Phil Collins: “Sussudio” (1985)

Here’s a clear sign of the end of days: Phil Collins pretending to be Prince.

Kronomyth 2.9: Cupidity & Saccharine.

I always imagined that Sussudio was the sort of filler word you use when writing a song and expect to replace later. Turns out I was right. I also imagined this song was patterned after Prince’s “1999.” Right again. Anyone who believes that Prince and Phil Collins were musical soulmates should watch the videos for “1999” and “Sussudio” back to back. One is brilliant; the other represents everything that was wrong with the 80s, from cheesy dance moves to double-breasted suits.

To Collins’ credit, he usually backed up his singles with decent B sides that were unavailable anywhere else. For the earlier European release, it was The Man with the Horn, which is a pretty likeable track with vague Motown overtones. For the later North American release, it was I Like the Way, which continues to find Collins channeling Prince/Scritti Politti. An extended version of “Sussudio” was also created for the 12-inch single and, listening to it again recently, it was better than I remembered.

Original 7-inch single version

A1. Sussudio (Phil Collins)
B1. The Man with the Horn (Phil Collins)

Original 7-inch single version (US/Canada)
A1. Sussudio (Phil Collins) (4:23)
B1. I Like the Way (Phil Collins/Daryl Stuermer) (4:25)

Original 7-inch single version (Japan)
A1. Sussudio (Phil Collins)
B1. Sussudio (extended mix) (Phil Collins)

Original 12-inch single version
A1. Sussudio (extended mix) (Phil Collins) (6:53)
B1. Sussudio (LP version) (Phil Collins) (4:15)
B2. The Man with the Horn (Phil Collins) (3:55)

Back-to-back hits 7-inch single version
A1. Sussudio (Phil Collins) (4:23)
B1. Don’t Lose My Number (Phil Collins) (4:46)

The Plastic

Produced by Phil Collins and Hugh Padgham; engineered by Hugh Padgham; extended mix by John “Tokes” Potoker.

The Plastic

Released on 7-inch, 12-inch and 12-inch picture disc single in January 1985 in the UK (Virgin, VS736, VS/VSY736-12) Australia (WEA, 7-259181) and France and Germany (WEA, 259 181-7), in April 1985 in the US (Atlantic, 7-89560/0-86895) and Canada (Atlantic, 78 95607) and in 1985 in Japan (WEA, P-1972) with regional picture sleeve. Reached #12 on the UK charts and #1 on the US charts (charted on May 11, 1985 for 17 weeks) (RIAA-certified gold record).