No Jacket Required

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No Jacket Required
No Jacket Required cover
Studio album by Phil Collins
Released January 25, 1985
Recorded May–December 1984
Length 50:27
Label Virgin (UK and Ireland)
Atlantic (US and Canada)
WEA (rest of the world)
Producer Phil Collins, Hugh Padgham
Professional reviews
Phil Collins chronology
Hello, I Must Be Going!
(1982)		 No Jacket Required
(1985)		 12"ers
(1987)
Singles from No Jacket Required
  1. "One More Night"
    Released: December 1984
  2. "Sussudio"
    Released: February 1985
  3. "Don't Lose My Number"
    Released: September 1985
  4. "Take Me Home"
    Released: March 1986

No Jacket Required is an album by English singer-songwriter Phil Collins, released on January 25, 1985. It was his third solo album and to date remains his most commercially successful. The album went to number 1 in various parts of the world, including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. Remixes of six songs from the album were later included on the 12"ers compilation.

Four singles were released from the album: "One More Night", "Sussudio", "Don't Lose My Number" and "Take Me Home" ("Don't Lose My Number" was not released as a single in the UK). All four singles were top ten hits in the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and the three singles that were released in the UK all reached the top 20 in the UK charts. Its biggest selling singles in the US were "Sussudio" and "One More Night", both of which went to number one.[1]

No Jacket Required features various guest vocalists, including Helen Terry (On "Take Me Home",) Peter Gabriel (On "Take Me Home") and Sting (On "Take Me Home" and "Long Long Way to Go".) Many of the songs also appeared in various episodes of "Miami Vice", and "The Man With the Horn" was re-written and re-recorded for the episode "Phil the Shill". "We Said Hello Goodbye" was re-recorded for the movie "Playing for Keeps".

The album was positively received and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1985.[2] The The No Jacket Required World Tour concert tour in 1985 was also successful. In 2003, hip hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony heavily sampled the hit song "Take Me Home" for their single "Home".

Contents

[edit] Album title

"I was on tour with Robert Plant and we were staying at the Ambassador in Chicago. We had maybe 30 rooms in the hotel and were paying these exorbitant prices. The second night I was there, I went to the bar dressed fairly smart- proper trousers, not jeans, and a nice leather jacket - and I was told, "Sir, you can't come in here without a jacket." I said, "I'm wearing a jacket." So Robert just pushed the guy aside and walked through. I wasn't going to do that, I was going to stand and argue with the guy. He said, "It's not a proper jacket." To make a long story short, I was livid. I've never been so mad in my life - well, maybe once. I thought of different things to do. Like maybe going down there wearing the right kind of jacket and ordering a drink and just pouring it onto the floor and saying, "Well, I've got a jacket on! You can't do anything to me." Maybe I should smash a few photographs on the wall, a bit of the Robert Plant attitude. But I did nothing, of course. I just moaned about it."
–Phil Collins, Playboy interview, October, 1986[3]

The album is named after an incident at The Pump Room restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, when Collins (entering the restaurant with Robert Plant),[4] was denied admittance because he did not meet the restaurant's dress code of "jacket required" for dinner, whilst Plant was allowed in. Collins was wearing a jacket, and argued about it. The Maître d' argued that the jacket was not "proper".[4] (The Maître d' who refused service at the famed "Table Number One" was George Montgomery who died in 1992). Collins would often appear on shows such as "Late Night with David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", denouncing the restaurant and telling his story.[4] The management of the restaurant later sent Collins an apology letter (which stated he could come to the restaurant wearing whatever he wanted),[4] and a complimentary sport coat.[5]

[edit] Songs

"Sussudio" was the first track released as a single in the UK, and the second to be released in the US. In the UK the song reached number 12 on the UK charts. In the US, the song entered frequent rotation on MTV in May, and by July 6, both the single and the album had reached number one on their respective US Billboard charts.[1][6] A remix of the song appeared on Collins' "12"ers" album.

The music video for the song was filmed at a pub owned by Richard Branson in London.[7] The accompanying music video features Collins, as well as long-time collaborators Daryl Stuermer and Chester Thompson. It begins with an outdoor shot of a pub, then cuts to Collins and his band playing for a disinterested crowd. The crowd slowly migrates toward the band as the song progresses, leaving them cheering at the end. Renowned bass player Lee Sklar also appears in the video playing a Steinberger headless bass, however neither Sklar nor Thompson played on the actual studio recording.

It is one of Collins' more famous songs and is referenced in many different media, including books, stand-up comedy acts and television shows. In the film and book adaptations of American Psycho, the main character of the movie (Patrick Bateman) briefly discusses it, amongst other work by Phil Collins (including "No Jacket Required"). It was heavily criticized for sounding too much like Prince's song "1999", which Collins does not deny, citing that he is a big fan of Prince's work.[8]

"Only You Know and I Know" was one of five songs to be remixed by John Potoker (along with an extended version of "One More Night" created by Hugh Padgham) for the "12"ers" compilation album.

"Long Long Way to Go" is considered one of Collins' more popular songs to have not been released as a single.[9][10][11] It was, at that point, his most political song.[3] Sting, former lead singer of The Police, provided back-up vocals for the song.[12] Sting and Collins first met through Band Aid, and became friends after performing together in Live Aid.[13] Collins was working on a song, and thought that Sting, having also played at Band Aid, would relate to it very easily.[13] Collins asked Sting to help him provide vocals for this song, and Sting accepted.[13]

"I Don't Wanna Know" was one of the few songs written by both Phil Collins and Daryl Stuermer, the song would later appear as the b-side to the hit single "Separate Lives".

"One More Night" was Phil Collins' second US number-one single,[1] following "Against All Odds", and was his fourth single to reach the top ten in the UK, peaking at number four on the singles chart. Collins was playing around with his drum machine when he started saying the chorus of the song. He later recalled that "The rest of the song was written very quickly."[3] The video features Collins playing the piano in a downtown bar. The music video for the song was filmed at a pub owned by Richard Branson in London.[7] Its B-side in the UK was "I Like the Way", while the US received "The Man With the Horn". The song has also been an occasional cover song for ex-Veruca Salt frontwoman, Nina Gordon during live appearances.[14] An extended version of the song appeared on the "12"ers" album.

"Don't Lose My Number" was released as a single. Collins has stated that he actually wrote most of the song during the recordings for his very first album, "Face Value".[15] Collins also states that the lyrics were improvised, and that he really doesn't know what they fully mean.[15] The song is addressed to someone called "Billy" whom the singer is hoping to find (and hopes Billy still has his number). The single was not released in the UK and peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts during late September 1985.[16] The b-side, "We Said Hello Goodbye" was released as a bonus track on the CD for No Jacket Required.

In the video, Collins had no idea what he'd make for a video, so he decided to make a video about not knowing what video to make for the song.[15] In the video, Collins talks to various clients and directors, all giving him bad ideas for the video. Collins parodies several other music videos in the video, including Michael Jackson videos, David Lee Roth videos, Elton John videos, The Police videos, and movies such as Mad Max and various samurai movies.[15] This track also appeared on "12"ers" in a remixed form.

"Who Said I Would" was not released as a single on this album, a live version was released as a single from the "Serious Hits... Live!" album in the United States. It went to #73 on the charts.[6] A remix of the original version appeared on the "12"ers" album.

"You know, I was very happily married to Jill, my present wife, when I wrote it, but I had been divorced, my manager was getting divorced, a couple of good friends were getting divorced, and I thought, What's going on? Doesn't anybody stay together anymore? The song came from that."
–Phil Collins, stating his inspiration for the song "Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore?", Playboy interview, October, 1986[3]

Collins wrote the song "Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore?" in response to everyone around him getting a divorce, including his manager, friends and himself years before.[3] Collins later said that he sang this at Charles, Prince of Wales' 40th birthday party, not knowing that the Prince's divorce from his wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, would happen a short time later.[17] The Phil Collins Big Band played this on tour.[17]

Although "Inside Out" wasn't released as a single, it went to #9 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks.[6]

"Take Me Home" is considered one of Collins' more well known songs, and has been in every one of his tours since the "No Jacket Required Tour", usually played last. It reached #7 on the US Billboard charts, and #19 on the UK charts. Collins has stated that the song lyrics refer to a patient in a mental institution.[18] Peter Gabriel, Helen Terry, and Sting all provide backing vocals.[13] While recording "Long Long Way to Go", Collins also asked Sting to provide backing vocals for this song.

The music video features Collins singing in various places around the world, including London, New York, Tokyo, Moscow, Sydney, Paris, St. Louis, Los Angeles (Hollywood), San Francisco, and Memphis (Graceland). At the end of the video, Collins arrives home and hears a woman from inside the house asking him where he has been. He replies by saying he's been to some of the cities mentioned above. The woman replies "You've been down at the pub, haven't you?"

The song appeared in the premiere of the second season of Miami Vice.[19] It was also the closing theme song for the WWE's telvision show, "Saturday Night's Main Event" from 1985 to 1988. In 2003, the hip-hop group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony based their song "Home" on "Take Me Home." That version of the song hit #19 on the UK charts. A remix of the original track appeared on the "12"ers" album.

"We Said Hello Goodbye" appeared as a B-side to "Take Me Home" and "Don't Lose My Number" originally, but has been added as an "extra track" on the latest CD releases. Producer Arif Mardin composed the beginning portion of the song.[20] A remix of the song with additional guitars and without an orchestra was released the following year (1986) on the soundtrack for the movie, Playing for Keeps.[20] Collins has mused that the song is unfairly classed as a "second class citizen," stating that the song would've been looked at differently if it were added to the album.[21]

"The Man with the Horn" was originally recorded during sessions for Collins' second album "Hello, I Must Be Going!" in 1982.[22] It appeared as the B-side to "Sussudio" in the UK, and the B-side to "One More Night" in the United States. This song was re-written for an episode of Miami Vice in which Phil guest-starred.[23] Collins has said he has "no emotional attachment" to the song.[24] The song, although not released as a single (Nor was it released on the album,) charted at #38 on the Mainstream Rock Charts.[6]

Collins was listening to music by The Jackson Five, and it inspired him to write the song "I Like the Way". He has called the song "dodgy" and has cited it among his list of his least favorite songs.[24] The song appeared as a B-Side to "One More Night" in the UK and "Sussudio" in the US.

[edit] Reception

"His effortless graft of bright white-R&B bounce to quirky, unexpected melodies is instinctively commercial but never feels overly contrived."
–David Fricke, Rolling Stone review, May 9, 1985[10]

The reception for the album was mostly positive. Geoff Orens of the AllMusicGuide, in a review written years after the album's release, said that while some of the songs are "dated", the album contains "standout tracks," where he describes "Long Long Way to Go" as "one of Collins' most effective ballads," and "Take Me Home" as "pulsating."[9] Orens also said that "It's not a completely satisfying recording, but it is the best example of one of the most dominating and influential styles of the 1980s."[9]

Rolling Stone reviewer David Fricke said "Phil Collins' sudden transformation from the balding bantam drummer for a prosperous British art-rock group into a mainstream pop heartthrob might seem one of the Eighties' most improbable success stories. But judging from the sly craft and warm, low-key humor of his solo records and his successful productions for Philip Bailey and Frida, Collins' newfound fame was inevitable."[10]

Even those who were not normally fans of Collins' work liked the album. Michael R. Smith of The Daily Vault wrote "Anomaly or not, it is the indeed the album that Phil deserves to be remembered for."[11]

[edit] Chart performance and sales

Audio sample

"Sussudio"

The dance pop of No Jacket Required, including this number one hit, won Collins a Grammy for Album of the Year.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

No Jacket Required featured two American number one songs, "Sussudio" and "One More Night". It also contained the top 10 hits "Don't Lose My Number" (#4) and "Take Me Home" (#7). Released around the same time of the album but not part of No Jacket Required was another American number one, "Separate Lives", which appeared on the soundtrack to White Nights. A few weeks after the album's release, another Collins song not on the album, 1984's "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" was nominated for an Academy Award.

No Jacket Required remains Phil Collins' highest selling album, having been certified Diamond for US sales of over 10 million copies.[25] Twenty years after its release, No Jacket Required remains among the 50 highest selling albums in the United States. It's sales figures vary between a more official 16.9 million units to about 30 million worldwide, the former being closer to the actual total.

The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1985, and Collins won for "Best Male Vocal Performance".[26]

[edit] Album

Country Peak Position
Canada 1[27]
Germany 1[28]
UK 1[29]
Norway 1[30]
Sweden 1[30]
Switzerland 1[30]
United States 1[31]
Austria 11[30]

[edit] Tour

The album was followed up by a concert tour named The No Jacket Required World Tour in 1985. The concert and the album is a prelude to his international success worldwide attending the Live Aid concert in Europe and North America in July 13, 1985,[32] and his success with Genesis having their highest selling album, Invisible Touch and the tour Invisible Touch: The Tour.

For the tour, Phil retained his usual cast of musicians, including Chester Thompson, Leland Sklar and Daryl Stuermer.[33]

In interviews during the tour, it was remarked by interviewers that Collins looked very similar to actors Bob Hoskins and Danny DeVito.[34] Collins would joke that all three of them could play the Three Bears from the story Goldilocks and the Three Bears.[7] DeVito heard of the idea, and contacted both Collins and Hoskins about making a film.[7] Collins researched about bears, and a script was planned. Kim Basinger reportedly wanted to play the role of "Goldilocks".[35] However, problems arose (mostly involving the script,) and all three actors gave up on doing the film.[7] Collins has stated that he recently reminded Robert Zemeckis about the film, and that all three actors are still interested in doing it, but a new script will be needed.[7][35]

[edit] Track listing

All tracks written by Phil Collins except where stated.

  1. "Sussudio" - 4:23
  2. "Only You Know and I Know" (Lyrics: Collins/ Music: Daryl Stuermer) - 4:21
  3. "Long Long Way to Go" - 4:22
  4. "I Don't Wanna Know" (Lyrics: Collins/ Music: Stuermer) - 4:14
  5. "One More Night" - 4:48
  6. "Don't Lose My Number" - 4:48
  7. "Who Said I Would?" - 4:01
  8. "Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore?" (Lyrics: Collins/ Music: Stuermer) - 4:18
  9. "Inside Out" -5:15
  10. "Take Me Home" - 5:52

[edit] Bonus tracks

  1. "We Said Hello Goodbye" - 4:15 *

"We Said Hello Goodbye" is only available on CD and digital versions of the album. The tune was initially available as a B-side on the "Don't Lose My Number" single.

[edit] Personnel

Production
  • Phil Collins – production, album design[12]
  • Hugh Padgham – production, engineering[12]
  • Steve Chase – assistance[12]
  • Peter Ashworth – cover photography[12]
  • primarily recorded and digitally mixed at the Townhouse, Surrey and Old Croft, Surrey[12]
  • strings recorded at Air Studios, London, engineered by John Jacobs[12]
  • digitally mixed at the Townhouse, Surrey[12]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Dean, Maury (2003). Rock N' Roll Gold Rush. Algora, 160. ISBN 0-87586-207-1. 
  2. ^ "Phil Collins' No Jacket Required". philcollinsfansite.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sheff, David (October 1986), "Phil Collins Interview", Playboy, <http://www.philcollins.co.uk/playboy1086.htm> 
  4. ^ a b c d "17th December 2004 - The Phil Collins Forum". philcollins.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  5. ^ "Chicago's Famed Pump Room Restaurant". pumproom.Com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  6. ^ a b c d "Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Phil Collins". billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-20.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "17th January 2005". philcollins.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-09-19.
  8. ^ Bronson, Fred (1998). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. New York: Billboard Books, 624. ISBN 0823076415. 
  9. ^ a b c "allmusic ((( No Jacket Required > Overview )))". allmusic.com.Com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  10. ^ a b c "Phil Collins: No Jacket Required : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". rollingstone.com.Com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  11. ^ a b "The Daily Vault Music Reviews : No Jacket Required". dailyvault.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Phil Collins - No Jacket Required tracks and credit". Philcollins.Co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  13. ^ a b c d "10th July 2005 Part 2 - The Phil Collins Forum". philcollins.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  14. ^ "one more night". ninagordon.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-21.
  15. ^ a b c d "26th November 2004 - The Phil Collins Forum". philcollins.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  16. ^ "allmusic ((( No Jacket Required > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". allmusic.Com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  17. ^ a b "7th December 2004 - The Phil Collins Forum". philcollins.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  18. ^ Corsello, Andrew (1996). "Phil Collins interview". GQ.
  19. ^ "Prodigal Son". Miami Vice. 1985-09-27. No. 201, season 2.
  20. ^ a b "22nd March 2005 - The Phil Collins Forum". Philcollins.Co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  21. ^ "9th March 2005 - The Phil Collins Forum". Philcollins.Co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  22. ^ Found on the sleeve of the album
  23. ^ "Phil the Shill". Miami Vice. 1985-12-13. No. 211, season 2.
  24. ^ a b "18th November 2004 - The Phil Collins Forum". philcollins.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  25. ^ "Phil Collins "No Jacket Required" Goes formal". MusicNewsWire (1999-12-14). Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  26. ^ "allmusic ((( No Jacket Required > Charts & Awards > GRAMMY Awards )))". allmusic.Com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  27. ^ "Canadian Chart". RPM. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
  28. ^ "German Chart". Charts-Surfer. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
  29. ^ "British Album Chart". Chart Stats. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
  30. ^ a b c d "Norwegian Chart". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-24.
  31. ^ "allmusic ((( No Jacket Required > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". allmusic.Com. Retrieved on 2008-09-19.
  32. ^ "Live Aid: The show that rocked the world" (in English). Retrieved on 2008-09-27.
  33. ^ "Phil Collins - On the Road 85 No Jacket Required World Tour". philcollins.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  34. ^ "Phil Collins Interview", Music Express, 1990, <http://www.philcollins.co.uk/musicexpress90.htm> 
  35. ^ a b Baker, Glenn (1993), "Phil Collins Interview", Penthouse, <http://www.philcollins.co.uk/penthouse93.htm> 
Preceded by
Centerfield by John Fogerty		 Billboard 200 number-one album
March 30 – April 26, 1985
May 18 – May 31, 1985
July 6 – July 12, 1985		 Succeeded by
We Are the World by USA for Africa
Preceded by
Meat Is Murder by The Smiths		 UK number-one album
March 2, 1985 – April 5, 1985		 Succeeded by
The Secret of Association by Paul Young
Preceded by
1985 Comes Alive by Various artists		 Australian Kent Music Report number-one album
May 6 – May 26, 1985		 Succeeded by
Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits
v • d • e
Phil Collins
Studio albums
Soundtracks
Live albums
Compilations
Bands
Collaborators
Other
v • d • e
Grammy Award: Album of the Year (1971-1990)

1971: Bridge over Troubled Water · 1972: Tapestry · 1973: The Concert For Bangla Desh · 1974: Innervisions · 1975: Fulfillingness' First Finale · 1976: Still Crazy After All These Years · 1977: Songs in the Key of Life · 1978: Rumours · 1979: Saturday Night Fever · 1980: 52nd Street · 1981: Christopher Cross · 1982: Double Fantasy · 1983: Toto IV · 1984: Thriller · 1985: Can't Slow Down · 1986: No Jacket Required · 1987: Graceland · 1988:The Joshua Tree · 1989: Faith  — 1990: Nick of Time ·

Complete List · Winners (1959–1970) · Winners (1971–1990) · Winners (1991–2010)
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