Love Songs: A Compilation... Old and New

Released on Rhino/Atlantic/Face Value Records in the fall of 2004, Love Songs is a good idea. Since Phil Collins is known for his romantic hit ballads, the idea to have all of these hits on one disc is appealing. That's not quite what Love Songs is -- as the subtitle A Compilation...Old and New suggests, it has grander ambitions than that. It spans two discs, adding several new songs, rarities, and live recordings into the mix, sometimes substituting alternate versions for the hit version (as on a live version of "Separate Lives" and a rehearsal take for "True Colors"). The low-key, romantic atmosphere is more or less kept throughout the 25 songs.