While Phil Collins has previously been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis, in 2026, he will be enshrined as a solo artist. The question many fans might be asking is, "What took so long?"
Collins has been influential both as a songwriter and as a drummer. The way he recorded his instrument in the 1970s, with a large echo effect that made the drums seem far louder, was replicated by rock bands like XTC.
The former Genesis frontman has a decades-long career of high-end musical excellence. But his pop songs sometimes overshadow his more bare-bones gems. He has a very deep catalog, one that should be explored.
Five Phil Collins gems that should be in heavy rotation on your playlist
"The Roof is Leaking" - Face Value (1981)
More folk than rock, the song is an example of how Collins had a strong grasp of how to craft a song in his early years. This doesn't have the pop touches of his later, more commercially successful years, but that wouldn't be needed here.
The lyrics are fairly bleak and seem to be steeped in English storytelling. A poor family is scraping to get by, and the shadow of loss is everywhere. The song has a stunning, dark beauty, but not one that would have found much success on the pop charts.
"I Don't Care Anymore" - Hello, I Must Be Going (1982)
Mostly, just Collins and his drums, with a nice bit of anger. In essence, this is the musical artist at his best, using all his skills to their best. The lyrics are straightforward but brilliant, the drumming is effective, and the vocals fit the whole situation perfectly.
The song didn't chart in the UK and only reached No. 39 on the US Billboard chart. The issue might have been that it was released at a time when New Wave was ruling the airwaves, and "I Don't Care Anymore" might have been stuck in its post-punk ways.
"Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away" - Hello, I Must Be Going (1982)
Clearly, the narrator in this track is conflicted. He is partly upset that his love interest appears to have found someone else, but he is also hoping to hold on to the embers of a love running out of fuel. What makes the song work is the sheer earnestness of the melody.
By the end, the narrator admits his mistakes and wishes for the best. He refuses to go quietly, though, and one might hope his defiance is met with approval.
"Only You Know and I Know" - No Jacket Required (1985)
As punk-y as Phil Collins would get, this is an angry little love song. Collins isn't happy, and the speed of the music mirrors the vitriol of the lyrics. Instead of a soft love tune of years later, this is more early Ben Folds than later Collins.
The only aspect that might make the tune better is if the keyboards were replaced by aggressive guitars. That wouldn't really be Phil Collins' way, but a hardcore band covering the tune certainly wouldn't be surprising.
"Misunderstanding" - Duke (Genesis album) (1980)
Obviously, the late 1970s and early 1980s were when Phil Collins was at the full height of his powers. This gem was originally meant for his solo album, Face Value, but was gifted to the rest of Genesis for the Duke album.
Based on a Beach Boys tune couple with a Sly & the Family Stone feel, the song performed solidly in the United States, reaching No. 14. Still, it's part of a sonic approach that later Collins' tunes, with their heavier fluff, simply don't have.
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