Does this song need any introduction? No. But we will give it one anyway. When that drum break hits at 3:40, the universe stops. Even writing about it makes the hairs on your arm stand up. It is the most famous drum fill in history, and it represents the pivot point where 70s art rock collided with 80s dark pop. Listening to it on this album, surrounded by softer hits, makes it hit even harder. It’s the storm in the middle of the calm. You cannot listen to ...Hits sitting down. By the time "Sussudio" kicks in, your leg is tapping. Let’s be honest: the lyrics are nonsense. "Sussudio" is a made-up word. But the brass stabs, the relentless LinnDrum machine, and the pure, unadulterated joy of the track make it essential. It is the sound of the 80s in a bottle.
It is fascinating to hear nestled between "Take Me Home" and "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven." It proves that Collins had the rare ability to write for a toddler in a diaper (a gorilla toddler, technically) with the same emotional weight he wrote for a divorced man crying in a Jaguar. The strings, the Irish whistle, the lullaby quality—it’s flawless. The Final Stretch: Catharsis and Farewell The album closes with two giants: "Easy Lover" (with Philip Bailey) and "Take Me Home." phil collins greatest hits full album
is the sound of insomnia and desperation. That whispering vocal? The pleading? It’s uncomfortable in the best way. You feel the loneliness. "Separate Lives" (with Marilyn Martin) is the divorce anthem you didn't know you needed. It’s theatrical, yes, but painfully honest. "Do You Remember?" is nostalgic without being bitter. It’s looking back at a failed relationship with a smile. That is a difficult trick to pull off, but Collins is a master of the "sad trombone." Does this song need any introduction
But is the true ending. It’s the credits roll. The bass line is hypnotic. The lyrics are cryptic ("I’ve been a prisoner of my own past"). The backing vocals by Sting and Peter Gabriel? Legendary. It’s a song about longing, identity, and the feeling of never quite arriving. As the final synth fades out, you feel like you’ve just finished a long road trip. Final Verdict: Is ...Hits Essential? Absolutely. When that drum break hits at 3:40, the universe stops
Do you have a favorite deep cut from the Phil Collins catalog? Or are you a "Sussudio" apologist? Drop a comment below (or just yell it out loud—Phil would want you to be heard).
Phil Collins was often the victim of critical snobbery in the 90s. He was seen as too soft, too pop, too everywhere. But listening to ...Hits start to finish in 2024 (or 2025), you realize: the critics were wrong. This is songwriting craft at its highest level. It is melodic, emotionally intelligent, and sonically adventurous.
is a frantic, funky, screaming match of a duet. It’s the most energetic track on the album. It reminds you that Phil could hang with the best vocalists in R&B and rock.