Phil Collins, the versatile and highly successful drummer and pop star, has expressed his long-held admiration for Steve Winwood and his band Traffic, stating that he finds it "ridiculous" that they remain underrated and underappreciated. Collins, who built his career on successfully collaborating with numerous artists across different musical styles, has consistently harboured a desire to work with Winwood, whom he considers a truly great vocalist worthy of far greater recognition.

Collins' admiration stems from his childhood immersion in soul and Motown music, which led him to idolise Traffic's unique blend of blues-rock foundations with Winwood's distinctive, raspy vocals reminiscent of Ray Charles. Despite Traffic's significance as a band, Winwood's subsequent solo career never achieved the prominence Collins believed he deserved, yet Collins has remained so impressed by his talents that he would still welcome the opportunity to collaborate with him, should the right circumstances arise during their later careers.