Phil Collins, Elton John, and Gloria Estefan dominated Adult Contemporary radio back in the 1980s and '90s, yet have disappeared from modern radio. Seemingly, the only time you ever hear them is at the grocery store or your local CVS. This blog remembers the music, the stories and the quirky characters from my days working in Adult Contemporary radio.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Phil Collins - "Take Me Home"
Phil Collins' last album of new material (Testify) was released in 2002. Since then, Phil's only forays into the limelight was a Genesis reunion tour in 2007 and an album of Motown covers (!) in 2010. Since then, he's been in retirement mode living in Switzerland and raising his children. Years of drumming and performing took a toll on Phil's health--he was nearly deaf in one ear and nerve damage in one of his elbows required surgery. But his health wasn't the only thing that had deteriorated; Phil's marriage was also in trouble. After his wife took their two children and moved to Miami in 2008, Phil was alone and devastated. He told Rolling Stone that he spent lots of nights in front of the TV drinking himself to the point that it nearly killed him. In an effort to clean himself up, Phil moved to Miami (in Jennifer Lopez's old home) to be closer to his children in 2015. He gave up the booze and now claims to be three years sober. Phil even announced his intention to come out of retirement. Earlier this year, he released a collection of album reissues of unreleased and alternate versions of songs from his long and illustrious solo career. Based on how the public perceives these songs, Phil said he could envision himself doing a short comeback tour. He said he wants to show his children what their dad did for a good portion of his life. At a time when we're losing musical icons left and right, we need to hold onto and cherish those that we have left and Phil is certainly one of them.