"If Leaving Me Is Easy" is a song by Phil Collins from his 1981 album Face Value. Released as the third single from the album, it reached No. 17 in the UK, but was not released as a single in the United States. The song was also a top 40 hit in Ireland, reaching No. 25. Collins sings in a high falsetto in its chorus. The song was later covered by the Isley Brothers for their 1985 album Masterpiece.

"If Leaving Me Is Easy"
Single by Phil Collins
from the album Face Value
B-side
ReleasedMay 1981 [1]
Recorded1980
Length4:56
LabelVirgin (UK)
Atlantic (International)
Songwriter(s)Phil Collins
Producer(s)Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Phil Collins singles chronology
"I Missed Again"
(1981)
"If Leaving Me Is Easy"
(1981)
"Thru These Walls"
(1982)
Audio
"Phil Collins - If Leaving Me Is Easy (2016 Remaster)" on YouTube

Involvement of Eric Clapton

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This was the first of two Phil Collins singles that featured Eric Clapton. The other single was "I Wish It Would Rain Down" from Collins' final album of the 1980s, ...But Seriously. He also recorded some dobro for "The Roof Is Leaking", which was not used on the final recording.

Live versions

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Collins revealed on the "Making of Face Value" episode of Classic Albums that he decided to stop performing this song live on stage following his 1985 No Jacket Required tour because he disliked the audience yelling and screaming instead of being quiet while he performed this song. According to SongFacts.com,[2] Collins performed the song on the BBC music show Top of the Pops with a bucket of paint and paintbrush on top of his electric piano, a reference to his first wife's affair with a painter and decorator.

Charts

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Chart (1981) Peak
position
German Singles Chart 61
Irish Singles Chart[3] 25
UK Singles Chart 17

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Phil Collins singles".
  2. ^ "If Leaving Me Is Easy by Phil Collins Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  3. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 6 July 2023.