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January 15, 2025
Steffen
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Phil Collins – Recording Compendium, Part 8: 1995 – 1998

The 8th part of the Recording Compendium deals with the time around Dance Into The Light and A Hot Night In Paris.

**Part 8: Dance Into The Light / A Hot Night In Paris | 1995 – 1998**

Last Update: 15/08/2024 | Overview | back to part 7 | on to part 9

After the Far Side Of The World tour, a new personal and professional chapter begins for Phil Collins. He relocates to Switzerland, where he moves in with his new partner Orianne Cevey, and officially resigns from Genesis after 25 years. And as luck would have it, he receives an offer he can’t refuse: Disney wants Phil to write the music for the next animated film Tarzan, which is due to be released in four years’ time! During these months, two collaborations take place: firstly, Phil sings a new interpretation of a Duke Ellington classic by one of his great musical heroes, Quincy Jones, and secondly, a new version of a song from the classic musical West Side Story.

Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me

(Duke Ellington/Bob Russell) (3:58)

Recording date: 1995?
Recording location: Westlake Audio/Los Angeles, Capitol Studios/Los Angeles, Pistoria & Wuthrich Studios/Zurich (PC vocals?) a.o.
Produced by: Quincy Jones
Performed by: Quincy Jones feat. Phil Collins (vocals), Greg Phillinganes, John Robinson, Wah Wah Watson, Neil Stubenhaus a.o.
First official release: 7th November 1995 – Quincy Jones Q’s Jook Joint (US CD//Qwest Records 9 45875-2)
Best available source: Phil Collins Plays Well With Others [2018 remasters] (4CD//Atlantic 0081227942052)

Somewhere *

(Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim) (5:37)

Somewhere (Radio Version) **

(Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim) (4:17)

Somewhere (Radio Version Edit) ***

(Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim) (3:58)

Recording date: 1995?
Recording location: Phils Home Studio/Geneva (vocals), Oceanway/Hollywood, Pack’s Place/Shadow Hills, Capitol/Hollywood, O’Henry’s Sound Studios/Burbank
Produced by: David Pack
Performed by: Phil Collins (vocals) with David Pack, Vinnie Colaiuta a.o.
* First official release/Best available source: January 1996 – Various Artists The Songs Of West Side Story (US CD//RCA Victor 09026-62707-2)
** First official release/Best available source: Phil Collins Somewhere (US promo CDS//RCA Victor RCDJ-68464-2)
*** First official release: Phil Collins Somewhere (US promo CDS//RCA Victor RCDJ-68464-2)
*** Best available source: Phil Collins Love Songs: A Compilation…Old And New (EU 2CD//Atlantic 2564 61884-2)

After more calm returned following the private turbulence, he began to work on new material for an upcoming solo album towards the end of the year, as well as recording initial song ideas for the planned Tarzan film.

In the new year, there is a musical reunion with his old friend John Martyn, for whose new album Phil accompanies a number of songs on drums.

Suzanne

(John Martyn) (3:52)

The Downward Pull Of Human Nature

(John Martyn) (5:05)

? All In Your Favour

(John Martyn) (4:26)

Who Are They?

(John Martyn) (2:29)

Step It Up

(John Martyn) (4:27)

? Carmine

(John Martyn) (5:28)

She’s A Lover

(John Martyn) (5:19)

Recording date: 1996
Recording location: JMI Studios/Nashville, The Washoose/Crawfordjohn
Produced by: John Martyn & Stefon Taylor
Performed by: John Martyn feat. Phil Collins (drums, backing vocals), John Giblin a.o.
First official release/Best available source: 29th July 1996 – John Martyn And. (EU CD//Go! Discs JMPCD1)

He is also involved in a solo production by his current tour drummer Ricky Lawson.

Sweet Love

(Ricky Lawson/Phil Collins/Nathan East) (4:58)

Recording date: 1996?
Recording location: N.E. & R.L./Lausanne a.o.
Produced by: Ricky Lawson
Performed by: Ricky Lawson feat. Phil Collins (percussion), Nathan East, Greg Phillinganes, Arnold McCuller a.o.
First official release: 26th November 1998 – Ricky Lawson First Things 1st (JAP CD//Samsung Music VACM-1134)
Best available source: Ricky Lawson & Friends First Things 1st (US CD//Platinum Entertainment 15095-9568-2)

While his two ex-colleagues from Genesis begin another chapter in their band’s history with a new singer, Phil uses his new-found freedom to fulfil long-held musical dreams, among other things. He takes the offer from Montreux Jazz Festival boss Claude Nobs to use a free date at this year’s festival as an opportunity to tackle the project ‘The Phil Collins Big Band’. He was able to win over Quincy Jones as big band conductor, saxophone star David Sanborn and Tony Bennett as guest vocalists, and a new troupe was put together from members of the German WDR Big Band, Collins’ current live band and Phil himself as drummer, who would play concerts together in mid-July.

Until then, Phil continues to work on his next solo album and is busy recording demos. Of the almost 20 song ideas, which already clearly show Collins’ new influences, such as African pop, current BritPop and singer/songwriters, several will sooner or later reach the audience in demo versions…

It’s Over (Home Demo)

(Phil Collins) (4:22)

First official release: 20th September 1996 – Phil Collins Dance Into The Light (EU CDS//Face Value Records – 0630-15948-2)
Best available source: Phil Collins Dance Into The Light [2016 remaster] (EU 2CD//Atlantic 081227952129)

Dance Into The Light (Demo)

(Phil Collins) (4:16)

First official release: 2011 – Phil Collins Dance Into The Light (128kps mp3 download//philcollins.com)
Best available source: —

Wear My Hat (Demo)

(Phil Collins) (4:25)

First official release: 2011 – Phil Collins Wear My Hat (128kps mp3 download//philcollins.com)
Best available source: —

It’s Everywhere (Demo)

(Phil Collins) (3:34)

First official release: 2011 – Phil Collins It’s Everywhere (128kps mp3 download//philcollins.com)
Best available source: —

Lorenzo (Demo)

(Phil Collins/Michaela Odone) (4:47)

First official release/Best available source: 26th February 2016 – Phil Collins Dance Into The Light [2016 remaster] (EU 2CD//Atlantic 081227952129)

That’s What You Said (Demo)

(Phil Collins) (4:16)

First official release/Best available source: 26th February 2016 – Phil Collins Dance Into The Light [2016 remaster] (EU 2CD//Atlantic 081227952129)

Head Held High [instrumental demo]

(Phil Collins) (3:20)

First official release/Best available source: 16th March 2012 – Phil Collins The Alamo And Beyond (video webstream//youtube.com/watch?v=cPumbqxtwx4)

Head Held High [demo]

(Phil Collins) (5:08)

Let It Run Free [demo]

(Phil Collins) (4:38)

It’s In Your Eyes [demo]

(Phil Collins) (2:59)

Take Me Down [demo]

(Phil Collins) (3:21)

The Same Moon [demo]

(Phil Collins) (4:42)

River So Wide [demo]

(Phil Collins) (5:34)

The Times They Are A-Changin’ [demo]

(Bob Dylan) (5:42)

I Don’t Want To Go [demo]

(Phil Collins) (2:48)

Recording date: 1996
Recording location: Clayton House/Begnins
Produced by: Phil Collins
Performed by: Phil Collins
First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Phil Collins Dance Lessons – The Dance Into The Light Demos (CD//Down Under Bros)

But before the album is recorded, it’s the turn of the Phil Collins Big Band concerts. One third of the setlist consist of Phil’s solo numbers and another third of Genesis songs, all of which have been drastically rearranged into instrumental big band versions. Another third consists of all kinds of jazz standards, with and without vocals. The debut concert will take place on 11 July in London’s Royal Albert Hall, and there are some professional and some audience recordings of the songs played…

Phil Collins Hello, I Must Be Going! (2CD)

The West Side (Live) [rehearsal at Montreux 1996]

(Phil Collins) (7:37)

Recording date: 17h July 1996
Recording location: Stravinski Auditorium/Montreux
Produced by: Phil Collins & Mauricio Guerrero?
Performed by: The Phil Collins Big Band conducted by Quincy Jones
First official release/Best available source: 26th February 2016 – Phil Collins Hello, I Must Be Going! [2016 remaster] (EU 2CD//Atlantic PCCD82)

Two Hearts [live at Montreux 1996]*

(Lamont Dozier/Phil Collins) (6:00)

That’s All [live at Montreux 1996]*

(Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford) (4:38)

In The Air Tonight [live at Montreux 1996]*

(Phil Collins) (7:25)

Invisible Touch [live at Montreux 1996]*

(Tony Banks/Phil Collins/Mike Rutherford) (5:33)

The West Side [live at Montreux 1996]*

(Phil Collins) (8:12)

Against All Odds [live at Montreux 1996]*

(Phil Collins) (5:13)

Hand In Hand [live at Montreux 1996]*

(Phil Collins) (8:48)

Watch What Happens [live at Montreux 1996]**

(Michel Legrand/Norman Gimbel) (2:28)