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Review
Phil Collins’ third solo album established him as the most unlikely superstar of the 80s. Number one in eight countries, over two million copies sold in the UK, where it has been certified six times platinum, and including no fewer than four American ten 10 singles (two of them US chart-toppers), No Jacket Required was as much of a mid-80s radio and CD player staple as Purple Rain, Born in the USA, Like a Virgin and Brothers in Arms.
It was the quintessential Live Aid-era album from the definitive Live Aid-era artist – not for nothing did Collins interrupt the No Jacket Required World Tour to appear at the Philadelphia and Wembley Stadium Live Aid events on the same day. It sounded quintessentially mid-80s, too, with its machine rhythms and blaring horns. You couldn’t get more mid-80s guests than Sting, Helen Terry and Peter Gabriel, who all provide backing vocals on the album. The placement of some of the songs on the soundtrack to Miami Vice was none-more-80s, while the video to Take Me Home, wherein Collins is filmed everywhere from Tokyo and Sydney to Moscow and Memphis, reeked of Reagan/Thatcher-era conspicuous consumption and like-punk-never-happened excess.
But there’s no denying that, for sheer proficiency and mastery of its domain, this blend of power ballads and synthed-up, hook-heavy rock remains unbeatable. Sussudio may have been in hock to Prince’s 1999 up to its rolled-up-jacket-sleeve elbows, but it was a blistering album opener. One More Night was a slow jam just crying out to be covered – or sampled (Collins is an unexpected rappers’ delight). Don’t Lose My Number, a US single, had melodic echoes of Easy Lover, Collins’ chart-topping team-up with Earth Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey from the same year. Take Me Home, the fourth single, ostensibly about a patient in a mental institution, successfully combined electronic and organic instrumentation.
Elsewhere, Long Long Way to Go recalled the work of fellow Genesis alumnus Gabriel and proved that Collins was equally adept at incorporating experimental ambient textures and world music polyrhythms into his music. No wonder it won the 1985 Grammy Award for Pop Album of the Year. --Paul Lester
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CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I know that Phil is not necessarily the most fashionable person in the world. He's balding, used to have a beard so large that you could hide a badger in it (Thanks, Blackadder), and he dumped his wife by fax.
But so what? More than any other pop star, he's always been one of us. An ordinary bloke, who just happens to be able to play almost any instrument going, writes fantastic music, and has earned more money than some countries over the last 30 years.
And, in my view, he has not bettered this album. "But Seriously" came close (and was the first album I ever bought on CD), but "No Jacket Required" has everything. From the exuberance of "Sussudio", to the gentle heartbreak of "One More Night", all human emotions are here. However, for me, the top track is "Take Me Home"; a gentle start, building to an emotional crescendo, before dying back down again. Backing singers include Sting & Peter Gabriel; but try picking their voices out in the amazingly complex harmonies.
Now, maybe I still love this album because I remember what a happy time of my life was going on around it (oh, to be 16 again!), but every time I put it on, I want to dance, sing, laugh and cry. Fantastic. If you are looking for a slice of 80s pop which still sounds as fresh today, 20 years on (where DID that time go?), then this album is for you.
(P.S. If you can find an album called 12"ers, buy it; I think it's an inspired set of re-workings of some of the best songs on this album; "Take me Home" in particular is outstanding).
But so what? More than any other pop star, he's always been one of us. An ordinary bloke, who just happens to be able to play almost any instrument going, writes fantastic music, and has earned more money than some countries over the last 30 years.
And, in my view, he has not bettered this album. "But Seriously" came close (and was the first album I ever bought on CD), but "No Jacket Required" has everything. From the exuberance of "Sussudio", to the gentle heartbreak of "One More Night", all human emotions are here. However, for me, the top track is "Take Me Home"; a gentle start, building to an emotional crescendo, before dying back down again. Backing singers include Sting & Peter Gabriel; but try picking their voices out in the amazingly complex harmonies.
Now, maybe I still love this album because I remember what a happy time of my life was going on around it (oh, to be 16 again!), but every time I put it on, I want to dance, sing, laugh and cry. Fantastic. If you are looking for a slice of 80s pop which still sounds as fresh today, 20 years on (where DID that time go?), then this album is for you.
(P.S. If you can find an album called 12"ers, buy it; I think it's an inspired set of re-workings of some of the best songs on this album; "Take me Home" in particular is outstanding).
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Sam
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
This album is really nice. I have always enjoyed Phil's music, there is always something different about it, and this album have all that. The warmth of Phil's voice and music will always show, and you will definetly enjoy listening to this great album. Add one to your collection, wheather you're a fan or not, this will be a great addition.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
All Phil Collins fans should have this CD in their collection. A fantastic opening number,Sussudio, starts this album and it doesn't look back. It's a fast, furious, energetic and upbeat track. I really enjoy this song as it makes you want to get up and dance round the living room! It then moves on to a much slower number One More Night, which is you're feeling under the weather, can be emotional and moving. Don't Lost My Number is again another lively full-of-life track as is Who Said I Would. A real get-up-and go album.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Collins
a good record from Genesis this is of good quality and I like it, I think it is one of those classics.
A must definitely.
A must definitely.
Published 2 months ago by MikeD
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great songs
I love this cd and price was amazing. I got this product very quickly and has great songs. I recommend to anyone romantic....
Published 4 months ago by Rehana
5.0 out of 5 stars
no jacket required
a good cd had album thowt its about time had cd . have it on in my a couple a week
Published 14 months ago by deafead
2.0 out of 5 stars
No Jacket Required
Not one of his better albums and frankly not my taste. Bought as a present for a friend who obviously needs medical help!
Published 16 months ago by Mark Corps
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some kind of Baked Bean/Tangerine Hybrid
Ah Phil. What a hideous album cover. Anyone buying the vinyl of this album would be in for a disturbing night of being glared at by an orange bean-faced git. Anyways... Read more
Published on 23 April 2011 by Greg Boyd
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best... very much a relic of its time...
This was Phil Collins' 3rd solo effort, and his biggest seller of them all, released in early 1985 at the height of his most commercial period. Read more
Published on 8 Jun 2010 by N. Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars
ASTOUNDING!
This album was one of the biggest of the 1980's selling what I believe is some 30 million copies! It had number one singles around the world, grammy awards and Diamond... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by EWEN
4.0 out of 5 stars
Third Time's A Charm
On January 25, 1985, Phil Collins released "No Jacket Required", perhaps the best of his solo work. As has been talked about many times, the title of the album refers to an... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2009 by Dave_42
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Do you like Phil Collins?"
Do you like Phil Collins? I've been a big Genesis fan ever since the release of their 1980 album, Duke. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2009 by Billy Ray Cyrus
3.0 out of 5 stars
On the Slide
Well I liked 'Sussudio', even though it is a blatent rip off of Prince's 1999 with a bit of EWF thrown in. The rest is rather patchy. Read more
Published on 20 Oct 2007 by M. Jellis
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