Monday, January 25, 2010

25 Years Ago Today: Phil Collins releases "No Jacket Required"...



'No Jacket Required' is the third solo album by English singer-songwriter Phil Collins, released on January 25th, 1985. The album was named after an incident at The Pump Room in Chicago, where Collins was denied admittance to the establishment because of his attire. 'No Jacket Required' features guest vocalists, including Peter Gabriel and Sting. Some of the songs, like "Don't Lose My Number" and "Sussudio", were based on improvisation. Other songs, like "Long Long Way to Go", had a political message. "One More Night", "Sussudio", "Don't Lose My Number", and "Take Me Home" were released as singles, with corresponding music videos.

The album was positively received and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1985. Stephen Holden of The New York Times said that Collins was "quietly revolutionizing and expanding the role of the drums in pop record making". Rolling Stone reviewer David Fricke said that the album, "Like his '81 and '82 outings, Face Value and Hello ... I Must Be Going!, 'No Jacket Required' is not an album that waits to be liked". Collins' most commercially successful album, 'No Jacket Required' went to number one in several countries, including the United States, where it was at the top of the charts for seven weeks, United Kingdom and Canada. The record has been certified diamond in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Suggested listening:

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