So [25th Anniversary Edition]

by Peter Gabriel

Overview

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. [A 25th Anniversary Edition was released in 2012.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/22/2012
Label:	Real World Records
UPC:	0884108001547
Rank:	18479

Tracks

1. Red Rain
2. Sledgehammer
3. Don't Give Up
4. That Voice Again
5. Mercy Street
6. Big Time
7. We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)
8. This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)
9. In Your Eyes

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Peter Gabriel   Primary Artist,CMI,Linn,CS-80,Piano,Vocals,Voices,Sampling,Keyboards,Linn Drum,Percussion,Synclavier,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,Prophet Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Jim Kerr   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Youssou N'Dour   Guest Artist,Vocals
Laurie Anderson   Guest Artist,Vocals,Voices,Lead Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kate Bush   Guest Artist,Featured Artist,Vocals
Richard Tee   Piano
Nile Rodgers   Guitar
Michael Been   Vocals (Background)
Simon Clarke   Bass,Bass (Vocal),Choir/Chorus,Organ (Hammond)
Manu Katche   Drums,Percussion,Talking Drum
Daniel Lanois   Tambourine,Guitar (12 String),Guitar
Djalma Correa   Surdo,Congas,Triangle
P.P. Arnold   Voices,Vocals (Background)
Tony Levin   Bass,Percussion,Bass (Vocal),Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Stewart Copeland   Drums,Hi Hat,Cymbals
Bill Laswell   Bass,Bass (Vocal),Guitar (Bass)
Coral Gordon   Voices,Vocals (Background)
Ronnie Bright   Bass,Bass (Vocal)
Lakshminarayana Shankar   Violin
Simon Clark   CMI,Bass,CS-80,Synthesizer,Organ (Hammond),Synthesizer Bass
Le Super Etoile de Dakar   Guest Artist
Michael Chapman   Director
Larry Klein   Bass,Bass (Vocal),Guitar (Bass)
Shankar   Violin
Don Mikkelsen   Trombone
David Sancious   Keyboards
Dee Lewis   Voices,Vocals (Background)
David Rhodes   Guitar,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Wayne Jackson   Cornet,Trumpet
Jerry Marotta   Bass,Drums,Percussion
Jimmy Bralower   Drums,Linn Drum
Mark Rivera   Saxophone,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)

Technical Credits

Bryan Oates   Editing
John De Borman   Camera Operator
Joyce Herlihy   Production Supervisor
Malcolm Macintosh   Camera Operator
Michael Genne   Camera Operator
Nick Corey-Wright   Editing Assistant
Ray Andrew   Camera Operator
Tim Arrowsmith   Editing Assistant
Richard Evans   Assistant Engineer
The Monochrome Set   Arranger,Producer
David Bascombe   Engineer,Track Engineer
Simon Clarke   Musician,Special Participation
Tony Cousins   Mastering,Remastering
Daniel Lanois   Horn Arrangements,Engineer,Producer
Jeremy Gee   Camera Operator
Peter Saville   Design,Sleeve Art
Brett Wickens   Design,Sleeve Art
Trevor Key   Photography
Jairo Gualberto   Engineer,Percussion Engineer
Ary Carvalhaes   Engineer,Percussion Engineer
Michael Large   Technical Supervisor
Edel Griffith   Assistant Engineer
Connie Moest   Photography
Ian Cooper   Mastering
David Bottrill   Mixing,Engineer
Bruce Lampcov   Overdub Engineer
Alvin Clark   Arranger,Producer
Steve Boyer   Assistant
Kevin Killen   Mixing,Engineer
Chris Hughes   Synthesizer Programming
Mic Smith   Research,Introduction
Marc Bessant   Repackaging,Graphic Design
Miles Showell   Cut
Neal Preston   Photography
Armando Gallo   Photography
Margaret Maxwell   Photography
Jam Crisp   Assistant
David Stallbaumer   Engineer,Studio Manager
Graciela Silberberg   Session Supervisor
David Taraskevics   Recording Manager
Charlene Colon   Session Supervisor
Renato Costa   Session Supervisor
Mark Claydon   Archival Assistant
Dan Roe   Assistant Engineer
Susie Millns   Design Coordinator
Dan Blore   Sleeve Restoration
Christopher Johns   Assistant Engineer
Richard "Dickie" Chappell   Archivist
Scott Barnett   Archival Assistant
Nguyen Green   Archival Assistant
David Rhodes   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist
Wayne Jackson   Horn Arrangements
Richard Chappell   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Jimmy Bralower   Drum Programming
Martin Scorsese   Executive Producer
Laurie Anderson   Composer
Sandy Lieberson   Producer
Peter Gabriel   Composer,Lyricist,Musician,Producer,Horn Arrangements,Special Participation