TotW 07/01/2024 - 07/07/2024: PHIL COLLINS - Thunder And Lightning

    Your rating for "Thunder And Lightning" by PHIL COLLINS 27

    1. 15 points - outstanding (1) 4%
    2. 14 points - very good (3) 11%
    3. 13 points - very good - (7) 26%
    4. 12 points - good + (7) 26%
    5. 11 points - good (5) 19%
    6. 10 points - good - (2) 7%
    7. 09 points - satisfactory + (0) 0%
    8. 08 points - satisfactory (2) 7%
    9. 07 points - satisfactory - (0) 0%
    10. 06 points - sufficient + (0) 0%
    11. 05 points - sufficient (0) 0%
    12. 04 points - sufficient - (0) 0%
    13. 03 points - poor + (0) 0%
    14. 02 points - poor (0) 0%
    15. 01 point - poor - (0) 0%
    16. 00 points - abysmal (0) 0%

    We invite you to share interesting facts and tidbits about this track. Let's look at the track in the context of the band's / the artist's history, at the music, the songwriting and all other aspects that are relevant for this track. Please do stick to the discussion of the track above. Comparisons to other tracks are okay, but remember that the other track you may be keen to talk about has or will have its own Track Of The Week thread. If you spot a mistake or if you can close a gap in the fact sheet above please feel free to contact martinus or Christian about it; we will gladly add and improve!


    PHIL COLLINS - Thunder And Lightning

    Year: 1981
    Album: ... Face Value
    Working title: ?
    Credits: Collins
    Lyrics: Yes
    Length: 4:14
    Musicians: Phil Collins, Daryl Stuermer, John Giblin, EWF Horns
    Played Live: 1982. 1983
    Cover versions: ?

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    Notes: One of the more inconspicuous tracks on Collins' debut album was Thunder And Lightning. One of the reasons may be that the track was never released as a single. And these are actually the best prerequisites for a Track Of The Week in this forum.

    cheers

    Christian


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    Good stuff, nice and upbeat, really good drumming, nice and tight, which compliments the excellent horns. I like the backing vocals and also the handclaps (which I think are simulated and I would prefer real ones...). Good little song, well structured. His vocals are really good for the most part, although he sounds a little strained on the louder parts, but I'd need someone with vocal expertise to advise on that one.

    Quote from IWishItWouldRainDown

    No

    Well, you walked right into that one then, didn't you?


    I would wager that absolutely everyone on this forum, when asked about their favourite musical act, would agree that none of them has ever managed a roster of perfect tracks, without fail. I, for example, rate the Moody Blues as my favourite band, and, like most fans of them, consider the first 7 Hayward/Lodge era albums to be their best. I'd even go so far as to say that those 7 are the finest run of seven consecutive albums by any act, anywhere, ever. So I'm a bit biased! BUT even I would acknowledge that there are a handful of tracks on those 7 albums that don't quite cut the mustard, indeed, there are 3 consecutive tracks on "On The Threshold...." that I could live without (Send me no wine/To Share our love/So deep within you).


    So, by admitting you would rate ALL of Phil's solo work as a 15, you merely highlight the fact that you are a unwavering sycophant, with no meaningful grasp of good or not-so-good in his work. And, let's be honest, there are a few turkeys in there, even his realistically connected fans would acknowledge that.


    To put it another way: "When everything's amazing, nothing's amazing"!

    Ian


    Putting the old-fashioned Staffordshire plate in the dishwasher!

    Like 1

    Well said. Genesis is my favorite band, and there's maybe 10-20 songs in their catalog that I'd give a 15.

    Quote from foxfeeder

    Well, you walked right into that one then, didn't you?

    [...]

    Oi, I have not sworn at you. I am not a sycophant at all. I am a huge fan of PC, but that doesn't stop me from taking Collins' discography with a critical view. For example, regarding his recordings from the mid-1990s onwards IMO he stopped being himself except for the 2001-08 interval. But the 'problem' with Collins is that if he sings the phonebook it will turn out something exquisite. Consequently, even his least strong albums Dance into the Light and Going Back are good, just imagine the rest. Regarding my previous ratings, it turns out I hold all PC songs that had been put to score in a sincere high esteem. And the No I gave Hamilton is a tongue-in-cheek answer to his ratty question.

    Quote from IWishItWouldRainDown

    Oi, I have not sworn at you. I am not a sycophant at all. I am a huge fan of PC, but that doesn't stop me from taking Collins' discography with a critical view. For example, regarding his recordings from the mid-1990s onwards IMO he stopped being himself except for the 2001-08 interval. But the 'problem' with Collins is that if he sings the phonebook it will turn out something exquisite. Consequently, even his least strong albums Dance into the Light and Going Back are good, just imagine the rest. Regarding my previous ratings, it turns out I hold all PC songs that had been put to score in a sincere high esteem. And the No I gave Hamilton is a tongue-in-cheek answer to his ratty question.

    I haven't sworn at you either! ?(


    The problem isn't that Phil singing the phone book would be something exquisite (it wouldn't!), it's that you so clearly think it would.

    Ian


    Putting the old-fashioned Staffordshire plate in the dishwasher!

    Quote from IWishItWouldRainDown

    Stop sowing s*** everywhere

    That's clearly not what he's doing. He gave a calm considered balanced view of his favourite band, whose work he clearly loves, but he's being realistic enough to point out (as I'm sure we all would) that even they did some tracks he's not keen on. That's completely normal and to be expected with a band who did 15 albums across 30 years.


    The problem with with your curt dismissal of his reasonable comment, and automatic gushing adoration of any artist by anyone, is that it renders discourse meaningless. It's nice to come here and have a nuanced discussion but your approach goes against that.

    Abandon all reason

    Like 1
    Quote from Backdrifter

    That's clearly not what he's doing. He gave a calm considered balanced view of his favourite band, whose work he clearly loves, but he's being realistic enough to point out (as I'm sure we all would) that even they did some tracks he's not keen on. That's completely normal and to be expected with a band who did 15 albums across 30 years.


    The problem with with your curt dismissal of his reasonable comment, and automatic gushing adoration of any artist by anyone, is that it renders discourse meaningless. It's nice to come here and have a nuanced discussion but your approach goes against that.

    If you had read the order of comments correctly, you would have realized that the only one I had asked to stop sowing s*** was Henry Hamilton-Smythe and not Foxfeeder. Hamilton was the one who made the impertinent enquiry, always seeking conflict.

    Quote from IWishItWouldRainDown

    Oi, I have not sworn at you. I am not a sycophant at all. I am a huge fan of PC, but that doesn't stop me from taking Collins' discography with a critical view. For example, regarding his recordings from the mid-1990s onwards IMO he stopped being himself except for the 2001-08 interval. But the 'problem' with Collins is that if he sings the phonebook it will turn out something exquisite. Consequently, even his least strong albums Dance into the Light and Going Back are good, just imagine the rest. Regarding my previous ratings, it turns out I hold all PC songs that had been put to score in a sincere high esteem. And the No I gave Hamilton is a tongue-in-cheek answer to his ratty question.

    Sorry, NO. Just no, I love Phil too. But just because he's singing a song does not make it perfect. (Look at the number of Genesis songs sung by him which aren't perfect, but that is a separate issue). If you rank them all the same, you are saying that something as bland as forgettable as a cover of a Leo Sayer song, Can't Stop Loving You, has the same ... er... Face Value as In The Air Tonight. You're saying that all those 'I'will always be with you' songs on Testify have the same value as (e.g.) Take Me Home. If you think that, good luck to you, but surely that is not what being a fan of an artist involves.