...But Seriously

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For the Joe Walsh album, see But Seriously, Folks...
...But Seriously
Phil Collins-But Seriously.jpg
Studio album by Phil Collins
Released 24 November 1989 (1989-11-24)[1]
Studio April - October 1989 at The Farm, England, and A & M Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre Pop rock
Length 59:42 (CD)
54:25 (LP)
Label Virgin (UK and Ireland)
Atlantic (US and Canada)
WEA (Rest of the world)
Producer Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Phil Collins chronology
Buster
(1988)Buster1988		 ...But Seriously
(1989)		 Serious Hits... Live!
(1990)Serious Hits... Live!1990
Singles from ...But Seriously
  1. "Another Day in Paradise"
    Released: 9 October 1989
  2. "I Wish It Would Rain Down"
    Released: 20 January 1990
  3. "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"
    Released: 28 April 1990
  4. "That's Just the Way It Is"
    Released: 28 July 1990
  5. "Hang in Long Enough"
    Released: 16 September 1990
  6. "Do You Remember?"
    Released: 5 November 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[2]
Rolling Stone 2/5 stars[3]

...But Seriously is the fourth solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was recorded at The Farm, Surrey, England, and at A & M Studios, Los Angeles, United States. It was released on 24 November 1989,[1] on Virgin in the UK and Ireland, Atlantic in the US and Canada, WEA Records (now Warner Music Group) for the rest of the world. It was the best-selling album of 1990 in the UK.

Musical style

While much of the album follows the same formula as Collins' previous album, No Jacket Required (1985), there was also a move towards more organic production as Collins chose to utilise live drums instead of the drum machines used heavily on No Jacket Required. He also prominently used keyboards and electric piano but fewer synthesizers. The album also features a sole instrumental track, "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning", which recalls the jazz-influenced instrumentals featured on his first two albums, Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going.

Themes

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", which was released as the lead single and became the album's biggest international hit, is a sympathetic look at the plight of the homeless.[4] 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 center 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. Arguably the song with the most progressive rock influence in this album (à 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.

The album also features a dramatic, gospel-influenced track, "I Wish It Would Rain Down", which features Eric Clapton prominently on guitar and became one of the album's biggest hit singles.

"Father to Son" is a song in which Collins explores his connection with his own son. The song has a positive, inspirational tone 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".

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Phil Collins, except where noted. 

No. Title Length
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" (lyrics: Collins, music: Collins, Daryl Stuermer) 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" (Collins, Thomas Washington) 1:26
11. "Father to Son"   3:28
12. "Find a Way to My Heart"   6:08

LP

Side A
No. Title Length
1. "Hang in Long Enough"   4:44
2. "That's Just the Way It Is"   5:20
3. "Find a Way to My Heart"   6:08
4. "Colours"   8:51
5. "Father to Son"   3:28
Side B
No. Title Length
1. "Another Day in Paradise"   5:22
2. "All of My Life"   5:36
3. "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven"   4:52
4. "Do You Remember?"   4:36
5. "I Wish It Would Rain Down"   5:28

Working titles

  • The original title of "Do You Remember?" was originally "Lionel".
  • The original title of "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" was originally "Broadway Chorus".
  • The original title of the first part of "Colours" was originally "Hymn" and the second part was originally called "Oh! Mr. Botha What Can We Do?".
  • The original title of "Another Day in Paradise" was originally "Homeless".

B-sides

  1. "That's How I Feel"
  2. "You've Been in Love (That Little Bit Too Long)"
  3. "Around the World in 80 Presets"

Personnel

Instrumental contributions

  • Alex Brown — backing vocals
  • Marva King — backing vocals
  • Lynne Fiddmont — backing vocals

Featured musicians

Production

  • Produced and Mixed by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham
  • Engineered by Hugh Padgham
  • Assisted by Ed Goodreau (Los Angeles) and Simon Osbourne
  • Horns arranged by Tom Tom 84
  • Music Preparation by Maurice Spears
  • Photography by Trevor Key

Chart performance

Chart (1989) Peak
position		 Total
weeks
Australian Albums Chart[5] 1 45
Austrian Albums Chart[6] 1 44
Canadian Albums Chart[7] 1 66
Dutch Albums Chart[8] 1 77
Finnish Albums Chart[9] 1
German Albums Chart[10] 1 79
New Zealand Albums Chart[11] 1 63
Norwegian Albums Chart[12] 1 27
Spanish Albums Chart[13] 1 52
Swedish Albums Chart[14] 1 14
Swiss Albums Chart[15] 1 51
UK Albums Chart[16] 1 71
US Billboard 200[17] 1 90

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Argentina (CAPIF)[18] 3× Platinum 180,000
Australia (ARIA)[19] 6× Platinum 420,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[20] Platinum 50,000
Brazil (ABPD)[21] Gold 100,000
Canada (Music Canada)[22] 7× Platinum 700,000
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[23] Platinum 74,715[23]
France (SNEP)[24] Diamond 1,711,100[25]
Germany (BVMI)[26] 6× Platinum 3,000,000
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[27] Platinum 15,000
Italy (FIMI)[28] 3× Platinum 300,000
Japan (RIAJ)[29] Platinum 200,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[30] 2× Platinum 200,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[31] Platinum 15,000
Portugal (AFP)[32] 2× Platinum 80,000
Sweden (GLF)[33] Gold 50,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34] 7× Platinum 700,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[35] 5× Platinum 250,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] 8× Platinum 2,740,590[37]
United States (RIAA)[38] 4× Platinum 4,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone


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 No. 1 (1989)[4]
  • "I Wish It Would Rain Down" reached No. 3 (1990)
  • "Do You Remember?" reached No. 4 (1990)
  • "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" reached No. 4 (1990)
  • "Hang in Long Enough" reached No. 23 (1990)

In Canada, "Another Day in Paradise", "I Wish It Would Rain Down", "Do You Remember?" and "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" all reached No. 1, with Phil Collins achieving four number one hits in the same calendar year, 1990.

Tour

In support of the album, Collins' embarked on a world wide tour, called Seriously Live!. In total, there were 113 shows over 3 continents and it led to the release of a live album and video Serious Hits... Live!.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 PHIL COLLINS - But Seriously - Amazon.com Music
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  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Phil Collins in the field Interpret. Enter But Seriously ......... in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "FinlandPhil_CollinsBut_SeriouslyalbumCertRef" defined multiple times with different content
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select PHIL COLLINS and click OK
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  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select Album e Compilation in the field Sezione. Enter Phil Collins in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ THE FIELD id (chart number) MUST BE PROVIDED for NEW ZEALAND CERTIFICATION.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select the "Chart", enter 1990 in the field "Year". Select '' in the field "Semana". Click on "Search Charts"
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter But Seriously in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
30 December 1989 – 12 January 1990
20 January – 2 February 1990		 Succeeded by
Girl You Know It's True by Milli Vanilli
Forever Your Girl by Paula Abdul
Preceded by UK number one album
2 December 1989 – 26 January 1990
3 February – 23 March 1990		 Succeeded by
Colour by The Christians
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got by Sinéad O'Connor
Preceded by Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
2–17 December 1989		 Succeeded by
The Album
by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
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