Phil Collins: “I Cannot Believe It’s True” (1983)

Another single from Phil’s second album, in case you were planning on buying it on the installment plan.

Kronomyth 2.4: I thought he didn’t care anymore?

Divorcé what you will about the man, no one could turn a bad marriage into great music better than Phil Collins. Ever the wounded lover, Phil seesaws between incredulity at his ex-wife’s behavior and liberty in the knowledge that he’s free from a bad relationship. With its chirpy horn charts, I Cannot Believe It’s True always seemed a fitting bookend to “I Missed Again.” As far as post-breakup mix tapes go, however, I’ll take the Rolling Stones’ version of “Look What You’ve Done” every time.

Despite its dour subject matter, the song had enough commercial potential to spend a few weeks on the US singles charts. And we don’t listen to the words anyway. In addition to a retail single that featured Thru These Walls on the B side (an earlier and even unlikelier single), promotional copies featured an edited version of “I Cannot Believe It’s True” with a much shorter fade at the end. A promotional 12-inch single was also released with a live version of “I Cannot Believe It’s True” from Perkins Palace on the flip side.

Original 7-inch single version

A1. I Cannot Believe It’s True (Phil Collins) (5:14)
B1. Thru These Walls (Phil Collins) (5:03)

Promotional 7-inch single version
A1. I Cannot Believe It’s True (short version) (Phil Collins) (4:10)
B1. I Cannot Believe It’s True (long version) (Phil Collins) (5:14)

Promotional 12-inch single version
A1. I Cannot Believe It’s True (Phil Collins) (5:14)
B1. I Cannot Believe It’s True (live) (Phil Collins) (5:43)

Back-to-back hits 7-inch single version
A1. Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) (Phil Collins) (3:24)
B1. I Cannot Believe It’s True (Phil Collins) (5:14)

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch single in April 1983 in the US (Atlantic, 7-89864) and Canada (Atlantic, 78 98647). Reached #79 on the US charts (charted on May 14, 1983 for 4 weeks). Also released as promotional 7-inch single in 1983 in the US (Atlantic, 7-89864) feat. A long and short versions, and as promotional 12-single in 1983 in the US (Atlantic, PR 496).