
In the Air Tonight
The most imitated drum sound of the 1980s began with a talkback microphone that engineer Hugh Padgham had routed through a heavy compressor -- and Phil Collins says he isn't quite sure what the song is about.
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SONG.REVIEWSDrummer and singer, also of Genesis. "In the Air Tonight," released in January 1981 as the lead single from his debut solo album Face Value, features a gated-reverb drum sound that engineer Hugh Padgham found by running a talkback microphone through a heavy compressor. A 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Performer inductee.

The most imitated drum sound of the 1980s began with a talkback microphone that engineer Hugh Padgham had routed through a heavy compressor -- and Phil Collins says he isn't quite sure what the song is about.
Read review →