Rocktrospectiva: The Social And Reflexive "...But Seriously" Turns 35

 

Released on 20 November 1989, "...But Seriously" was the fourth solo studio album by English drummer and artist Phil Collins. After Collins finished touring with the rock band Genesis in 1987, the group entered a four-year hiatus, during which Collins starred in the feature film Buster. 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 dance-oriented album, No Jacket Required four years before.

The album ...But Seriously was a huge commercial success worldwide, reaching No. 1 in the UK and the US, spawning six singles "Another Day In Paradise", "I Wish It Would Rain Down", "Something Happened On The Way To Heaven", "Do You Remember?", "That's The Way It Is" & "Hang In Long Enough". 

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. 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. But 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.

The album opener "Hang In Long Enough", is a dance-pop song, with influenced soul and rock, and talks about ambition. "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, 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. The B-side to the single was "Broadway Chorus", the demo version of "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven", next is "Do You Remember?" has lyrics from the perspective of a man whose relationship is failing due to his lover's neglect. "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, "Colours" is a politically themed song condemning apartheid in South Africa and displays a progressive rock influence."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 and it features Eric Clapton on lead guitar.

"Another Day in Paradise" addresses the issue of homelessness.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. "Heat on the Street" is a political song about the abuse and violence in the street. The song has a pop-rock oriented sound. "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 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, and finally"Father to Son" is a ballad about Collins's relationship with his eldest son, Simon. and the closing track, "Find a Way to My Heart", is a simple rock-sounding love song, though with a heavy horn section and a synthesized intro and coda.

The album was praised for the decision to use more live instrumentation than No Jacket Required, saying perhaps too many ballads as usual, but astonishing moments with tracks such as "I Wish it Would Rain Down" although by many the album wasn't perfect, and nowhere near as good as his preceding three records, but it allowed Collins to delve into serious subject matter and more serious musical territory while also retaining the sense of slick and apparently the audiences embraced so well turning into a major selling album and one of his most well-remembered records throught his solo career. 

...But Seriously Track List: 

 

1. Hang In Long Enough

2. That's Just The Way It Is

3. Do You Remember

4. Something Happened On The Way To Heaven

5. Colours

6. I Wish It Would Rain Down

7. Another Day In Paradise

8. Heat On The Street

9. All Of My Life

10. Saturday Night And Sunday Morning

11. Father To Son

12. Find A Way To My Heart