8EEZ Playlist: Phil Collins

"It's just another day

for you and me, in paradise."

Hello, and thanks for reading!

This spotlight artist is a personal favorite of mine. I remember hearing his haunting smash ballad, "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" back in 1984, and literally crying my eyes out. Mind you, I was only a mere 12 years old, but, the voice, the melody and the poignant urgency of the song touched me quite deeply. I made it a point to buy up all his records from that point on. I did just that and have been a lifelong fan ever since, even despite the worries that he's now "Old Hat." It was also to my incredible joy that he was also the lead singer of one of my favorite 80s rock group: Genesis. Yes...they are due for a future 'list very soon. Meantime. Me and my buddy Oates will share this latest 'list of one Philip David Charles Collins of West London, UK.

Philip (Phil) Collins was born in 1951. Even at a young age, Collins would become quite the prodigy — mastering drums at the tender age of five, and took acting lessons at the age of 14. A brief cameo as a concert-goer in the classic Beatles' 1964 movie A Hard Day's Night got him the acting experience and exposure he wanted. He would join the band, Genesis in 1970 in the home of then-lead singer Peter Gabriel (another artist I greatly admire and hope to make a 'list for). His drumming skills were put to good use until Gabriel left the band in 1975. His inception as lead singer would come in 1978 on an album called ...And Then There Were Three... In 1981, his debut solo album was released Face Value. If there was a chart music follower, here in the US, his first solo hit was "I Missed Again" not "In The Air Tonight." That single was the followup and was actually his first official signature hit.

Still, while recording albums with his band mates Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford of Genesis, he would continue to record his own albums, all with the distinction of having his handwriting as the title graphics. In 1983, he released Hello, I Must Be Going! which gave him the smash Supremes cover "You Can't Hurry Love." His sound became more infused with jazz, R&B, and soft-rock, along with his stronger rock fare. Afterwards, a chance meeting with director Taylor Hackford who was scouting musical talent for his latest movie, the Jeff Bridges melodrama Against All Odds. Hackford had gained success melding music with his narrative sensibilities, gained great success uniting the late Joe Cocker and singer Jennifer Warnes for his romantic Richard Gere/Debra Winger drama An Officer and a Gentlemen. The result: "Up Where We Belong" went to Number 1 and won the Oscar for Best Original Song. "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" would be the film's love theme and net Collins his first ever Number 1 smash hit. Produced by the late super-producer Arif Mardin and establishing Collins as a killer soft-rock/adult contemporary act with staying power.

It paved the way for his next solo effort and crowning achievement: No Jacket Required in 1985. Still, he managed to collaborate and sing with other well-defined artists, such as Earth, Wind and Fire's Philip Bailey on his Number 2 smash "Easy Lover" where he also played drums. No Jacket Required yielded him the most hits off one album and a pair of Number 1 hits: "One More Night" and "Sussudio". His album also had an extra track that didn't appear off the LP We Said Hello, Goodbye, but was added to the CD. It won him the Grammy for Album of the Year and a legion of fans. He also contributed to another Taylor Hackford film soundtrack White Nights, a duet with singer Marilyn Martin, called "Separate Lives". It, too, would go to Number 1 and make him an easy choice for making soundtrack hits, much like Kenny Loggins was.

Another album with his band Genesis would still make Collins noticeable in the public eye. The album Invisible Touch which netted five top-10 smashes with his own group. In 1988, Collins would return to acting in a starring role in the British comedy/crime caper film Buster, based on the true story of The Great Train Robbery back in 1963. A slow cover of the Mindbender's hit song "A Groovy Kind of Love" went to Number 1 as did his 60s themed pop hit "Two Hearts" in 1989.

In 1989, ...But Seriously was his final smash album of the 80s. It gave Collins four more smash hits entering him into the 1990s. "Another Day In Paradise" would be his (and the decade's) last Number 1 hit. Fellow collaborators on the album would be David Crosby, of Crosby, Stills, & Nash, fame and guitar legend Eric Clapton whose work is featured prominently in "I Wish It Would Rain Down". It, too, would receive multi-platinum success and awards and accolades.

He would still record with Genesis and solo in the 90s — although he and his band were far more successful than his last solo effort: Both Sides in 1994, although it netted him a Top-20 hit "Everyday". Collins toured extensively and recorded, but eventually left Genesis for good. In 1999, after many smash soundtrack hits, he would finally win a major one: an Oscar for penning and recording, "You'll Be In My Heart" from the Disney animated hit Tarzan.

After health issues and early retirement, the promise of a Phil Collins comeback musically is somewhat uncertain. But, he did publish a memoir called I'm Not Dead Yet and he recently toured. Proof that a great artist never grows old — it just gets better with age like a robust, fine wine.

My buddy Oates' PC 'list as follows.

Cherry's Picks:

A souped-up 60s-style dance/pop number with Collins channeling his best Diana Ross impression — without it being creepy.

A heavy-percussion-laden, brassy pop hit off the ...But Seriously hit juggernaut. Fourth and last hit off that album.

Collins and backup singer David Crosby make a "Man In The Mirror"-style ode to fighting homelessness — or at least, making us all aware of it. I'm a bit on the fence on this massive hit, seeing as it often trivializes the subject matter, rather than powerfully states it.

A tear-jerking hit! Much like "Endless Love", it gives a sense of potent urgency in the singer's voice. One of his best vocal performances along with him and his patented drum set. Still, a powerful song to this day. On my list...did it make it to number one?

Collins shows considerable restraint on this early signature track, until going all balls-to-the-wall towards the end with drums, electro-guitar, and Collins' screaming (er, screeching perhaps) his heart out.

My Picks:

Hard rock track with Eric Clapton on guitar and a nice gospel choir to add the spice. A ruminating track about losing that "special someone."

Dancey rock/new wave track with a "Fugitive"-style theme. It's a basic, just because record. Liked it a lot since it hit radio in my middle school years.

Another sweet ballad (his stock and trade) that still manages to move you. His second Number 1 smash.

And this was his first. An interesting anecdote. Collins has had so many great hit records, this being my first exposure to him, that it was almost impossible to effectively choose which song was the best he had recorded. Determining after this song...

A big surprise...

His Mindbender's cover hit for his movie Buster stands as one of my all-time favorites. It's simple. Elegant. Very restrained and also has the "heart-swelling effect." It is however possible that this is in fact, a TIE.

This is also one of his best tracks. The Arif Mardin-produced track starts out with a simple piano and it's still his vocals that bring the subject of "closing the chapter on the book of life" very effective.

That's it for today. Thank you again.

Next Up: a Boston rock band with killer mileage.