Thru These Walls

Last updated

"Thru' These Walls"
Thru These Walls.jpg
Single by Phil Collins
from the album Hello, I Must Be Going!
B-side "Do You Know, Do You Care?"
ReleasedOctober 1982 (UK) [1]
RecordedMay–September 1982 at Old Croft On 1" 8 track
Genre
Length5:05
Label Virgin Records (UK)
Atlantic Records (International)
Songwriter(s) Phil Collins
Producer(s)
Phil Collins singles chronology
"If Leaving Me Is Easy"
(1981)
"Thru' These Walls"
(1982)
"You Can't Hurry Love"
(1982)
Music video
"Thru' These Walls" on YouTube

"Thru' These Walls" is a song by the English drummer Phil Collins. It was released as a single in October 1982, being Collins' fourth single. The song is also the seventh track and first single release from Collins' second solo studio album, Hello, I Must Be Going! , released in November of the same year. [2] [3] The song is dark, which follows a vast majority of songs from the album, and is about a man listening through the wall to his neighbours partaking in sexual activities. [4]

Contents

Recording

The song has distinct similarities to Collins's debut solo single, "In The Air Tonight", featuring similar atmospheric opening chords on a Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 and also using the same gated reverb drum fill. In an interview with Melody Maker , Collins said that he exercised a "distinct lack of judgment" in copying the drum fill from "In The Air Tonight". [5] The song also features one of Collins's attempts at a "Ringo Starr drum part", Starr being one of his biggest influences as a drummer. [6]

Release

The song was the first single by Collins that did not reach the Top 20 in the UK, peaking at No. 56 in the UK Singles Chart (it was not released as a single in the U.S.) [7] [8]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Stuart Orme, who also directed the video for "In The Air Tonight" [9] and in 1983 it was released on the home video Phil Collins [10] available on Video Home System (VHS) [11] and LaserDisc (LD) [12] which received a Grammy nomination for Best Video, Short Form. [13]

Although the video appeared on Phil Collins "The Singles Collection" VHS, [14] the music video itself did not appear officially for Internet streaming on Phil Collins' YouTube channel until June 2018. [15]

Track listing

7": Virgin / VS 524 (UK)

  1. "Thru' These Walls"
  2. "Do You Know, Do You Care?" [2]

Credits

  1. "Thru' These Walls"
  2. "Do You Know, Do You Care?"
    • Phil Collins – vocals, keyboards, bass pedals, drums, timpani, trumpet
    • Daryl Stuermer – guitars

Chart performance

Chart (1982)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA) [16] 27
France (IFOP)15
Poland (Polish Music Charts)21
UK Singles (OCC) [17] 56
Italy (FIMI)17
Netherlands (Single Top 100)48
Spain (AFYVE)15


Related Research Articles

<i>No Jacket Required</i> 1985 studio album by Phil Collins

No Jacket Required is the third solo studio album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released on 18 February 1985 by Virgin Records in the UK and by Atlantic and WEA internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In the Air Tonight</span> 1981 single by Phil Collins

"In the Air Tonight" is the debut solo single by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released as the lead single from Collins's debut solo album, Face Value, in January 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Can't Hurry Love</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Can't Hurry Love" is a 1966 song originally recorded by the Supremes on the Motown label. It was released on July 25, 1966 as the second single from their studio album The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Night (Phil Collins song)</span> 1985 single by Phil Collins

"One More Night" is the first single in the United States and second in the United Kingdom from Phil Collins' third studio album, the Diamond-certified No Jacket Required. "One More Night" was Phil Collins' second U.S. No. 1 single, following "Against All Odds", and was his fourth single to reach the top ten in the UK, peaking at No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., the single entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 50 on the chart dated 9 February 1985. It hit number one seven weeks later and remained on top for two weeks. In the UK, the single was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. It was also his first No. 1 on the U.S. Adult contemporary chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Missed Again</span> 1981 single by Phil Collins

"I Missed Again" is a song from Phil Collins's debut solo album, Face Value. It was selected as the lead single from the album in the US and Canada, although in most other countries "In the Air Tonight" was released as Collins' first solo single, followed by "I Missed Again". The song features a tenor sax solo from British jazz musician Ronnie Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Care Anymore</span> Song by Phil Collins

"I Don't Care Anymore" is a song written, performed, and produced by English drummer Phil Collins. It was the second US single from Collins' second solo album, Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982). It became a moderate US hit, peaking at number 39 on the Hot 100. It did not see a UK release; however, it was released as the third single in various other countries such as Germany and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Lose My Number</span> 1985 single by Phil Collins

"Don't Lose My Number" is a song by the English singer Phil Collins from his third solo studio album No Jacket Required. The single was not released in the UK, though it peaked at No. 4 in the US in September 1985. The B-side, "We Said Hello Goodbye" was released as a bonus track on the CD for No Jacket Required. In Australia, the single was released with the title "(Billy) Don't Lose My Number".

<i>The Fugitive</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Tony Banks

The Fugitive is the second solo album by Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks. It was originally released in June 1983, on Charisma (UK), and Atlantic (US). It was produced by Banks himself, and co-produced by the Grammy Award–winning Stephen Short. The album is the only album in which Banks sings all of the lead vocals. On the previous concept album, A Curious Feeling (1979) all of the vocals were done by Kim Beacon. When that album did not turn out too successfully, Banks thought that it was pointless to continue that project. As compared to A Curious Feeling, the songs on The Fugitive were much more commercially accessible and less experimental.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Myrick</span> American saxophonist (1940–1993)

Donald Myrick was an American saxophonist. A member of the Phenix Horns, he was best known for his work with Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sussudio</span> 1985 single by Phil Collins

"Sussudio" is a song by English singer-songwriter Phil Collins, released as a single in January 1985. The song is the first track on Collins' third solo studio album, No Jacket Required, released in February of the same year. The song was released as a single in the US on 30 April, as follow-up to "One More Night" and entered frequent rotation on MTV in May. By 6 July both single and album reached No. 1 on their respective US Billboard charts. The song peaked at No. 12 in the UK Singles Chart. The song’s title is a pseudoword Collins randomly came up with during a practice session.

<i>The Way We Walk</i> 1993 video by Genesis

The Way We Walk – Live in Concert is a 1992 live video from the We Can't Dance tour by Genesis. The footage was videotaped on 6th, 7 and 8 November 1992 at Earls Court in London, and first released on VHS on the 29th March 1993 as Genesis Live – The Way We Walk – In Concert. It was also available on PAL format LaserDisc. On November 26, 2001, the video was reissued on DVD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Something Happened on the Way to Heaven</span> 1990 single by Phil Collins

"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" is a song by English drummer Phil Collins, released in April 1990 from his fourth studio album, ...But Seriously (1989). The song peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 the week of October 6, 1990 and No. 15 on the UK Singles Chart. A live version also appears on the Serious Hits... Live! album. The song is often identified by the recurring hook of "How many times can I say 'I'm sorry'?", however, the title of the song is essentially the 2nd line of the 2nd verse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hang in Long Enough</span> 1990 single by Phil Collins

"Hang in Long Enough" is a song performed by Phil Collins and released as a single in 1990 from the album ...But Seriously. It was the sixth and final single from the album. The single reached No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, No. 34 on the UK Singles Chart, and No. 9 in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance into the Light (song)</span> 1996 single by Phil Collins

"Dance into the Light" is a song performed by English drummer, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor Phil Collins, released in September 1996 by Atlantic, Virgin and WEA as the first single from his sixth studio album, Dance into the Light (1996). The song was written by Collins, who also co-produced it with Hugh Padgham. It peaked at number nine on the UK Singles Chart, but was a disappointment on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, reaching number 45 on both charts. The song also peaked within the top 10 in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Scotland, while reaching number 29 on the Eurochart Hot 100 in October 1996. The accompanying music video was directed by English musician and music video director Kevin Godley. The track was the only song from Dance into the Light to be featured on his compilation album ...Hits in 1998. B-sides were songs "Take Me Down" and "It's Over".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's in Your Eyes</span> 1996 single by Phil Collins

"It's in Your Eyes" is a single performed by Phil Collins and released in 1996 as the second single from his album Dance into the Light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wear My Hat</span> 1997 single by Phil Collins

"Wear My Hat" is a song by English drummer Phil Collins released as the fourth single from his album Dance into the Light. It was only released in the United Kingdom and peaked at #43 on the UK Singles Chart. Collins said in an interview that the song and its music video is about the pressures of fame and how some fans grow an attachment to their favourite stars. The video for the song featured actor Danny DeVito.

"I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)" is a song written by singer-songwriter William Nicholls and first recorded by his short-lived project, White Horse – a collaboration between himself, Kenny Altman, and Jon Lind – and featured on the group's 1977 self-titled album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Cannot Believe It's True</span> 1983 single by Phil Collins

"I Cannot Believe It's True" is a song by Phil Collins from his second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going!. It was the third US single released from the album and was only released in the US and Canada; internationally it had instead been released as the B-side of "You Can't Hurry Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Said I Would</span> 1991 single by Phil Collins

"Who Said I Would" is a song performed by Phil Collins that was originally recorded for his 1985 album No Jacket Required but was released in 1991 as a single from his live album Serious Hits... Live! in the United States and Japan.

"The Least You Can Do" is a song by English singer Phil Collins. Originally released on his seventh solo album Testify (2002), it was issued in 2003 with "Wake Up Call" as a double A-side single.

References

  1. "Phil Collins singles".
  2. 1 2 3 "Phil Collins - Thru' These Walls (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  3. Phil Collins (2016). Not Dead Yet. London, England: Century Books. p.  202. ISBN   978-1-780-89513-0.
  4. Fitzpatrick, Rob (20 February 2009). "Readers recommend: Songs about secret vices". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  5. Colbert, Paul (11 December 1982). "Then there was... 1". Melody Maker. pp. 13, 36. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  6. Hitmen, 1986 Part Two, Hitmen, 1986. reprinted at Collins's website in 2009; archived copy at archive.org.
  7. "Phil Collins | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  8. "Phil Collins Songs • Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography • Rock VF, Rock music hits charts". Rockvf.com. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  9. "Musikvideos - Stuart Orme - Musikvideo Datenbank (Music Video Database)". Popzoot.tv. 29 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  10. "Phil Collins - Phil Collins at Discogs". Discogs . Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  11. "Phil Collins - Phil Collins (VHS) at Discogs". Discogs . Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  12. "Phil Collins - Phil Collins (LaserDisc) at Discogs". Discogs . Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  13. "Grammy Awards 1985". Awards & shows. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  14. "Phil Collins - the Singles Collection". Discogs .
  15. "Phil Collins - Thru' These Walls (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  16. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Thru These Walls". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  17. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 October 2024.