Phil Collins – Serious Hits...Live!

Phil Collins – Serious Hits...Live!

Serious Hits...Live! captures Phil Collins at the height of his solo career, bringing together 15 live performances recorded during his hugely successful Seriously, Live! World Tour of 1990. Released in November 1990, this single-CD collection draws on performances from different concerts throughout the tour, creating a career-spanning set packed with Collins' biggest solo hits.

The album opens with “Something Happened On The Way To Heaven”, before moving through a remarkable run of Collins favourites including “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)”, “One More Night”, “Don't Lose My Number” and “Do You Remember”. The set balances emotionally driven ballads with upbeat pop-rock performances, showcasing the versatility that made Collins one of the biggest British solo artists of the 1980s.

His enormous commercial success is represented by “Another Day In Paradise”, one of the defining songs from his 1989 album ...But Seriously, alongside “Separate Lives” and the unmistakable “In The Air Tonight”. The latter remains one of Collins' signature performances, with its atmospheric build and legendary drum break providing one of the standout moments in his live repertoire.

The pace then changes with “You Can't Hurry Love”, Collins' hugely successful interpretation of the Holland–Dozier–Holland Motown classic, followed by “Two Hearts” and the exuberant “Sussudio”. The combination of polished pop songwriting, soul influences and Collins' distinctive vocal and drumming style is central to the sound of Serious Hits...Live!.

The closing run features “A Groovy Kind Of Love”, “Easy Lover” and the expansive “Take Me Home”, providing a suitably energetic finale. Collins is joined on the tour by a formidable live band including guitarist Daryl Stuermer, bassist Leland Sklar, drummer Chester Thompson and keyboard player Brad Cole, with Collins himself contributing vocals, drums, percussion and keyboards.

Commercially, Serious Hits...Live! was a major success, reaching No. 2 in the UK Albums Chart. The album's 15 tracks were drawn from concerts across the 1990 tour rather than representing one complete concert, giving the finished release the feel of a definitive live highlights package.

For collectors of Phil Collins CDs, 1980s and 1990s pop rock, soft rock, adult contemporary and live albums, Serious Hits...Live! is an essential addition. With major favourites including “In The Air Tonight”, “Against All Odds”, “Another Day In Paradise”, “Sussudio”, “Easy Lover” and “Take Me Home”, it provides an excellent snapshot of Collins as one of the world's biggest live and recording artists at the beginning of the 1990s.

Tracklist

CD

1. Something Happened On The Way To Heaven – 4:59
2. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) – 3:29
3. Who Said I Would – 4:29
4. One More Night – 5:49
5. Don't Lose My Number – 4:43
6. Do You Remember – 5:40
7. Another Day In Paradise – 5:37
8. Separate Lives – 5:17
9. In The Air Tonight – 6:35
10. You Can't Hurry Love – 2:54
11. Two Hearts – 3:08
12. Sussudio – 7:14
13. Groovy Kind Of Love – 3:31
14. Easy Lover – 4:46
15. Take Me Home – 8:40