...But Seriously

...But Seriously is the fourth studio album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released on 7 November 1989 in the United States by Atlantic Records and on 24 November 1989 in the United Kingdom by Virgin Records. After he finished touring commitments with the rock band Genesis in 1987 the group entered a four-year hiatus, during which Collins starred in the feature film Buster (1988). By the spring of 1989 Collins had written material for a new solo album which addressed more serious lyrical themes like socio-economic and political issues as opposed to his previous, the dance-oriented No Jacket Required (1985).

"But Seriously" redirects here. For the Joe Walsh album, see But Seriously, Folks...

...But Seriously
Studio album by Phil Collins
Released	24 November 1989 (1989-11-24)
Recorded	April–October 1989
Studio	The Farm, Chiddingfold, Surrey and A&M Studios, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Pop rock soft rock
Length	59:42 (CD) 54:25 (LP)
Label	Virgin Atlantic
Producer	Phil Collins Hugh Padgham
Phil Collins chronology
12"ers (1987) ...But Seriously (1989) Serious Hits... Live! (1990)
Singles from ...But Seriously
"Another Day in Paradise" Released: 7 October 1989 "I Wish It Would Rain Down" Released: 15 January 1990 "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" Released: 28 April 1990 "That's Just the Way It Is" Released: 28 July 1990 "Hang in Long Enough" Released: 16 September 1990 "Do You Remember?" Released: 5 November 1990
Alternate cover
2016 reissue cover

...But Seriously was a huge commercial success worldwide, reaching No. 1 in the UK and the US for 15 and 4 non-consecutive weeks, respectively. It was the best selling album of 1990 in the UK, eventually selling 2.75 million copies there and 4 million in the US. The lead single "Another Day in Paradise" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Collins supported the album with the Seriously, Live! World Tour in 1990. In 2016, the album was remastered with additional studio, live, and demo tracks, and updated artwork.[1][2]

Background

In July 1987, Collins finished touring commitments with the band Genesis and resumed his solo career. He had scored a series of hit singles with his previous solo album No Jacket Required (1985) and with Genesis on Invisible Touch (1986), and recognised this period as "severe danger of overkill" due to the high amount of radio airplay the songs had received.[3] To combat this, Collins took a year out solely from music and accepted a lead role in Buster (1988), a romantic comedy film based on the Great Train Robbery. Collins recorded "Two Hearts" and "A Groovy Kind of Love" for the soundtrack, which led to his belief that people thought his songs had become "Very, very light. That wasn't where I was coming from."[3] When he started work on his next solo album, Collins deliberately shifted styles by addressing more serious issues in his lyrics and songs with greater depth than the dance-oriented approach for No Jacket Required.[3] Some bits of music originated as far back as 1978.[4]

Production

...But Seriously was recorded between April and October 1989 at The Farm in Chiddingfold, Surrey and A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. It was produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham, who had worked on his previous solo albums and with Genesis throughout the decade. The album saw Collins use a live drum kit instead of No Jacket Required which had utilised greater use of a drum machine. He also prominently used keyboards and electric piano and fewer synthesisers. Collins made a conscious decision not to rely on vocal effects on the album as his previous recordings, including with Genesis, involved the use of a harmoniser and echo and he looked back on this as a way of hiding the perceived drawbacks he had about his singing. In the end, a small amount of reverb and delay for a slap echo effect were used.[5]

Collins experienced difficulty in naming the album. The initial title was Serious Business, before Collins decided against the potential connotations of business or corporations that it may have on the public.[5] As the title suggests, the album is a change of pace from the lighter tone of Collins's previous work. Collins expanded his focus to the exploration of socio-economic and political themes. There is emotional turmoil underneath the polished studio production and many of the songs are unambiguous and unveiled in their melancholy. 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.

As with his previous albums Collins wrote the sleeve notes by hand because "that's all part of the personal statement"; the exception being No Jacket Required.[6] He wrote the text on the "Another Day in Paradise" single on the inbound from the album's European press trip in November 1989.[6]

Songs

The album was a departure from the dance pop of the No Jacket Required album. Unlike No Jacket Required, this album was a pop-rock album, but also included various styles and influences, like R&B, dance-pop, jazz, soul and gospel.

"Hang in Long Enough" was the opening of the album. This song was a dance-pop song, with influenced soul and rock. The song talks about ambition.[4]

"That's Just the Way It Is" is an anti-war ballad about The Troubles in Northern Ireland and features David Crosby on backing vocals. Collins had wanted Crosby to perform on his first solo album Face Value (1981), but he was unavailable at the time. The two met at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in 1988, and Crosby was keen to participate on the album. When recording moved to Los Angeles, Collins prepared several mixes of the songs that he wanted Crosby to sing on and recalled that Crosby "did exactly what I expected him to do [...] He just picked a few notes out of the air that I would never have thought of".[5] The B-side to the single was "Broadway Chorus", the demo version of "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven".

"Do You Remember?" has lyrics from the perspective of a man whose relationship is failing due to his lover's neglect. It features Stephen Bishop on backing vocals.

"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" was written by Collins and his longtime touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer. It was the last song written for the album and was originally for the Four Tops, but it was not delivered to the group as Collins wanted to keep it for himself by the time it was finished.[5] While the song was being arranged in the studio in England, Stuermer had devised some chords for the chorus which resulted in Nathan East playing bass on the new parts as Sklar had left for the US.[5]

"Colours" is a politically-themed song condemning apartheid in South Africa and displays a progressive rock influence. It was originally titled "Oh Mr. Botha, What Can We Do?", a reference to the English music hall song "Oh! Mr Porter".[5]

"I Wish It Would Rain Down" is a gospel-influenced track that Collins said is the closest he had come to writing a blues song. It features Eric Clapton on lead guitar.

"Another Day in Paradise" addresses the issue of homelessness.[7] Its working title was "Homeless".[5] Among the inspirational sources for the song was Collins's stay in Washington, D.C. while on tour and encountered homeless people by Capitol Hill trying to keep warm and the contradiction of the White House being so close by.[5]

"Heat of the Street" is a political song about the abuse and violence in the street. The song was a Pop-Rock oriented sound.[4]

Collins wrote that "All of My Life" is about his relationship with his late father and his regrets to not have more connection with him during his life. The song was a R&B jazz ballad influenced.

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. "Father to Son" is a ballad about Collins's relationship with his eldest son, Simon.

Additional material

Collins recorded three other songs that were released as B-sides to the album's singles:

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

Release and singles

...But Seriously was released on 6 November 1989 in the US by Atlantic Records and on 20 November 1989 in the UK by Virgin Records.[8]

The album spawned six singles released between October 1989 and November 1990.

• "Another Day in Paradise" – US #1, UK #2 (1989)[7]
• "I Wish It Would Rain Down" – US #3, UK #7 (1990)
• "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" – US #4, UK #15 (1990)
• "Do You Remember?" – US #4 (1990)
• "That's Just The Way It Is" – UK #26 (1990)
• "Hang in Long Enough" – US #23, UK #34 (1990)

In Canada, "Another Day in Paradise", "I Wish It Would Rain Down", "Do You Remember?", and "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" reached No. 1.

Tour

In support of the album, Collins' embarked on a worldwide 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!.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[9]
Rolling Stone	[10]

Atlantic Records initially placed a sticker on the CD version that read "Two bonus tracks" which Collins disagreed with and clarified that they were "extra" songs. The sticker was changed accordingly.[6]

At the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards "Another Day in Paradise" won the award for Record of the Year. ...But Seriously received further nominations for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) and Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical. "Another Day in Paradise" was further nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, while the instrumental piece "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

...But Seriously received two American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist.

At the Brit Awards in 1990 "Another Day in Paradise" received the award for British Single, while Collins was named British Male Artist,[11] for which he was nominated again a year later.[12]

In the UK, ...But Seriously spent 15 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, including the whole competitive Christmas season, and at the end of 1989 became the third best-selling album of the year in the country after only six weeks on sale. It became the best-selling album of 1990 in the UK. ...But Seriously also peaked No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 for four weeks[13] and became the second best-selling album of 1990 in the US, according to Billboard. It was the last number one album of the 1980s and the first of the 1990s in the UK and in the US.

In Germany, it is the second best-selling album in the chart history of certified albums, and the best-selling album within the foreign repertoire.

Track listing

CD and cassette

All tracks are written by Phil Collins, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	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

The vinyl release features a rearranged track listing and is missing two tracks from the CD/cassette version, "Heat on the Street" and the instrumental "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning".

Side one

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 two

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

2016 bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hang in Long Enough (live 1997)"	4:52
2.	"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven (live 2004)"	5:26
3.	"Colours (live 1990)"	11:20
4.	"Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (live 1990)"	1:54
5.	"Always (live 1990)"	4:30
6.	"Find a Way to My Heart (live 1997)"	5:40
7.	"That's How I Feel (B-side)"	5:05
8.	"You've Been in Love (That Little Bit Too Long) (B-side)"	4:49
9.	"Another Day in Paradise (demo)"	5:21
10.	"That's Just the Way It Is (demo)"	4:54
11.	"I Wish It Would Rain Down (demo)"	5:30
12.	"Hang in Long Enough (demo)"	4:34
13.	"Do You Remember? (demo)"	4:43

Personnel

Adapted from liner notes.[14]

Musicians

• Phil Collins – vocals (tracks 1-9, 11, 12), keyboards (1-9, 11, 12), drums (1, 4-12), percussion (2, 3, 10, 12), tambourine (6, 8)
• Daryl Stuermer – guitar (tracks 1-4, 8, 11, 12)
• Dominic Miller – guitar (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 9)
• Eric Clapton – guitar (track 6)
• Nathan East – bass guitar (tracks 1, 4)
• Leland Sklar – bass guitar (tracks 2, 5, 7-12)
• Pino Palladino – bass guitar (tracks 3, 6)
• The Phenix Horns (tracks 1, 4, 5, 10, 12):
  • Don Myrick – saxophone, alto sax solo (track 9)
  • Louis Satterfield – trombone
  • Harry Kim – trumpet
  • Rhamlee Michael Davis – trumpet
• Steve Winwood – Hammond organ (track 9)
• Alex Brown, Marva King and Lynne Fiddmont – backing vocals (tracks 1, 4, 8, 9)
• David Crosby – vocals (tracks 2, 7)
• Stephen Bishop – vocals (track 3)

Production

• Phil Collins – producer, mixing
• Hugh Padgham – producer, mixing, engineer
• Ed Goodreau – assistant engineer (Los Angeles)
• Simon Osbourne – assistant engineer
• Tom Tom 84 – horn arrangements
• Maurice Spears – music preparation
• Trevor Key – photography

Charts

Chart (1989–2016)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart[15]>	1
Austrian Albums Chart[16]	1
Canadian Albums Chart[17]	1
Danish Albums Chart[18]	1
Dutch Albums Chart[19]	1
Finnish Albums Chart[20]	1
French Albums Chart[21]	1
German Albums Chart[22]	1
New Zealand Albums Chart[23]	1
Norwegian Albums Chart[24]	1
Spanish Albums Chart[25]	1
Swedish Albums Chart[26]	1
Swiss Albums Chart[27]	1
UK Albums Chart[28]>	1
US Billboard 200[29]>	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[30]	3× Platinum	180,000^^
Australia (ARIA)[31]	5× Platinum	350,000^^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[32]	2× Platinum	100,000^*
Belgium (BEA)[33]	2× Platinum	100,000^*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[34]	Gold	100,000^*
Canada (Music Canada)[35]	7× Platinum	700,000^^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[36]	Platinum	74,715[36]
France (SNEP)[37]	Diamond	1,711,100[38]
Germany (BVMI)[39]	6× Platinum	3,000,000^^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[40]	Platinum	20,000^*
Japan (RIAJ)[41]	Platinum	200,000^^
Netherlands (NVPI)[42]	2× Platinum	200,000^^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[43]	Platinum	15,000^^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[44]	7× Platinum	700,000^^
Sweden (GLF)[45]	Gold	50,000^^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[46]	5× Platinum	250,000^^
United Kingdom (BPI)[47]	9× Platinum	2,750,000[48]
United States (RIAA)[49]	4× Platinum	4,000,000^^
^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

• List of best-selling albums in France
• List of best-selling albums in Germany
• List of best-selling albums in Spain
• List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom

References

1. "Hang in Long Enough: "…But Seriously," Revised "Going Back" Complete Phil Collins Reissue Campaign". Retrieved 29 April 2016.
2. "Phil Collins – Take A Look at Me Now". Genesis News. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
3. "Collins' LP reflects individual, romantic concerns". The Sentinel. 16 February 1990. p. D5. Retrieved 16 April 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Phil Collins Interviews - WEA Promo Interview 1989". WEA. 1989. Archived from the original on 7 December 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
5. Hewitt, Alan (February 2000). ""Phil Collins... profiled" - Phil talks about the "...But Seriously" album". Retrieved 20 April 2020 – via The Waiting Room Online.
6. Smith, Giles (March 1990). ""It beats working...": Why Phil Collins never clocks off". Q. pp. 56–62. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
7. Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 60. ISBN 0-87586-207-1.
8. "BPI > Certified Awards > Search results for Phil Collins (page 1)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
9. Geoff Orens. "...But Seriously". allmusic. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
10. J.D. Considine (11 January 1990). "But Seriously". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
11. "History". Brit Awards. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
12. "History". Brit Awards. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
13. "Billboard magazine January 27 1990" (PDF). Billboard Magazine. 27 January 1990.
14. ...But Seriously (booklet). Atlantic. 1989.
15. Steffen Hung. "Australian charts portal". australian-charts.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
16. Steffen Hung. "Austria Top 40 – Hitparade Österreich". austriancharts.at. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
17. "Bienvenue au site Web BIBLIOTHÈQUE ET ARCHIVES CANADA | Welcome to the LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA website". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
18. "Phil Collins – ...But Seriously". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
19. Steffen Hung. "Phil Collins – ...But Seriously". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
20. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
21. French chart run 1 (76 weeks): "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc.fr. Retrieved 20 November 2016., French chart run 2 (1 week): "Phil Collins – ...But Seriously" (in French). Steffen Hung. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
22. "Charts-Surfer". Charts-surfer.de. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
23. Steffen Hung. "New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
24. Steffen Hung (15 June 2006). "Norwegian charts portal". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
25. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
26. Steffen Hung (3 February 2012). "Swedish Charts Portal". swedishcharts.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
27. Steffen Hung. "Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
28. "UK Singles & Albums Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
29. "Music News, Reviews, Articles, Information, News Online & Free Music". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
30. "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
31. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
32. "Austrian album certifications – Phil Collins – But Seriously ..." (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
33. "Phil Collins' entire solo repertoire has gone platinum in Belgium" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 21. 26 May 1990. p. 15. Retrieved 29 March 2020 – via American Radio History.
34. "Brazilian album certifications – Phil Collins – But Seriously" (in Portuguese). Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Discos. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
35. "Canadian album certifications – Phil Collins – ...But Seriously". Music Canada. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
36. "Phil Collins" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
37. "French album certifications – Phil Collins – But Seriously" (in French). InfoDisc. Select PHIL COLLINS and click OK. 
38. "Les Albums Diamant :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
39. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Phil Collins; 'But Seriously')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
40. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1990". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
41. "Japanese album certifications – Phil Collins – ...But Seriously" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 8 June 2020. Select 1992年1月 on the drop-down menu
42. "Dutch album certifications – Phil Collins – But Seriously" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Enter But Seriously in the "Artiest of titel" box.
43. "New Zealand album certifications – Phil Collins – But Seriously". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
44. Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 927. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
45. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
46. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Phil Collins; '... But Seriously')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
47. "British album certifications – Phil Collins – But Seriously". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type But Seriously in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
48. Copsey, Rob (13 October 2018). "The UK's Top 40 biggest studio albums of time". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
49. "American album certifications – Phil Collins – But Seriously". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 5 October 2012. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.