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
Laurie Anderson (Vocals), Laurie Anderson, Kate Bush (Vocals), Stewart Copeland (Synthesizer), Stewart Copeland (Percussion), Stewart Copeland (Drums), Stewart Copeland (Keyboards), Stewart Copeland (Hi Hat), Peter Gabriel (Synthesizer), Peter Gabriel (Flute), Peter Gabriel (Percussion), Peter Gabriel (Piano), Peter Gabriel (Drums), Peter Gabriel (Keyboards), Peter Gabriel (Vocals), Peter Gabriel (Vocals (Background)), Peter Gabriel (Producer), Peter Gabriel (Synclavier), Peter Gabriel (Main Performer), Peter Gabriel (Prophet Synthesizer), Peter Gabriel (Horn Arrangements), Peter Gabriel (CMI), Peter Gabriel (Linn Drum), Peter Gabriel (Linn), Bill Laswell (Bass), Bill Laswell, Ronnell Bright (Bass (Vocal)), Ronnell Bright (Vocals), Nile Rodgers (Guitar), Nile Rodgers, P.P. Arnold (Vocals), P.P. Arnold (Vocals (Background)), Dave Bascombe (Engineer), Michael Been (Vocals), Michael Been (Vocals (Background)), David Bottrill (Engineer), Steve Boyer (Engineer), Steve Boyer (Assistant), Jimmy Bralower (Synthesizer), Jimmy Bralower, Jimmy Bralower (Linn), Andrew Clark (Bass), Andrew Clark (Organ (Hammond)), Andrew Clark (CMI), Andrew Clark (CS-80), Simon Clark (Synthesizer), Simon Clark (Bass), Simon Clark (Guitar (Bass)), Simon Clark (Keyboards), Simon Clark (Organ (Hammond)), Djalma Corrèa (Conga), Djalma Corrèa (Triangle), Djalma Corrèa (Surdo), Tony Cousins (Remastering), Coral Gordon (Vocals), Coral Gordon (Vocals (Background)), Chris Hughes (Programming), Chris Hughes (Producer), Chris Hughes (Linn), Wayne Jackson (Trumpet), Wayne Jackson (Cornet), Wayne Jackson (Horn Arrangements), Manu Katche (Percussion), Manu Katche (Drums), Manu Katche (Talking Drum), Jim Kerr (Vocals (Background)), Kevin Killen (Engineer), Larry Klein (Bass), Larry Klein (Guitar (Bass)), Bruce Lampcov (Engineer), Daniel Lanois (Guitar), Daniel Lanois (Percussion), Daniel Lanois (Guitar (Electric)), Daniel Lanois (Tambourine), Daniel Lanois (Guitar (12 String)), Daniel Lanois (Producer), Daniel Lanois (Engineer), Daniel Lanois (Horn Arrangements), Daniel Lanois (Guitar (String)), Tony Levin (Bass), Tony Levin (Guitar (Bass)), Tony Levin (Vocals), Tony Levin (Drum Sticks), Dee Lewis (Vocals), Dee Lewis (Vocals (Background)), Jerry Marotta (Drums), Jerry Marotta (Guitar (Bass)), Jerry Marotta (Vocals), Jerry Marotta (Drum Sticks), Don Mikkelsen (Trombone), Youssou N'Dour (Vocals), David Rhodes (Guitar), David Rhodes (Arranger), David Rhodes (Vocals), David Rhodes (Vocals (Background)), Mark Rivera (Saxophone), Mark Rivera (Sax (Alto)), Mark Rivera (Sax (Baritone)), Mark Rivera (Sax (Tenor)), Mark Rivera (Synthesizer Saxophone), Mark Riviera (Sax (Alto)), Mark Riviera (Sax (Baritone)), Mark Riviera (Sax (Tenor)), Lakshminarayana Shankar (Violin), Richard Tee (Piano), Richard Tee (Keyboards), David Stallbaumer (Engineer), David Stallbaumer (Assistant Engineer), David Stallbaumer (Studio Manager), Ronnie Bright (Bass), Ronnie Bright (Bass (Vocal)), Ronnie Bright (Vocals), Neal Preston (Photography), Peter Saville (Design), Peter Saville (Original Sleeve Design), Lakshmi Shankar (Violin), Trevor Key (Photography), Jairo Gualberto (Engineer), Luigi Hoffer (Studio Coordinator), Luigi Hoffer (Studio Support), Richard Chappell (Engineer), Armando Gallo (Photography), Jam Crisp (Assistant Engineer), Jam Crisp (Assistant), Brett Wickens (Original Sleeve Design), Ary Carvalhaes (Engineer), Margaret Maxwell (Photography), David Bascombe (Original Recordings), David Bascombe (Track Mix), Marc Bessant (Graphic Design), Graciela Silberberg (Session Supervisor), Norma Bishop (Assistant), Charlene Colon (Supervisor), Charlene Colon (Session Supervisor), Gail Colson (Management), Renato Costa (Supervisor), Renato Costa (Session Supervisor), Edel Griffith (Assistant Engineer), Connie Moest (Photography), Real World Design (Packaging), Dan Roe (Assistant Engineer), Ian Cooper (Mastering), Ian Cooper (Original Mastering)
So is the fifth studio album (and seventh album overall) by Britishrock musician Peter Gabriel, released in 1986. Many of
its songs reflect a more conventional pop-writing style which became radio hits. Others still retained Gabriel's dark, brooding
sense of experimentalism and are held as classics by his more eclectic fans. It was Gabriel's first studio album to bear an
official title; the name corresponds to the fifth note of the scale "do re mi fa so la ti
do".
It is Peter Gabriel's second album produced by Canadian artist Daniel Lanois. The previous year, the two of them had worked together on Birdy. Lanois had been previously known for his ambient
collaborations with Brian Eno as well as producing U2 since 1984. As he had with the soundtrack to the film Birdy, Lanois brought many of his own ambient sensibilities to this recording.
Songs
The album begins with an emotionally charged piece titled "Red Rain". Inspired by a recurring dream which Gabriel had of
swimming in a sea of red water, its lyrics vividly depict dream imagery that reflect a sense of vulnerability. The song is one of
the works in the story of Mozo, a wandering stranger who appears in several Gabriel songs. Other Mozo works include "On the Air"
and "Exposure".
The second track is Peter Gabriel's most popular single, "Sledgehammer".
"Sledgehammer" is an upbeat piece with strong Motown influences, and a world music touch from its famous use of the shakuhachi. The video for
"Sledgehammer" won MTV's 1987 Top Music Video Award. Directed by Steven Johnson, it features stop
motion animation by Aardman Animations of Wallace and Gromit fame. The dancing chickens were animated by Nick
Park. The video ends with Gabriel dancing in silhouette, covered with lights taped on his suit by a runner who later
became a producer for the Wallace and Gromit films. While performing "Sledgehammer" on his 2002 tour, Gabriel recreated
this image by wearing a jacket covered with LED lights.
Tracks 3–6 cover more serious emotional content. These tracks include a duet with Kate Bush
titled "Don't Give Up," "That Voice Again," and hit single "In Your
Eyes". "Mercy Street" is dedicated to poet Anne Sexton and takes its title from her
1969 play, Mercy Street (Sexton also posthumously released a book of poetry, 45 Mercy Street).
Track 7 is the album's last upbeat pop piece, "Big Time". This song is a send-up of the narcissism of the 1980s. It was also
accompanied by a video in the vein of "Sledgehammer", although to less popularity. "Big Time" was recently used as the theme
music for "WWE Wrestlemania 22".
Then comes the album's darkest and most experimental track titled "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)". The title refers to
the 37 out of 40 compliant subjects of Milgram Experiment 18.
The album ends with a pictorial and meditative piece titled "This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)". This song features vocals
with co-writer Laurie Anderson. This track is not included on the original vinyl release
of the album, but was added to the audio cassette and CD editions. Anderson had previously recorded a different arrangement of the song entitled "Excellent
Birds" for her 1984 album, Mister Heartbreak, which also featured vocals by
Gabriel. She performs the song in her concert film, Home of the
Brave, released around the same time as So.
Notes
When the album was remastered, with most of Gabriel's catalog, in 2002, the song "In Your Eyes" was moved from the 5th song to
the 9th song. This was what Peter Gabriel originally intended, but because of the limitations of the vinyl release format it was
moved up to be the first track on side two (where there is naturally more room for the grooves).[citation needed] Oddly, the credits in the booklet
were not changed to show the change in order (so, Youssou N'dour, instead of being
credited with back up vocals to "In Your Eyes" is given credit for back up vocals on "Mercy Street").
In popular culture this album has become to some listeners a sort of oracle. Listeners wishing to consult Peter will ask a
question before starting the album, and then listen to it through to receive an answer. Citing the vague suggestive lyrics and
mystic cover, fans claim that Peter intended this. This ritual was even referred to on an episode of Seinfeld. Although Peter denies that he intended this, it still continues to be a pop-loric
ritual.
Track listing
All songs written by Peter Gabriel except as indicated.
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