Phil Collins - Face Value (Blu-ray Audio Disc) * * *

Phil Collins' 1981 Studio Album Face Value on Blu-ray Audio Disc: Includes Dolby Atmos, 5.1, New Stereo Mix by Steven Wilson & 2016 Remaster of Original Mix.

Released in 1981, Face Value transformed Phil Collins from the drummer of Genesis into a global solo phenomenon. The album is an intensely personal piece of work written around the time of his divorce from his first wife. Rather than opting for pure pop escapism, Collins leaned into raw vulnerability, expertly blending elements of soul, art-pop, and R&B into a cohesive, personal masterpiece.

The record is perhaps most famous for its revolutionary production, specifically the "gated reverb" drum sound that went on to define the sonic aesthetic of the 1980s. This is best heard on the centerpiece, "In the Air Tonight," which remains the most celebrated drum fill in rock history.

Collins showcased 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." Ultimately, Face Value didn't just launch a solo career; it proved that a "divorce record" could be both deeply avant-garde and commercially massive.