhythmic components that made Collins famous as one of the most gifted performers in the history of pop rock and (even earlier) progressive rock. The short jazz instrumental »Saturday Night And Sunday Morning«, with its lively horn passages, is a triumph of big band and an impressive percussion section.
»Father To Son« is one of the most mature love ballads in Phil’s career, with the lyrics addressed to his growing son Simon, warning him about all sorts of life traps down the road. In one verse he tells him he’ll always have his back if he ever finds himself in trouble and needs the right advice and help. Simon, who followed in his father’s musical (drumming and singing) footsteps and is now the frontman of the excellent prog-rock band Sound Of Contact, certainly needed his dad’s help when he got into trouble in 2014 over alleged possession of illegal substances. The album closes with the dynamic »Find A Way To My Heart«, which opens with an interesting instrumental section before turning into a characteristic Phil power ballad with jazzy elements, one that’s also complex enough that it could have fit on any Genesis album from the ‘pop’ era.
»…But Seriously« was in many ways the peak of Collins’ solo career, a monster success on every artistic and commercial level imaginable. In 1990 it was even the best-selling album in the United Kingdom, and some of its hits still get regular spins on radio stations around the world. After a brief collaboration with Tears For Fears on their hit single »Woman In Chains«, Phil decided to devote himself to Genesis again, and with them he kept the run of huge successes going in 1991 with the album »We Can’t Dance«. He only returned to the solo scene in 1993 with the not-so-commercially-successful album »Both Sides«, which practically nobody saw coming, since he recorded it entirely on his own, in strict secrecy and without any longtime collaborators or prestigious guests.
Line-up
Phil Collins – vocals, drums, percussion, tambourine, keyboards
Daryl Stuermer – guitar
Leland Sklar – bass guitar
Dominic Miller – guitar
The Phoenix Horns:
Don Myrick – saxophone
Louis Satterfield – trombone
Harry Kim – trumpet
Rhamlee Michael Davis – trumpet
Alex Brown – backing vocals
Marva King – backing vocals
Lynne Fiddmont – backing vocals
GUEST MUSICIANS:
David Crosby – vocals on “That’s Just the Way It Is” and “Another Day in Paradise”
Nathan East – bass on “Hang in Long Enough” and “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven”
Pino Palladino – bass guitar on “Do You Remember?” and “I Wish It Would Rain Down”
Stephen Bishop – backing vocals on”Do You Remember?”
Eric Clapton – guitar on “I Wish It Would Rain Down”
Steve Winwood – Hammond organ on “All of My Life”
Production
Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham
Track list
1. Hang in Long Enough (4:44)
2. That’s Just The Way It Is (5:20)
3. Do You Remember? (4:36)
4. Something Happened On the Way to Heaven (4:52)
5. Colours (8:51)
6. I Wish It Would Rain Down (5:28)
7. Another Day In Paradise (5:22)
8. Heat on the Street (3:51)
9. All Of My Life (5:36)
10. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1:26)
11. Father to Son (3:28)
12. Find a Way to My Heart (6:08)
