Today is Philip Bailey’s 72nd birthday and what better way to celebrate one of the premier falsetto singers of all-time than to look back at the lead single from his third solo album, Chinese Wall.
Prior to the release of Chinese Wall, Bailey had already lent his incredible voice to several Earth, Wind and Fire classics over the years, sharing lead vocalist duties with the late, great Maurice White (my favorite Philip Bailey-led Elements song? Imagination – Ed.). For his upcoming solo release, he reached out for production assistance to Phil Collins, who’d already been a part of the rise of British prog rock band Genesis and was about to experience a solo renaissance when his 1981 single “In the Air Tonight” found a pop culture home in the very first episode of Miami Vice.
Collins agreed to produce the album and the two began writing songs together, one in particular stemming from a memorable jam session that would become another 80s cultural milestone. With Collins on the drums, veteran bassist Nathan East supplying an, pardon the pun, easy yet pulsating groove underneath and a memorable electric/rhythm performance from Collins touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer, the soundtrack for an ode to a woman who plays by her own rules was in place.
The intro itself is cinematic with Collins’ thunderous snare, Stuermer’s growling guitar and twinkling synths, then the party continues throughout the song as Philip and Phil trade bars about a woman who cannot be controlled or tied down, then Stuermer comes back with one of the elite solos of the 80s up to that point.
“Easy Lover” was released in November of 1984 and quickly took off, hitting in the top 10 of just about every Billboard chart imaginable – No. 3 Hot Black Singles, No. 2 Hot 100 and No. 5 Top Rock Tracks just to name a few.
“Easy Lover” also served as the theme song of a closed-circuit TV event featuring guys in shorts and tights beating the hell (kayfabe) out of each other that would change cable television and (said business of shorts and beatings) forever. It was called “Wrestlemania.” This was obviously before Vince McMahon feared copyrights and royalties.
Philip Bailey’s life and career are of course more than this song (there’s an urban legend that during promo of the song, Phil Collins was so pissed off that the interview didn’t know who Philip was, he sarcastically said he discovered him), but there are worse things than having a memorable song during a memorable decade to your credit. Happy Birthday to one of the greats.
