(RockAndMetal.com) (09/28/04)

By Michael Bennett

LOS ANGELES, CA - Warner Strategic Marketing and Atlantic Records have released a special double-disc collection from PHIL COLLINS, entitled "Love Songs: A Compilation... Old And New."

Spanning more than two decades, the set gathers Collins' signature ballads together with personal favorites, rarities, and previously unreleased live performances.

"This is a collection of love songs that I've either written or co-written and that I consider to be amongst my best work," says Collins, "in addition to songs that have been written and admired by me from a distance, while secretly wishing that I had written them."

There are also some songs here that I feel extremely close to, but were missed the first time around because of circumstances beyond their control."

"Love Songs: A Compilation... Old And New" is highlighted by such chart topping hits as 'One More Night,' 'Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now),' 'Groovy Kind Of Love,' 'Two Hearts,' 'Do You Remember?,' 'Can't Stop Loving You,' and 'Separate Lives' (live version).

Included is the song 'You'll Be In My Heart' from the Walt Disney film "Tarzan," which earned Phil Collins a triple crown in the form of an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy Award.

The 25-song collection also features Collins' renditions of standards by other composers, including his version of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's 'Somewhere' from "West Side Story," a cover of Curtis Mayfield's 'I've Been Trying,' live performances of The Temptations' 'My Girl,' Irving Berlin's 'Always,' the Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields classic, 'The Way You Look Tonight,' and a concert soundcheck recording of 'True Colours.'

Among the other highlights is the previously unreleased 'Tearing And Breaking,' co-written by Scottish singer/songwriter John Martyn and Collins, and originally recorded in 2001 during the sessions for the "Testify" album.

"Love Songs: A Compilation... Old And New" also gives fans the opportunity to revisit some less famous but no less emotionally powerful moments, among them being 'This Must Be Love' and 'If Leaving Me Is Easy' (both from Collins's first solo album, 1981's "Face Value"), 'Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away,' 'Can't Turn Back The Years,' 'I've Forgotten Everything,' and 'Testify.'

Phil Collins also heralded the release of the new collection over the past month with his first full-fledged solo tour of North America in seven years.

Dubbed the "First Final Farewell Tour," the cross-country itinerary began on August 26th in Anaheim, California and will wrap up in Sunrise, Florida this Thursday.

The show, which has earned excellent reviews, features Phil Collins on lead vocals and drums, joined by his Brad Cole (keyboards), Daryl Stuermer (guitar), Ronnie Caryl (guitar), Chester Thompson (drums), Luis Conte (percussion) and Leland Sklar (bass guitar), along with singers Amy Keys, Arnold McCuller, Lamont Van Hook, Lynne Fiddmont-Lindsey, Connie Jackson-Comegys and Bill Cantos.

Also on board have been "The Vine Street Horns," an all-star brass cast consisting of Harry Kim (trumpet), Gerald Albright (sax), Dan Fornero (trumpet), and Arturo Velasco (trombone).

The solo career of Phil Collins is one that, by any measure, stands among some of the most prolific, creative, and impressive in the history of modern popular music -- and one that has seen him take on the four roles of drummer, singer, composer, and producer.

It has also been an exceptional ride over three decades of song, some 100 million albums sold (250 million if you count his work with Genesis), seven Grammy Awards, and an enviable string of hits.

"Love Songs: A Compilation... Old And New" Track Listing:

Disc One:
1. Tearing And Breaking
2. Do You Remember?
3. One More Night
4. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)
5. Can't Turn Back The Years
6. Groovy Kind Of Love
7. Everyday
8. Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away
9. Please Come Out Tonight
10. This Must Be Love
11. It's In Your Eyes
12. Can't Stop Loving You

Disc Two:
1. Testify
2. True Colours (A Capella)
3. You'll Be In My Heart
4. If Leaving Me Is Easy
5. I've Been Trying
6. I've Forgotten Everything
7. Somewhere
8. Least You Can Do
9. Two Hearts
10. Separate Lives (Live)
11. My Girl (Live)
12. Always (Live)
13. The Way You Look Tonight (Live)

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