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Any Phil Collins fans?
- Thread starter Fassa Albrecht
- Start date
I like some of his songs off his solo albums, but I wouldn't call myself a fan of that work. Same with some of his Genesis stuff after Duke. Some songs I like, but not the albums.
Love his work with Genesis (as vocalist and drummer) from Nursery Cryme to Duke, and Brand X is a pretty cool fusion band he played with.
Love his work with Genesis (as vocalist and drummer) from Nursery Cryme to Duke, and Brand X is a pretty cool fusion band he played with.
I have a lot of respect for Phil. He's one of the best drummers, ever, and he is one hell of a song writer. While I'm not a huge fan of his solo work (too poppy for me), I love what he did in Genesis from 1971 to 1980. 1976-1977 was the peak era for me. Plus, what he was doing with Brand X during the same time.
I did get to see him at Madison Square Garden a few years back on his "First Final Farewell" tour. No doubt about it, he really puts on a great show, has an incredible way of connecting with an audience and proved himself, again, on the drumkit. The show opener was all drums; first him, then Chester, then together and then a percussionist joined in. A performance to remember. Of course, Lee Sklar (sp?) played as great as always; solid groove and fluidity. Tasty!
I did get to see him at Madison Square Garden a few years back on his "First Final Farewell" tour. No doubt about it, he really puts on a great show, has an incredible way of connecting with an audience and proved himself, again, on the drumkit. The show opener was all drums; first him, then Chester, then together and then a percussionist joined in. A performance to remember. Of course, Lee Sklar (sp?) played as great as always; solid groove and fluidity. Tasty!
I liked Phil's Genesis fine, but am not familiar enough with the Peter Gabriel era to compare. Like Peter Cetera, Phil solo is a function of the time, IMO- happy, sappy and poppy radio unless you went out of your way to find good stuff OR unless you were into hair bands. Think of some of the recording artists who were selling big with sap at the time- Al Jarreau, Jeffrey Osborne, Michael McDonald, Luther Vandross, Lionel Ritchie... Phil fit right in with this bunch.
I suggest getting a copy of "Selling England by the Pound". This is considered by many Genesis fans as being the best album of the Gabriel/Hackett/Banks/Rutherford/Collins era of the band.
I like both his Genesis stuff and his solo works. I like good pop songs. I'm not a 'rocker' but I understand why cats don't like his pop stuff. He was huge for a good while so that means people did like his pop work. I'd love to have been in Nathan East's or Lee Sklar's shoes touring and playing that stuff!
Don't leave out Sting. Honestly, I loved that era! Sappy or not, the songs sold in the millions. Good songs, IMHO.
Thanks so much for the suggestion. I'll give it a listen.
Whoa there! I was the biggest Police fan in the world from the late 70s until they broke up. Saw them on the first night of that 2-night ATL stay in 1983.
I don't know why I feel that I should defend Sting here, as I have only the first two solo albums. But of those two, nothing on then is as straight sappy as Cetera or Collins' worst radio stuff. I know, not a good comparison. Playing Phil's solo material would be great- but I don't know how much time I could spend just listenting to it- and I'm one of those people who defends 70s music and all the sap that came with some of it (Seasons in the sun/One Tin Soldier/Billy, Don't Be A Hero, anyone?
) IT's not that I hate the songs -they were all over the radio at the time, and I didn't change the station- it's that they are just... well, just there for me, and I'm not really paying attention.
One of the things I liked most was his voice. Honestly, it worked! I also like the fact that he is a fan of soul music. Don't know about his attitude but remember........he's British!
Brits are known for having a 'tude!
I only mentioned Sting because he's been lumped in this category before and I didn't want to leave him out. His solo stuff is quite different from the Police stuff same as Collins/Genesis. Again, I liked this era of music.........a lot! I woulda killed to get on a tour.Thanks so much for the suggestion. I'll give it a listen.
Whoa there! I was the biggest Police fan in the world from the late 70s until they broke up. Saw them on the first night of that 2-night ATL stay in 1983.
I don't know why I feel that I should defend Sting here, as I have only the first two solo albums. But of those two, nothing on then is as straight sappy as Cetera or Collins' worst radio stuff. I know, not a good comparison. Playing Phil's solo material would be great- but I don't know how much time I could spend just listenting to it- and I'm one of those people who defends 70s music and all the sap that came with some of it (Seasons in the sun/One Tin Soldier/Billy, Don't Be A Hero, anyone?
I love his drumming for Genesis, but primarily up to Duke. After that ... not so much. After he became the singer but I didn't like the direction the band went.
Given that statement this might sound odd but I also liked his first solo album - a lot. I'd say that's because it's not a Genesis album, it's a Phil Collins album, and I didn't necessarily expect it to sound like Genesis so maybe it was easier for me to enjoy it as its own thing that way? His second was more or less OK.
But I have to say I'm most impressed with his drumming in the earlier days of Genesis, back when he was their DRUMMER. The man can play when he wants to.
Given that statement this might sound odd but I also liked his first solo album - a lot. I'd say that's because it's not a Genesis album, it's a Phil Collins album, and I didn't necessarily expect it to sound like Genesis so maybe it was easier for me to enjoy it as its own thing that way? His second was more or less OK.
But I have to say I'm most impressed with his drumming in the earlier days of Genesis, back when he was their DRUMMER. The man can play when he wants to.
Phil is clearly a great drummer, he just has made some... questionable musical choices. By questionable, I mean choosing to play crap top-40 type music, perhaps to pay the bills... No matter, he's a good drummer who has, on occasion, made some really good music.
I typically can't stand pop stuff, but I find it impossible to dislike Phil Collins, no matter how poppy he gets.
I do prefer his less poppy stuff, original Genesis and Brand X. But he's welcome in my ear any way he wants to go there.
I do prefer his less poppy stuff, original Genesis and Brand X. But he's welcome in my ear any way he wants to go there.
+1 on giving Selling England By The Pound a spin. Classics like Firth of Fifth and The Cinema Show are on there. I love Phil's playing with Genesis, mostly up through Duke like most other people. After that time period, both his solo albums and Genesis became a bit too poppy for my taste. Definitely prefer the early-mid '70s progressive rock stuff.
