On episode 13 of Past Prime, Steve and Matty return to 1985, when a thirty four year old, mullet-curious drummer, who loved Hawaiian shirts and Motown, ruled the airwaves. We know what you're saying -- this album is not "Past Prime" -- it's the very definition of "prime!" Maybe so. It produced number one hits. It won Grammys. It sold tens of millions of copies. It landed Collins on the mountaintop, alongside more telegenic Pop stars like MJ, Prince, Madonna and Sting. But critics did not abide. In fact, Phil Collins, himself, doesn't even think it's his best work. Moreover, in spite of its popularity, the album has basically been erased from the airwaves. When was the last time you heard "Sussudio," "Take Me Home" or "Don't Lose My Number?" Steve theorizes that Phil's mixture of horns, drums and synth programming literally went beyond Pop -- beyond prime. And, in that way, it went to Past Prime. Matty, is less convinced. While he loves several of the songs and was enamored of Phil's "talented Dad" vibe, he's less enchanted by the relentless "Jazzercise Rock" on the album's deep cuts. 
After a frisky battle, our co-hosts move on to unite in their assessment of Collins' 1993 one man show, "Both Sides." Whereas "No Jacket" pushed into the stratosphere, beyond Prime, "Both Sides" is the sad, lonely diary entry of a middle-aged man. It features eleven, glacially slow, sad-sack tracks -- most of them over six minutes in length. And while none of those songs are entitled "Can I Smell Your Hair," they all could be. It's Phil's own favorite solo album. It's also perhaps the very definition of Past Prime. 
Get your white linen pants, your bold, short-sleeved collared shirts and your Casios ready. It goes without saying, however -- jackets are optional for this one. To about Phil Collins "No Jacket Required," check out the full essay at Past Prime.

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