VIA PRESS RELEASE | Released in 1981, Face Value transformed Phil Collins from Genesis drummer and frontman to solo artist and global icon.
Now regarded as a timeless classic, the album’s impact is even clearer with 45 years of hindsight. At the time, it was a bold, groundbreaking record that challenged the musical conventions of the time, balancing raw vulnerability with a unique, stark sound. This essence is perfectly captured in his debut single, “In The Air Tonight”—which has become a cultural touchstone of its own. Against the backdrop of the era’s disco and high-tempo pop ballads, Face Value was a brave debut release and stood as an undeniably unique body of work blending elements of soul, art-pop, and R&B into a cohesive, personal masterpiece.
Upon release, it was an instant success both commercially and critically. Topping album charts in the UK, Canada, and throughout Europe, and breaking into the US Top 10. Critically it was met with top-rated reviews and over time has been praised as a classic and innovative album with Uncut saying it is “…a masterpiece of confessional pop that has only grown in stature,” Pitchfork praising it for its “Unflinching emotional honesty and production innovation,” and I magazine calling it “…his masterpiece and one of the finest moments of the ’80s musical landscape.”
The album has been officially certified 5x Platinum in the US and UK through actual physical sales alone. In the streaming era alone, Face Value has amassed over 2.4 billion streams to date with Phil’s general monthly listeners continuing to rapidly grow jumping 17% between July 2025–July 2026 to over 42 million. In April 2026, “In The Air Tonight” officially reached 1 Billion streams on Spotify, joining their Billions Club.
Face Value (Full Value) is a 4-LP set that celebrates its 45th anniversary, it’s available for pre-order now here. It will be released on 18 September 2026 and contains:
• A half-speed remaster of the original album by Miles Showell at Abbey Road
• Liner notes by acclaimed music journalist Tom Doyle, featuring brand-new interview with Phil talking about the album
• Rare, stripped-back first live performances of “In The Air Tonight” and “The Roof Is Leaking” from The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball, featuring Phil and guitarist Daryl Stuermer
• Two previously unreleased live performances from Perkins Palace in 1982 and Irvine Meadows in 1985
• An unreleased outtake of Phil’s experimental cover of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows”
• A previously unreleased full version of “Over The Rainbow,” of which there is an excerpt at the end of the original album
Face Value is a record revered for its revolutionary production, specifically the gated reverb drum sound that went on to define the sonic aesthetic of the 1980s. It showcased Phil’s remarkable range by incorporating the Phenix Horns (of Earth, Wind & Fire) to bring a vibrant funk influence to tracks like “I Missed Again.” This genre-bending approach allowed him to balance the minimalist folk of “The Roof Is Leaking” with an experimental cover of The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows.”
A Blu-ray Audio of Face Value will be released on the same day featuring brand new Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and stereo mixes of the album by Steven Wilson, with the Atmos also available digitally. Pre-order here.
This year, Phil Collins will join the 2026 Class of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees as a solo artist, having been previously inducted with Genesis in 2010.
