For a lot of people Phil Collins is known for two things— being the “Lion King guy” and for his absolutely thunderously epic drum fill on his most popular song “In The Air Tonight.” For others, it’s the duet “Easy Lover” that he did with Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and Fire (a song that absolutely rips) or his breakthrough cover of The Supremes song “You Cant Hurry Love” in 1982 which was the moment that sent Collins solo career into the stratosphere. And for hardcore prog-heads, it’s his work with Genesis alongside the equally venerable Peter Gabriel (who wrote one of my favorite albums of all time “So”).
In other words, Collins has had one helluva career, and it’s sort of incredible that …But Seriously contains absolutely none of the moments from the above list (but, like, seriously it’s kind of a trip). It’s a testament to his pop songwriting prowess honed in the decade prior, and from the opening bombast of “Hang In Long Enough” to the sentimental solitude of “I Wish It Would Rain Down” to the gorgeously thoughtful musings in “Another Day in Paradise” to the funky jazz-infused groove of “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning”, listening to this record showcases Collins’ full range of hit-making abilities across styles. It also helps that he brought in some incredible musicians to contribute to the sessions– the album features venerable legends like Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Nathan East, Pino Palladino, and David Crosby.
…But Seriously might not have Collins’ most massive of moments, but what makes it special is there truly isn’t a misstep on any song despite all of the extensive ground he covers. It stands as a complete work from one of the 80’s largest pop music stars.
Standout Songs: “Another Day in Paradise”, “That’s Just The Way It Is”, “Something Happened on the Way to Heaven”, “Heat on the Street”
