Phil Collins' favourite songs of all time - and one of them will really surprise you
The Genesis star revealed his record collection including a musical theatre number - but then he was a child stage star himself with a West End role in Oliver!
It was 60 years ago that singer, songwriter and former Genesis drummer Phil Collins played the Artful Dodger in a production of the hit musical Oliver! Now, the star has revealed a musical theatre hit is among his favourite-ever tracks.
But his actual choice is not from Oliver! and is perhaps a bit surprising given that the stage show and film it is from is more popular with young girls then ageing rock and rollers.
He said: "I landed an audition through my mum, who ran a theatrical agency for the Barbara Speake Stage School in Ealing, west London. When she got a call asking for a replacement Dodger, she sent me along and I was selected after a series of rigorous and quite embarrassing auditions where I had to sing with a piano accompaniment in front of the 100 or so other kids also trying out for the part.
"The ordeal was worth it, though, because I thoroughly enjoyed playing the Artful Dodger – the best kid’s part in London. I also relished singing Lionel Bart’s timeless classics such as Consider Yourself, I’d Do Anything and Be Back Soon."
However, when Collins' voice broke shortly after his 14th birthday, his foray into musical theatre was over...but he never lost his love for the genre.
But while a musical theatre number has made it into his favourite songs of all time, it doesn't take the number one slot. That song comes from “one of my favourite bands ever”, Collins said.
He goes back to the days when he’d frequent London’s Marquee Club “three or four times a week” to see his favourite Motown act, The Actions, performing live. Though the group would often play the entirety of their album as their live set, but it was their single ‘I’ll Keeping Holding On’ that really inspired Collins.
The drummer’s second choice, Led Zeppelin's ‘When The Levee Breaks’ is not surprising. Collins said: “Now, when I was growing up, there were quite a few drummers that caught my fancy over the years. Ringo to Charlie Watts to Ginger Baker to Keith Moon. But one of the finest, I think, drummers I’ve ever heard, and the first drummer I ever gave a standing ovation to was John Bonham.”
Collins said from the moment he saw Bonham performing Zeppelin’s mammoth hit, “It puts it all into perspective, groove, sound, attitude, it’s probably one of the best drum recordings ever made in pop music.”
The next selection comes “in stark contrast to the heavier stuff. " He picked out ‘I’m Not That Girl’ from the Broadway musical Wicked. Collins saw the production while writing the music for Disney’s Tarzan and was clearly taken by the tune, calling it “staggering”.
Elsewhere on the list is ‘Heatwave’ from Martha and the Vandellas and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Uptight’ which are references to Collins’ covers album Going Back, which paid tribute to his deep admiration for Motown. He also picks tunes from Dusty Springfield, The Temptations, The Miracles and more. See below for Collins' favourite fourteen songs.
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Phil Collins' favourite songs
1. ‘I’ll Keep Holding On’ – The Action
2.‘When The Levee Breaks’ – Led Zeppelin
3. ‘I’m Not That Girl’ – Wicked
4.‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ – Bonnie Raitt
5. ‘Back Together’ – Baby Bird
6. ‘Heatwave’ – Martha and the Vandellas
7.‘Uptight’ – Stevie Wonder
8.‘Some of Your Lovin” – Dusty Springfield
9. ‘Blame It on the Sun’ – Stevie Wonder
10. ‘Papa Was A Rolling Stone’ – The Temptations
11. ‘Standing in the Shadows of Love’ – Eli Stubbs
12. ‘Going To A Go-go’ – The Miracles
13. ‘Do I Love You?’ – The Ronnettes
14. ‘Jimmy Mack’ – Martha and the Vandellas
