Phil Collins
No Jacket Required (1985)
Phil Collins
As the lead U.S. single for the Diamond-certified album No Jacket Required, this track secured Phil Collins his second American number-one hit. The composition balances a stark Roland TR-808 rhythm with lush Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer textures and a soulful closing solo from Phenix Horns saxophonist Don Myrick.
The harmonic structure is defined by its use of 'smooth' 1980s R&B voicings, particularly major 7th and minor 7th chords played on synthesizers. The most distinctive element is the Eb pedal point in the verse, which grounds the harmony and creates a sense of s…
Phil Collins was experimenting with a Roland TR-808 drum machine when he began vocalizing the song's chorus. He recalled that the writing process, which resulted in a song without a traditional hook, was completed very quickly.
“The song is a minimalist soft rock ballad relying primarily on a shaker, drum machine, and keyboards.”
The harmonic structure is defined by its use of 'smooth' 1980s R&B voicings, particularly major 7th and minor 7th chords played on synthesizers. The most distinctive element is the Eb pedal point in the verse, which grounds the harmony and creates a sense of stillness that mirrors the lyrical theme of waiting. Unlike many pop songs that rely on a four-chord loop, Collins uses a linear diatonic ascent in the verse to bridge the gap between the static intro and the more movement-heavy chorus.
Phil Collins was experimenting with a Roland TR-808 drum machine when he began vocalizing the song's chorus. He recalled that the writing process, which resulted in a song without a traditional hook, was completed very quickly.
As the lead U.S. single for the Diamond-certified album No Jacket Required, this track secured Phil Collins his second American number-one hit. The composition balances a stark Roland TR-808 rhythm with lush Yamaha DX-7 synthesizer textures and a soulful closing solo from Phenix Horns saxophonist Don Myrick.
Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song.
Genre
Soft Rock
Era
80s
Mood
Melancholic
Tempo
Ballad
Key
Major
Texture
Sparse
Sound
Synth-heavy
Feel
Straight
1.2M
Plays
277K
Listeners
171K
Genius Views
3
Annotations
100%
Popularity
4:42
Duration
4/4
Time
From the album No Jacket Required
Bridge
Chorus
Verse
N/A
N/A
Chords Eb ✕ ✕ Fm7/Eb N/A Gm7 N/A Ab 4 Bb ✕ Cm 3 ✕ Eb Fm7/Eb Gm7 Ab Bb Cm Harmony The harmonic structure is defined by its use of 'smooth' 1980s R&B voicings, particularly major 7th and minor 7th chords played on synthesizers. The most distinctive element is the Eb pedal point in the verse, which grounds the harmony and creates a sense of stillness that mirrors the lyrical theme of waiting. Unlike many pop songs that rely on a four-chord loop, Collins uses a linear diatonic ascent in the verse to bridge the gap between the static intro and the more movement-heavy chorus. Deep Analysis Available Detailed analysis of this section is not yet available for this song. Notify me when it's ready Request Full Analysis
Chord Diagrams Eb ✕ ✕ Fm7/Eb N/A Gm7 N/A Ab 4 Bb ✕ Cm 3 ✕
Composition Phil Collins was experimenting with a Roland TR-808 drum machine when he began vocalizing the song's chorus. He recalled that the writing process, which resulted in a song without a traditional hook, was completed very quickly. Inspiration: Experimentation with a Roland TR-808 drum machine Recording Producer: Hugh Padgham, Phil Collins The song is a minimalist soft rock ballad relying primarily on a shaker, drum machine, and keyboards. Guitarist Daryl Stuermer makes an appearance in the music video. The music video was filmed at The Princess Victoria bar in Shepherd's Bush, West London, which was owned by Richard Branson at the time. The video serves as a segue from the 'Sussudio' music video and uses the same bar interior, though shot in a sepia tone.
Chord Sheet Transpose 0 Capo 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Auto-scroll Print Reset Chords Used Hide functions Eb I T Fm7/Eb ii7/I T Gm7 iii7 T Ab IV P Bb V D Cm vi T Progression by Section Bridge Cm vi T Bb V D Ab IV P Bb V D Chorus Ab IV P Bb V D Eb I T Cm vi T Ab IV P Bb V D Eb I T Verse Eb I T Fm7/Eb ii7/I P Eb I T Fm7/Eb ii7/I P Gm7 iii7 T Ab IV P Bb V D Chord Diagrams Eb ✕ ✕ Fm7/Eb N/A Gm7 N/A Ab 4 Bb ✕ Cm 3 ✕ Harmony Analysis The harmonic structure is defined by its use of 'smooth' 1980s R&B voicings, particularly major 7th and minor 7th chords played on synthesizers. The most distinctive element is the Eb pedal point in the verse, which grounds the harmony and creates a sense of stillness that mirrors the lyrical theme of waiting. Unlike many pop songs that rely on a four-chord loop, Collins uses a linear diatonic ascent in the verse to bridge the gap between the static intro and the more movement-heavy chorus. Find Tabs & Chords Songsterr Interactive tabs Ultimate Guitar Chords & tabs Cifra Club Chords
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