Phil Collins - Both Sides

Both Sides is the fifth solo studio album by British drummer, musician and singer-songwriter Phil Collins, originally released in November 1993 via Virgin Records (UK), Atlantic Records (US) and WEA (Rest of World).

Both Sides was notable for the fact that Collins made it entirely on his own, without usual collaborators producer Hugh Padgham, guitarist Daryl Stuermer, bassist Leland Sklar and the Phenix Horns. After recording demos at home, the album was finished in just six weeks at the Farm with the help of producer/engineer Paul Gomersall. For the first and only time in his career, Collins played all the instruments himself as well as taking care of the primary production duties. In addition, Collins wrote sleeve notes explaining the meaning of each song, another first.

Collins claims this album to be the one of which he is most proud. It is seen as his most personal album. "In the end I had 17 songs, and kicked out all those that did not fit that mood. As far as performance is concerned this has more heart and soul than anything I have done before."

Collins expresses both his feelings and personal problems and addresses political issues over the course of the album. 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 overall sound of Both Sides marked a return to the dark and melancholy style of his early albums Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going!, which were largely grounded on the themes of relationship breakdown and loss. Mirroring the circumstances in which those albums were conceived, Collins' second marriage to Jill Tavelman was also failing around the time that Both Sides was written. About the influence of his emotions on his songs he adds: "I have reached this point. Very intimate, very private songs seem to flow easily. I suddenly felt I had a lot to say."

Collins picked up mixed to positive critical reviews with the release, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic stating that the album's "artistically satisfying" songs feature "troubled, haunting tales".

The album achieved commercial success, reaching number one in the U.K., number eight in Australia, and number thirteen in the U.S. Collins also went on the highly successful Both Sides of the World Tour upon its release. That effort involved over a hundred performances in a tour that went over a year, and it showed that he remained a big performer live despite the shifts in the Anglo-American musical landscape taking place.

Check out a couple of tracks from the album:  Both Sides of the Story, Everyday and We Wait and we Wonder.

This Double Album 2LP Record set is part of the 2015 Phil Collins Remaster Series on 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl, housed in a Gatefold Sleeve with Printed Inner Sleeves, pressed in Europe.