Search - Phil Collins :: Hello I Must Be Going

One of PC's best

David Hogan | Edison, NJ USA | 05/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my review for ...But Seriously, I implied that his 1989 chart-topper was the only essential Collins album. I was wrong. "Hello, I must be going!" is a great collection of songs, and one in the eye for anyone who thinks all PC songs sound alike. The variety here of moods, tempos and ideas is striking. I've never done this before on an amazon review, but here is a track by track analysis:"I Don't Care Anymore": Listen to this one in the car on the way home from work--it will make you feel much better. Make sure to scream along with Phil. A hard rocker, rather In the Air Tonight-ish with its drums...still heard occasionally on classic rock stations."I Cannot Believe it's True": As a whole, HIMBG is less funky than Face Value, but PC brings the funk on this song. Great performance by the Phenix Horns. Good song, but my least favorite on the album (that should tell you something about the album!)"Like China": Can Phil rock? This is one of PC's only songs with a straightforward guitar riff rock beat...and also, a good hook and great lyrics from Phil--tells a story of a young cockney lad (Phil) who promises to hold his young inexperienced girlfriend "like china.""Do You Know Do You Care": Phil is phenomenal when he's pissed off (see In the Air Tonight, Domino, and track one of this same album!)...this is a slow and powerful song filled with rage at Phil's ex-wife (let us all prey to have better luck with marriage than Phil). Great when you're in the mood to let off some steam."You Can't Hurry Love": Okay, I don't have to fill you in on this one cos you all know it. A great pop song and ode to Motown."It Doesn't Matter to Me": Another good pop song from Phil with a nice hook and appealing horns, but all together one of the less special songs on the album. A very happy song, considering the title and the subject matter."Thru These Walls": PC used to introduce this song with, "This is for all you perverts out there," or something to that effect. A slow drum machine rhythm sets the tone for this one, which has Phil enjoying listening to a couple make love through the walls (presumably his ex-wife and her lover). An interesting song."Don't let him steal your heart away": When Phil brings the funk, he's good. When he's pissed off, he's even better...but he's at his best with plaintive, deeply personal compositions where we all feel the same emotions he's feeling. This song is a perfect example of the latter."The West Side": The funk is back! A driving and powerful musical piece, much better than its Face Value companion piece, "Hand in Hand.""Why Can't it Wait Till Morning": Another one of those plaintive, deeply personal compositions...a great one to just close your eyes and listen to, it ends the album on a positive yet solemn note. HIMBG is an absolutely essential album for anyone who likes Phil Collins' music, and is a Godsend for those of us who have come to appreciate the magic of his voice and his works."

Hello, I'm Phil, And This Is My Second Album!

Alan Caylow | USA | 07/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On his second solo album, 1982's "Hello, I Must Be Going," Phil Collins shows two sides to himself: the happier man with a new ladylove in his life (the woman named Jill in the album credits), and the bitter man saying his last goodbyes to his first ex-wife. The end result is a powerful album, mixing tough rock with delectible pop, with a generous dose of horn-driven jazz/pop as well. It's one of Phil's best discs. The big hit from the album is Phil's faithful cover of the Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love," and while Phil does great justice to the song, it's his own compositions that really stand out here. The angry "I Don't Care Anymore" & "Do You Know, Do You Care" are brilliant, powerful songs, with Phil's harsh lyrics, vocal & drumming attacks on both making these songs among his greatest recorded moments. "Like China" is a very humorous song (with Phil sporting a Cockney accent) about a young bloke who wants to make it with his girlfriend, but she keeps turning him down. The album's secret weapon, however, is the atmospheric "Thru These Walls," an outstanding song about a lonely man in desperate need of physical contact, but has to make do with hearing his next-door neighbors making love. It's one of Phil's strongest pieces. "I Cannot Believe It's True" & "It Don't Matter To Me" are both fine, upbeat jazz poppers, and "Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away" is an excellent mid-tempo ballad. Phil includes a great jazz rave-up with the instrumental "The West Side," and closes the album with the beautiful love song, "Why Can't It Wait 'Til Morning." Every song here is first-rate, as is Phil's work & production. "Hello, I Must Be Going" is a terrific second effort from Phil Collins."

Good Phil, a few clunkers, some gems - and a correction

D. J. Sapen | 09/24/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, to Editorial Reviewer Dan Durchholz - nice work, but one big boo-boo: Phil had not divorced Jill at the time of this album - he had just married her, and remained married to her for many years. He cited her in the notes of this album because he loved her. The bitter songs referred to his ex (Andrea), who reportedly cheated on him with her interior decorator, spawning several songs from Genesis' Duke album (e.g. Misunderstanding, Please Don't Ask) and much of Face value and this album.



This is a fine album with some great grooves, some bitter diatribes, some manic-happy-pop and heartbreaking ballads. Phil hits his best R&B a la Collins feel in this record, for my money. I Cannot Believe It's True is a gem. Great, great drums all around. But why "Like China" even made it out of a disturbed sleep, much less into the studio, I can't fathom.



More hits than misses - for the detractors, Phil does what he sets out to do with a higher batting average than most. Prog-rockers beware - unless you like lighter fare as well.



"