No Jacket Required

The liner notes are terrific. The all red back cover was a nice touch. There's no lyrics, but it gives thank-you's, credits, who-played what on each song and also gives info on where everything was recorded.

There's something for everyone here. "No Jacket Required" had a diverse set of songs, among them Up-Beat pop tracks, eloquent ballads, and prog-rock throwbacks. Daryl Sturmer played all the guitar tracks and his superb tone adds depth.

Here's my track-by-track analysis:

"Sussudio"-A number one hit, the keyboard line sounding Similar to "1999" by Prince, some have said TOO similar but personally that doesn't diminsh the song's quality one bit. The bass and horn section only boosts it's catchiness.

"Only you know and I know"-A semi-pop track with a great synth hook. The lyrical matter is more or less summed up in it's title.

"Long Long way to go"- A moody, atmospheric track. The decision to have Sting sing the background vocals was genius. It enhances the effect ten-fold.

"I don't wanna know"- Phil sings about a relationship ending, and having no interest in hearing that she regrets it. He was warned not to give his heart to her, cuz she wouldn't give it back. The prominent guitar here is a far-cry from the adult contemporary sound he'd soon delve into.

"One More Night"-Another Chart topper. Terrific ballad, truly heartfelt. It's about acknowledging one's human-ness "If I stumble, if I fall, just help me back/so I can make you see/Please give me one more night". The verse after the second chorus really drives the song home "Like a river to the see/I will always be with you/And if you sail away/I will follow you."

"Don't lose my number"-A TOP 5 SMASH, yet it was inexplicably left off his Greatest Hits album. That's barely forgivable. This song is one of all-time favorites. It kicks off with a nice drum beat. The hook for this song is sharp as a fisherman's. The lyrics are a message to a person, named Billy. I'm still not sure who Billy is. Lyrics: "He never meant to do anything wrong, it's gonna get worse if he waits too long/Billy, Billy don't you my number/ Cuz you're not anywhere that I can find you". This song was obviously written before Cell Phones. The video for this song was good, experts kept walking into Phil's office to suggest idea's, One being set in the old west, the other's being parodies of "Every breath you take" by the Police,

"Who said I would"-Starts off with a nice intro, it keeps a steady beat throughout. It has a full platter of Synths, Horns, and vocal effects.

"Doesn't anybody stay together anymore"-The instrumentation sounds like Peter Gabriel-era Genesis. The drums during the chorus are loud, with a driving bass line, quickly sedgewaying into quieter verses. The lyrics tell about things we all do, and tackles confusion in romance, which in actuality are really nothing new.

"Inside out"-Has fine drumming (Hey it's Phil Collins, you're guaranteed that). The slow-down sections are especially pleasant, with a saxophone playing.

Take me home" was recently sampled in a rap song by bone-thugs-n-harmony, it falls under the ballad category, though at the same time it's more cheerful and contains an incessant chorus. Phil's old Genesis buddy Peter Gabriel sings the background vocals.

"We said hello goodbye" is a slower, tear-jerking ballad, I used to dislike this song because it's a far cry from the many up-beat numbers here, but upon realization, it's the perfect closer.

"No Jacket Required" rightly won the Grammy award for 1985 album of the year. This is Phil Collins best solo offering - Bar None.


One of the best albums of the "80's pop" era   July 4, 1998
Jeff Killion (skillion@philacol.edu) (Philadelphia)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is an incredible album - a perfect blend of Phil's signature drum beats and the soulful grooviness of his supporting cast. Phil uses the drum machine and concentrates of the keyboarding a lot more in this album, but it really works. Every song on No Jacket Required is an absolute winner and could've been a hit (it's a shame We Said Hello Goodbye wasn't commercially released as a single - it probably would have gone to #1 - that's how much the radio used to play it). Of course the hits like Take Me Home, Don't Lose My Number, Sussudio, and We Said Hello Goodbye still sound great today, but some of the lesser known tracks (such as Long, Long Way To Go and Inside Out) rock as well. No Jacket Required deservedly received the 1985 Grammy for Best Album -it's definitely the high water mark of Phil Collins' career. Check it out!


Don't Lose This Number   December 1, 2002
Michael Kerner (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

The music of the 1980's have brought several acts of goofy joy and crazyness, from the soul of New Wave, to the thrash of Michael Jackson's Thriller. Ironically, some stars develop albums that actually sell for what they're worth. In the case of Phil Collins, that came through right here in 1985.

Phil Collins came through a banner year in 1985, he was nominated for an Oscar for Against All Odds, and scored another #1 song, Seperate Lives. However, his 1985 album, No Jacket Required broke that mold even further. The music on this album is upbeat, and strong. It really revolved around the greater commercial triumphs Phil encountered away from Genesis. Phil scored two giant #1 hits with One More Night, and Sussudio. The album also charted several other Top 40 songs, like Take Me Home, and Don't Lose My Number, and won the Grammy the following year, for Album Of The Year.

It is really kind of sad that people don't give Phil Collins the equal support he has always recieved in the industry, largely because he is older than the "Corporate Pop" acts. Nevertheless, No Jacket Required is truly a classic. I strongly suggest this album.


A well-deserved 80's classic that hasn't lost its flavour   July 27, 2005
Daniel J. Hamlow (Chikusei City, Japan)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

1985 belonged to Phil Collins, given the amount of energy and contributions he gave to the pop world. No Jacket Required signified Phil Collins' peak, but there had been a lot in the making. Following Hello I Must Be Going, he made another album with his bandmates Genesis, who went further into the mainstream with the #6 hit "That's All" from their eponymous album. Phil also scored a #1 hit with the poignant "Against All Odds," from the movie of that same name, and a #2 duet with Earth Wind and Fire member Phil Bailey with "Easy Lover," and he played drums on Band-Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas" charity single.

Riding on the crest of that wave, "Sussudio" the first single from NJR, became Collins' second #1 hit. The infectiously skippy percussion, synths, and horns feature Hugh Padgham's pneumatic pop production honed for greatness. Another song of that caliber is the energetic "Who Said I Would," a live version of which didn't do so well. This is easily another Top Five hit.

"Only You Know and I Know" is by far the most energetic number here, with the breakneck keyboards and horns, accompanied by Phil's resonant and nasally singing, and arguably something that could've skipped its way on the pop charts, or better still, the dance charts.

"One More Night" a moody, heartfelt and airy ballad was yet another chart-topper for Collins, aptly demonstrating a frailty and insecurity felt by men. Most poignant and a case for his songwriting skills is this: "I've been sitting here so long, wasting time, just staring at the phone, and I was wondering should I call you, then I thought maybe you're not alone." I freely indulge in that hesitancy as well. And thanks to my old manager, Nick Jasken, for pointing out that lyric to me.

Of the singles, I'm quite taken with "Don't Lose My Number," not only because of the funny video which had Phil doing parodies of Mad Max, David Lee Roth, and the fly in the Cars' "You Might Think," but because of the strong drum machine and Daryl Steurmer's snarling rock guitar. In fact it's only because a guy in the video who asked who was playing the guitar that I learned Daryl Steurmer's name. A worthy #4 hit that inexplicably missed being on Phil Collins' Hits compilation.

The mixed signals one sends-"But I don't know why, your emotions walled up. Your heart's on your sleeve, but your sleeve is rolled up"-and fragility of togetherness leads Phil asking "Does Anybody Stay Together Anymore."

With the steady drum machine and some light keyboard work, the last Top Ten single, the reflective #7 "Take Me Home" is to Phil what "Watching The Wheels" was to John Lennon, someone hanging back, withdrawn from the scene but still aware of what's going on. Helping out Phil on backing vocals is the familiar droning and echoing of Peter Gabriel and Sting, as well as Helen Terry, who sung on Culture Club's "Church of the Poison Mind."

The parting of old friends, one for a better life ahead is contained in the piano ballad "We Said Hello Goodbye." This won the Grammy for Best Album for 1985, but the spillover would continue into Genesis's next album, Invisible Touch. And Phil kept the fire burning by scoring another #1 hit, "Separate Lives" from White Nights, and playing at both Live Aid concerts on the same day. Phil's masterpiece to be sure, and one whose greatness hasn't diminished throughout the ages.


Solid Pop Music from the 80s   December 6, 2002
Lonnie E. Holder (Sullivan, Illinois United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

While pop is often reviled by those of us that prefer cutting edge or more artistic music, occasionally there is a pop album that comes along that is so good that you finding yourself liking it in spite of its stated genre. "No Jacket Required" is exactly that kind of album.

You can readily list the pop songs that swamped the airwaves for much of 1985 and 1986 (and probably 1987 - and now a fixture on 80s focused stations): "Sussudio", "One More Night", "Take Me Home", and "Don't Lose My Number". For a time it was difficult to listen to a radio station for more than an hour without hearing one of these songs. To an extent these songs are a product of their time with lots of keyboards. However, some of these songs are now timeless, and are already classics of their time.

"One More Night" is a beautiful ballad, easily one of Phil Collin's best songs ever. The beauty of this ballad is that it would have been great in the hands of any good ballad singer, such as Madonna or Celine Dion.

"Take Me Home" has relatively simple lyrics. However, it's not the lyrics that make this song, it's the well-orchestrated music and the reverberation on the vocals used to enhance the soaring feeling of the song. This song is a play it loudly mellow song that will forever be on the best of 80s lists.

While these last two songs are the highlights of this album, the quality extends to most of the other songs on the CD. "We Said Hello Goodbye" has a neo-classical beginning that lead into a vocal performance that will recall some of John Lennon or Elton John's songs. "Only You Know and I Know" is a pop rocker suitable for dancing. "Long Long Way to Go" is another ballad, a very consistent tune that could work as a slow dance. Another song that I think would have been a great single is "Inside Out".

Most of my CD selections from the 80s tend to be limited to progressive rock or music that I thought was off-center. However, this particular CD caught my attention with the number of singles released from it. Not every song on this CD is a gem, but there are enough on here to make this a CD worth buying if you like good solid pop music, Phil Collins' music (of which this CD may be his best), or 80s music in general.