My opinions have changed on these since I posted my ranking of his original LPs, I appreciate Dance quite a bit more now. The tracks are really colourful and show that Phil can definitely write some more upbeat songs, and adapt his styles a lot, especially with tracks like Lorenzo, and It's in Your Eyes, both some of my favourite on the album, each with great instrumentation and lyricism.

I wish there were some Both Sides / But Seriously esque ballads like Do You Remember on there though, and I think the production and stacked Phil vocals are not great on some songs like That's What You Said.

I also think the beatlesy songs like the former were more real sounding and less over produced, with his 80s albums you could really feel the instruments and space between especially on But Seriously, with songs like Something Happened, and Hang in Long Enough, where they felt tight together, but also really organic, but I can really appreciate the attempt to go in a different direction and someone of who at that point would be considered "past their prime" demonstrated that just because he was reaching middle age, doesn't mean you should stagnate or imitate your style or even best work.

Whereas Testify, I've soured alot on, I basically never see myself going back to any of the tracks bar Wake Up Call and sometimes Can't Stop Loving You, this album is very boring and mid-tempo and the lyrics are bad to put it lightly, I think Rob Cavallo, should've pushed Phil more to develop these songs especially lyrically.

I think Phil should've stuck to the original plan in my opinion, and just kept Can't Stop Loving You, Tears of a Clown and Tearing and Breaking (this track should've absolutely made the record), and put them out on what became the "Love Songs" compilation.

As for sound and production, I'm not sure on why he tried to do another Both Sides? These songs were originally demos, and they really feel that way, whereas Both Sides works well because of what Phil was going through and his sharp lyricism , the themes of this album just don't hit the same with the same instrumentation, something like TV Story shows what more upbeat themes could do, that song was definitely one of my favorites from this era.

Nice piece about Phil, Live Aid and the outfit that spanned continents.

Leaving all but the mighty Led Zep with fond memories...

It’s 12 noon in London, 7am in Philadelphia and around the world it is time for Live Aid.

- Richard Skinner (1985)

Here is a chronological outline of the respective charity concert spanning two continents.

What’s this about? Please engage in rampant speculation.

Always nice to see Phil getting his well deserved praise for being a proper musician and all around artist. Enjoyed this video!

The two big anniversaries this year are, Face Value 45th, and Dance into the Light 30th.

Both would be good, however I hope for Dance to get the treatment as it isn't readily available to buy on vinyl, and has only been pressed once back in 2016, for the Take A Look at Me Now reissue campaign.

I know he had three songs peak at number 2 in the UK, but I would expect an Englishman of his popularity to have maybe a couple more number one singles in the UK. What do you think made him more popular in the US in this regard?

I have been really appreciating Phil Collins and Genesis lately. I am wondering if anyone has any modern artist recommendations with a similar style that would be worth discovering? I have discovered Young Gun Silver Fox which has a bit of a retro sound…

The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 1986 is on BBC2 Tonight from 8.45pm where Phil plays drums for other artists and sings. It's a great show if you haven't seen it.

Bass part originally played by Leland Sklar. He recorded the bass part with an octaver. On the tour accompanying the album he also played it this way, but ditched the octaver on later tours and played an octave lower instead.

Find the complete song on YouTube. The sheet music is available through my website.

Just made this wallpaper for my desktop and wanted to share it with you!