15 Comments
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Ian Paul Sharp's avatar

Brilliant post, Matt. No Jacket is still excellent, and somehow sounds of the eighties but is not sunk by an overly eighties production. Thanks for keeping the Phil Collins flag flying!

I also posted about No Jacket Required a while ago, (and an overview of Collins a couple of weeks ago).

https://iansharp.substack.com/p/collins-nojacket

Matt Fish's avatar

I loved your piece on this topic too, Ian :) Cheers!

Mark Nash's avatar

Wow it’s easy to forget, almost 40 years on, just how good this album was and how good Phil Collins was. The 100 million record club as a solo and band member is an elite one (as well as being a fantastic piece of music trivia)

Matt Fish's avatar

PC is still somehow underrated. Somehow. Thanks for commenting Mark! :)

Brian Forkum's avatar

This was my first real concert and my mom took me. I will never forget it. I went there being a fan of everything he had already done and stayed a fan of everything he did. I would love to hear this album with the drums only because I think they might be strongly overlooked and underrated.

Matt Fish's avatar

Would definitely by a drums-only Phil Collins disc.

Dan Pal's avatar

I have some great memories of hearing "Sussudio" in clubs so I'll never bash it! I didn't know about the connection to The System. Loved their hit too!

Matt Fish's avatar

It’s a gem! Thanks Dan :)

MK Piatkowski's avatar

No Jacket Required is brilliant but I would rank Peter Gabriel's So and Daryl Hall and John Oates H2O just above it. I still love this album though and happy to see it get some love!

Matt Fish's avatar

Right there with you on So … it may or may not be on the list for this year ;)

Brad Kyle's avatar

Such a great piece, Matt! From the juicy, really provocative title to your well-written "defense" of your daringly bold assertion....plus, I loved hearing your history of enjoying Phil and his music! Granted, I've enjoyed his music since around '72 when I first heard the Genesis "Foxtrot" album, and have seen Genesis in concert at least 4 times (including twice with Gabriel).

Oddly enough, I first laid eyes on Collins, inadvertently, in 1964 (I was 9) when I saw "A Hard Day's Night"! He was 13, and managed to be in the crowd when The Beatles shot video for a couple songs, and the camera caught him at one point! I only discovered that little factoid about a decade ago!

Bottom line, Matt.....this was a wonderful article! It's fun watching you come into your own as a vital music writer!

Matt Fish's avatar

Appreciate all the love and support since the beginning Brad! Cheers :)

Brad Kyle's avatar

You got it, Matt! BTW, the front office is reminding me you're due for your next Tune Tag (not as painful as general dentistry, but we do have novacaine on hand)! Your first was last June as #44, so yours was over 30 TTs ago, so you're due!! If you're game, just DM me your first song...as you recall, we have no deadlines, and it's all casual and relaxed....'cause, y'know, novacaine!😉

Sarah Best's avatar

It’s on my playlist, but thanks for this excellent review. Plus, I watched an episode of Brooklyn Nine Nine that referenced No Jacket Required yesterday so it’s now essential listening 😂

Matt Fish's avatar

When Brooklyn 99 tells you to do something, you do it ;) thanks Sarah!