Consumer Guide Album

Philip Bailey: Chinese Wall [Columbia, 1984]
Pretty convoluted: great falsetto of great drummer-led black pop band seeks solo identity, turns for production aid (and duet on single) to drummer who's led great (i.e., best-selling) white art-rock band back into money by ripping off (appropriating?) black rhythms and vocals. Funny thing is: though Phil Collins plays a little louder than Maurice White, he's got almost as many chops and may even sing better. Even at that, for Vegas-gone-to-heaven I'll take Earth, Wind & Fire over Phil & Phil. But I'll certainly take Phil & Phil over Genesis for lush/sensuous/zippy soundtrack. B+