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Face Value 1981
Album · by Phil Collins ↗ View artist

Face Value

Phil Collins released Face Value in 1981, an album that came from a difficult moment. He was separating from his first wife, Andrea, and felt lonely. The breakup wasn't easy, and that is reflected in the songs. It wasn't a planned album from the beginning, but he started recording at home, without the intention of making something commercial. From those demos came songs that later became Face Value.

Year
1981
Songs
12
Duration
47 min 48 seg

12 song|s

Song list

# Title Available ⏱
01

In the Air Tonight

coming soon

5:36
02

This Must Be Love

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3:56
03

Behind the Lines

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3:55
04

The Roof Is Leaking

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3:17
05

Droned

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2:50
06

Hand in Hand

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5:22
07

I Missed Again

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3:46
08

You Know What I Mean

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2:33
09

Thunder and Lightning

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4:14
10

I’m Not Moving

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2:36
11

If Leaving Me Is Easy

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4:56
12

Tomorrow Never Knows

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4:47

About the album

Face Value, according to DoReSol

The sound of the album is different from Genesis. There are no long solos or complex structures. Instead, there is a sense of intimacy, of someone opening up and showing their emotions. The song In the Air Tonight is the clearest example. It was made by chance, playing with a drum machine and improvising lyrics while playing. The song has a strong emotional weight, as if it were talking about a relationship that broke up.

There are also influences from Motown, that 60s genre that moved with more direct rhythms. Collins called the horn section of Earth, Wind & Fire to give it that touch. It was an unexpected turn, but it ended up defining part of his style. In Face Value there are no big plans, just a voice that is shown, without any pretense.

Discography

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