Those of us of a certain age are witnessing superstars of our age getting quite old and frail.
Phil Collins – Hello, I Must Be Going! (Atlantic – 7 80035-1, 1982 🇺🇸)
I stumbled upon a recent interview with Phil Collins, and I found it an unpleasant surprise. Seeing him in his current state—a shadow of the energetic, vibrant performer of his prime—was a sobering reminder of that old unrelenting passage of time. Phil looked visibly older, frailer, and more worn than I had imagined. And that’s considering that I knew his health has been a struggle in recent years. It was a poignant shock that stirred up a mix of complex emotions and more than a twinge of nostalgia.
Inspired by this, I pulled out my club edition of Hello, I Must Be Going! (exlamation point included, which I always liked) from 1982. As soon as the needle hit the grooves which hadn’t been played in awhile, I rediscovered that the album sounds phenomenal—vivid, dynamic; I can’t imagine any modern audiophile remaster improving upon it.
Phil was at the peak of his powers then: a masterful drummer, a gifted songwriter, and a singer whose voice conveyed both raw emotion and polished sophistication which was a perfect blend for the 80s. And 1982 is crowded with many albums that I consider greats: Billy Joel’s The Nylon Curtain, Donald Fagen’s The Nightfly, McCartney’s Tug of War, Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage, etc. All of the aforementioned albums also stand as testaments of the maturation and sophistication of musicians who cut their teeth in the 60s, found success in the 70s, and looked to craft their music in this new decade.
Listening to HIMBG! now, the tightly woven arrangements and flawless production transport us back to those decades when Phil’s sound was ubiquitous—the radio, movies, he was just everywhere. For those of us who grew up during that era, Phil’s music is inseparable from the time itself.
Reflecting on his legacy while hearing the unmistakable brilliance of this album makes it all the more discouraging to see Phil in his later years, facing the challenges of age and health. Yet, the blow is softened by knowing that his music can still endure by simply cranking up a 40 year old slice of vinyl.
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