: The track famously fades into a brief, hidden a cappella rendition of "Over the Rainbow". Although the album was released shortly after John Lennon's death, Collins has stated that "Tomorrow Never Knows" was recorded and mixed over a year prior and was not originally intended as a memorial. Critical Reception
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
: 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 : The track famously fades into a brief,
Reception of the cover is highly polarized among critics and fans: It remains the only cover song on the
: Collins delivers what some reviewers describe as "automaton-like wails" that maintain the hypnotic vision of the original lyrics.
: 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.
While the original Beatles version was a groundbreaking piece of 1960s psychedelia, Collins' interpretation is often described as more downtempo and reflective.