Product Description
A deeply personal labor of love that finds the eight-time Grammy winner, Phil Collins, faithfully recreating the Motown and soul music that played such an influential role in his creative life. Due September 28th, 'Going Back' marks the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee's first new studio album in eight years. Phil recorded the album along with three of Motown's legendary session players, aka The Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt and guitarists Eddie Willis and Ray Monette. "It shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone that I've finally made an album of my favourite Motown songs," explains Collins. "These songs along with a couple of Dusty Springfield tracks, a Phil Spector/Ronettes tune, and one by the Impressions make up the tapestry, the backdrop, of my teenage years. I remember it as if it was yesterday, going to the Marquee Club in London's Soho and watching The Who, The Action, and many others, playing these songs. In turn I'd go out the next day to buy the original versions. My idea, though, was not to bring anything 'new' to these already great records, but to try to recreate the sounds and feelings that I had when I first heard them. My intention was to make an 'old' record, not a 'new' record. To be able to have three of the surviving Funk Brothers play on all the tracks was unbelievable. There was one moment when they were tracking 'Heat Wave' that I experienced a wave of happiness and wonder that this was actually happening to me! I learned more about production skills and the wonderful songwriting of those concerned whilst making this album, than I have from anything else. To those pioneers... much love and gratitude."

1. Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)
2. (Love Is Like A) Heatwave
3. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
4. Some Of Your Lovin'
5. In My Lonely Room
6. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me For A Little While)
7. Blame It On The Sun
8. Papa Was A Rolling Stone
9. Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer
10. Standing In The Shadows Of Love
11. Do I Love You
12. Jimmy Mack
13. Something About You
14. Love Is Here And Now You're Gone
15. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
16. Going To A Go-Go
17. Talkin' About My Baby
18. Going Back

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003HC8I5M/?tag=imwan-20

From The Associated Press/Mon Oct 19, 9:13 am ET

Phil Collins not pounding the skins

HAMBURG – Phil Collins is drumming no more, for now.

The former singer and drummer for Genesis told a German newspaper that since he had surgery in April to repair a dislocated vertebra in his neck, he doesn't have feeling in his fingers and isn't able to pick up his sticks.

The 58-year-old musician was quoted by Hamburger Abendblatt on Monday as saying the only way he could drum is if he were to "glue drumsticks to my hands."

But that's not stopped his recording aspirations. He told the newspaper he plans a new CD that will feature covers of 30 songs from the Motown label in 2010.

"I want the songs to sound exactly like the originals," the paper quoted him as saying.

Collins, who lives in Switzerland, was in Hamburg to celebrate the first anniversary of the debut of "Tarzan" the musical. The show features music Collins composed for the 1999 animated Disney film, including the Oscar-winning song "You'll Be in My Heart."

To which one might ask, then why bother?

My thoughts exactly!

Then why wouldn't we want to just listen to the originals? Of course, that is my attitude concerning 99.99% of remakes compared to the originals.

i thought phil collins retired?

Phil Collins Is "GOING BACK"
New Album Recreates Motown & Soul Gems; 8-Time Grammy Winner to Launch Latest Project With 4 Shows at New York's Roseland Ballroom; 19-Piece Band to Feature Legendary Funk Brothers; Pre-Sale for June 22-25 Concerts Begins April 19th; General Public Tickets on Sale April 24th; "GOING BACK" Slated for September Release

SOURCE: Atlantic Records
Apr 13, 2010 18:05 ET
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release ... 147238.htm

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - April 13, 2010) - Atlantic recording artist Phil Collins has announced the forthcoming release of "GOING BACK," a deeply personal labor of love that finds the eight-time Grammy winner faithfully recreating the Motown and soul music that played such an influential role in his creative life. Due in September, "GOING BACK" marks the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee's first new studio album in eight years.

To celebrate "GOING BACK," Collins will play a string of very special live concerts at New York City's Roseland Ballroom from June 22-25. Billed as UP CLOSE & PERSONAL: PHIL COLLINS PLAYS 60'S MOTOWN & SOUL, the shows will be exclusively devoted to the music from "GOING BACK" and other classic R&B/pop gems. The concerts will be presented as an "old school" style, standing-room-only dance concert.

Supporting Collins will be an extraordinary 18-piece ensemble of musicians and vocalists. Anchoring the group will be three of Motown's legendary session players, aka The Funk Brothers -- bassist Bob Babbitt and guitarists Eddie Willis and Ray Monette -- who are also featured on the "GOING BACK" album. The live band will also include long-time Collins cohorts Chester Thompson (drums), Daryl Stuermer (guitar), and Brad Cole (keyboards), plus Leslie Smith (percussion). Rounding out the ensemble will be a five-member horn section and six backing vocalists.

Presented by Live Nation, tickets for all four Roseland shows will be available to Citibank cardholders through a special pre-sale at livenation.com beginning at 10a.m. ET on Monday, April 19th, and will go on sale to the general public at 10a.m. ET on Saturday, April 24th at livenation.com and charge by phone.

Coinciding with Collins's Roseland shows, on June 17th he will receive the Songwriters Hall of Fame's prestigious Johnny Mercer Award at the organization's annual gala awards dinner in New York City. Significantly, Collins -- a previous Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee -- will join an esteemed list of past Mercer Award winners that includes several legendary composers whose work he celebrates on "GOING BACK," including Holland-Dozier-Holland, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, and Carole King. In addition, among Collins's fellow Mercer Award honorees this year is Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey, with whom he collaborated on the hit single, "Easy Lover."

While in the past Collins has paid tribute to his roots by covering some of his favorite songs -- including "You Can't Hurry Love," "A Groovy Kind Of Love," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "True Colours," and others -- this marks the first time in his 30-year solo career that he has devoted an entire project to the work of other songwriters and performers.

"It shouldn't really be a surprise to anyone that I've finally made an album of my favourite Motown songs," explains Collins. "These songs -- along with a couple of Dusty Springfield tracks, a Phil Spector/Ronettes tune, and one by the Impressions -- make up the tapestry, the backdrop, of my teenage years. I remember it as if it was yesterday, going to the Marquee Club in London's Soho and watching The Who, The Action, and many others, playing these songs. In turn I'd go out the next day to buy the original versions.

"My idea, though, was not to bring anything 'new' to these already great records, but to try to recreate the sounds and feelings that I had when I first heard them. My intention was to make an 'old' record, not a 'new' record. To be able to have three of the surviving Funk Brothers play on all the tracks was unbelievable. There was one moment when they were tracking 'Heat Wave' that I experienced a wave of happiness and wonder that this was actually happening to me! I learned more about production skills and the wonderful songwriting of those concerned whilst making this album, than I have from anything else. To those pioneers... much love and gratitude."

The songs slated for inclusion on "GOING BACK" range from the album opener, the Temptations' Holland-Dozier-Holland-penned "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" to the moving album-closing title track, a Collins-arranged version of the Gerry Goffin/Carole King tune "Going Back," made famous by Dusty Springfield. In between, the collection captures multiple songs by Stevie Wonder -- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," "Blame It On The Sun," "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer"; Martha And The Vandellas -- "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave," "In My Lonely Room," "Jimmy Mack"; and the Four Tops -- "Standing In The Shadows Of Love," "Something About You," "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever."

The Temptations get another shout-out with "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," while the Goffin-King team is again represented by a second Dusty Springfield track, "Some Of Your Loving." Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions are captured on "Talking About My Baby," while Phil hails the Ronettes with "Do I Love You?" The Motown-fest continues with Smokey Robinson & The Miracles' "Going To A Go-Go," the Supremes' "Love Is Here," and Kim Weston's "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)."

The career of Phil Collins is one that, by any measure, stands among the most creative, prolific, and impressive in the history of modern music. It is a career that really has been many careers -- musician, singer, composer, producer, actor -- from art rock beginnings to pop stardom, from big band leader to film soundtracks and Broadway. It has been an exceptional musical life spanning four decades, some 100 million solo albums sold (250 million if you count his work with Genesis), an extraordinary string of hits, eight Grammy Awards, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, numerous industry accolades, and, above all, an inestimable influence on countless fellow artists and passionate fans around the globe.

Jimmy Mack? Maybe he should change it to Jenny Mack.

It sure seems like kind of a pointless exercise to me. Maybe we need a new category...YAUCA (Yet Another Useless Covers Album) or YAPCA (Pointless)

I think that I would rather die of terminal diarrhea than ever listen to this CD.

renny, we both know there's no such thing as "retirement" or "farewell tours" in the music business.

"How revolting!"

Why is this release getting folks so worked up? I'm looking forward to it, as Phil has a good track record in my opinion. (Both Sides is the exception --> what a dud that was!) However, two things puzzle me:

1.) After his complaining about his health & how it relates to his drumming, I guess I'm surprised to see anything new coming out from Phil. Is he drumming on this?

2.) I'm sure everyone appreciates the irony of winning an award from the Songwriters' Hall Of Fame at the same time he's releasing a cover album. Interesting timing of events...

Jim

Phil is treading on Michael McDonald's territory/franchise. He'll have to do a whole lot better than his insipid version of "You Can't Hurry Love." I remember Diana Ross at the Universal Ampitheater back in 1982 when she said from the stage, "Some guy named Phil Collins stole this song, but I'm taking it back!"

If I was going to see Phil Collins, it wouldn't be for this shite.

Might as well change his name to "Rod Stewart". When an artist does oldies or standards covers, he's jumped the shark.

How can we miss Phil Collins if he won't go away?

I'm not sure that's actually a fair comparison, Steve. Phil Collins has actually written an ORIGINAL tune or two in his career. Rod has been mauling covers since the beginning of his career, decimating everyone from Danny Whitten to the Impressions. I'm certain he wishes he was born Sam Cooke.

Hey, I'd be pretty happy with that, too... I just don't want to end up like Sam Cooke, that's all.

Elton John is more of a man than any of those guys. You'll never see him releasing an album of standards.

Nope-you'll just get an album of duets with Ru Paul, a glitter-filled Donald Duck outfit, songs for a Disney film (hmmmm...paging Phil Collins...) and an album of Love Songs.
He's all man, all integrity all right.

I'm telling you, I'm not buying it or seeing the tour. I'm telling you.