Face Value

Face Value is the title of the debut solo album by British recording artist Phil Collins. The release of the album in February 1981 came shortly after the release of the single In The Air Tonight, which features as the opening track. As well as spawning two more hit singles, Face Value features a new version of the Genesis song Behind the Lines from the group's 1980 album Duke and a cover version of The Beatles' Tomorrow Never Knows. The song ends with Collins singing a verse of Over the Rainbow, all in reference to the recent murder of John Lennon.

At the time of recording, Collins was still a a member of Genesis although had been working on solo projects since the release of the group's 1978 album And The There Were Three... He had been going through a divorce from his wife, a traumatic and emotional time for Collins which is reflected in many of his compositions both for Duke and Face Value.

The album went straight to no.1 in the UK album charts on its release and was the beginning of a long and successful solo career for Collins, in parallel with his work with Genesis.

Tracklisting
Side One Side Two
 * original issue Virgin V2185
 * 1) In the Air Tonight (5:36)
 * 2) This Must Be Love (3:56)
 * 3) Behind the Lines (3:55)
 * 4) The Roof Is Leaking (3:17)
 * 5) Droned (2:50)
 * 6) Hand in Hand (5:22)
 * 1) I Missed Again (3:46)
 * 2) You Know What I Mean (2:33)
 * 3) Thunder and Lightning (4:14)
 * 4) I’m Not Moving (2:36)
 * 5) If Leaving Me Is Easy (4:56)
 * 6) Tomorrow Never Knows (4:47)

Re-releases

 * 2016 remaster bonus disc as part of Collins' Take A Look At Me Now re-issue series.

'Extra Values'
 * 1) Misunderstanding (live) (4:43)
 * 2) If Leaving Me Is Easy (live) (7:24)
 * 3) In the Air Tonight (live) (7:52)
 * 4) Behind the Lines (live) (3:40)
 * 5) The Roof Is Leaking (demo) (3:12)
 * 6) Hand in Hand (live) (9:48)
 * 7) I Missed Again (live) (4:23)
 * 8) … And So to F (live) (6:22)
 * 9) This Must Be Love (demo) (3:44)
 * 10) Please Don’t Ask (demo) (4:01)
 * 11) Misunderstanding (demo) (2:54)
 * 12) Against All Odds (demo) (2:59)


 * 2021 40th anniversary picture disc

Released 12 February 2021. Tracks as per original release.

Charts

 * UK Top 100 Album charts: 1 (three weeks, 1981 -continued in the Top 100 until 1990)
 * UK Physical albums charts: 43 (2016), 42 (2021)
 * UK Vinyl albums charts: 11 (2016), 12 (2021)

Singles
In The Air Tonight

7" Virgin VS 102

UK rel. 09 January 1981, Chart peak no.2

A. In the Air Tonight

B. The Roof Is Leaking

I Missed Again

7"/12 Virgin VS 402/12

UK rel. date 07 March 1981, Chart peak 14

A. I Missed Again

B. I'm Not Moving

If Leaving Me Is Easy

7" Virgin VS 423

UK rel. date May 1981, Chart peak 17

A. If Leaving Me Is Easy

B. DRAWING BOARD: In the Air Tonight / I Missed Again / If Leaving Me Is Easy (all demo versions)

NB Thunder and Lightning b/w This Must be Love released as a single in US and some European countries only.