Born on the 30th January 1951 was ' Cheeky Cockney ' Phil Collins whose used both his two talents for the drums and his voice working hard to make such a mark on the music industry and the world today.
I'm quite a ' Cheeky Chappy ' myself but will never gain the respect, the love and the need that Phil's worked hard to gain.
He's a loved man and his name will remain immortal as it'll always be remembered.

Now being crazy for loving hardcore music is what I am, crazy. But what the hell is a mad ass crazy hardcore loving midnight Raver doing owning a album which I can only describe as maybe soppy, old, ancient and sad Phil Collins album?

Well I maybe younger than you and have more experience than you ( ??? smiles! ) .... but anyway listen, there is nothing ancient, sad, boring and stupid about having this album. I love my hardcore and you all find it hard to believe I know but yes, I brought a Phil Collins album, but not just any album, his Greatest Hits and that's why Collins entitles this album.... the......Hits.

Phil Collins was one of the biggest songwriter/singers of the 80's decade and carried on making his career a success right through the early 90's and managed to succeed more with other leading artists such as Brandy updating his ' Paradise ' song.

So here's the album, his greatest hit's and why I think you should buy the album!

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- Phil Collins - The Hits
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01 - Another Day In Paradise

In 1989 we had this tune come from Collins and was again to prove to be another big selling hit for him.

This tune starts off with a with a slightly scary and eerie sound introducing those drums before Collins enters with his amazing, precise and capturing voice.
There are many interesting sounds in this song from drums, beats and key melodies. The keyboards been used to give that memorable melody playing along to his voice covered with a background tapping beat.

The song lyrics force us to take attention to the strong moral coming clearly through the song where Collins sings about an old lady, an alleged ' bum'. This song talks clearly of the poor life's the homeless have to lead, the rejection from the passers by and community and the fact that we are living a much better life, a life of Paradise. Helps to make us think about all the little things in life we take for granted. A teaching for us all, quite thought provoking.

02 - True Colors

This song has been used on commercials more than the once and this big tune only was released 1998, the same year as the release of this album.

' True Colors' is one of Collins slower songs but no way the slowest. It combines the harmonies of the Scottish Pipers melody playing along with a drum loop and beat that keeps the song in rhythm.

Collins try's to pull out a no fear, all brave and beautiful thought coming from out the song as the lyrics talk about him loving the fact that his lover has no fear, only beauty and this wannabe love song will always be remembered like many of his achievements.

03 - Easy Lover

This tune sure proved to me how much my dear young mummy loved this man Phil Collins. I mean, it'll never be a favourite of mine, but it will of my mums. ' Easy Lover' was released back in 85'. I'm about to give away my ancient growing age ( cries )
I was born just a year before and I remember hearing this in my early years about 87', 88'. So my mum was playing this years after and although we do that with our hardcore, dance and old-skool this I'm sure wasn't as normal as it is today, playing an 80's tune years on but still in the 80's. My mum wasn't normal, wasn't and yes, I'll always enjoy this because it reminds me time and time again of my early years, always the best weren't they!

As for the actual song and lyrics, well. Collins talks of a lady who finds it easily to fall in love and it's best to leave before regretting it. Getting out of a relationship before it gets bad is probably the best and the hardest thing to ever do but has to be done at times. She's an Easy Lover!

04 - You Can't Hurry Love

You Can't Hurry Love but when I listen to this my Step's are hurried! This energetic, fast paced easy listening and dancing too tune came from late back 1982. If I was born that year I'd have been in the video for being the first ever new born baby dancing! I'd have been up dancing believe, every time I hear this tune I just want to dance and do that famous step to step and clap dance Collins famously did in the video to this.

The lyrics get us agreeing immediately with Collins. He tries to blame his mum in this for convincing him you won't find your one and the love your waiting for straight away, it's all about waiting and when I listen to this upbeat, fast looped and incredible song I find it's all about dancing and being happy.

I personally believe Collins made this an upbeat dance worthy tune because it completes the believe that love isn't all something we share at times but that doesn't mean that we can't be happy because when this gets me dancing I'm much more than happy!

05 - Two Hearts

' Two Hearts' is a Collins tune filled full with joy. Collins makes so many good points through the lyrics and not only this an upbeat tune for us to dance to and enjoy it's also a very thought provoking song full of morals, points and good thoughts that we should all have because if we was all as confident as Collins is then we'd have no worries.

Collins has cleverly made this also a Love Song. A song ideal for a couple and their lonely night. Don't matter where you couples are or how far apart you are you share the love together maybe not through touch but through the mind. We all know we're loved by somebody, everyone of us!

A clear rhythm plays repeatedly through the song, a karaoke tune, you just want to get up and sing, sing, sing!

06 - I Wish It Would Rain Down

Of course Phil Collins is much better known for his love for love. It must mean a lot to him because he continuously produced and wrote love songs which are slow and extremely though provoking as a love song should be.

I have to be honest and say that although I recognized the tune after buying the album it's not one I clearly remember from growing up in the 80's. It's not a favourite neither because it doesn't seem to have any significant about it and doesn't fit me in my own way however. This is a song I believe will suit many lovers and people out there.

Collins talks of not always doing the right things, not always thinking straight but now he's hurt his loved one he thinks only straight. He's done wrong, he'd love to turn it back and can't so now he's left weeping in his sorrows and mistakes.

07 - All Against All Odds ( Take A Look At Me Now )

This 1984 tune, the year of my awkward and regrettable birth saw the release of in my eyes possibly the Greatest Ever Love song.
' Against All Odds' was recently remade over 2 years ago by Boy School Chummies - Westlife. Westlife then featured the gorgeous babe Mariah Carey in their video and song. But nothing will match this original.

Collins not only wrote the right lyrics, sang a true love song but also made it much more than it actually could have been. In this original version you get all those unique Collins bit's like where he pauses at certain points in the tune choosing the exact time he comes in with that soft masculine and deep trusting voice.

This song really signifies the points about loosing a true loved one and how we humans year after year and decade after decade continue to push away and make mistakes with loved ones. Times we do something we shouldn't have which results in us loosing the one we love. We really should think for others and stop making these mistakes. Notice how I'm mentioning this through listening to this tune, very thought provoking and there's the proof.

08 - Something Happened On The Way To Heaven

Whenever I hear the first part to this tune it reminds me of a quiz show or winning a prize. See right at the beginning of the song it has these sort of quick fire cheese sounds. I never really heard this tune before buying the album and now that I have the album? no, it doesn't make no difference.

Although this is quite a strong song from Collins, talking of his believe that we can always turn around the bad to good. If we make a mistake there's always a way to get around it and reap the good, but can we? I'm not sure about this and the tune. Not one I listen to but you all reading should have surely at least of heard it the once, you can make your own decision on that.

09 - Separate Lives

' Separate Lives' is a good tune, again I think it's a love song which is great for couples and will be much more for you others out there. This has all the elements to bring together one unique love song but I just can't see where it all binds together as it's again something I won't listen to.

Again the song is slow but with this it's more melody based as the drums see to have disappear and left for good. Lots of light percussion to accompany his amazing voice.

10 - Both sides Of The Story

This always sounds like its about to burst into some major rock show because the introducing drums and guitars together give that rock rhythm before building up to something but here we are suspended to await his voice as it then kicks into the long steady flowing rocking tune.

I'm not one to be big on the rock, I'm a listener to rock but aint overly huge or no way like that. That's possibly what it is that deters me from listening to this tune. One thing that seems to bite me in the bum about this tune is his voice here.
There isn't nothing in my eyes significant in this tune to tell you but when I'm sat here listening to it trying hard to describe this tune his voice really captures me.

He uses different levels and different speeds with his actual voice, using different levels and tines at different times throughout the song brings out his passion and talent for music. I really doubt that there are many artists out there that can compare in anyway for his passion towards, performing, singing and producing music. A man full of Passion!

11 - One More Night

This song featured in the famous film ' Buster' following the major historical success of stealing millions of £££'s from off a night train and has been hailed as the Biggest Train Robbery ever!
Phil Collins actually played the leading role as Buster Edwards who now has passed away due to unfortunate circumstances.

I remember this song being played when Buster's surrounded by the Police and has to surrender or be taken by force. He has his last moment's with his wife before surrendering. This moving song fits the moment not only by music but by the lyrics too.

This is one of his more famous Love songs and I can see clearly why. But still it seems strange that with Collins Loves Songs you can listen to them, even dance at times and most of sing. Just because there love songs doesn't mean you have to be in love to enjoy the music. I have a partner yes and will get you straight in I'm no romantic, fish 'n' chips and rowing to sea is about as romantic as I'll ever get! but still I enjoy the album.

12 - Sussudio

I'm going to take the Bull by the Horn and tell you straight that I really can't describe this song. It's about having a crush, talking about a girl, you spend nearly every minute thinking off and although I can somewhat follow to I just don't like this song.

I find this song at least a part funny at times. It's so 80's! It's really pop sounding, cheesy melodies and trumpet pieces. Everything right from the bouncy drum loop that seems to hop from spot to spot to the quirky samples used in the tune.

13 - Dance Into The Light

This is from 1996, not that long ago. Just goes to show that Collins is really living a successful career, down to all that passion filled talent.

As for the actual tune ' Dance Into The Light' again it's one of the tracks on the album I'm not that keen on. It's one of those songs which will have you singing chorus for the rest of your day, at work, at dinner and in bed trying to count sheep. It's a recent tune so many of you really should recognize and if you don't then you won't like it believe.

14 - A Groovy Kind Of Love

It's becoming much clearer to me that Collins is known for the love songs, he's forgotten as an actor, a successful Drummer whose great on them too after being a part of Genesis.

But again we find that among the collection of Greatest is yet another love song. But this quite different to others on the album as it starts much slower, quieter and has only one main melody for much of the beginning in the song where your left only to focus on his amazing voice and what he's saying.

This is almost the ultimate love song because it starts off exactly how you imagine for a love song to be but then half through somehow lifts on the feeling and without being more upbeat raises the energy by adding a drum drop which plays over.

This is some ' Groovy ' song, it has the rhythm, the passion, the lyrics, the pace and most of all the best artist behind it. This is one of my very few favourites and will, I hope, be yours too.

15 - In The Air Tonight

This was one of the very first ever tunes to come from Phil after being a part of Genesis. It's also one of my earliest memories to a song. I remember this from being still in my nappies, and so ok, I only got out them from 16 but still! ( smiles ) No, but whenever i do hear this it pictures me back to my early childhood, no specific thoughts or memories but just way back to being a little kiddie.

The song starts off with a unique style, slow, quite and a drum drop loop actually creating the rhythm and pace where the melody follows over for once.

This is not like any usual Love song at all. Instead it slates the lover, puts confidence into the listener as Collins stands and sings out these brave admiring lyrics. At times we have to things for ourselves, not to be selfish but just because we have to put our well being first sometimes.

This is a song which if you don't agree with me you will after listening. Again Phil proves to have the mind of a saint, getting us to follow our thoughts, believe in him and most off, provoke us to think about things we often don't.

16 - Take Me Home

Of all the tunes on the album this is by far the best in my own eyes. This song has been so successful it's been used in a rap version where the god Tupac Shakur ( 2Pac ) raps his own lyrics added to the chorus where Collins makes an appearance.

' Take Me Home' IS a Love song... But, with a difference. It's much faster than your usual love song, is a lot longer and covers a lot more than again your usual hold me close I want you near talking love song. I'm not a romantic and am sure that if a girl was to ask me to sing a romantic song it'll be this.

An excellent choice of Phil's to add this right in the end leaving with you a quality impression of one of this centuries most successful, passionate and most talented men in the music industry.

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MY Conclusion
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This is without any doubt a quality album which I'm sure possibly all of you'll enjoy whether you're alone, with a partner, widowed or ill. I brought this album after watching the film ' Buster' - The Greatest Train Robbery Ever.

I'm no romantic, I'm not deeply overly indulged in love and am not one for Love songs but I enjoy this album. I play it often, mainly when I'm with my girlfriend or alone as it keeps coming up, thought provoking. I think Phil Collins quality of song writing is exceptional, this could do loads of good to the world is everyone was to get together and pay close attention to some of his songs.

This albums meant to be a collection of Phil Collins Greatest Hits right through the 80's till now. I've used the word ' meant' because I'm not sure if he justifies himself. Considering it's entitled Hits ( The Greatest Hits ) I'd have not expected but more had of hoped to have a more fully complete album. I find the album disappoints me with a few weak tunes 1/3 the way through the album but does end on a quality high!

Many of you know him well, his tunes, the music and possibly more than that, which I doubt I want to know, but, I just hope that what you know and what I've said and how I've described this album has hopefully brought together to give you a better understanding of the album and hopefully been ' thought provoking' for you.

Buying The Album
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Buy it in High Street Music stores such as HMV and Tower Records for no less than £16.99 or visit the bottom link to get a saving and better deal buying it online:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00002525M/ref=sr_aps_music_1_1/202-4282995-7591839 - PRICE £10.99 -

Thanks for reading! Enjoy the album!

PS: Ciaoers! I'm filled with embarassment to owning this but I hope I shocked you! Make it worth it please! lol.

Gavvy!

Gavin Fowkes.