The Worst Phone Call of All Time
In a Nutshell
Phil Collins endured a devastating betrayal when his wife had an affair with their house painter, inspiring him to write "In the Air Tonight" on the painter's invoice and "Against All Odds" in a creative fugue—transforming personal agony into Grammy-winning hits. Similar bursts of genius fueled Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" in one day, the Beatles' rapid album recordings, and Bobby Darin's 20-minute "Splish Splash." Sylvester Stallone, hitting rock bottom, wrote the "Rocky" script in three days, rejected a $1M offer without the starring role, sold his dog for food, then bought it back for $25K after the film's massive success.
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Story set in 1970s Surrey, England, at beautiful old farmhouse called Old Croft. Musician moves in with wife (childhood sweetheart met at age 11 in drama class) and two kids. Band had first top 40 song; he mortgages house way above his income, betting on future success. House needs extensive work including paint job.
He goes on tour to crack America, leaving family with painters. Unsure if he'll see house again. Tour goes well for a year, enabling mortgage payments. At tour's end, phone call with wife: she confesses affair. He suspects singer or bandmate; affair with the painter he paid for the house. He flies back, fails to win her back. She says she's taking kids to Canada.
He tells band it's over; they suggest solo hiatus. He goes to Canada for 3 months to save marriage, fails, flies back. Returns to Old Croft, paint still wet from the man who cuckolded him. Leaves fuming, goes to favorite restaurant, orders ravioli but can't eat despite starving. House derelict, family gone in Canada, ignores his calls. Starts drinking.
Channels pain: turns master bedroom (where affair happened) into music studio. Grabs invoice from painting company, writes In the Air Tonight on it. Song played: "you're [__] me." Phil Collins wrote it on painter's invoice.
In fugue state in studio, writes Against All Odds, wins Grammy.
Against All Odds smash hit. Man in Manchester listens on loop after splitting with partner 5 years ago. Sees her at bus stop, date till 6 a.m., reunite, engaged in 6 months, have three children—second child is storyteller. Dad loved song when wooing mom. Room where Phil Collins wrote it now podcast studio.
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