Separate Lives was a originally a song written by Stephen Bishop whom Phil Collins had been a friend of, Phil liked the song so much be asked if he could arrange and record a version for himself. Following on from the success Phil Collins had with Against All Odds Taylor Hackford approached Phil Collins again when Taylor was making/directing a film called White Nights.
The song a duet was performed by Marilyn Martin and Phil Collins, Phil would eventually perform the song live starting on the 1990 But Seriously tour with a female singer and it remained a live staple of Phil Collins’s solo shows.
The single was released into the UK Charts on 23rd November 1985, reaching number 4 and remaining in the charts for 13 weeks.
Phil provided his version of Separate Lives with help from Arif Mardin and Hugh Padgham.
Side A
Separate Lives ( love theme from White Nights )
Side B
Only You Know and I Know
Released on Virgin Records (VS 818)
Separate lives Produced by Arif Mardin, Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham.
Only You Know and I Know Produced by Hugh Padgham and Phil Collins.
Note: Only You Know and I Know is wrongly attributed in the writing credits to Phil Collins – Hugh P/Daryl Stuermer when in fact it was just a co written song by Phil Collins and Daryl Stuermer.
Further notes: A music video was filmed for the song Separate Lives featuring Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin, the single front cover is a still taken and adapted (hence the split) from the music video.
