"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" | ||||||||||
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Single by Phil Collins | ||||||||||
from the album Against All Odds: Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ||||||||||
B-side | "The Search" | |||||||||
Released | February 1984 (US) 26 March 1984 (UK) |
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Format |
7" single 12" single CD single Digital download Cassingle Reel single |
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Recorded | 1983 | |||||||||
Genre | ||||||||||
Length | 3:23 | |||||||||
Label | Atlantic | |||||||||
Writer(s) | Phil Collins | |||||||||
Producer(s) | Arif Mardin | |||||||||
Phil Collins singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" | ||||
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Single by Mariah Carey | ||||
from the album Rainbow | ||||
Released | 3 June 2000 | |||
Recorded | 1999 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:25 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Writer(s) | Phil Collins | |||
Producer(s) |
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Mariah Carey singles chronology | ||||
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"Against All Odds" | ||||||||||
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Single by Mariah Carey and Westlife | ||||||||||
from the album Rainbow and Coast to Coast | ||||||||||
Released | 18 September 2000 | |||||||||
Recorded | Flyte Tyme Studios, Edina, MA & Capri Digital Studios, Capri, Italy & Rokstone Studios, London, England & Parc Studios, Orlando, FL & Olympic Studios, London, England; December 1999–2000 | |||||||||
Genre | ||||||||||
Length | 3:25 | |||||||||
Label | BMG, Columbia, Sony | |||||||||
Writer(s) | Phil Collins | |||||||||
Producer(s) | Mariah Carey, Steve Mac | |||||||||
Westlife singles chronology | ||||||||||
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"Against All Odds" | ||||
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Single by Steve Brookstein | ||||
from the album Heart and Soul | ||||
Released | 20 December 2004 | |||
Format | CD single, digital download | |||
Recorded | 2004 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 3:12 | |||
Label | Sony BMG | |||
Writer(s) | Phil Collins | |||
Steve Brookstein singles chronology | ||||
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"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" (also titled "Against All Odds") is a song by English drummer, singer and songwriter Phil Collins. It was recorded for the soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. It is a power ballad in which its protagonist implores an ex-lover to "take a look at me now", knowing that reconciliation is "against all odds" while considering it worth trying. The single reached number two in the United Kingdom, while it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, the first of seven US number ones for Collins in his solo career.
The song has been covered by several singers, some versions of which have been successful in both the US and UK markets. The song has twice reached number one in the UK singles chart: the pairing of Mariah Carey and boyband Westlife, in September 2000, and then again by Steve Brookstein, the first winner of The X Factor, in January 2005.
Collins was approached to write the title song to the film Against All Odds while it was still in its "rough cut form". At the time the soundtrack was being completed, Collins was on tour with Genesis. Director Taylor Hackford flew in to Chicago to see one of the band's concerts. Collins watched the movie on a videocassette recorder in his hotel room and agreed to appear on the soundtrack.
Originally titled "How Can You Just Sit There?", the song was initially from the sessions for Collins' debut solo album Face Value (1981). Collins wrote the song, while arranger Arif Mardin produced it. The piano performance is by New York musician Rob Mounsey. Piano, keyboard bass and a string section arranged and conducted by Mardin were recorded at RCA Studios, New York, while Collins recorded vocals and drums in Los Angeles.