Both Sides

---

title: "Both Sides" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1993-albums", "phil-collins-albums", "atlantic-records-albums", "albums-produced-by-phil-collins"] description: "1993 studio album by Phil Collins" topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Both_Sides" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1993 studio album by Phil Collins ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

Field	Value
name	Both Sides
type	studio
artist	Phil Collins
cover	Both Sides (Phil Collins).jpg
border	yes
released	8 November 1993
recorded	1992–1993
studio	Lakers Lodge (Loxwood, West Sussex)
The Farm (Chiddingfold, Surrey, England)
genre	Art rock
length	67:10
label	Virgin
producer	Phil Collins
prev_title	Serious Hits... Live!
prev_year	1990
year	1993
next_title	Dance into the Light
next_year	1996
misc	{{Singles
name	Both Sides
type	studio
single1	Both Sides of the Story
single1date	18 October 1993
single2	Everyday
single2date	3 January 1994
single3	We Wait and We Wonder
single3date	25 April 1994
header	Alternative cover
type	studio
cover	Phil Collins Both Sides 2016.jpg
border	yes
caption	2016 reissue cover
header	Alternative cover
type	studio
cover	Phil Collins Other Sides.jpg
caption	Other Sides cover
::

| name = Both Sides | type = studio | artist = Phil Collins | cover = Both Sides (Phil Collins).jpg | border = yes | alt = | released = 8 November 1993 | recorded = 1992–1993 | studio = Lakers Lodge (Loxwood, West Sussex) The Farm (Chiddingfold, Surrey, England) | genre = Art rock | length = 67:10 | label = Virgin | producer = Phil Collins | prev_title = Serious Hits... Live! | prev_year = 1990 | year = 1993 | next_title = Dance into the Light | next_year = 1996 | misc = {{Singles | name = Both Sides | type = studio | single1 = Both Sides of the Story | single1date = 18 October 1993 | single2 = Everyday | single2date = 3 January 1994 | single3 = We Wait and We Wonder | single3date = 25 April 1994 | header = Alternative cover | type = studio | cover = Phil Collins Both Sides 2016.jpg | border = yes | alt = | caption = 2016 reissue cover | header = Alternative cover | type = studio | cover = Phil Collins Other Sides.jpg | caption = Other Sides cover |rev1 = AllMusic |rev1score = |rev2 = Entertainment Weekly |rev2score = B− |rev3= Goldmine |rev3score= |rev4 = The Irish News |rev4score = |rev5 = PopMatters |rev5score = |rev6= Powermetal.de |rev6score= 9/10 |rev7 = Rolling Stone |rev7score = |rev8= Scunthorpe Telegraph |rev8score= 10/10

Both Sides is the fifth solo studio album by the English singer-songwriter Phil Collins. Featuring an adult-oriented soft rock-based sound, released on 8 November 1993 by Virgin in the UK and Atlantic in the US. Collins created the album entirely by himself, without any collaborations from outside songwriters and performers. The record received generally positive critical reviews, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stating that the album's "artistically satisfying" songs feature "troubled, haunting tales".

The album achieved commercial success, reaching in the United Kingdom, in Australia, and in the United States. 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.

A special two-disc edition of the album, featuring the Live from the Board – Official Bootleg EP, as a second disc, titled Far Side... of the World: Gold Souvenir Tour Edition, was released in Southeast Asia and Australia in 1995. It peaked at in Australia. A newly remastered, two-disc deluxe edition of the album was released on 29 January 2016, as part of the Take a Look at Me Now series of Collins's studio album reissues.

In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Collins named Both Sides as his "favourite album from a songwriting and creative perspective". Collins also said: "It was very much a solo album. I played everything, the songs just streamed out of me, and as a writer, that's the kind of thing that you dream of. It was the second divorce! Personal relationships at that time were tangled, is a better way of saying it, and it all came very spontaneously."

Development

Both Sides was made by Collins 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 six weeks at the Farm with the help of producer/engineer Paul Gomersall. It is mistakenly thought that Phil physically played all the instruments on this album but the guitars were computer generated sounds played through a keyboard. As a result, 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."

In addition, Collins wrote sleeve notes explaining the meaning of each song, another first. 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", as well as 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' 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."

Critical response

Both Sides was initially met with lukewarm reviews, particularly on adult contemporary radio, being criticised for its over-reliance on slow, dark and downbeat songs. The album was preceded by the title track as the first single, reaching no. 7 in the UK and no. 25 in the US (in a disappointing chart performance considering the lead singles from his two previous albums were no. 1 hits in America). The album itself was released weeks later, reaching to no. 13 in the US, though it still went platinum there. Both Sides was a hit in other European countries such as the UK (where it was the 8th biggest-selling album of 1993, despite only being available for the final eight weeks of the year), Germany & Switzerland, reaching no. 1 all over Europe, but with a limited success, due to the lack of hit singles. The ballad "Everyday", released in early 1994, was another Top 20 hit in the UK, peaking at no. 15, and became the biggest hit single from the album in the US, reaching no. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and no. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The third and last single, "We Wait and We Wonder" — a political anthem — reached no. 45 in the UK.

However, over time the album's reputation gradually improved, and reviews for the 2016 reissue were considerably more positive, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated it 4 out of 5 stars and commended Collins' stepping out of big pop hooks and embracing an introspective art rock style for this album, which he saw as "quietly compelling". On Goldmine magazine's review, Patrick Prince gave the album 3.5 stars, praising the melancholic style of the album as a welcome return to material similar to Face Value, although he criticized the ballads "Everyday" and "There's a Place for Us", saying they are "as bad as any sappy movie soundtrack cut ready to be forgotten".

Track listing

| all_writing = Phil Collins, except where noted. | title1 = Both Sides of the Story | length1 = 6:42 | title2 = Can't Turn Back the Years | length2 = 4:40 | title3 = Everyday | length3 = 5:43 | title4 = I've Forgotten Everything | length4 = 5:15 | title5 = We're Sons of Our Fathers | length5 = 6:24 | title6 = Can't Find My Way | length6 = 5:09 | title7 = Survivors | length7 = 6:05 | title8 = We Fly So Close | length8 = 7:33 | title9 = There's a Place for Us | length9 = 6:52 | title10 = We Wait and We Wonder | length10 = 7:01 | title11 = Please Come Out Tonight | length11 = 5:46

| headline = Live from the Board – Official Bootleg bonus disc (Disc two of Far Side... of the World: Gold Souvenir Tour Edition 1995) | title1 = Sussudio | length1 = 7:09 | title2 = Easy Lover | note2 = featuring Nathan East and Arnold McCuller | writer2 = | length2 = 5:02 | title3 = Separate Lives | note3 = featuring Amy Keys and McCuller | writer3 = Stephen Bishop | length3 = 6:15 | title4 = My Girl | writer4 = | length4 = 3:48

| headline = Extra Sides bonus disc (Disc two of 2016 deluxe edition) | title1 = Take Me with You | note1 = B-side | length1 = 5:22 | title2 = Both Sides of the Story | note2 = live 1994 | length2 = 8:11 | title3 = Can't Turn Back the Years | note3 = live 1994 | length3 = 6:54 | title4 = Survivors | note4 = live 1994 | length4 = 6:42 | title5 = Everyday | note5 = live 1994 | length5 = 6:03 | title6 = We Wait and We Wonder | note6 = live 2005 | length6 = 7:42 | title7 = Can't Find My Way | note7 = demo | length7 = 4:48 | title8 = I've Been Trying | note8 = | length8 = 5:01 | title9 = Both Sides of the Story | note9 = MTV Unplugged 1994 | length9 = 5:20 | title10 = Hero | note10 = demo | length10 = 4:47

Unreleased tracks

Several instrumental tracks were recorded and subsequently released as extra tracks on both singles for "Everyday" and "We Wait and We Wonder". These instrumental tracks include "Rad Dudeski" and "Don't Call Me Ashley". In addition, there were other various B-sides that were released from the Both Sides sessions ("Take Me with You", "For a Friend") and a few cover songs that made it on other various albums. "For a Friend" was written as a tribute to Collins's longtime friend, saxophonist Don Myrick, who was wrongfully killed by a policeman in Los Angeles while Collins was composing the album. Myrick had played sax solos on Collins's songs "If Leaving Me Is Easy", "The West Side", "One More Night" and "All of My Life".

There has been discussion about a song called "Deep Water Town". It is from the Both Sides sessions and did not make the cut, was never released nor widely circulated amongst collectors. A very early "demo" of it was released on the official fanclub website in 2011. It is more of an improvisation from which only a part of the chorus made it to the completed track. This completed track features an atmospheric drum machine, keyboard sounds (no piano) and vocals by Collins telling a story about a disaster at sea and families left behind.

In November 2004, Collins himself commented on the song on the forum of his old official website: "DEEP WATER TOWN...again I scratch my head and ask how did someone get it... I don't think it was ever released, or am I going slowly senile. It was a pretty song about a disaster at sea, and the families left behind. Obviously one of my more cheerful pre-divorce moments. Circa Both Sides...."

Personnel

Musicians

All instruments performed by Phil Collins.

Production

• Produced by Phil Collins
• Engineered by Paul Gomersall
• Assistant engineer – Mark Robinson
• Recorded at home on 12 tk (PC engineering) with additional overdubs recorded at The Farm (Surrey, England).
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine, US).
• Continuous surveillance by Geoff Callingham and Mike Bowen
• Cover photography by Trevor Key
• Artwork – Hills Archer Ink

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1993) | Peak position | Danish Albums (Hitlisten) | Estonian Albums (Eesti Top 10) | European Albums (Music & Media) | Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) | Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi) | Japanese Albums (Oricon) | Portuguese Albums (AFP) | Spanish Albums (AFYVE) | US Cashbox Top 100 Albums | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | ::

::data[format=table] | Chart (2016) | Peak position | |---|---| ::

Year-end

::data[format=table]

Chart (1993)	Position	Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	UK Albums (OCC)
29
37
8
::

::data[format=table]

Chart (1994)	Position	Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)	Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)	US Billboard 200
31
43
5
10
85
::

Certifications

References

References

1. "Phil Collins singles".
2. (23 April 1994). "Single Releases".
3. {{AllMusic. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine
4. Cannon, Bob. (Nov 12, 1993). "Both Sides".
5. (Jan 26, 2016). "Albums Reviews: Phil Collins celebrates 65th with double re-release".
6. Sawdey, Evan. (12 May 2016). "Phil Collins: 2016 Rhino Reissues (Part One)".
7. (Mar 3, 2016). "Collins, Phil - Both Sides".
8. McAlley, John. (July 31, 1997). "Phil Collins: Both Sides".
9. F, Nigel }}{{dead link. (December 2017). "CD REVIEWS: Phil Collins, Old Dominion, Sarah Blasko, Frokedal & Balsamo Deighton". Scunthorpe Telegraph.
10. "British album certifications - Phil Collins - Both Sides".
11. "On the Road 94 to 95".
12. Paul Cashmere. (13 May 2015). "Phil Collins Starts Work On Catalogue Remasters".
13. "Phil Collins – Live From The Board – Official Bootleg (CD)". [[Discogs]].
14. "Phil Collins Far Side Of The World Tour '95 Australian 2 CD album set (Double CD) (42406)". eil.com.
15. "Phil Collins – Far Side... Of The World". Hung Medien.
16. (Sep 2, 2015). "Phil Collins / Face Value and Both Sides deluxe reissue details".
17. (19 October 2016). "Phil Collins webchat – your questions answered on prog rock, self-doubt and Miami Vice". The Guardian.
18. [http://www.genesis-news.com/c-Phil-Collins-Both-Sides-CD-review-s181.html Phil Collins – Both Sides – CD review]. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
19. Prince, Patrick. (Sep 30, 2015). "Phil Collins' "Both Sides" is worth the reissue".
20. Capt. Cabbage. (Jul 4, 2011). "Turn it on Again- A Genesis Forum – PC's Forum Messages 2004 to 2006".
21. "Billboard Magazine: 1894 to Today".
22. (August 17, 1994). "Kassetid ja CD-d: EESTI TOP 10". [[Sõnumileht]].
23. (December 4, 1993). "European Top 100 Albums".
24. Pennanen, Timo: Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava, 2006. {{ISBN. 978-951-1-21053-5. page: 280
25. "Classifiche". [[Musica e Dischi]].
26. "ORICON NEWS｜最新情報を発信する総合トレンドメディア".
27. Salaverri, Fernando. (September 2005). "Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002". Fundación Autor-SGAE.
28. "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Albums – Week ending NOVEMBER 27, 1993".
29. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1993".
30. "Top 100 Album-Jahrecharts".
31. (15 January 1994). "Top 100 Albums 1993".
32. "Jahreshitparade Alben 1994".
33. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1994".
34. "Top 100 Album-Jahrecharts".
35. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1994".
36. "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994".
37. (April 18, 1995). "¡Vaya con esta Gente!". La Opinión.

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