Released in 1981, Face Value transformed Phil Collins from the drummer of Genesis into a global solo phenomenon. The album is an intensely personal piece of work written around the time of his divorce from his first wife. Rather than opting for pure pop escapism Collins leaned into raw vulnerability, expertly blending elements of soul, art-pop, and R&B into a cohesive, personal masterpiece. The record is perhaps most famous for it's revolutionary production, specifically the "gated reverb" drum sound that went on to define the sonic aesthetic of the 1980s. This is best heard on the centerpiece, "In the Air Tonight," which remains the most celebrated drum fill in rock history. Collins showcased remarkable range by incorporating the Phenix Horns (of Earth, Wind & Fire) to bring a vibrant funk influence to tracks like "I Missed Again." This genre-bending approach allowed him to balance the minimalist folk of "The Roof Is Leaking" with an experimental cover of The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows." Ultimately, Face Value didn't just launch a solo career; it proved that a "divorce record" could be both deeply avant-garde and commercially massive. - A brand-new interview with Phil talking about the album - Rare, stripped back performances of In The Air Tonight and The Roof Is Leaking from The Other Secret Policeman's Ball featuring Phil and guitarist Daryl Stuermer - Two previously unreleased live performances from Perkins Palace in 1982 and Irvine Meadows in 1985 - An unreleased outtake of Phil's experimental cover of The Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows - An previously unreleased full version of Over The Rainbow, of which there is an excerpt at the end of the original album
Originally released in 1981. This 2026 pressing.
Track list: Side A: 1. In The Air Tonight, 2. This Must Be Love, 3. Behind The Lines, 4. The Roof Is Leaking, 5. Droned, 6. Hand In Hand
Side B: 1. I Missed Again, 2. You Know What I Mean, 3. Thunder And Lightning, 4. I'm Not Moving, 5. If Leaving Me Is Easy, 6. Tomorrow Never Knows, 7. Over The Rainbow
Side C: 1. Misunderstanding (Live), 2. If Leaving Me Is Easy (Live), 3. In The Air Tonight (Live), 4. Behind The Lines (Live)
Side D: 1. Hand In Hand (Live), 2. I Missed Again (Live), 3. ...And So To F (Live)
Side E: 1. In The Air Tonight (Secret Policeman), 2. The Roof Is Leaking (Secret Policeman), 3. This Must Be Love (Live), 4. You Know What I Mean (Live)
Side F: 1. In The Air Tonight (Ben Liebrand Extended Version), 2. The Roof Is Leaking (Nickas Stella Polaris Interpretation), 3. Tomorrow Never Knows (Outtake), 4. Over The Rainbow
Side G: 1. The Roof Is Leaking (Demo), 2. This Must Be Love (Demo), 3. Please Don't Ask (Demo), 4. Misunderstanding (Demo), 5. Against All Odds (Demo)
Side H: 1. Please Don't Break My Heart (Demo), 2. If Leaving Me Is Easy (Demo), 3. I Missed Again (Demo), 4. In The Air Tonight (Demo), 5. Hand In Hand (Demo)