Entire Body of Work: Phil Collins or Billy Joel

Phil Collins v. Billy Joel


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dreamcastrocks

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Phil Collins + Genesis = no contest.
 

Bert

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Billy Joel by a landslide IMO. (I forgive him for all the crappy songs he wrote for Christie Brinkley in the 80's) I dont think people really understand what a talented piano player he is.

(See how I didn't say pianist? I have learned my ASFN lesson lol)

I like Phil Collins too. I just think Billy owns him.

 
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puckhead

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Billy Joel by a landslide IMO. (I forgive him for all the crappy songs he wrote for Christie Brinkley in the 80's) I dont think people really understand what a talented piano player he is.

(See how I didn't say pianist? I have learned my ASFN lesson lol)

I like Phil Collins too. I just think Billy owns him.


:yeahthat:

What a great pianist!

:hanson:
 

AzStevenCal

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This is like comparing Tom Brady and Tim Tebow

Really? If you mean comparing as in nearly equating, I can't see it in any way, shape or form. Asking a football fan to compare Brady and Tebow is like asking a thirsty person to compare water and sand. There is no reasonable comparison. IMO, Joel vs Collins is reasonably argued from either side. Put me down solidly for Billy Joel although my wife would vote for Phil.

Steve
 

Brian in Mesa

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Phil, IMHO.

Both have 150 million in album sales.

Phil is one of only 3 artists who have over 100 million in album sales as both a principal member of a group and as an individual (the others: Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson).

Even without the Genesis stuff, Phil wins in Grammy's won with 7 to Billy's 6. On top of that Phil has won an Oscar and two Golden Globes.

No one had more top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 1980s than Phil.

In 2008, Phil was ranked the 22nd most successful artist on the "The Billboard Hot 100 Top All-Time Artists". Billy? He came in 23rd. :D
 

AzStevenCal

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Phil also plays the piano...but, I've never seen Billy play the drums...

:grabs:

According to Wiki, Billy Joel plays piano, guitar, harmonica, keyboard, accordion, organ, melodica, clavinet, percussion and harpsichord. Throw in Christie and you have no choice but to throw out Phil, sticks and all. And Phil never wrote a song called The Drummer Man.

Steve
 

Bert

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Phil also plays the piano...but, I've never seen Billy play the drums...

:grabs:

No but I've seen Phil Collins play the drums, *yaaawn*

My favorite drummers are Carter Beauford, Neil Peart and Mike Portnoy. Phil Collins isn't even in the same freaking universe as those guys (talent wise).

Billy Joel can play piano with the best of them when it comes to rock/pop music.

All that other stuff is subjective, this isn't sports, you cant throw out how many Grammy's someone has won and use it as a measure of their talent.
 
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TheHopToad

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Love them both. Have most of the collections of both. Have seen them both.

Tie.
 

Rivercard

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No but I've seen Phil Collins play the drums, *yaaawn*

My favorite drummers are Carter Beauford, Neil Peart and Mike Portnoy. Phil Collins isn't even in the same freaking universe as those guys (talent wise).

Wow. I could not disagree with you more. I can see liking those guy's style more, but talent-wise it's pretty even especially before Phil started being a lead singer. The live Lamb Lies Down on Broadway disks from the 1st box set feature unbelievably majestic drumming. And Phil (along with his producers I suppose) practically invented the huge gated drum sound of the 80's and beyond.
 
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Bert

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Wow. I could not disagree with you more. I can see liking those guy's style more, but talent-wise it's pretty even especially before Phil started being a lead singer. The live Lamb Lies Down on Broadway disks from the 1st box set feature unbelievably majestic drumming. And Phil (along with his producers I suppose) practically invented the huge gated drum sound of the 80's and beyond.

I'm not just throwing out random judgement based on assumptions because he's a singer. I have seen and heard Phil drum live, and on youtube videos. I mean really what you're saying there is that you like his style as well as theirs, which is completely understandable, but as far as skill, chops, speed and talent go... yeah We will have to agree to not be able to disagree more on this one. :)
 

Rivercard

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I'm not just throwing out random judgement based on assumptions because he's a singer. I have seen and heard Phil drum live, and on youtube videos. I mean really what you're saying there is that you like his style as well as theirs, which is completely understandable, but as far as skill, chops, speed and talent go... yeah We will have to agree to not be able to disagree more on this one. :)

:thumbup:

That's what's great about art. Subjectivity. Since I brought up the Live Lamb disks as exhibit A, I'll now enter all of Phil's work with Brand X as exhibit B and rest my case.
 

Bert

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:thumbup:

That's what's great about art. Subjectivity. Since I brought up the Live Lamb disks as exhibit A, I'll now enter all of Phil's work with Brand X as exhibit B and rest my case.

:notworthy: I completely agree.

It is always evident, even with my choices. Lots of people (including Mike Portnoy) will tell you that he is better and faster than Carter Beauford, but I think Carter Beauford has a much tastier style of drumming and is more enjoyable to listen to, and thus I will always prefer Carter. So there ya go. :)

If nothing else you have inspired me to go through old Phil Collins tracks and listen more closely to his drumming. Thanks for that!
 
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Rivercard

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If nothing else you have inspired me to go through old Phil Collins tracks and listen more closely to his drumming. Thanks for that!

Portnoy is of course is a monster, but I have to admit I haven't paid very close attention to Mr. Beauford. I'll have to dig into that a bit. So thanks to you as well. :band:
 

mojorizen7

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I'm not just throwing out random judgement based on assumptions because he's a singer. I have seen and heard Phil drum live, and on youtube videos. I mean really what you're saying there is that you like his style as well as theirs, which is completely understandable, but as far as skill, chops, speed and talent go... yeah We will have to agree to not be able to disagree more on this one. :)
As a drummer myself for nearly 30 years i'm going to have to disagree as well Bert. I dont think Phil deserves a Medal of Honor in the history of prog/rock/pop drumming,but IMO he was always very good at what he did. He was especially adept at incorporating his superior songwriting skills and being able to infuse that into his drumming style(if that makes any sense). He had a unique style i think...easily identifiable. He knew when to keep it simple and when to stretch it,which is a valuable and rare skill all in its own...LOL.

Anyway, i really love Billy Joel's catalog(except for that horrible "We didnt start the Fire" thing,and they're both incredible songwriters.....but i had to go with Collins due to his superior and versatile musicianship(is that a word?) :)
 

Pariah

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The only reason I even hesitate is because, IMO, Collins' stuff the last 25 years has been really weak. Joel's hasn't been great, either, but it's better than Phil.

Plus, Phil Collins was on Miami Vice. Billy Joel can't say that.

Phil Collins wins.
 

AzStevenCal

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The only reason I even hesitate is because, IMO, Collins' stuff the last 25 years has been really weak. Joel's hasn't been great, either, but it's better than Phil.

Plus, Phil Collins was on Miami Vice. Billy Joel can't say that.

Phil Collins wins.

Plus, Billy Joel was on Christie Brinkley. Phil Collins can't say that.

Billy Joel wins.

Seriously though, I suspect this poll would skew more towards Joel if the voters were a little older. I like both of them but I think people in my age group would tend more towards Joel and people that came of age in the 70's and beyond would lean towards Phil.

Steve
 

O

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Seriously though, I suspect this poll would skew more towards Joel if the voters were a little older. I like both of them but I think people in my age group would tend more towards Joel and people that came of age in the 70's and beyond would lean towards Phil.

Steve

I disagree. I voted for Phil because of his work with Genesis also.
Arguably one of the most influential bands of all time.
Not only musically but production wise.

If not for Genesis modern automated lighting, for concerts, as we know it may not exist.

http://www.vari-lite.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=About-Vari-Lite&category=Company&print=y
 

AzStevenCal

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I disagree. I voted for Phil because of his work with Genesis also.
Arguably one of the most influential bands of all time.
Not only musically but production wise.

If not for Genesis modern automated lighting, for concerts, as we know it may not exist.

http://www.vari-lite.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=About-Vari-Lite&category=Company&print=y

Really? You don't think that people that came of age in the 60's and earlier would be more likely to appreciate the soft pop singer/songwriter style of Joel over Phil Collins? I'm not saying that it's true of every "older" person but I seriously doubt that it would come anywhere near the numbers this poll is showing (70% + in favor of Collins).

Steve
 

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