:...But Seriously

In July 1987, Collins finished touring commitments with the band Genesis and resumed his solo career. He had scored a series of hit singles with his previous solo album No Jacket Required (1985) and with Genesis on Invisible Touch (1986), and recognised this period as "severe danger of overkill" due to the high amount of radio airplay the songs had received.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48821501/|title=Collins' LP reflects individual, romantic concerns|date=16 February 1990|newspaper=The Sentinel|page=D5|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=16 April 2020}} To combat this, Collins took a year out solely from music and accepted a lead role in Buster (1988), a romantic comedy film based on the Great Train Robbery. Collins recorded "Two Hearts" and "A Groovy Kind of Love" for the soundtrack, which led to his belief that people thought his songs had become "Very, very light. That wasn't where I was coming from." When he started work on his next solo album, Collins deliberately shifted styles by addressing more serious issues in his lyrics and songs with greater depth than the dance-oriented approach for No Jacket Required. Some bits of music originated as far back as 1978. Primarily, Collins wrote and demoed the songs at his Old Croft home onto a 12-track recorder with piano, drum machine & keyboards, then he did a guide vocal to improvise lyric and melody ideas. The lyrics for songs like "Another Day in Paradise" and "That's Just the Way It Is" were developed around these initial vocal ideas.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmbHFurHwC8 Phil Collins Serious Press Conference Toronto 1990 FULL VIDEO - Ultra Rare] (7:08 mark)

...But Seriously was recorded between April and October 1989 at The Farm in Chiddingfold, Surrey and A&M Studios in Los Angeles, California. It was produced by Collins and Hugh Padgham, who had worked on his previous solo albums and with Genesis throughout the decade. The album saw Collins use a live drum kit in contrast with No Jacket Required which had greater use of a drum machine, although the Roland TR-808 did make a prominent appearance on the tracks "That's Just The Way It Is", "Do You Remember?" and "Father to Son". He also prominently used keyboards and electric piano and fewer synthesisers. Collins made a conscious decision not to rely on vocal effects on the album as his previous recordings, including with Genesis, involved the use of a harmoniser and echo and he looked back on this as a way of hiding the perceived drawbacks he had about his singing. In the end, a small amount of reverb and delay for a slap echo effect were used.

Collins experienced difficulty in naming the album. The initial title was Serious Business, before Collins decided against the potential connotations of business or corporations that it may have on the public.{{cite web|url=http://www.twronline.net/issues/twr41/twr41_pc01.htm|title="Phil Collins... profiled" - Phil talks about the "...But Seriously" album|first=Alan|last=Hewitt|date=February 2000|via=The Waiting Room Online|access-date=20 April 2020}} As the title suggests, the album is a change of pace from the lighter tone of Collins's previous work. Collins expanded his focus to the exploration of socio-economic and political themes. There is emotional turmoil underneath the polished studio production and many of the songs are unambiguous and unveiled in their melancholy. While incorporating political themes, ...But Seriously does not abandon the theme of relationships. But unlike some of his earlier work, Collins takes a more mature and reflective approach when looking at the relationships in his life.{{original research inline|date=July 2020}}

As with his previous albums Collins wrote the sleeve notes by hand because "that's all part of the personal statement"; the exception being No Jacket Required. He wrote the text on the "Another Day in Paradise" single on the inbound from the album's European press trip in November 1989.

Atlantic Records initially placed a sticker on the CD version that read "Two bonus tracks" which Collins disagreed with and clarified that they were "extra" songs. The sticker was changed accordingly.{{cite magazine|url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/q-march-1990-phil-collins-feature/|title="It beats working...": Why Phil Collins never clocks off|magazine=Q|first=Giles|last=Smith|date=March 1990|pages=56–62|access-date=30 January 2019}} The album was a departure from the dance pop of the No Jacket Required album. Unlike No Jacket Required, this album was a pop-rock album, but also included various styles and influences, like R&B, dance-pop, jazz, soul and gospel.

"Hang in Long Enough" is the opening track on the album. It is a dance-pop song, with influenced soul and rock, and talks about ambition.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207015818/http://www.philcollins.co.uk/wea89.htm|url=http://www.philcollins.co.uk/wea89.htm|archive-date=7 December 2008|title=Phil Collins Interviews - WEA Promo Interview 1989|date=1989|access-date=21 May 2020|publisher=WEA}}

"That's Just the Way It Is" is an anti-war ballad about The Troubles in Northern Ireland and features David Crosby on backing vocals. Collins had wanted Crosby to perform on his first solo album Face Value (1981), but he was unavailable at the time. The two met at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in 1988, and Crosby was keen to participate on the album. When recording moved to Los Angeles, Collins prepared several mixes of the songs that he wanted Crosby to sing on and recalled that Crosby "did exactly what I expected him to do [...] He just picked a few notes out of the air that I would never have thought of". The B-side to the single was "Broadway Chorus", the demo version of "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven".

"Do You Remember?" has lyrics from the perspective of a man whose relationship is failing due to his lover's neglect. It features Stephen Bishop on backing vocals.

"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" was written by Collins and his longtime touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer. It was the last song written for the album and was originally for the Four Tops, but it was not delivered to the group as Collins wanted to keep it for himself by the time it was finished. While the song was being arranged in the studio in England, Stuermer had devised some chords for the chorus which resulted in Nathan East playing bass on the new parts as Sklar had left for the US.

"Colours" is a politically themed song condemning apartheid in South Africa and displays a progressive rock influence. It was originally titled "Oh Mr. Botha, What Can We Do?", a reference to the English music hall song "Oh! Mr Porter".

"I Wish It Would Rain Down" is a gospel-influenced track that Collins said is the closest he had come to writing a blues song.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7-CvO1x7DE |title=Phil Collins - Storytellers - tv Broadcast |date=2022-04-09 |last=walt michel cognac |access-date=2024-06-20 |via=YouTube}} It features Eric Clapton on lead guitar.

"Another Day in Paradise" addresses the issue of homelessness.{{cite book|title=Rock N' Roll Gold Rush|url=https://archive.org/details/rocknrollgoldrus00dean|url-access=limited|last=Dean|first=Maury|author-link=Maury Dean|year=2003|publisher=Algora|isbn=0-87586-207-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/rocknrollgoldrus00dean/page/n75 60]}} Its working title was "Homeless". Among the inspirational sources for the song was Collins's stay in Washington, D.C., while on tour and encountered homeless people by Capitol Hill trying to keep warm and the contradiction of the White House being so close by.

"Heat on the Street" is a political song about the abuse and violence in the street. The song has a pop-rock oriented sound.

Collins wrote{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} in his autobiography I'm Not Dead that "All of My Life" is about his relationship with his late father and his regrets to not have more connection with him during his life. The song was a R&B jazz ballad influenced. Steve Winwood is featured playing the Hammond organ on the song.

The album also features a sole instrumental track, "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning", which recalls the jazz-influenced instrumentals featured on his first two albums, Face Value and Hello, I Must Be Going.

"Father to Son" is a ballad about Collins's relationship with his eldest son, Simon.

The closing track, "Find a Way to My Heart", is a simple rock-sounding love song, though with a heavy horn section and a synthesized intro and coda. It was later used in the 1990 action film Fire Birds.

Collins recorded three other songs that were released as B-sides to the album's singles:

1. "That's How I Feel"
2. "You've Been in Love (That Little Bit Too Long)"
3. "Around the World in 80 Presets"

The album spawned six singles released between October 1989 and November 1990.

• "Another Day in Paradise" – US #1, UK #2 (1989)
• "I Wish It Would Rain Down" – US #3, UK #7 (1990)
• "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" – US #4, UK #15 (1990)
• "Do You Remember?" – US #4 (1990)
• "That's Just The Way It Is" – UK #26 (1990)
• "Hang in Long Enough" – US #23, UK #34 (1990)

In Canada, "Another Day in Paradise", "I Wish It Would Rain Down", "Do You Remember?", and "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" reached No. 1.

In the UK, ...But Seriously spent 15 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, including the whole competitive Christmas season, and at the end of 1989 became the third best-selling album of the year in the country after only six weeks on sale. It became the best-selling album of 1990 in the UK. ...But Seriously also peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 for four weeks{{cite news|title=Billboard magazine January 27 1990|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-01-27.pdf|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|date=27 January 1990}} and became the second best-selling album of 1990 in the US, according to Billboard. It was the last number one album of the 1980s and the first of the 1990s in the UK and in the US.

In Germany, it is the second best-selling album in the chart history of certified albums, and the best-selling album within the foreign repertoire.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=but-seriously-r4334|pure_url=yes}} |title=...But Seriously |author=Geoff Orens |website=AllMusic |access-date=28 October 2010}}

| rev2 = Classic Pop

| rev2Score = 6/10{{cite web|url=https://www.classicpopmag.com/2020/03/review-phil-collins-but-seriously/|title=Review: Phil Collins – ...But Seriously|first=John|last=Earls|website=Classic Pop|date=2 March 2020|access-date=3 August 2024}}

| rev3 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev3Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book|first=Colin|last=Larkin|author-link=Colin Larkin|chapter=Collins, Phil|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=phil+collins|publisher=Omnibus Press|year=2011|isbn=9780857125958|via=Google Books}}

| rev4 = PopMatters

| rev4Score = 5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/phil-collins-2016-rhino-reissues-part-two-2495423028.html|title=Phil Collins: No Jacket Required / ...But Seriously / Testify / Going Back|first=Evan|last=Sawdey|website=PopMatters|date=15 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816111014/http://www.popmatters.com/review/phil-collins-2016-rhino-reissues-part-two/|url-status=live|archive-date=16 August 2016|access-date=3 August 2024}}

| rev5 = Mojo

| rev5Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Eccleston|first=Danny|title=Against All Odds|url=https://archive.org/details/mojo-december-2015/page/67/mode/1up |magazine=Mojo|issue=265|date=December 2015|access-date=3 August 2023}}

| rev6 = MusicHound

| rev6Score = 3.5/5{{cite book|editor1-last=Graff|editor1-first=Gary|editor2-last=Durchholz|editor2-first=Daniel|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |publisher=Visible Ink Press|year=1999|isbn=1-57859-061-2|chapter=Phil Collins|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/260/mode/1up 260]}}

| rev7 = NME

| rev7Score = 6/10{{cite magazine |last=Collins |first=Andrew |date=25 November 1989 |title=LP - Long Play |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/51836591567/ | magazine=New Musical Express |page=34}}

| rev8 = Record Mirror

| rev8Score = 2.5/5{{cite magazine|last=O'Shaughnessy|first=Catriona|title=Phil Collins: ...But Seriously|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/51576331937/|magazine=Record Mirror|volume=36|date=25 November 1989|access-date=3 August 2024}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9Score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/but-seriously-19900111 |title=But Seriously |first=J.D. |last=Considine |author-link=J. D. Considine |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=11 January 1990 |access-date=9 June 2012}}

| rev10 = Smash Hits

| rev10Score = 6½/10{{cite magazine|last=Heath|first=Chris|magazine=Smash Hits|title=Phil Collins: ...But Seriously|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/37143338314/|issue=287|date=29 November 1989|access-date=3 August 2024}}

}}

{{Listen

| filename = Sample of "Another Day in Paradise".ogg

| title = "Another Day in Paradise"

| description = Collins' last of seven American number one songs.

}}

In his review for AllMusic, Geoff Orens praised the decision to use more live instrumentation than No Jacket Required, saying "there's no doubt that tracks such as 'Find a Way to My Heart' and 'Hang in Long Enough' have enough bite to outlast his more dated sounding mid-80s material." He criticised the album for "too many generic ballads", but added that "when Collins moves out of his formula", citing "the dramatic gospel-influenced 'I Wish it Would Rain Down', [...] the results are staggering." In 2014, Corey Deiterman wrote for Houston Press, "One need only look at his album ...But Seriously to see some of the blueprint for being serious without being boring. That album wasn't perfect, by any means, and nowhere near as good as his preceding three records, but it allowed Collins to delve into serious subject matter and more serious musical territory while also retaining the sense of slick, fun pop he had traded in throughout the '80s."{{cite web | url= https://www.houstonpress.com/music/lana-del-rey-a-fine-line-between-serious-and-boring-6764777 | title= Lana Del Rey: A Fine Line Between Serious and Boring | work=Houston Press | first=Corey | last=Deiterman | date=25 June 2014 | access-date=2 April 2024}}

Mark Beaumont, writing for NME in 2016, included it on his list of eight of the all-time best-selling albums in the UK to have "no redeeming features whatsoever", calling the album the "beginning of Collins' solo rot" and particularly criticizing "Another Day in Paradise".{{Cite web |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist) |date=2016-07-05 |title=Eight Of The All-Time Best-Selling Albums In The UK Have No Redeeming Features Whatsoever |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/the-eight-all-time-best-selling-albums-in-the-uk-that-have-no-redeeming-features-whatsoever-6053 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=NME |language=en}}

At the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards "Another Day in Paradise" won the award for Record of the Year. ...But Seriously received further nominations for Album of the Year, Producer of the Year (Non-Classical) and Best Engineered Recording – Non-Classical. "Another Day in Paradise" was further nominated for Song of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male, while the instrumental piece "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning" was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

...But Seriously received two American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist.

At the Brit Awards in 1990 "Another Day in Paradise" received the award for British Single, while Collins was named British Male Artist,{{cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1990 |title=History |publisher= Brit Awards |access-date=2016-12-15}} for which he was nominated again a year later.{{cite web |url=http://www.brits.co.uk/history/shows/1991 |title=History |publisher= Brit Awards |access-date=2016-12-15}}

In support of the album, Collins' embarked on a worldwide tour, called Seriously Live!. In total, there were 113 shows over three continents and it led to the release of a live album and video Serious Hits... Live!.

{{Track listing

|all_writing = Phil Collins, except where noted

|title1 = Hang in Long Enough

|length1 = 4:44

|title2 = That's Just the Way It Is

|length2 = 5:20

|title3 = Do You Remember?

|length3 = 4:36

|title4 = Something Happened on the Way to Heaven

|writer4 = {{hlist|Collins|Daryl Stuermer}}

|length4 = 4:52

|title5 = Colours

|length5 = 8:51

|title6 = I Wish It Would Rain Down

|length6 = 5:28

|title7 = Another Day in Paradise

|length7 = 5:22

|title8 = Heat on the Street

|length8 = 3:51

|title9 = All of My Life

|length9 = 5:36

|title10 = Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

|writer10 = {{hlist|Collins|Thomas Washington}}

|length10 = 1:26

|title11 = Father to Son

|length11 = 3:28

|title12 = Find a Way to My Heart

|length12 = 6:08

}}

The vinyl release features a rearranged track listing and is missing two tracks from the CD/cassette version, "Heat on the Street" and the instrumental "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning".

This listing applies only to original 1989 releases of the album. Vinyl releases of 2016 remaster feature all tracks and the same track listing as for CD and cassette releases, split between two discs, three tracks per side.

{{Track listing

|headline = Side one

|title1 = Hang in Long Enough

|length1 = 4:44

|title2 = That's Just the Way It Is

|length2 = 5:20

|title3 = Find a Way to My Heart

|length3 = 6:08

|title4 = Colours

|length4 = 8:51

|title5 = Father to Son

|length5 = 3:28

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

|title1 = Another Day in Paradise

|length1 = 5:22

|title2 = All of My Life

|length2 = 5:36

|title3 = Something Happened on the Way to Heaven

|length3 = 4:52

|writer3 = {{hlist|Collins|Stuermer}}

|title4 = Do You Remember?

|length4 = 4:36

|title5 = I Wish It Would Rain Down

|length5 = 5:28

}}

{{Track listing

|title1 = Hang in Long Enough

|note1 = live 1997

|length1 = 4:52

|title2 = Something Happened on the Way to Heaven

|note2 = live 2004

|length2 = 5:26

|writer2 = {{hlist|Collins|Stuermer}}

|title3 = Colours

|note3 = live 1990

|length3 = 11:20

|title4 = Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

|note4 = live 1990

|length4 = 1:54

|writer4 = {{hlist|Collins|Washington}}

|title5 = Always

|note5 = live 1990

|length5 = 4:30

|writer5 = Irving Berlin

|title6 = Find a Way to My Heart

|note6 = live 1997

|length6 = 5:40

|title7 = That's How I Feel

|note7 = B-side

|length7 = 5:05

|title8 = You've Been in Love (That Little Bit Too Long)

|note8 = B-side

|length8 = 4:49

|title9 = Another Day in Paradise

|note9 = demo

|length9 = 5:21

|title10 = That's Just the Way It Is

|note10 = demo

|length10 = 4:54

|title11 = I Wish It Would Rain Down

|note11 = demo

|length11 = 5:30

|title12 = Hang in Long Enough

|note12 = demo

|length12 = 4:34

|title13 = Do You Remember?

|note13 = demo

|length13 = 4:43

}}

Adapted from liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title= ...But Seriously |year= 1989 |type= booklet |publisher= Atlantic}}

Musicians

{{div col begin}}

• Phil Collins – vocals (tracks 1–9, 11, 12), keyboards (1–9, 11, 12), drums (1, 4–12), drum machine (2, 3, 7, 11), percussion (2, 3, 10, 12), tambourine (6, 8)
• Steve Winwood – Hammond organ (track 9)
• Daryl Stuermer – guitar (tracks 1–4, 8, 11, 12)
• Dominic Miller – guitar (tracks 1, 4, 5, 7, 9)
• Eric Clapton – guitar (track 6)
• Nathan East – bass (tracks 1, 4)
• Leland Sklar – bass (tracks 2, 5, 7–12)
• Pino Palladino – bass (tracks 3, 6)
• The Phenix Horns (tracks 1, 4, 5, 10, 12):
• Don Myrick – saxophone, alto sax solo (track 9)
• Louis Satterfield – trombone
• Harry Kim – trumpet
• Rhamlee Michael Davis – trumpet
• Alex Brown, Marva King and Lynne Fiddmont – backing vocals (tracks 1, 4, 8, 9)
• David Crosby – vocals (tracks 2, 7)
• Stephen Bishop – vocals (track 3)

{{div col end}}

Production

• Phil Collins – producer, mixing
• Hugh Padgham – producer, mixing, engineer
• Ed Goodreau – assistant engineer (Los Angeles)
• Simon Osbourne – assistant engineer
• Tom Tom 84 – horn arrangements
• Maurice Spears – music preparation
• Trevor Key – photography

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Argentina|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1989|certyear=1993|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP |archive-date=6 July 2011 |title=Discos de oro y platino |language=es |access-date=5 October 2012 |publisher=Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |url-status=dead }}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=...But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1989|certyear=1996|access-date=July 16, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|title=But Seriously .........|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|artist=Phil Collins|title=... But Seriously|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1989|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-05-26.pdf|title=Phil Collins' entire solo repertoire has gone platinum in Belgium|magazine=Music & Media|page=15|volume=7|issue=21|date=26 May 1990|via=American Radio History|access-date=29 March 2020}}|certyear=1990}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Gold|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=...But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=7|relyear=1989|certyear=1991|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Chile|type=album|title=...But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1989|certyear=1995|nosales=true|certref={{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UWFbAAAAIBAJ&dq=Chile&pg=PA62&article_id=6831,4360651|title=¡Vaya con esta Gente!|newspaper=La Opinión|access-date=April 2, 2025|date=April 18, 1995|language=es|page=62}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|title=... But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|certref={{cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-09-15.pdf|publisher=Music & Media|title=Phil Collins Seriously Breaks The Records|page=6|date=15 September 1990|accessdate=13 September 2022}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Finland|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|certyear=1989|salesamount=74,715|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Diamond|relyear=1989|certyear=1991|source=infodisc|salesamount=2,000,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-06-23.pdf|magazine=Billboard|title=Europe: Steady Growth With Flashes of Lightning|page=MV-6|issn=0006-2510|date=23 June 1990|first=Peter|last=Dean|accessdate=12 April 2023}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=1989|certyear=1994|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Hong Kong|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|accessdate=29 November 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|relyear=1989|region=Italy|award=Platinum|number=3|salesamount=750,000|salesref={{cite news|title=Le "ballate" di Phil Collins|newspaper=Corriere della Sera|page=34|date=16 May 1990|url= http://archivio.corriere.it/Archivio/interface/view.shtml#!/NDovZXMvaXQvcmNzZGF0aS9ANTgwNDY%3D|quote=Il giro italiano di Phil Collins si intitola "The Serious Tour" con riferimento all'ultimo album "But Seriously", che in tutto il mondo ha gia venduto 12 milioni di copie in iItalia si parla di 750 mila album.|language=it|access-date=20 April 2021}}|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|artist=Phil Collins|title=...But Seriously|award=Platinum|certmonth=1|relyear=1989|certyear=1992|accessdate=8 June 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1985|salesamount=400,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-01-12.pdf|magazine=Billboard|title=Nothing Compares To Sinead, Collins On Dutch Charts In '90|author=Willemm Hoos|via=World Radio History|page=65|date=12 January 1991|accessdate=9 September 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|id=1990-01-19|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|certyear=1991}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|type=album|title=... But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|type=album|title=... But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=1989|certref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-05-04.pdf|title=Veloso: Portugal's Pride|magazine=Billboard|page=71|date=4 May 1991|via=World Radio History|first=Peterjon|last=Cresswell|access-date=30 September 2020}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Africa|nocert=true|salesamount=300,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3QsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=en&pg=PT102|title=South Africa|magazine=Billboard|via=Google Books|page=103|date=11 March 1995|accessdate=11 January 2022}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Phil Collins|title=But Seriously|award=Platinum|number=7|type=album|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|certref={{cite book |last=Salaverrie |first=Fernando |date=September 2005 |url=http://www.mediafire.com/file/x263f6daopkswo8/Spanish+certifications+for+1979-1990.pdf |title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |language=es |edition=1st |location=Madrid |publisher=Fundación Autor/SGAE|page=927 |isbn=84-8048-639-2}}|salesamount=750,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-12-08.pdf|title=Viva Espana - Best Sellers|magazine=Billboard|via=World Radio History|page=VE-28|date=8 December 1990|accessdate=22 February 2021}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Gold|relyear=1989|certyear=1989|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=album|title=... But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1989|certyear=1990|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=9|relyear=1989|certyear=2016|salesamount=2,750,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-biggest-studio-albums-of-all-time__24431/|title=The UK's Top 40 biggest studio albums of time|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=13 October 2018|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=13 October 2018}}|accessdate=18 April 2021|id=1135-3748-2}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=But Seriously|artist=Phil Collins|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1989|certyear=1994|accessdate=5 October 2012}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

• List of best-selling albums by country
• List of best-selling albums in France
• List of best-selling albums in Germany
• List of best-selling albums in Italy
• List of best-selling albums in Spain
• List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom

{{Reflist}}

{{Phil Collins}}

{{Phil Collins songs}}

{{UK best-selling albums (by year) 1990–2009}}

{{UK Christmas No. 1 albums in the 1980s}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:But Seriously}}

Category:1989 albums

Category:Phil Collins albums

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Phil Collins

Category:Albums produced by Hugh Padgham

Category:Virgin Records albums

Category:Warner Music Group albums

Category:Albums recorded at A&M Studios