1985 - July: Phil Collins “No Jacket Required”

What the Riff?!?

Phil Collins wrapped up his commitments as front man and percussionist for Genesis and collaborative work with Eric Clapton in 1984, then commenced work on his third album, No Jacket Required. It was released in February 1985, and had hits on the charts in July. The name of the album was inspired by an incident where he was not allowed into The Pump Room restaurant in Chicago because he did not have the proper dress code jacket. His friend, vocalist Robert Plant, did have the correct attire and was let in. After he relayed the story in appearances with late night hosts David Letterman and Johnny Carson, restaurant management sent Phil a complementary sport jacket and apology letter, inviting him to come back wearing “whatever he wanted.”

Unlike previous albums Collins decided to make this third solo album more upbeat with several dance-oriented singles. Collins was also able to recruit a number of musicians to the effort, including former Genesis bandmate Peter Gabriel and Police front man Sting.

The result was a huge commercial success, reaching number 1 on the US albums chart for seven consecutive weeks and on the UK albums chart for five. The four singles released all went into the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, with two topping the charts. It was a critical success as well, bringing home three Grammy awards including “Album of the Year.” Collins would move from a successful musician to a celebrity on the strength of this album, which would be his highest selling solo effort.

Rob brings us this album for our podcast

Only You Know and I Know
Rob starts us with a deeper cut co-written by Phil Collins and Darryl Stuermer. Stuermer played bass for Genesis tours, and lead guitar for Collins' solo tours. The lyrics contain a number of contradictions. “When I ask you, what you see in me you say, 'Our love is blind.'”

Don't Lose My Number
While this song was not released as a single in the UK, it went to number 4 on the US charts. The lyrics were created in a stream-of-consciousness improvisation session, and Collins himself doesn't really know what they mean. The video is a comedic look at the decision process on theming the video, with Collins in multiple parodies of other videos popular at the time.

Inside Out
This track has a feel similar to some of the slower Genesis pieces. The lyrics describe a person who faces a crowd of people telling him what to say and what to do without regard to what is authentically himself. Collins uses a combination of drum machine and drum kit on this song.

We Said Hello Goodbye
This song was not originally on the album, but was a B-side to the single release of "Take Me Home" and "Don't Lose My Number" as well as a bonus track on the CD. The lyrics discuss leaving an old home and moving to a new one, but the emotions may reflect things left behind in life more broadly.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Main Theme from the motion picture “Back to the Future”
Marty McFly made his journey back from 1985 to interact with his 1955 parents in a tricked out DeLorean for this iconic picture released in 1985.

STAFF PICKS:

You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) by Dead or Alive We're a bit concerned about Wayne as he abandons his punk and hard rock sensibilities to bring us this danceable hit. Dead or Alive were a foursome from Liverpool, England. Lead singer Pete Burns would later be on the TV reality show “Celebrity Big Brother.”

The Confessor by Joe Walsh
Bruce brings us the title song from Walsh's seventh studio album. It is heavier and darker than many of Walsh's singles. “If you look at your reflection at the bottom of the well, what you see is only on the surface. When you try to see the meaning hidden underneath the measure of the depth can be deceiving. The bottom has a rocky reputation.”

Raspberry Beret by Prince and the Revolution
Lynch features a song about young romance and a summer fling. Although this song was released after Prince's success with “Purple Rain,” Prince still played most of the instruments, making the song primarily a solo effort. It is off off the album “Around the World In a Day,” and reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

And She Was by Talking Heads
Rob finishes the staff picks with a song penned by David Byrne from the Talking Heads, off the album “Little Creatures.” It is an unusual song about a girl levitating over everything, and the guy who loves her and wishes she would come down to the ground. It reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Fundance by Stanley Jordan
Finger tapping jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan would set a record when his album “Magic Touch” spent 51 weeks at the top of the Billboard jazz charts.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

NOTE: To adjust the loudness of the music or voices, you may adjust the balance on your device. VOICES are stronger in the LEFT channel, and MUSIC is stronger on the RIGHT channel.

Please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/whattheriffpodcast/, and message or email us with what you'd like to hear, what you think of the show, and any rock-worthy memes we can share.

Of course we'd love for you to rate the show in your podcast platform!

**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.