If Leaving Me Is Easy

"If Leaving Me Is Easy"
File:Phil Collins IfLeavingMeIsEasy.jpg
Single by Phil Collins
from the album Face Value
B-side	"In the Air Tonight", "I Miss You, Babe" (demo)
Released	May 1981
Format	7"/ 12"
Recorded	1980
Genre	Rock, R&B
Length	4:56
Label	Virgin (UK) Atlantic (International)
Writer(s)	Phil Collins
Producer(s)	Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Phil Collins singles chronology
"I Missed Again" (1981) "If Leaving Me Is Easy" (1981) "Thru These Walls" (1982)

"If Leaving Me Is Easy" is a song by Phil Collins from his 1981 album Face Value. Released as the third single from the album, it reached #17 in the UK, but was never released as a single in the United States. Collins sings in a high falsetto in its chorus. The song was later covered by The Isley Brothers for their 1985 album Masterpiece.

Involvement of Eric Clapton

This was the first of two Phil Collins singles that featured Eric Clapton. The other single was "I Wish It Would Rain Down" from Collins' final album of the 1980s, ...But Seriously. Collins later admitted to The Mail on Sunday that the pair "were both a little the worse for wear," when they recorded this. He also recorded some dobro for "The Roof is Leaking," which was not used on the final recording.

Live versions

Collins revealed on the "Making of Face Value" episode of Classic Albums that he decided to stop performing this song live on stage following his 1985 No Jacket Required tour because he disliked the audience yelling and screaming instead of being quiet while he performed this song.

Charts

Chart (1981)	Peak position
German Singles Chart	61
UK Singles Chart	17

Personnel

• Phil Collins: Rhodes, drums, vocals, Prophet 5
• Alphonso Johnson: bass
• Eric Clapton: guitar
• Daryl Stuermer: guitar
• Don Myrick: alto sax
• Rahmlee Michael Davis and Michael Harris: flugelhorns
• Strings arranged by Arif Mardin
• Gavin Cochrane: Photography

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics