Both Sides

Infobox Album |
Name = Both Sides
Type = Album
Artist = Phil Collins

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Released = November 9 1993
Recorded = 1992-93
Genre = Pop
Length = 67:17
Label = Virgin (UK and Ireland)
Atlantic (US and Canada)
WEA (rest of the world)
Producer = Phil Collins
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5kug6jo771e0 link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/philcollins/albums/album/102280/review/5945808/both_sides link]
Last album = "Serious Hits... Live!"
(1990)
This album = "Both Sides"
(1993)
Next album = "Dance into the Light"
(1996)

"Both Sides" is the title of Phil Collins' fifth studio album, released in the autumn of 1993. It is widely regarded as his most personal album.

Development

"Both Sides" was also notable for the fact that Collins made it entirely on his own, without his usual loyal collaborators, such as producer Hugh Padgham, guitarist Daryl Stuermer, bassist Leland Sklar and the Phenix Horns. Instead, Collins played and recorded at his home studio all the instruments himself as well as taking care of the production duties. This has been the only album upon which Phil Collins has played all the instruments himself with no collaboration from other musicians. For the first time, Collins wrote sleeve notes explaining the meaning of each of the songs on the album.

Collins claims this album to be the one he is most proud of Fact|date=April 2008. The sound of the album is different from most previous albums because most of the songs were recorded in Collins's house and taken to the studio for additional work. He touches on politics and "the daily cloud of terrorism Britain seems to live under" on "We Wait and We Wonder", but also on a maturing disenchantment with the youth culture on "We're Sons of Our Fathers". The melancholy style of the majority of the songs—as a return to the style of his early albums "Face Value" and "Hello, I Must Be Going!"—was because the songs chronicled the widely publicised breakup of his second marriage to Jill Tavelman.

Critical response

"Both Sides" was met with a lukewarm reception, especially in the Adult Contemporary radio, being criticised for its over reliance on slow, dark and downbeat songs. The album was preceded by the somewhat daringly uncommercial title track as the first single, reaching #7 in the UK and only #25 in the US (in a disappointing chart performance considering the lead singles from his two previous albums were #1 hits in America). The album itself was released weeks later surprisingly only going to #13 in the US, though it still went platinum there. "Both Sides" was a hit in other European countries such as the UK (where it was the 8th biggest-selling album of the entire 1993, though it was available during its late 8 weeks out of 52), Germany or Switzerland, reaching #1 all over Europe, but with a limited success, due to the lack of hit singles. The ballad "Everyday", released in early 1994, was another Top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at #15, and became the biggest hit single from the album in the US, reaching #24 in the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 in the Adult Contemporary chart. The third and last single, "We Wait and We Wonder"—a political anthem on which Collins plays bagpipes—reached only #45 in the UK.

Track listing

All songs written, performed and produced by Phil Collins.
#"Both Sides of the Story" – 6:43
#"Can't Turn Back the Years" – 4:40
#"Everyday" – 5:43
#"I've Forgotten Everything" – 5:15
#"We're Sons of Our Fathers" – 6:24
#"Can't Find My Way" – 5:08
#"Survivors" – 6:05
#"We Fly So Close" – 7:33
#"There's a Place for Us" – 6:53
#"We Wait and We Wonder" – 7:01
#"Please Come Out Tonight" – 5:46

Unreleased Tracks

Several Instrumental Tracks were recorded and subsequently released as extra tracks on both singles for "Everyday", and "We Wait and We Wonder." These instrumental tracks include, "Rad Dudeski", and "Don't Call Me Ashley". In addition, there were other various B-Sides that were released from the Both Sides sessions (For A Friend, Take Me With You) and a few cover songs that made it on other various albums. Furthermore, there has been discussion about a song called "Deep Water Town," a demo/recording during Both Sides that has never been released or widely circulated amongst collectors. The existence of this demo was confirmed by Phil during a question and answer session from the Phil Collins web site forum. [http://www.philcollins.invisionzone.com/index.php?s=9d8d51bc7e4acd3e3c7059321c584179&showtopic=1711&view=findpost&p=23217]

Production and technical contributions

* All instruments played by Phil Collins
* Apart from the drum machine, everything was played live.

* Written, produced & performed by Phil Collins
* All tracks published by © 1993 Philip Collins Ltd/ Hit & Run Music Publishing Ltd.

* Engineered by Paul Gomersall
* Assisted by Mark Robinson
* Continuous surveillance by Geoff Callingham & Mike Bowen

* Recorded at home on 12 tk, (PC engineering) with additional over dubs recorded at The Farm, Surrey, England. Mastered by Bob * Ludwig, Gateway Studios, US
* Cover photography by Trevor Key
* Line artwork Hills Archer Ink

Special thanks to: Steve Jones, Danny Gillen, Dale Newman, Annie C., Angela for feeding us, Mr Jelly & Mr Belly, Les & Peg, Winona Ryder, Witley Wines, Desiree Cousteau, Carol, Ron Bird, David & Jan Crosby - just for being great friends. And Home

...And of course Tony Smith, Carol & Vicky, Robin and all at Hit & Run.

Jill. Lily, Simon and Joely, I love you

Finally a professional thank you to Gretsch, Sabian, Pro-Mark, E-mu, Noble & Cooley, Korg, Remo, Beyer, North Star and Sonic Solutions.

References