Today New Yorkers will be sussudio-ing in honour of Phil Collins Day.
No, seriously - Phil Collins Day is a real thing with an official website. It is an annual celebration of the master of drums and vox, held in New York's Rockaway neighbourhood. Since 2007, when the first Phil Day was celebrated with a possibly ironic 'Face Value'-themed dance party, fans have gathered each year to show their appreciation by way of various shenanigans that have included parades and confession booths.
This year's event centres on his 1985 single, 'Take Me Home' as a nod to those hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. Festival organizer Heather Feather has relocated the event to Queens. She explained to Gothamist that there will be hot chocolate and hot cider served, with a side of hot catharsis in the form of a drum circle. Everyone's encouraged to bring their own percussive instrument. And yes, jackets are most definitely required.
The 2011 Phil Collins Day Parade (Photo: YouTube)
Inspired by this remarkable celebration, we're looking back on Phil Collins' 1985 'No Jacket Required' tour. This was one of his biggest tours, concluding with performances at both Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia that included an Eric Clapton collaboration and a reunion of sorts with Led Zeppelin.
Today's throwback comes from Phil's 1985 HBO Special 'No Jacket Required... Sold Out'.
'Take Me Home' is one of George's favourite Phil tunes. The song is inspired by the novel 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest', and features backing vocals from Peter Gabriel, Sting and Helen Terry on the album version.
Interviews with Collins on this tour had drawn comparisons to Bob Hoskins and Danny DeVito. He joked that all three of them could play the Three Bears with Goldilocks - but DeVito took the idea too seriously. A script was planned and Kim Basinger was in talks to play Goldilocks. It didn't work out.
For further musical musings, new and old, join the collective for The Strombo Show on CBC Radio 2, every Sunday night at 8PM. And if you'd like to catch up or relisten, all of the episodes are archived here.
Related:
THE STROMBO SHOW: October 7, 2012
THE STROMBO SHOW: November 11, 2012
VIDEO OF THE DAY: Where Would Modern Music Be Without The 808?
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