No Jacket Required (Deluxe Edition)

Like all the other recent remasters of Phil Collins' catalog, the 2nd disc is a major disappointment. However, I'm still giving this 5 stars just because the original album is so incredible. I haven't listened to No Jacket Required in awhile just because the disc was so outdated in its sound. But the remastering is amazing on this re-release. Of course, the hits are here sounding better than ever. One More Night, Sussidio, Don't Lose My Number, and Take Me Home brings your right back to 1985.

And now it's a pure joy to listen to the album tracks like Only You Know And I Know, Long Long Way To Go, Who Said I Would, and my favorite - Inside Out. And despite what some websites stated as being omitted, We Said Hello, Goodbye is on the 1st cd just like it was originally. Amazing album and now amazing sound. Now if only Collins had taken advantage of the 2nd disc and put some REAL bonus material on it.

I had forgotten how "punchy" this album is since I hadn't listened to it in many years. Sure...the hits were way overplayed on the radio or MTV in their time. But we also get PC gems or deep tracks such as, "Long Long Way to Go," "Inside and Out," and "We Said Hello Goodbye." Who can argue with Daryl Stuermer on searing guitar, The Phenix horn section (from Earth, Wing & Fire), and both Sting and Peter Gabriel on backing vocals? The live stuff on the bonus disc shows what a powerful performer PC is too. (Then again this reviewer is a huge fan of Genesis in both the Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins eras!) These PC solo album reissues were long overdue but worth the wait in my opinion as they simply couldn't sound any better!

Love him or hate him one thing can be sure... Phil Collins was the 80s. Phil Collins was the 80s and "No Jacket Required" was a culmination of everything that was good about that eras pop-music. Everybody and I mean everybody, has at least one or two favorite Phil Collins songs. His music was something that Fathers and Sons were listening to as well as die-hard vintage Rock Fans (please see Genesis) and THIS album is full of the energy and a dynamic spirit, that was completely designed by a man who had earned that right (and Artistry level) after years and years of hard work. Phil Collins was everywhere and he was doing everything right at the right time. Sometimes even in two different time zones, on the same day. His songs were hits, his videos were hits, his band (both of them) were great and selling out shows worldwide for a decade!...I don't know about England and I don't know about the controversies and honestly I don't care. (Americans can be a little more forgiving that way) Even after reading his book, I can tell you that Phil Collins no matter who people think he IS or even who HE thinks he is: is still a man that makes and made great music and the 80s were better for him because of that. PERIOD. End of story. Everything he touched and pretty much everybody that he worked with, turned to platinum, silver or gold. Sometimes even his songs were better than the movies that they were associated with. And sometimes he was actually IN the movie himself. Phil Collins gets a bad rap because he may have been "Overexposed" but that's only because we wanted more of him and we kept buying his records and listening to his music and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Call him a "sell-out" or "smarmy" but you can not deny that this man worked his ass off in the 80s and EVERYONE was the better for it. (Phillip Bailey, Robert Plant, Adam Ant, Stephan Bishop, Eric Clapton, Miami Vice and Genesis) Genesis FINALLY received their FIRST Number One Album/Song due to Phil taking over for Peter Gabriel. Most bands NEVER survive a lead singer change...But they did and that was all due to Collin's ability to write for the masses and "No Jacket Required" is the apex of this ability! ....This album is an incredible representation of every single artist at their best and should NOT be looked over.

I was a bit suspicious of this remaster based on the previous Genesis remasters sounding good and bad. Much debate has been raging on those remasters ever since! However, being a huge fan of this album I decided to give it a go and see if I noticed a difference.

The Music: After listening to the original release a zillion times I'm very familiar with all of the nuances. My first impression was the music sounding brighter ... a bit more treble. While this is very typical of "remasters" it didn't sound over done. Next was the overall stereo sound. There's more space in the mix to hear all the music more clearly.

The Extras: While it's nice to have the live versions of most of the songs and the demos ... it doesn't really add much. I would have preferred a remastered concert recording perhaps from his live Dallas show. Any rarities like "I Like the Way" and the remix of "We Said Hello Goodbye." Also the extended remixes.

Overall: If you're an audiophile then this is a must purchase. It definitely sounds "better" than the original. Although I would say the original sounds thicker. Both versions are outstanding. I salivate at the thought of a 5.1 surround sound release on blu-ray. Also a complete set-list concert release of his Dallas show on blu-ray would be tremendous!