Home > Music > Peter Gabriel > Discography

Peter Gabriel So Release Date: 1986 Running Time: 45:21 Label: Geffen Peter Gabriel introduced his fifth studio album So with "Sledgehammer," an Otis Redding-inspired soul-pop raver that was easily his catchiest, happiest single to date. Needless to say, it was also his most accessible, and, in that sense it was a good introduction to So, the catchiest, happiest record he ever cut. "Sledgehammer" propelled the record toward blockbuster status, and Gabriel had enough songs with single potential to keep it there. There was "Big Time," another colorful dance number; "Don't Give Up," a moving duet with Kate Bush; "Red Rain," a stately anthem popular on album rock radio; and "In Your Eyes," Gabriel's greatest love song which achieved genuine classic status after being featured in Cameron Crowe's classic, Say Anything. These all illustrated the strengths of the album: Gabriel's increased melodicism and ability to blend African music, jangly pop, and soul into his moody art rock. Apart from these singles, plus the urgent "That Voice Again," the rest of the record is as quiet as the album tracks of Security. The difference is, the singles on that record were part of the overall fabric; here, the singles are the fabric, which can make the album seem top-heavy (a fault of many blockbuster albums, particularly those of the mid-'80s). Even so, those songs are so strong, finding Gabriel in a newfound confidence and accessibility, that it's hard not to be won over by them, even if So doesn't develop the unity of its two predecessors. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Tracks: Title Composer Time 1 Red Rain Gabriel 5:39 2 Sledgehammer Gabriel 5:12 3 Don't Give Up Gabriel 6:33 4 That Voice Again Rhodes, Gabriel 4:53 5 In Your Eyes Gabriel 5:27 6 Mercy Street Gabriel 6:22 7 Big Time Gabriel 4:28 8 We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) Gabriel 3:22 9 This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds) Anderson, Gabriel 4:25 Releases: Year Type Label 1990 CD Geffen 1985 CD Geffen 2002 CD Universal Distribution 1990 CS Geffen CD Toshiba EMI CD Import 2003 CD EMI/Virgin 2007 CD Slowburn 2003 CD EMI Music Distribution 1986 CD Real World Records 2002 CD Universal Distribution 2002 CD Virgin

Member Of: Big Blue Ball Genesis More >> Similar Artists: David Bowie Robert Fripp David Byrne Kate Bush U2 More >>

Influenced By: King Crimson Theatre The Beatles The Moody Blues Van Der Graaf Generator More >> Followers: Live Christophe Goze Open Hand Jon Hassell Primus More >>

Browse More Music:
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z