Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 10/25/1990
Run Time: 50:27
The winner of the 1985 Grammy for
Pop Album of the Year,
No Jacket Required found
Phil Collins fully embracing horn-driven
pop music, drum machines, and sentimental
ballads over his previous darker and more dramatic solo material. The record established him as a major commercial force, and as one of the most recognizable voices of the 1980s. Although the major hits here,
"Sussudio," "One More Night," "Who Said I Would," and
"Don't Lose My Number" quickly came to sound dated, the album contains several standout tracks.
"Long Long Way to Go," which features a cameo by
Sting, is one of
Collins' most effective
ballads, while the pulsating
"Take Me Home" utilizes the drama of
"In the Air Tonight" on a more wistful track.
"Only You Know and I Know" and
"Inside Out," meanwhile, show an effective aggressive side to the singer. 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.
~Geoff Orens, All Music Guide