ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 355 PETER GABRIEL - SO (1986)

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it) unless otherwise noted.

In May of 1986, Peter Gabriel (PG) released his fifth solo album. His previous four solo albums were all self-titled, though they have since earned nicknames. He broke tradition when he titled that fifth album "So". That album is the subject of this week's Album of the Week column.

Some folks claim "So" is PG's best album, although I'm sure that there are plenty of folks that think it was a sellout. It is his best selling album, racking up sales in excess of five million in the US alone. It hit number 2 on the US album charts, but it claimed the top spot in the UK. How 'bout two number 1 singles (Sledgehammer and In Your Eyes) as well as two number 3 singles (Big Time and Red Rain). Sledgehammer featured, as I'm sure most of you remember, in innovative video. It was truly huge as it won 9 awards at the MTv Video Music Awards. It was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. However, Paul Simon's Graceland beat it out.

I'll tell you, I have never been much of a PG fan. For some reason, his solo work has never resonated with me. I remember not caring much for Sledgehammer or Big Time. Time has changed some of that, as this album is now a good listen for me. I had never owned the album until recently. What about you?

Side One:

1 Red Rain

2. Sledgehammer

3. Don't Give Up

4. That Voice Again

Side Two:

5. In Your Eyes

6. Mercy Street

7. Big Time

8. We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)

9. This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)

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Permalink Reply by Niels (Mod) on May 5, 2017 at 8:06am

I bought this back in '86, just when it was released.

I had liked Gabriel's voice for a few years, and especially the song "Shock The Monkey" from the former album.

It sure sounds like the summer of '86, this album. But is it his best album? Nah, I don't think so. That's probably his second or third album.

Still I prefer him in Genesis.

He never got as good as this again.

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Permalink Reply by Jon on May 6, 2017 at 7:59am

Great, now I posted on both postings of this album and made a mistake on the first one.

Could swear that I listened to this in 2014......and I did!

I'm sure you can read my comments from then, but this is definitely his most accessible album. I actually have one of his later albums in my listenin' queue this week, so we'll see how that goes.

Something is wrong with this site today. It's very large and all over the friggin' place. And I'm not on drugs at the moment.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on May 8, 2017 at 8:44pm

I could just say what said last time, but whatever, I'll play your little "I'm not the first one to post a duplicate album" game...

Wow! What a great album! OK, truly and hopelessly lost interest in any Peter Gabriel solo work when Shock the Monkey hit the charts (Sorry Niels) - I don't care fore that song at all, so imagine my surprise when John Cusak held up the ghetto blaster and In Your Eyes came on, I had to know more... Now imagine my surprise that it Gabriel, crap!! I had to check into this one more. And yup! I liked the album as well! Though its steeped in late 80's ready for Mtv production its a really well written album.

No it doesnt make me wanna go back and see what I missed about Shock the Monkey, but it does make me curious about his earlier solo stuff, so may look into a bit, all the while skipping past Shock The Monkey.

Big Time may be the worst track and it was a big hit, so what can you say bad? I can still say In Your Eyes is absolutely stunning, pure ballad perfection! Its likely this will remain the only Gabriel solo album I will own, but if your going to own one this is it!!!