Dave Lawrenson

I HAVE always considered reviewing a greatest hits album to be an exercise in futility.

If you like the artist then you'll like the album. And if you don't like the artist then you wouldn't dream of forking out £15 plus for their work.

So why did I agree to partake in this pointless task you may ask?

Well, and I hope none of my old school friends are reading this, I think Phil Collins rocks!

He may dance like a moron and have the look of an embarrassing uncle but he has recorded a host of timeless classics and you'd have to be brain dead to turn down the chance to be regaled by his best songs.

I thought that the only downside of agreeing to the review was that I would have to give the album back at some point.

How wrong I was! For the three songs I was looking forward to listening to the most - Against All Odds, Groovy Kind Of Love and Easy Lover - have been left out of Phil's platinum collection.

That is a cardinal sin as far as I'm concerned and my back was up as soon as I read the album cover.

Phil redeemed himself slightly with several quality songs that I had never heard before.

But a man who can't find a place for a trio of masterpieces in a three-CD, 35-track greatest hits collection does not deserve your money.

The Platinum Collection - more like The Pratinum Collection.