Phil Collins celebrates his birthday on January 30, marking a career shaped by rhythm, restraint, and emotional clarity. As both a drummer and a songwriter, Collins brought a rare balance of precision and feeling to pop and rock music, creating songs that build patiently, land deliberately, and stay with you long after the final note.
Whether fronting Genesis or stepping into a hugely successful solo career, Phil Collins understood how music moves people. His catalog is full of controlled tension, steady momentum, and moments of release—elements that translate naturally to movement in the studio, from long endurance efforts to focused tempo work. Between his solo work and the Genesis years, he has created some of my all-time favorite songs—music that continues to resonate both emotionally and physically, decades later.
To celebrate his birthday, here are some standout tracks from both his solo career and with Genesis—songs with a wide range of tempos, energy, and emotional build that work beautifully in the cycling studio.
Best Phil Collins Songs
In The Air Tonight, 5:36, 96 bpm
Iconic atmosphere, a slow and deliberate build, and one of the most famous drum moments in music history. This is a song where you’ll want to dissociate from the beat and let riders self-select their cadence—it’s perfect for longer climbs or sustained efforts where patience and focus matter. We did a deeper dive into this song in this Friday Favorite post. And naturally, a profile celebrating drums would never overlook this masterpiece—of course, Jennifer featured it in her International Drum Month ride!
Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now), 3:26, 116 bpm
Emotional, direct, and timeless. One of Collins’s strongest ballads, ideal for cool-downs or reflective moments where riders can breathe and reset.
Sussudio, 4:23, 121 bpm
Pure ’80s energy. Bright, rhythmic, and instantly engaging, making it a great choice for cadence work or an upbeat climb.
You Can’t Hurry Love, 2:55, 98 bpm
A joyful, Motown-inspired hit that highlights Collins’s versatility and warmth. Works well for warm-ups, or for a real challenge, find the beat and hold it as you progressively add resistance.
I Don’t Care Anymore, 5:05, 140 bpm
Darker, moodier, and rhythm-forward. A cult favorite with emotional punch, well-suited for a fast climb.
Best Genesis Songs (Phil Collins Era)
Invisible Touch, 3:28, 131 bpm
Polished, pop-forward, and one of the band’s biggest hits. Bright and accessible, it fits perfectly as a short, hard climb.
That’s All, 4:24, 175 bpm
Catchy, upbeat, and deceptively simple, showcasing classic songwriting strength and steady rhythm. We featured this track as a Wednesday Timeless Classic.
Mama, 5:18 or 6:50, 83 bpm
Dark, dramatic, and rhythmically intense. A standout track for longer efforts that benefit from tension and control. Use it for a hard, fast climb.
Turn It On Again, 3:51, 128 bpm
While the energy and beat of this song point toward a climb, it can also be used effectively as a warm-up at 80–90 rpm, giving instructors flexibility to cue effort, ignoring the beat.
Just a Job to Do, 4:14, 128 bpm
Driven by urgency and precision, this track reflects Phil Collins’s strength as a drummer and storyteller. ICA profiled this song as a Friday Favorite.
A great way to expand this playlist even further is by including music from other members of Genesis, most notably Peter Gabriel and Mike Rutherford of Mike and the Mechanics. ICA has profiled several songs from Peter Gabriel, offering studio-friendly options that connect directly back to the Genesis legacy.
We’ve featured Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” and “The Feeling Begins” in WTC posts, along with “Red Rain” in a theme ride. We’ve also highlighted “When You’re Falling,” a track that features Peter Gabriel’s vocals, in a WTC post. These songs bring a different texture and emotional depth while still aligning with the rhythmic and storytelling strengths that defined the Genesis era.
One of my favorite Mike and the Mechanics songs is “All I Need Is a Miracle.”
All I Need Is a Miracle, Mike and the Mechanics, 4:12, 135 bpm
Built around optimism, momentum, and forward drive, this track captures that familiar feeling of hope and perseverance. Its upbeat groove and steady rhythm make it a strong option for a climb, with natural interval opportunities on the chorus at 1:29–1:52 (22s), 2:30–2:54 (24s), and 3:19–3:50 (31s). It’s an easy fit for moments when riders need a lift and a reason to keep pushing forward.
We can also look to artists who collaborated with Phil Collins, creating some truly memorable moments across pop, rock, and soul.
Phil Collins also collaborated with a wide range of artists across pop, rock, and soul, including Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire on “Easy Lover,” Sting on “Long Long Way to Go,” Marilyn Martin on “Separate Lives“, Eric Clapton on “I Wish It Would Rain Down,” and David Crosby on live performances of “Another Day in Paradise.”
Together, these connections show how Phil Collins’s music bridges genres while staying grounded in feel, timing, and musical clarity. His songs remind us that rhythm is not just about speed. It is about timing, intention, and knowing when to let the moment land.
In recent years, Phil Collins has been open about his health challenges, including nerve damage that has limited his ability to play the drums and perform as he once did. While he has stepped back from touring and live performance, his legacy as a drummer, songwriter, and storyteller remains firmly intact. His music continues to speak for him, built on feel, intention, and moments that still land with power.
A master of mood. A defining voice of an era. And proof that rhythm and emotion are strongest when they work together.