The Motown band that Phil Collins said was his favorite

Phil Collins certainly demonstrated his versatility throughout his career. He first achieved fame as a drummer, then became the frontman of Genesis, proved his talent as a songwriter, enjoyed immense success in his solo career, and even ventured into acting. While growing up, he was influenced by many kinds of music, but the so-called “Motown sound” held a particularly special place in his heart. He once revealed which band, famous for their Motown Records albums, was his favorite.

The Motown band that Phil Collins said was his favorite

The most recent Phil Collins album is “Going Back”, released in 2010, which features only covers of Motown and Soul standards. In an interview with Centerstage in the year the record was released (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage), Collins revealed which was his favorite Motown band or artist.

“Probably the Four Tops were (my favorite). Because they had, certainly in England, where I lived, they had just one hit after the other. They were just full of hooks and you know, they’re just great songs.”

(…) (Motown) is the music I grew up with. I mean, as well as The Beatles, which of course, everybody grew up with. For me, it was the Motown records that I really gravitated to. So for me it’s the soundtrack of my life. I’ve never sung these songs, apart from the school band,” Phil Collins said.

On his album “Going Back”, Collins covered a few songs previously recorded by Four Tops. Some of them were songs “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever”, “Standing in the Shadows of Love” and “Something About You”.

He wrote a song for The Four Tops and became a huge hit

In the 80s, besides being a solo artist and a member of Genesis, Collins also worked as a producer and co-wrote songs for other artists. One of them was “Loco In Acapulco”, which was curiously given to The Four Tops.

He co-wrote the track with Lamont Dozier, who is one of the most famous songwriters of the Motown songwriting team. The song was part of the Four Tops album “Indestructible” in 1988. Also part of the soundtrack of the movie “Buster”, released in the same year, starring Phil Collins.

In an interview with EON music, the founding member of The Four Tops, Abdul “Duke” Fakir talked about working with Collins. “We met him. He wrote that with Lamont Dozier who was part of the team with Holland–Dozier–Holland.”

“He sang on the recording. When he won some kind of award, we came over with him to get some kind of award. We got to be pretty good buddies for a while there! I love him,” Abdul “Duke” Fakir said.

Collins played that song live during a solo show in 1997.

The Four Tops have been active since 1953 but the band continues without original members. The last surviving member, who was Abdul, passed away in 2024 at the age of 88.

During their career, the band released 27 studio albums, the most recent one being “Christmas Here with You” (1995). Some of their most famous songs are “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Baby I Need Your Loving”.