Peter Gabriel

[El_Jeffe]

the former singer of 'genesis' (feel free to talk about them in there too, i'm just personally a bigger fan of the solo material) has had such an interesting solo career. the man has crafted a number of wonderful albums with sort of soft, soulful rock style, combined with an expressive mix bag of worldly rhythms & sounds (especially percussion wise). the beauty of his music is often uplifting & raises a number of emotions, colours & visual images, the music is in a wonderful harmony of it's own. gabriel’s voice & lyrics are equally brilliant though & it all comes together to create something very pleasing to the ears

any fans, share some love & discussion?

[Smash Adams]

yeah definitely

in your eyes is such a beautiful song, but then again I also like shock the monkey

[El_Jeffe]

yeah definitely

in your eyes is such a beautiful song, but then again I also like shock the monkey

ian you're a legend mate haha. i love those jams too, was just listening to the album so & i'm about to put on passion (music for the last temptation of christ). he's collaborated with so many great world musicians, more people need to check this man out if they haven't had the pleasure already

[Smash Adams]

ian you're a legend mate haha. i love those jams too, was just listening to the album so & i'm about to put on passion (music for the last temptation of christ). he's collaborated with so many great world musicians, more people need to check this man out if they haven't had the pleasure already

I need to pick that up

he collaborated with sinead o connor right?

[El_Jeffe]

I need to pick that up

he collaborated with sinead o connor right?

yip sure did, amongst others. so worth picking up mate. gabriel is a huge world music fan (which is a given when you listen to his music) but not only has he collaborated with many world artists, he promotes them like crazy. he's one hell of a songwriter that doesn't seem to get much (if any) love round here haha

[The Revisionist]

How did I miss this thread the first time around?

Passion is a beautiful album... I own that and Shaking the Tree: Greatest Hits on CD, and I have "Melt" and Plays Live on vinyl, so incredible.

Have you seen any of his performances on DVD?

[El_Jeffe]

How did I miss this thread the first time around?

Passion is a beautiful album... I own that and Shaking the Tree: Greatest Hits on CD, and I have "Melt" and Plays Live on vinyl, so incredible.

Have you seen any of his performances on DVD?

ahh i thought there was someone in the music forum who loved this man as much (if not more) than i do haha glad ya found this. all great albums, i'm still trying to get my hands on a couple of the earlier 'untitled' ones. but nah i've never seen any live footage. i'd love to though, especially after hearing of all the world artists he gets to jam with him on stage, that sounds right up my alley. any 'must have' dvd reccs mate?

[AShannon04]

In Your Eyes and Solsbury Hill are classics.

[El_Jeffe]

In Your Eyes and Solsbury Hill are classics.

agreed mate, both great tunes alright. his voice complements the music so well, in a way both elements sort of raise & soar together, so awesome haha. such a full sound too, especially percussion wise

[BUTTERisLOVE]

i love peter gabriel.
my first concert before i was born was peter gabriel.

and then i've saw him once, but when i was young.

he is such an inspiration to my music career as an aspiring artist.
some of my favorites "The Rhythm of the Heat", "San Jacinto", "Shock the Monkey", like all of So,
"Games Without Frontiers", "Steam", "Digging in the Dirt", "Fourteen Black Paintings", and many others.

let's talk about the awesomeness that is Peter Gabriel. lol.

[KidRobot]

Only heard Solsbury Hill.


I liked it.

[El_Jeffe]

i love peter gabriel.
my first concert before i was born was peter gabriel.

and then i've saw him once, but when i was young.

he is such an inspiration to my music career as an aspiring artist.
some of my favorites "The Rhythm of the Heat", "San Jacinto", "Shock the Monkey", like all of So,
"Games Without Frontiers", "Steam", "Digging in the Dirt", "Fourteen Black Paintings", and many others.

let's talk about the awesomeness that is Peter Gabriel. lol.

haha yes lets! i havenn't been quite as lucky as you & had the chance to see him live yet, but i'd love to at some stage. world based music always sounds 10x more incredible live, soaking into the atmosphere. i love all the tunes ya listed too mate. so is probably my second favourite album after passion (music for the last temptation of christ). i really love up & self titled 3 as well

there's so many different rootsy sounds from so so many different parts of the world. his music is such an art, lovin' it

Only heard Solsbury Hill.


I liked it.

great tune. i'd say the best pete 'starter album' would have to be so, worth a listen if you enjoy 'solsbury hill' mate

[BUTTERisLOVE]

yea, i haven't heard passion yet.
i'll have to buy it.
i want to go see him again, but i don't know when he's on tour.

see bands live=better than the cd

especially with artists like peter gabriel.

[El_Jeffe]

yea, i haven't heard passion yet.
i'll have to buy it.
i want to go see him again, but i don't know when he's on tour.

see bands live=better than the cd

especially with artists like peter gabriel.

definitely agree. a live cd from this man would be awesome too, not the same i'm guessing, but i'd still snatch it up. & yea passion's a goodie alright. have no idea of his touring schedule, i just hope next time it includes new zealand, we always get shafted haha

[identitycrisis2]

My parents listen to him all the time, but I still really enjoy his work.

[abusedcat]

I love Us.

[BUTTERisLOVE]

I love Us.

i do too.

good album.

[Broken Parachute]

M_J-lxK8uCY

[BUTTERisLOVE]

love that song.

[AlternateToLife]

Say Anything got me into him, then I found that my parents had So. Been listening to it constantly for the past week or so.

[ThisIsNotDan]

So is excellent. one of my first favorite albums ever. rocked out that cassette like it was nobody's business

[AlternateToLife]

So is excellent. one of my first favorite albums ever. rocked out that cassette like it was nobody's business

Haha I was so excited when I found it. I had heard most of the songs on the album and was really siked to get them all.

[ThemChains]

I watched Say Anything about 200 times between the ages of 12 and 15.

[El_Jeffe]

his new album looks like it's been pushed back to next year, which is a real bugger. i was looking forward to it

having said that, he released a big collaboration album this year, featuring the likes of tim finn, deep forest, sinead o’connor, andy white, manu katché, sevara nazarxon, vernon reid & tons more. it's titled big blue ball, but i haven't been able to track it down yet

i gave so some love in the 80's thread, but i think it's safe to say making the final list is out of the question, damn it! haha

[ThisIsNotDan]

oh so THAT is what Big Blue Ball is. saw that in the record shop and I was intrigued

[El_Jeffe]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SJ65Hit4L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

finally got my hands on this collection! now for those who don't know, the new gabriel album, big blue ball, is a collection of songs from the absolute legendary recordings in the early 90's. during this time many of the worlds great musically talented & creative minds gathered to... make music. this is some of those results. it's like one giant audio-collage of much of the worlds international music culture of the time, something like 75 artists from over 20 countries! so many of the who's who in many regions of world music are a part of this, check it out!

here's the tracklist & featured artists

"Whole Thing" (featuring Francis Bebey, Alex Faku, Tim Finn, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger, Andy White)
"Habibe" (featuring Natacha Atlas, Hossam Ramzy, Neil Sparkes)
"Shadow" (featuring Juan Cañizares, Papa Wemba)
"altus silva" (featuring Joseph Arthur, Ronan Browne, Deep Forest, James McNally, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Vernon Reid)
"Exit Through You" (featuring Joseph Arthur, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger)
"Everything Comes From You" (featuring Richard Evans, Joji Hirota, Sevara Nazarkhan, Sinead O’Connor, Guo Yue)
"Burn You Up, Burn You Down" (featuring Billy Cobham, Peter Gabriel, The Holmes Brothers, Wendy Melvoin, Arona N’diaye, Jah Wobble)
"Forest" (featuring Levon Minassian, Arona N’Diaye, Vernon Reid, Hukwe Zawose)
"Rivers" (featuring Vernon Reid, Marta Sebestyen, Karl Wallinger)
"Jijy" (featuring Arona N’Diaye, Rossy, Jah Wobble)
"Big Blue Ball" (featuring Peter Gabriel, Manu Katché, Karl Wallinger)

& some words from peter himself about it all:

“One week in the middle of summer this craziness exploded in our Real World Studios. We had this week of invited guests, people from all around the world, fed by music and a 24 hour café. It was a giant playpen, a bring your own studio party. There’d be a studio set up on the lawn, in the garage, in someone’s bedroom as well as the seven rooms we had available. We were curators of sorts of all this living mass. We had poets and songwriters there, people would come in and scribble things down, they’d hook up in the café. It was like a dating agency, then they’d disappear into the darkness and make noises – and we’d be there to record it.”

-- Peter Gabriel

[secretsociety92]

I've only heard Here Comes The Flood but what I can remember I really enjoy that song.

[kearn1tm]

I only own Peter Gabriel II and enjoy it. Where should I go from here?

[El_Jeffe]

big blue ball is sounding so great, so glad this has finally hit the shelves

I only own Peter Gabriel II and enjoy it. Where should I go from here?

so is probably most accessible & well known, but self-titled #3 & #4 are where it's at. especially if you enjoy #2

[Tristan Needler]

I love his Genesis work. Far better than Phil Collins.

I've never really listened to his solo stuff though.

[El_Jeffe]

haha agreed completely

but you should mate, probably really enjoy it. especially some of the four self-titled records

[allhourcymbals]

Big Blue Ball is great so far. I only listened to about half of it last night, but will listen to the rest later on tonight. This man is brilliant though, I don't doubt I'll love the rest of it.

[Tristan Needler]

Yeah, I'll have to at some point.

I'm listening to Genesis now. I've been meaning to for a few days now.

[El_Jeffe]

Big Blue Ball is great so far. I only listened to about half of it last night, but will listen to the rest later on tonight. This man is brilliant though, I don't doubt I'll love the rest of it.

i love it, can't stop listening. the thing i like about gabriel is that his music is worldly, but aimed to bring these musical cultures to the forefront of a predominantly western audience. usually when this happens, it's a horrible pop song with a banjo or bongo. but gabriel & gang always manage to write great world music that appeals to those music cultures they were influenced by & a western pop/rock audience. brilliant

& a new studio album next year. bring it on

[ForeverDelayed]

I was just listening to him so I thought I'd find a thread and say hi.

I really dig the guy. I have two of the self titled albums (the one with the car and the one with his face melting), So, and Up, and the first two Genesis albums with him if you wanna count those. They're all pretty good start to finish. Eventually I need to complete the self titled collection, so which of the remaining albums should I get next? From what I've read about it, Passion intrigues me, but I haven't seen it anywhere. I remember getting Us from the library once and was a little disappointed. Does he have anything else besides these?

[El_Jeffe]

I was just listening to him so I thought I'd find a thread and say hi.

I really dig the guy. I have two of the self titled albums (the one with the car and the one with his face melting), So, and Up, and the first two Genesis albums with him if you wanna count those. They're all pretty good start to finish. Eventually I need to complete the self titled collection, so which of the remaining albums should I get next? From what I've read about it, Passion intrigues me, but I haven't seen it anywhere. I remember getting Us from the library once and was a little disappointed. Does he have anything else besides these?

self-titled 4 is definitely the best of the rest. passion is also a great album & served as the soundtrack to the film "last temptation of christ" (although i haven't actually seen the film). as usual it features a number of acclaimed world music artists like nusrat fateh ali khan, youssou n'dour, baaba maal, etc. much of it is instrumental, which initially throws some gabriel fans. but don't let it throw you off for too long, because it's a real grower, beautiful album

edit: his big blue ball project i mentioned on the page before is a real treat too

[ForeverDelayed]

self-titled 4 is definitely the best of the rest. passion is also a great album & served as the soundtrack to the film "last temptation of christ" (although i haven't actually seen the film). as usual it features a number of acclaimed world music artists like nusrat fateh ali khan, youssou n'dour, baaba maal, etc. much of it is instrumental, which initially throws some gabriel fans. but don't let it throw you off for too long, because it's a real grower, beautiful album

edit: his big blue ball project i mentioned on the page before is a real treat too
Well, I don't mind instrumental music at all, and I love African music. Everything I've read about Passion sounds great, I just haven't gotten it yet.

I'm not too familiar with the Big Blue Ball. I saw the CD at Barnes & Noble but didn't have time to listen. I'll have to check it out next time I go there and see what I think.

[El_Jeffe]

Well, I don't mind instrumental music at all, and I love African music. Everything I've read about Passion sounds great, I just haven't gotten it yet.

I'm not too familiar with the Big Blue Ball. I saw the CD at Barnes & Noble but didn't have time to listen. I'll have to check it out next time I go there and see what I think.

passion fuses african music with that of the middle east. many sounds from the west are also used, particularly those of the choir, celtics, woodwind instruments, etc. is really is a strangely wonderful & satisfying blend

big blue ball is a project gabriel put together in the early 90's, but only released this year. some info down there. i'm actually listening to it now haha

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SJ65Hit4L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

finally got my hands on this collection! now for those who don't know, the new gabriel album, big blue ball, is a collection of songs from the absolute legendary recordings in the early 90's. during this time many of the worlds great musically talented & creative minds gathered to... make music. this is some of those results. it's like one giant audio-collage of much of the worlds international music culture of the time, something like 75 artists from over 20 countries! so many of the who's who in many regions of world music are a part of this, check it out!

here's the tracklist & featured artists

"Whole Thing" (featuring Francis Bebey, Alex Faku, Tim Finn, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger, Andy White)
"Habibe" (featuring Natacha Atlas, Hossam Ramzy, Neil Sparkes)
"Shadow" (featuring Juan Cañizares, Papa Wemba)
"altus silva" (featuring Joseph Arthur, Ronan Browne, Deep Forest, James McNally, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Vernon Reid)
"Exit Through You" (featuring Joseph Arthur, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger)
"Everything Comes From You" (featuring Richard Evans, Joji Hirota, Sevara Nazarkhan, Sinead O’Connor, Guo Yue)
"Burn You Up, Burn You Down" (featuring Billy Cobham, Peter Gabriel, The Holmes Brothers, Wendy Melvoin, Arona N’diaye, Jah Wobble)
"Forest" (featuring Levon Minassian, Arona N’Diaye, Vernon Reid, Hukwe Zawose)
"Rivers" (featuring Vernon Reid, Marta Sebestyen, Karl Wallinger)
"Jijy" (featuring Arona N’Diaye, Rossy, Jah Wobble)
"Big Blue Ball" (featuring Peter Gabriel, Manu Katché, Karl Wallinger)

& some words from peter himself about it all:

“One week in the middle of summer this craziness exploded in our Real World Studios. We had this week of invited guests, people from all around the world, fed by music and a 24 hour café. It was a giant playpen, a bring your own studio party. There’d be a studio set up on the lawn, in the garage, in someone’s bedroom as well as the seven rooms we had available. We were curators of sorts of all this living mass. We had poets and songwriters there, people would come in and scribble things down, they’d hook up in the café. It was like a dating agency, then they’d disappear into the darkness and make noises – and we’d be there to record it.”

-- Peter Gabriel

[IWasaCamera]

Never really got into him.

[absolutecrunk]

Wow that has a lot of solid talent on there (most of which I've never heard of!) But between Jah Wobble, Papa Wemba, and Vernon Reid I will give this a spin.

[caityconundrum]

such a great voice.

[allhourcymbals]

Wow that has a lot of solid talent on there (most of which I've never heard of!) But between Jah Wobble, Papa Wemba, and Vernon Reid I will give this a spin.
Tim. Finn.

[absolutecrunk]

I don't know anything about him except for that Strange Creatures song and the fact that his brother wrote that big song in Crowded House.

[El_Jeffe]

that big song (i guess you're talking about "don't dream it's over")? what about those 4 (now 5) incredible albums that went from strength to strength & perhaps putting on one of the 3 all-time largest concerts in history & both brothers being admired by everyone from the remaining beatles to the boss haha. but i'll let you away with it this time crunk, since you've shown an interest in the big blue ball project

[allhourcymbals]

I don't know anything about him except for that Strange Creatures song and the fact that his brother wrote that big song in Crowded House.
I've sent you other things!

[absolutecrunk]

Haha I suppose a lot of the New Zealand magic didn't make its way to Michigan since the mid 70s. Not unlike a weather pattern. I'd put my money on him being one of the better songwriters in music, but would be remiss to say I'm familiar with his expansive and downright irresponsibly large discography.

[Angylion Gefell]

I'm a fan of Peter Gabriel solo.

[Tristan Needler]

So I've been on a big progressive rock kick this week, and I keep coming back to Selling England by the Pound by Genesis. I lvoe this album. It's so great. But it's the only Genesis album I have. What would everyone else recommend?

I should correct myself, I do have two other Genesis albums, but they're Phil Collins albums and I don't like them nearly as much. But if you do love him too, recommend his Genesis albums to me as well.

[Tristan Needler]

I must add that this video is awesome:

eMwn_hnoS5Y

He's riding a bike and singing hahaha. You can tell he's a musician at heart, since he's subconsciously pedaling to the beat.

[ForeverDelayed]

So I've been on a big progressive rock kick this week, and I keep coming back to Selling England by the Pound by Genesis. I lvoe this album. It's so great. But it's the only Genesis album I have. What would everyone else recommend?

I should correct myself, I do have two other Genesis albums, but they're Phil Collins albums and I don't like them nearly as much. But if you do love him too, recommend his Genesis albums to me as well.

If you want more Genesis, go for The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

If you want Gabriel solo, try some of the self titled albums, particularly "car" and "melt."

[J.C.]

Bump. Been in a bit of a PGabe mood. Love his Book of Love cover.

[El_Jeffe]

Haven't listened to much Peter lately, outside of the Big Blue Ball project, but I'm very much anticipating the new album.

[Smash Adams]

new album's gorgeous, he really makes each song his own, you can stream it here http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2010/feb/04/peter-gabriel-scratch-back
really excited for part 2 where each artist covers him

[cshadows2887]

My dad has a live DVD of his that has the silliest/awesomest version of "Shaking the Tree."

[El_Jeffe]

A cover album titled Scratch My Back? What happened to the original album X/O? I don't usually enjoy covers, but I'll check it out only because it's Peter & he wouldn't bother doing this if he wasn't doing something unique & special with these songs.

EDIT: the song selection is interesting, some old, some new, one or two real surprises.

Heroes (David Bowie),
The Boy in the Bubble (Paul Simon)
Mirrorball (Elbow)
Flume (Bon Iver)
Listening Wind (Talking Heads)
The Power of the Heart (Lou Reed)
My Body is a Cage (Arcade Fire)
The Book of Love (The Magnetic Fields)
I Think it's Going to Rain Today (Randy Newman)
Après Moi (Regina Spektor)
Philadelphia (Neil Young)
Street Spirit (Fade Out) (Radiohead)

[cshadows2887]

Bump 'cause So is the shit.

[Wake Up]

Now this is a motherfucker I can jam too.

[cshadows2887]

Now this is a motherfucker I can jam too.

Btw if you're looking for a really fun world-style jam, "Shaking the Tree" is great.

[Wake Up]

Btw if you're looking for a really fun world-style jam, "Shaking the Tree" is great.

Really dig that track. The video is absolutely ridiculous. Hahaha.

[narcoleptic953]

Been loving In Your Eyes lately...

[ohmessylife]

There is so much nostalgia associated with PG for me. This guy is a hit-making machine.

[cshadows2887]

Really dig that track. The video is absolutely ridiculous. Hahaha.

He's a silly, silly man. But a silly, silly man who makes very good music.

Been loving In Your Eyes lately...

I don't care how overplayed it is, that song is perfection.

[narcoleptic953]

He's a silly, silly man. But a silly, silly man who makes very good music.



I don't care how overplayed it is, that song is perfection.


Amen.

[cshadows2887]

Amen.

So glad Cameron Crowe thought better of having Fishbone coming out of that boombox instead.

[narcoleptic953]

So glad Cameron Crowe thought better of having Fishbone coming out of that boombox instead.

Yeah, thank God. Every time I hear that song, I think of that scene and it just makes me smile. Love that movie.

[cshadows2887]

Yeah, thank God. Every time I hear that song, I think of that scene and it just makes me smile. Love that movie.

Oh to make love to a woman that looks like Ione Sky. On my bucket list.

[narcoleptic953]

Oh to make love to a woman that looks like Ione Sky. On my bucket list.

And to stand outside her house with a boombox playing In Your Eyes?

[cshadows2887]

And to stand outside her house with a boombox playing In Your Eyes?

Or on a car radio. Either or.

[narcoleptic953]

Or on a car radio. Either or.

Or both!

[cshadows2887]

Or both!

Amen, brother. Amen.

[joeag1985]

The Peter Gabriel song to get stuck in your head today...

AE73E0O3TMU

[cshadows2887]

Listening to the third self-titled for the first time and, man, what a record. So catchy and funky but also arty and challenging. Dude was a hell of an artist.

[Neo Cassady]

The Peter Gabriel song to get stuck in your head today...

AE73E0O3TMU

Will be dancing to this with my fiancee (well, she will be my wife by then) on Friday night. :drew:

[cshadows2887]

Will be dancing to this with my fiancee (well, she will be my wife by then) on Friday night. :drew:

Congratulations, sir. And excellent choice.

[Neo Cassady]

Congratulations, sir. And excellent choice.

Thank you. And thank you.

[cshadows2887]

Man, Big Blue Ball is freakin' awesome. This guy can do no wrong.

I love his soundtracks for Birdy and Rabbit-Proof Fence, too.

[meleesaute]

Yesterday I was flipping channels and came across what I can only assume is a Christian music video station. Some terrible, terrible band completely sodomized and butchered "In Your Eyes", and I wept for the state of mankind.

[El_Jeffe]

Big Blue Ball is an incredible project, & when you look to see who was involved... it's understandable why. Some of the best world music musicians our musical landscape has ever come to know. There's a cool documentary on the creation & completing of the project (I think parts of it are on youtube). It's astounding. Literally around 100 musicians in one house, all writing & recording, pulling into little groups to write together, taking fragments of a song to another & turning it into someone monumental. Just so incredible.