Phil Collins - ...Hits (1998)

GREATEST HITS WEEK (JUNE 29 - JULY 5, 2015)

Now here's a man who isn't afraid to put his mug on an album cover! But I gotta admit there's some truth in advertising in the compilation's title. I prefer his '80s stuff with Genesis, put this is certainly a decent disc with lots of hits. For almost two decades, he was a hit-making machine, no? Other than closing with Take Me Home, the sequencing doesn't make any sense, but this is the kind of CD that's best listened to on shuffle anyway. All told, I prefer the Phil that wants to be in Earth Wind & Fire or a Motown group over the Phil that wants to be a crooner.

No liner notes; just credits and at least 8 more pictures of Collins' face. Below, I've marked my favorites with a ✔ and tracks I skip with a ✘.

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: #18

Tracks: 16 tracks, 75 minutes.

Title	Year	Pop	AC
Another Day In Paradise	1989	1	1
True Colors	1998	112	2	✘
Easy Lover	1985	2	15	✔
You Can't Hurry Love	1982	10	9
Two Hearts	1988	1	1	✔
I Wish It Would Rain Down	1989	3	3	✘
Against All Odds	1984	1	2
Something Happened On The Way To Heaven	1989	4	2	✔
Separate Lives	1985	1	1	✘
Both Sides Of The Story	1993	25	10	✘
One More Night	1985	1	1
Sussudio	1985	1	30	✔
Dance Into The Light	1996	45	6
A Groovy Kind Of Love	1988	1	1	✘
In The Air Tonight	1981	19		✔
Take Me Home	1985	7	2	✔

Missing Top 40 hits: I Missed Again (#19, 1981), I Don't Care Anymore (#39, 1983), Don't Lose My Number (#4, 1985), Do You Remember (#4, 1990), Hang In Long Enough (#23, 1990), Everyday (#24, 1994). Any of the first three listed would have been welcome additions to this compilation.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  I can't hear In The Air Tonight without thinking of Miami Vice. Also, songs from the Hello I Must Be Going album remind me of my friend Scott who loved the cover of The Supremes' You Can't Hurry Love and was in a big hurry to buy the album. We scoured our small town one Sunday afternoon and finally found a copy in a supermarket. He was so excited until remembered the blue laws. [sad trombone sound]

And, no, I've never seen Buster, and have no plans to see it.

Ed. note: I wanted to use the phrase "Hit-Philled" somewhere above but thought better of it. I mention it here so I get credit for my restraint.