It’s been about 5 years since we’ve had a new album from Phil Collins. In case you’ve been wondering where he’s been and what he’s been up to, his Web site has this recent quote from him on the subject: “In 2004 I came to a major decision in my life. I decided to stop my seemingly endless days of touring. I had been on the road for the last 30 years, and now with 2 young children I decided that enough was enough. It was time to say goodnight.”
True, 30 years is a long time in the music business. Here’s a few soundbites that track Phil’s evolution from Genesis drummer, to Genesis vocalist/drummer/songwriter, on up to some of his big hit singles as a soloist. What’s most interesting about this stroll down Collins’ lane is this: with each clip you’re about to hear, Collins became more famous, more popular, and his albums were consumed by more and more people. (Obviously he made more money, as well.)
The question is, and I open this post to debate now in the comments below, did the music get better or worse? More interesting as time went on, or less? More engaging or less? You be the judge:
“In the Cage” – This is a clip of Phil singing a song off Genesis’ 1974 album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Peter Gabriel was still the lead singer of Genesis in those days, and Phil was the band’s drummer (and a damn good one, at that). But once Gabriel left, Phil took over as the lead singer, often singing while playing drums simultaneously.
“Squonk” – This clip comes from Genesis’ 1976 album, A Trick of the Tail, the first studio album with Phil as lead vocalist.
“Follow You, Follow Me” – A short clip from Genesis’ 1978 album called And Then There Were Three.
“That’s All” – In 1983, Genesis released an album simply called Genesis, which yielded this clip.
“One More Night” – By 1985, in addition to his work with Genesis, Phil had released his third solo album, No Jacket Required, which yielded this clip.
“Invisible Touch” – This was Genesis in 1986 off an album with the same name. Can’t argue with a catchy tune, can you?
The debate starts now!
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As a long time Genesis fan ( before Phil was even in the band ) it is my opinion that the music got progressively worse starting around 1979. The more that they tried to be comercial and reach a wider audience with catchy pop-tunes, the more the songwriting suffered. But there is no accounting for the tastes of the music-buying masses. The drivel that sells and gets played on the radio today is pure crap ( gangsta-rap, Bitchny Spears, manufactured new-country “stars” ). But as a friend of mine thats is in the business once said, “music is mostly sold to eighth-grade drop-out, divorced housewives and teenagers that dont know any better”
posted by sandburr on 9-17-2007 at 1:46 am
You’re either a Phil Collin’s person or a Peter Gabriel person.
I’ll stick with Peter Gabriel.
posted by Bassman on 9-17-2007 at 5:51 am
Being a non-fan who likes some of each singer’s work, let me say Peter’s solo work has been better. Yet, Phil can play the heck out of the drums.
posted by gus on 9-17-2007 at 6:00 am
Using only these clips, I lose interest after “That’s All” – but “No Jacket Required” had some real rock on it, including backing vocals by Peter Gabriel on “Take Me Home.” Collins’ first three albums had some very Gabrielesque stuff, but I lost interest as the quieter love songs started to crowd out the psychedelic rockers. But you can’t listen to Phil’s solo work, Peter’s solo work, and Genesis (in either incarnation) and compare them any more than you can say “Who’s better, the Stones or the Beatles?” There’s four fairly different subgenres there, and other than the late Phil solo, I’ll take any of ‘em over 98.6% of what’s on the radio here in Sacramento.
posted by spinhead on 9-17-2007 at 7:42 am
There’s another reincarnation, the Disney Phil. I thought Tarzan was pretty good, riffing on the jungle imagery of the film and incorporating the themes and rhythms. Brother Bear was sappy dreck.
posted by ianrey on 9-17-2007 at 9:25 am
I’ve found the following “album art rule of thumb” works well as it relates to this particular topic…
Band photo or atmospheric image…music good.
Big fat Phill face photo…music bad.
posted by Dawn Lorraine on 9-17-2007 at 10:15 am
Alas, popularity is rarely an indication of quality. Give me Gabriel-era Genesis or any of Gabriel’s solo work (even the less-than-inspired recent stuff) over Collins-era Genesis or solo Phil Collins (especially the pop pablum he has been reduced to more recently).
Yes, Phil Collins is an AMAZING drummer, but his place is behind the drum kit, sans microphone. Unless he’s singing backup for Gabriel…
I’m still hoping beyond hope that the mid-70s lineup of Genesis has a reunion tour, and that it includes Gabriel and Hackett.
posted by Paul in SF on 9-17-2007 at 1:03 pm
Listening to the music clips on this page reminds me why I’m not a Phil Collins fan. The clips went from great (In the Cage) to progressive-ly worse and worse.
I’ve always been a Peter Gabriel fan and an early Genesis fan. I really like the first few Genesis albums with Collins at the helm (“A Trick of the Tail” and “Wind & Wuthering”). I also like Project X with Collins on drums.
Back around 1985 friends offered me a ticket to see Genesis in concert. Having been dragged to see the Phil Collins solo band a year earlier I thought I’d end up seeing the same dribble, so I declined. Big mistake. My friends reported back that Genesis, even with Collins at the helm, played many of their old classics.
posted by Iain on 9-17-2007 at 3:10 pm
I love Phil (maybe it’s the youngster in me) but it’s a different kind of love that I have for Genesis, and the concert I was at last weekend was almost entirely throwback to the classics. Except for the god-awful “I Can’t Dance” Phil on the drums was worth every penny.
posted by Jennifer on 9-18-2007 at 3:38 am