Face Value - Collins, Phil (CD)

Phil Collins' first solo recording, Face Value, which was released on the heels of a distinguished career with Genesis, is still one of his most satisfying works. It also coincided with the break-up of his marriage, which is evident in the painful, biting, edge to many of the numbers. Generating two 1981 top 20 singles I Missed Again and In The Air Tonight, this CD features Collins' tight, expressive, vocals and rhythm and blues roots, combined with stylish 1980's pop. Collins went on to record an impressive string of 13 straight top 20 releases from 1984-1990, and is still going strong with his latest recording Testify.

Face Value also features an elaborate production style with a stringed orchestra and predominate percussion with guest appearances by Eric Clapton and Stephen Bishop. The multi-talented Collins' own contributions include vocals, drums, piano and guitar. His lyrics are compelling and well crafted with a memorable Beatles cover, Tomorrow Never Knows as the climax.

The opening track, In The Air Tonight is one of Collins' most recognizable hits with it's prolonged percussion and organ based introduction and muted, echoing vocal, punctuated by an abrupt drum progression that leads into a louder, more rhythmic, chant like, finale. The next number, This Must Be Love, is a percussion based, bluesy, pop tune featuring a crisp harmony background vocal by Stephen Bishop. Acoustic guitar and funky bass accents enhance this mellow love song. Behind The Lines is an up tempo, stylish, pop tune featuring brassy horns and a funky rhythm and blues beat. Background strings and peppy electric guitar lines add a danceable quality to this number.

The Roof Is Leaking begins with a background of chirping crickets and a soft piano melody. The highlight is the poignant lyric of a struggling family in transition. Banjo and slide guitar accents add to the plaintive quality of this tune. A very effective bridge of ethereal instrumentation leads into Droned, with it's galloping percussion rhythms and middle eastern accents.

Hand In Hand features a piano and percussion prelude with whistling recorder and humming vocals by Children from the Church's of Los Angeles, that leads into a chorus of horns and an energetic up tempo beat. This primarily instrumental piece showcases richly textured pop and Latin rhythms. Missed Again opens with horns and a steady percussion rhythm and an upbeat, pop oriented, melody. The vocal hooks and smooth sax solo add an ebullient quality to this tune.

You Know What I Mean is a tragic romantic ballad with acoustic piano and strings. The highlight is a simple melancholy lyric and Collins' throaty, soulful vocal:

"Leave me alone with my heart
It's broken in two and I'm not thinking too
straight
Just leave, leave me alone with my dreams
You've taken everything else, you know what
I mean"

Thunder and Lightning is another up tempo rhythm and blues tune with horns and steady percussion. The highlight is the catchy, repetitive chorus. I'm Not Moving is an upbeat, pop tune with a thumping rhythm, keyboards and vocal echos. If Leaving Me Is Easy is a mellow, reflective smoky blues number with Eric Clapton on guitar, and sultry sax accents. A poignant lyric marks this tender, heart wrenching, piece:

"I read all the letters, I read each word that
you've sent to me
Although it's past now, and the words start
to fade
All the memories I have, still remain
I've kept all the pictures, but I hide my feelings
so no-one knows
Oh sure my friends come around, but I'm in a crowd and on my own
It's cos you're gone now, but your heart, still remains
And it'll be here if you come again"

Finally, The Beatles' cover, Tomorrow Never Knows has a 1960's psychedelic flavor with synthesized middle eastern accents and a strange type of warped guitar sound similar to the music from their Revolver/ Magical Mystery Tour era.

Face Value was a bit of a groundbreaking recording for it's time, clearly outside the mainstream pop genre with the smooth marriage of pop and rhythm and blues, tied together with exotic percussion accents. It is still one of my all-time favorite classic recordings primarily due to the inventive arrangements, combined with Collins' evocative vocals and achingly, powerful lyrics.