I like Simon Phillips' contribution to the first MSG album too.
Feels like a good thing has a great drum part.
He's a very musical drummer, not just a time keeper.
He plays melodies with his toms/kettles.
And some people hate him for just that, but I like it too! Yeah, the drumming on the MSG debut was excellent (forgot to mention that album), lightyears from what Andy Parker did and could have done. Priest's Sin After Sin, David Coverdale's debut and MSG's first offering were all Roger Glover production jobs (they all sound like him too) and he was the one to recommend Simon Phillips every time. Needless to say he plays great on Roger Glover's Oldfield'esque Elements solo album (which came out around the same time) too.