Wikipedia

Dance into the Light

For the song, see Dance into the Light (song).

Dance into the Light is the sixth solo studio album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins, released on 21 October 1996 in the United Kingdom by Face Value Records.[2] It features guest backing vocals from some of Collins' touring accompanists, 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.[3]

Dance into the Light
Studio album by
Phil Collins
Released21 October 1996
Recorded1995–1996 in France using mobile studio equipment
Genre
Length60:33
LabelFace Value
Producer
Phil Collins chronology
Both Sides
(1993) 		Dance into the Light
(1996) 		...Hits
(1998)
Singles from Dance into the Light
  1. "Dance into the Light"
    Released: 20 September 1996[1]
  2. "It's in Your Eyes"
    Released: 2 December 1996
  3. "No Matter Who"
    Released: 3 February 1997
  4. "Wear My Hat"
    Released: 27 May 1997
  5. "The Same Moon"
    Released: 20 October 1997 (Germany)
Alternative cover
2016 reissue cover

The album was received negatively by the majority of music critics and under-performed commercially. It reached No. 23 on the US Billboard 200 and was Collins' poorest-selling album at the time (only 2002's Testify and 2010's Going Back sold fewer copies and charted lower). Dance into the Light was certified gold in the U.S. 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). However, five singles were issued from Dance into the Light: "Dance into the Light", "It's in Your Eyes", "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 The 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. 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.

Background and writing

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In May 1995, Collins wrapped his Both Sides of the World Tour in support of his 1993 album, Both Sides. During the tour he announced his separation from his second wife, Jill Tavelman, and his intention to file for divorce, which finalised in 1996. By this time, Collins's relationship with Orianne Cevey, who later became his third wife, had a positive change in his overall well-being. These events, plus the influence he had from listening to Youssou N'Dour, Bob Dylan, and African music while on tour, influenced ideas for songs that Collins had for a follow-up album. Unlike his recent material, Collins found himself writing more up-tempo and songs focused on rhythm.[4]

After putting down some early ideas while touring, Collins did not revisit the new material until he started work on a new album in his home in Switzerland, at the end of 1995.[4] In a contrast to his usual method of songwriting, Collins deliberately wrote the songs on the album with greater use of the guitar and less on keyboards. Despite not being a guitarist, Collins used guitar samples which dramatically altered the way he approached a song.[4] Before the songs were fully arranged, Collins had decided to bring in a producer so he could take a break from the material and leave them to their duties later. This marked a change as for Both Sides he found himself "living, breathing and sort of dying" with the material and recorded and produced the album himself. For Dance into the Light, Collins hired Hugh Padgham, who had co-produced most of Collins's solo studio output and had worked with him with Genesis.[4]

The album features more musicians as opposed to Both Sides, which saw Collins as the sole performer. Collins wanted them to either play what he had outlined on the demo or build on the original part. His longtime friend Ronnie Caryl, who had played with him in the late 1960s as a member of Flaming Youth, started playing rhythm guitar over the demos which gave it "an edge" because of his "very rough character".[4]

He thought that having the word "Dance" in the title was something different that would make people curious as to what the album might be like. Another title that he liked was Out of the Woods.[4]

In the liner notes, Collins states that he removed all the drum machine parts from the music and performed on a real set of drums. This was following the disappointment he had learned from listeners who were expecting to hear more of his drum work on Both Sides. He said that playing on a real kit made the music more lively as a result.[4][5]

An interview with Collins about the making of the album was recorded in Geneva in August 1996 and released on a separate disc.[4]

In his 2016 autobiography Not Dead Yet, Collins stated that he was inspired by the new at the time Britpop scene to write "guitar songs". After the album's release Collins and his wife Orianne Cevey met Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher who had slagged Collins off previously[6] and referred to him as the "anti-christ of music".[7] Gallagher and his then wife had seen the music video for "It's in Your Eyes", in which Collins played a guitar he borrowed from Paul McCartney, criticised Collins for posing as a guitarist: they informed him that he "wasn't fooling anyone", though Collins stated it was not his intention and that it just felt good.[8] On television show Room 101 in 2005, Collins spoke about Oasis, describing the Gallagher brothers as "horrible guys", "rude" and "not as talented as they think they are", but praised the band itself for their music, claiming to have heard the music before he found out what they were like as people.[7]

Recording

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The album was recorded in a chateau in France that Collins rented during the off season. He wished to return home while making the album, so a mobile studio owned by Sting was used to allow recording on location.[4]

Songs

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"Dance into the Light" was the only song from the album to appear on Collins' ...Hits collection.

"The Times They Are a-Changin'" is a cover of the Bob Dylan song.

2016 reissue

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In 2016, Dance into the Light was reissued as a Deluxe Edition as part of Collins's remastered album campaign. Each album features updated artwork with Collins adopting the same poses and expressions that he did on the originals. He maintained that the new artwork for Dance into the Light was in fact real, "so spot on that people will think it's Photoshopped." The booklet and artwork includes a strip film of Collins attempting the various positions to prove it was genuine.[9]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [10]
Billboard(favorable)[11]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[12]
The Guardian     [13]
Music Week     [14]
PopMatters          [15]

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."

Entertainment Weekly critic David Browne wrote, "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

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All tracks are written by Phil Collins, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Dance into the Light" 4:23
2."That's What You Said" 4:22
3."Lorenzo"
5:52
4."Just Another Story" 6:24
5."Love Police" 4:08
6."Wear My Hat" 4:33
7."It's in Your Eyes" 3:01
8."Oughta Know by Now" 5:27
9."Take Me Down" 3:21
10."The Same Moon" 4:13
11."River So Wide" 4:55
12."No Matter Who" 4:47
13."The Times They Are a-Changin'"Bob Dylan5:07
Extra Moves bonus disc (Disc two of 2016 deluxe edition)
No.TitleLength
1."Dance into the Light" (live 2004)4:41
2."Just Another Story" (live 1997)6:20
3."Wear My Hat" (live 2004)4:59
4."River So Wide" (live 1997)4:58
5."Take Me Down" (live 1997)3:37
6."Lorenzo" (demo)4:47
7."That's What You Said" (demo)4:17
8."Another Time" (B-side)5:34
9."It's Over" (B-side)4:24
10."I Don't Want to Go" (B-side)2:56

Personnel

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Credits adapted from the CD's liner notes.[5]

Musicians

  • Phil Collins – vocals, drums, percussion, kalimba (1), lead guitar (2, 5, 7, 10), rhythm guitar (2, 5, 7, 12), keyboards (5, 7–10, 12), slide guitar (12), acoustic piano (13), bagpipes (13)
  • Brad Cole – keyboards (1, 3, 4, 6, 11), strings (8), organ (9, 10, 13)
  • Daryl Stuermer – lead guitar (1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 13), rhythm guitar (2, 5, 7, 9, 10), guitars (11)
  • Ronnie Caryl – rhythm guitar (1–10, 13), lead guitar solo (12)
  • Nathan East – bass guitar
  • Amy Keys – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 8–11)
  • Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (1, 3, 6, 8–11)
  • Vine Street Horns (1, 4, 6, 8, 9)

Production

  • Produced and mixed by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham
  • Engineered by Hugh Padgham
  • Assistant engineer – Simon Osborne
  • Horns arranged by Harry Kim and Phil Collins
  • Art direction – David Costa and Dan Einzig
  • Artwork – Wherefore Art?
  • Photography – Gered Mankowitz
  • Michaela Odone – poem for "Lorenzo"

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[46] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[47] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[48] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[49] 2× Gold 200,000*
Germany (BVMI)[50] Platinum 500,000^
Norway (IFPI Norway)[51] Gold 25,000*
Poland (ZPAV)[52] Gold 50,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[53] Platinum 100,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[54] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[55] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[56] Gold 500,000^
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[57] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "Phil Collins singles".
  2. ^ "British album certifications - Phil Collins - Dance into the Light". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Official Genesis Website". Genesis-music.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Dance into the Light: Interview Disc". Face Value Records. 1996. Retrieved 30 June 2019 – via The Genesis Archive.
  5. ^ a b Dance into the Light (Media notes). Phil Collins. Face Value Records. 1996. 0630-16000-2 – via Discogs.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Noel Gallagher slams Phil Collins". YouTube.
  7. ^ a b Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Phil Collins on Oasis/The Gallaghers [Room 101]". YouTube.
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Phil Collins on meeting Noel Gallagher". YouTube.
  9. ^ Blackard, Cap (16 February 2016). "Take a Look at Phil Now: An Interview with Phil Collins". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Dance into the Light". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  11. ^ Verna, Paul (26 October 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 79. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  12. ^ David Browne (1 November 1996). "Dance into the Light Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
  13. ^ Sullivan, Caroline (25 October 1996). "Music: This week's pop cd releases". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 12 October 1996. p. 26. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Phil Collins: 2016 Rhino Reissues (Part One)". PopMatters.com. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  16. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  20. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9863". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  21. ^ "BILLBOARD MAGAZINE: 1936 to 2010 Searchable". Americanradiohistory.com. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  22. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  23. ^ "Phil Collins: No Jacket Required" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Lescharts.com – Phil Collins – No Jacket Required". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Phil Collins – No Jacket Required" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  26. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1996. 46. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  27. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 31 May 2023. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Phil Collins".
  28. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  29. ^ "Charts.nz – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  30. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  31. ^ "Polish Album Chart". Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  32. ^ "Hits of the World". Billboard. 16 November 1996. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  33. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  34. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  35. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  37. ^ "Phil Collins | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  38. ^ "Phil Collins Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  39. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1996". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  40. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1996". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  41. ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 1996". SNEP (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  42. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  43. ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  45. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  46. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  47. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  48. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". Music Canada.
  49. ^ "French album certifications – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  50. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Phil Collins; 'Dance into the Light')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  51. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  52. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 1997 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  53. ^ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 944. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  54. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Dance into the Light')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  55. ^ "British album certifications – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". British Phonographic Industry.
  56. ^ "American album certifications – Phil Collins – Dance into the Light". Recording Industry Association of America.
  57. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 1996". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
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