Throwback Video Of The Week: Philip Bailey & Phil Collins “Easy Lover”
We can argue about it if you want, but “Easy Lover” just might be the best pop song of the ’80s. It was recorded by Philip Bailey, of Earth, Wind & Fire, and Phil Collins, of Genesis, for Bailey’s 1984 solo album, Chinese Wall. Phil Collins produced and played drums on the album. The song also appears on Phil Collins’ 1990 album, Serious Hits… Live!, and his 1998 compilation album, …Hits.
“Easy Lover” topped the charts in several countries, including Canada, Ireland, the U.K., and the Netherlands. In the U.S., it got as high as #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Philip Bailey’s only U.S. Top 40 hit as a solo artist. The song was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals at the 1986 Grammy Awards.
Most of the video is about the making of the video. We see a lot of the rehearsal and technical preparation before we get to the actual performance, but it’s a lot of fun along the way. “Easy Lover” won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Overall Performance in a Video in 1985.
