Phil Collins got expertly trolled by George Harrison with an ‘incredible’ prank

A story about Genesis drummer Phil Collins falling victim to a joke by The Beatles’ George Harrison has resurfaced in a viral Twitter thread.

In a written message shared by user Calvin Betton, he explained that a 19-year-old Collins had received a phone call saying that Harrison wanted a conga player for a track on his 1970 solo album, All Things Must Pass.

He continues: “He plays congas on the track, with George there and Phil Spector producing. A few weeks later the album comes out and there is no sign of the congas on the track. 

“Phil is gutted but can’t do anything about it.”

The pair went 20 years without crossing paths again, before they end up chatting at an event. 

Betton writes: “After an hour or so, Phil says to George, 'I don’t know whether you remember, but when I was a kid I came to the studio on the ATMP sessions and played congas on a track, but when it was released the congas weren’t on the final recording?'"

“I’ve always wondered why. Any ideas?”

In response, Harrison says he couldn't recall the day when the congas were recorded, and that “it was most likely Phil Spector who didn’t like the sound and took it off”.

However, The Beatles member revealed that he had the master tapes from the session and could send them to Collins if he wanted to listen to them.

After agreeing to receive them, a package from Harrison arrives three weeks later, with “absolutely terrible” and “unlistenable” congas audible on the track.

Betton adds that Harrison could be heard at the end of the recording, saying to Spector: “Get [rid] of the lad on the congas, he’s crap.”

Collins later rang Harrison to discuss the congas, only for the guitarist to confirm it was him who called for the congas to be cut from the song and described Collins as “crap”.

He then bursts out laughing before explaining to the percussionists that the tapes sent to him were “not the real sessions”.

Hetton writes: “I wanted to get you going, so I hired a band to come in last week to re-record the whole song with me. 

“I deliberately played the worst congas imaginable and said at the end, ‘the lad on the congas was useless’, just so I could send them to ya.

“I wish I could have seen your face. I’ll send you the real sessions now, you sounded great.”

People soon responded to express their shock and amazement at the “brilliant” tale:

Replying to another user, Betton explained that the anecdote was mentioned in an episode of the Word In Your Ear podcast, hosted by David Hepworth and Mark Ellen.

Collins also mentioned the prank in an interview with Classic Rock last year, in which he said that his response to Harrison was to call him a “f**king b*****d”.