If Leaving Me Is Easy

The song If Leaving Me Is Easy, part of Phil Collins' debut album, Face Value, released in 1981, features an introspective atmosphere enhanced by its vocal performance. In the chorus, Collins uses a high falsetto register, a choice that gives the piece an ethereal and vulnerable quality. This particularity, combined with lyrics addressing personal themes, invites attentive and reflective listening, seeking to connect with the emotion it conveys.

The recording of If Leaving Me Is Easy, which took place in 1980, featured the participation of Eric Clapton. As Collins himself recounted, Clapton recorded his parts after having had a few drinks. Despite the collaboration, Collins expressed at the time a desire for Clapton to have contributed even more to the song. For his part, Clapton explained that he felt some reservation, fearing that his contribution might detract from the essence of the piece. The production of this song, like the rest of the album Face Value, was handled by Phil Collins along with Hugh Padgham, and featured sound engineering by Nick Launay, Hugh Padgham, and Karen Segal. In the United Kingdom, the song was released as the album's third single, reaching number 17 on the charts, while in Ireland it reached number 25. In the United States, however, it was not released as a single. A version of this song was later recorded by the Isley Brothers for their 1985 album Masterpiece.