Phil Collins has opened up on his abortive collaboration with Adele saying that the two simply couldn't get their schedules to line up.

Speaking with reporters, Collins explained the failed attempt.

"She sent me a piece of music that I began working on," he began, "but then she was very difficult to find. She had a kid — all this personal stuff was happening to her, unbeknownst to me.

I sent her an e-mail asking, 'Am I waiting for you, or are you waiting for me?' I found out she's a bit of a ghost — producer / One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder told me that.

You may not hear from her for a while. So nothing came of it."

In October, Collins announced that he was coming out of retirement to make new music.

He re-issued two albums - Face Value (1982) and Both Sides (1992) - on January 29.