Released 21 October 1996 (UK) Length 60:33 Label Face Value Records | Recorded 1995 Dance into the Light(1996) ...Hits(1998) Release date October 1996 | |
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Similar Phil Collins albums, Rock music albums | ||
Dance into the Light is the sixth solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was originally released on 21 October 1996 on the label Atlantic. It features guest backing vocalists, including Arnold McCuller, and Amy Keys. It was the first album that Collins released as a full-time solo artist, having left Genesis earlier that year.
Contents
- Phil collins dance into the light official music video
- Background
- Critical reception
- Track listing
- Personnel
- Songs
- References
The album was received negatively by the majority of music critics, while other reviewers noted good points to the album. It was also a commercial disappointment, and despite hitting No. 23 on the Billboard 200, the album became Collins' poorest selling album at the time (only 2002's Testify and 2010's Going Back sold less copies and charted worse). Dance into the Light was certified Gold in the U.S., selling 850,000 copies. The album was Collins' first to not contain any American Top 40 hits, with the title track only reaching No. 45 (although it cracked the top 10 in the UK). Collins would not chart again with an American Top 40 single until 1999's "You'll Be in My Heart", the main single from Disney's animated feature, Tarzan. However, six singles were issued from Dance into the Light: "Dance into the Light", "It's in Your Eyes", "You Ought to Know...", "No Matter Who", "Wear My Hat", and "The Same Moon". The former two singles were the only singles to make the Top 40, in the UK.
Despite the disappointing sales of the album, Collins' subsequent U.S. tour in support of the album, titled Trip into the Light World Tour, was one of the highest performing tours of the year, regularly selling out arenas across the country. This album also marked the studio debut of the Vine Street Horns, who had replaced the Phenix Horns on the Both Sides of the World Tour.
Phil collins dance into the light official music video
Background
After the disappointing sales of his prior album, Both Sides, Phil Collins returned with his most upbeat album since 1985's No Jacket Required. With the exception of "Just Another Story", the album contained numerous up-tempo tracks including the Beatles-inspired "It's in Your Eyes", "Wear My Hat", the Bob Dylan cover "The Times They Are a-Changin'" and the album's title track.
In the liner notes Collins states that he does not use a drum machine at all on this album; this was rumoured to be in response to many of his fans complaints that Both Sides was mostly backed by a drum machine.
"Dance into the Light" was the only song from the album to appear on Collins' ...Hits collection.
This was his last album of original material released in vinyl format, side one comprising tracks 1–6 and side two tracks 7–13. All CD versions of the album feature the track listing on the back cover split into two sides with separate colours for each, similar to vinyl sides. The booklet also features a different colour scheme for each "side" of the album.
Critical reception
Reviewing for AllMusic, critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote of the album "his polyrhythms are surprisingly stiff for a drummer, which sinks all of the more experimental tracks. The remainder of the album is pleasant, but offers no distinctive melodies, which means that the albums sounds fine while it's on, but leaves nothing behind once it's finished." And reviewing for the Entertainment Weekly, critic David Browne wrote of the album, "Despite the sonic overhaul, the music feels less experimental than it does derivative. The world-music tracks are, ironically, watered-down versions of the work of his former band mate Peter Gabriel, and Wear My Hat is an outright Xerox of Paul Simon's I Know What I Know, but with cutesy lyrics about groupies."
Track listing
All tracks written by Phil Collins, except where noted.
Personnel
Songs
1Dance Into The Light4:23
2That's What You Said4:21
3Lorenzo5:53