Phil Collins - Tomorrow Never Knows May 2026

Phil Collins ' cover of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" serves as the experimental closing track of his 1981 debut solo album, . The recording features a dense, psychedelic atmosphere created through a blend of electronic drum machine effects and live drumming. Production and Musical Style

The inclusion of a psychedelic Beatles cover was a departure from the stark, R&B-influenced pop found elsewhere on the album, such as "In the Air Tonight" and "I Missed Again". It remains the only cover song on the standard version of the album. Phil Collins - Tomorrow Never Knows

Reception of the cover is highly polarized among critics and fans: Phil Collins ' cover of the Beatles' "Tomorrow

: The track utilizes sinuous drones and sped-up backwards riffs that echo the spirit of the original but adapt it to a "Star Wars age" aesthetic, characterized by sharp, technological production. It remains the only cover song on the

: Some listeners find it a "faithful look back" that does the original justice. Others appreciate it as a tribute to Ringo Starr's innovative drumming, noting that Collins—as a world-class drummer himself—effectively reinterprets the complex rhythmic patterns.

While the original Beatles version was a groundbreaking piece of 1960s psychedelia, Collins' interpretation is often described as more downtempo and reflective.

: Conversely, critics at Ultimate Classic Rock have labeled it an "absolutely atrocious" moment on an otherwise strong album, calling the production a "mess from top to bottom". Context within Face Value