Coming on September 28th is the massive four-disc Phil Collins set, Plays Well With Others, collecting his various sessions and collaborations with assorted artists over the past 50 years. Highlights on the 59-track compilation include his work with such heavyweights as Robert Plant, Paul McCartney and Pete Townshend, Peter Gabriel, Earth, Wind, And Fire‘s Phillip Bailey, ABBA‘s Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Quincy Jones, Genesis, Argent, Tony Bennett, Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Howard Jones, Adam Ant, Bryan Adams, John Martyn, Band X, Stephen Bishop, Joe Cocker, Band Aid, the Isley Brothers, Procol Harum‘s Gary Brooker, the Four Tops, Tears For Fears, the Bee Gees, Annie Lenox, Chaka Khan, George Martin, David Crosby, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison, among many others.

Collins said in the press release for Plays Well With Others, “Some would say I’ve lived a charmed life. I’ve done what I wanted for most of it, and got paid well for doing something I’d have done for nothing. Playing the drums. During that time I’ve played with most of my heroes, most have become close friends. Over these four CD’s you’ll find a mere smattering of those moments. I thank the artists for letting me put this CD together, no easy task! Love, PC”

Pulse asked Phil Collins if while writing his recent memoir, Not Dead Yet, he learned anything by focusing on his past so intently: “Certainly, with the book, I have to say that I’m astonished at how much I did in the ’80s and early-’90s, and can’t work out how I managed to fit it all in. I’ve looked at the tours and how many gigs we did and how many gigs I did and the stuff with Robert Plant and Eric (Clapton); I was just doing something all the time. I mean, it was just album after album — y’know, throw in Phil Bailey and Eric and Robert and Frida (Lyngstad) — y’know, a daunting amount of stuff that I did. So, it’s been great fun revisiting that for the book, ’cause, obviously over the years you gather a lot of stories and reasons you did things that people don’t know about.”

Following the blockbuster success of No Jacket Required, Paul McCartney tapped Collins, Genesis, and Police producer Hugh Padgham to helm his comeback album, the ill-fated 1986 bomb, Press To Play. Phil Collins recalled the 1985 recording session with Pete Townshend for the McCartney rocker “Angry,” which appeared on the album and is now featured on Plays Well With Others:”‘Angry’ — yeah, yeah, yeah. I got called to go down there, ’cause we’d all just done Live Aid. And I didn’t know Townshend was gonna be down there, but I love playing with him — he’s got such attitude. And McCartney — playing with a Beatle is always fun. I don’t think it was a great song, but it was a great opportunity to play with these guys.”

Phil Collins comes to Chicago when he plays at the United Center on Monday, October 22nd.

The tracklist to Phil Collins’ Plays Well With Others is:

Disc One: 1969 – 1982
“Guide Me Orion” – Flaming Youth
“Knights (Reprise)” – Peter Banks
“Don’t You Feel It” – Eugene Wallace
“I Can’t Remember, But Yes” – Argent
“Over Fire Island” – Brian Eno
“Savannah Woman” – Tommy Bolin
“Pablo Picasso” – John Cale
“Nuclear Burn” – Brand X
“No-One Receiving” – Brian Eno
“Home” – Rod Argent
“M386” – Brian Eno
“And So To F” – Brand X
“North Star” – Robert Fripp
“Sweet Little Mystery” – John Martyn
“Intruder” – Peter Gabriel
“I Know There’s Something Going On” – Frida
“Pledge Pin” – Robert Plant
“Lead Me To The Water” – Gary Brooker

Disc Two: 1982 – 1991
“In The Mood”‘ – Robert Plant
“Island Dreamer” – Al Di Meola
“Puss ‘n’ Boots” – Adam Ant
“Walking On The Chinese Wall” – Philip Bailey
“Do They Know It’s Christmas (Feed The World)” – Band Aid
“Just Like A Prisoner” – Eric Clapton
“Because Of You” – Philip Bailey
“Watching The World” – Chaka Khan
“No One Is To Blame” (Phil Collins version) – Howard Jones
“If Leaving Me Is Easy” – The Isley Brothers
“Angry” – Paul McCartney
“Loco In Acapulco’ – Four Tops
“Walking On Air” – Stephen Bishop
“Hall Light” – Stephen Bishop
“Woman In Chains” – Tears For Fears
“Burn Down The Mission” – Phil Collins

Disc Three: 1991 – 2011
“No Son Of Mine” – Genesis
“Could’ve Been Me” – John Martyn
“Hero” – David Crosby
“Ways To Cry” – John Martyn
“I’ve Been Trying” – Phil Collins
“Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me” – Quincy Jones
“Why Can’t It Wait Til Morning” – Fourplay
“Suzanne” – John Martyn
“Looking For An Angel” – Laura Pausini
“Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End” – George Martin
“In The Air Tonite” – Lil’ Kim featuring Phil Collins
“Welcome” – Phil Collins
“Can’t Turn Back The Years” – John Martyn

Disc 4: Live 1981 – 2002
“In The Air Tonight” (Live At The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball) – Phil Collins
“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” – George Harrison
“You Win Again” – The Bee Gees
“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” – Phil Collins and Tony Bennett
“Stormy Weather” – Phil Collins and Quincy Jones
“Chips And Salsa” – The Phil Collins Big Band
“Birdland” – Phil Collins with The Buddy Rich Big Band
“Pick Up The Pieces” (Live At The Montreux Jazz Festival 1998) – The Phil Collins Big Band
“Layla” (Live At Party At The Palace, 3 June 2002) – Eric Clapton
“Why” (Live at Party At The Palace, 3 June 2002) – Annie Lennox
“Everything I Do (I Do It For You)” (Live at Party At The Palace, 3 June 2002) – Bryan Adams
“With A Little Help From My Friends” (Live at Party At The Palace, 3 June 2002) – Joe Cocker