Defend Phil Collins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pTcO4IzhuI

such a great and strange piece of music in which phil goes all philip glass on us

That first album has all kinds of cool, weird shit.

"take me home" = underrated great song
― Little Big Macher (llamasfur), Tuesday, October 7, 2003 12:37 AM (9 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"Take Me Home" - yes, a pretty spiffy song.

― Rob Bolton (Rob Bolton), Tuesday, October 7, 2003 10:45 AM (9 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

per the Miami Vice argument upthread, Phil actually had a song on the Miami Vice 2 sdtrk, one of his best solo songs, 'Take Me Home.' fcking great tune.

― the table is the table, Friday, August 24, 2007 10:01 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I don't remember Take Me Home

oh wait

cuz you don't remember!

That first album has all kinds of cool, weird shit.

This is true. Hand In Hand is another one.

I love the delicate little ballad "This Must Be Love," especially the bongos and bass.

That song is *very* John Martyn-esque imo. Weren't they living together at that point or something?

"take me home" and "against all odds" are all-time

That photo Ned posted above is the greatest thing ever.

xpost Dunno how Phil and john Martyn became friends, but Phil was essentially to getting Martyn off the sauce, and they remained close friends until his death.

I'm sure I've said it upthread, but I'm happy to defend pretty much everything he did up through and including most of "No Jacket Required" and "Invisible Touch," side-gigs (on albums, on stage) included. Then it gets pretty shaky.

Might have this wrong but i think they really bonded while going through simultaneous divorces.

I like all the love shown to the album tracks off Face Value. The two instrumental numbers are great and "I'm Not Moving" is another standout for me; a real funky, bouncing number which sounds like some early 80s sitcom theme, yet hides some fairly desperate lyrics.

Might have this wrong but i think they really bonded while going through simultaneous divorces.

"Women. Amirite?"

that's the side of Phil that I mostly don't like tbh, the obvious bitter break-up songs, 'I Don't Care Anymore' etc

Apparently it was a very bitter divorce.

It certainly was; it spawned enough material for two albums (also "Against All Odds", which was apparently a Face Value outtake). I've never really listened to Hello, I Must Be Going! though, is it as good as the debut?

It's got a few good'ns!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jmc6TZ5Guw#t=170

Wow, youtube wormhole entered!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=labtqRPg9jk

Oh man, I'm gonna make it a Frida Friday. Thanks Josh.

fabulous pants!

Over the holidays I asked my sister if she wanted to hear my Phil Collins impression, and then I just yelled 'TONITE!'

She thought it was pretty funny. I could have used a gated snare drum, though.

Oh, and in defense of Phil: A Trick of the Tail; Down and Out; Most of ABACAB; I'm Not Leaving; Easy Lover with Philip Bailey; Two Hearts, from the movie Buster.

i'm not moving anywhere!

Well, I'd be the first to say that I don't care for a lot of what he did in his solo career. However, I do think he's a great singer and an even better drummer, particularly on Genesis' '70s works: 'Watcher Of The Skies', 'The Musical Box', 'Dance On A Volcano'... I could imagine Phil getting on a lot of people's tits in the '80s due to his ubiquity: hits with Genesis, a successful solo career, various collaborations and guest appearances both as a singer and as a drummer, that Concorde thing at Live Aid etc. But now that he's no longer in the public eye to the degree that he once was, it's easier to look past that, I guess. While you'll never catch me listening to No Jacket Required, I definitely have time for A Trick Of The Tail or Duke (or nearly every Gabriel-fronted Genesis record), and I enjoy his work with Brand X.

Wasn't this case settled years ago? Collins recorded a lot of material, much of it good, some of it first-rate, some terrible. Nothing to apologize for.

otm

phil solo > pete solo. there, i said it

consider catching yourself listening to no jacket required, it's pretty good

why wouldn't you catch yourself listening to NJR?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E86cxhOTfFo

charity shop find 3 weeks ago : 3 cd boxset of face value, no jacket required, and ..but seriously : £3

not listened to them properly yet, but there are some interesting tracks here and there.

Second album underrated.

agreed - was gonna say, hello i must be going >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> but seriously

yeah, i did wonder they skipped that album.

aaaaaaannnd in today's big coincidence: http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/key-tracks-phil-collins-no-jacket-required

Awesome!

Per Hugh Padgham elsewhere, there's a cool Phil Collins drum exercise in "I Don't Care Anymore." The song starts out with the drums totally dead and '70s, then as the song progresses, they gradually fade in more effects and room, until we arrive at the classic '80s Phil gated reverb drum sounds. It's a pretty cool trick, if you pay attention.

I used to wonder how the he played that part on Frida's "I Know There's Something Going On." Then he did it on Letterman and I was like, ok, that's pretty cool (at 2:57):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eDaMSBJF4w

That's great. He's such a musical drummer, I can see why he pairs well with someone else. I could watch him and Steve Jordan play all day.

Totally forgot "Against All Odds" was nominated for an Oscar. But it's no "Tarzan."

I think Against All Odds might be the best of his spate of self-pitying and self-righteous and bitter ballads.

love the bit where phil plays 'going to a gogo' with the letterman band in that video above - have always adored that opening drum lick.

I actually like "Against All Odds", it's better when you get the movie and video out of your head, you can think of your own situation, someone who left you, and really feel it, man.

welcome to the gay experience

really feel it, man.

Phil sure does.

I think Phil the wounded soul belter gets a bad rap. HIs vox on this and "I Don't Care Anymore" are great. Not in the real soul man sense, but better than, I don't know, Michael Bolton. Like, you might not like his voice, but I don't think anyone would say he's not singing the hell out of these.

that legendary oscars performance of against all odds, which phil moans about in the letterman clip above
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWNvlT44nlw

are the poles really Michael Bolton vs soul?. Collins is a fine pop singer except when he bellows.

But I like the bellowing. He only does it when he is really feeling it.

ahah. I have always liked "Against All Odds". Ever since I was a kid !
I'm all for cheesy 80s ballads.
and more generally, I find PhilCo OK.
For all the terrible and uncool aspects about him many of his songs have a nostalgic impact on me.
the sound of more simple, superficial days...

Against All Odds is like the king of 'you treated me like crap so i killed myself i bet you feel bad now' balladry