So (album)

So is the fifth studio album by British rock musician Peter Gabriel, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music). 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.

Related Topics:
Album - British - Rock - Peter Gabriel - 1986 - 1986 in music

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This is Peter Gabriel’s first album produced and performed with Canadian artist Daniel Lanois. Lanois had been previously known for his ambient collaborations with Brian Eno. Lanois brought many of his own ambient sensibilities to this album.

Related Topics:
Canadian - Daniel Lanois - Ambient - Brian Eno

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The album begins with an emotionally charged piece titled "Red Rain". Its lyrics vividly depict dream imagery that reflect a sense of vulnerability.

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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 flute. An eccentric video was made for this song which won MTV's 1987 Top Music Video Awards. This video features stop motion animation by the Aardman Animation company who later created the famous Wallace and Gromit series. The video ends with a shadowy dancing figure covered with lights. While performing "Sledgehammer" in his 2002 tour, Peter Gabriel recreated this image by wearing a jacket covered with LED lights.

Related Topics:
Motown - World music - Shakuhachi - MTV - Aardman Animation - Wallace and Gromit - LED

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Tracks 3-6 cover more serious emotional content. These tracks are a duet with Kate Bush titled "Don't Give Up", "That Voice Again", "In Your Eyes" and a piece dedicated to Anne Sexton titled "Mercy Street".

Related Topics:
Kate Bush - Anne Sexton

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Track 7 is the album's last upbeat pop piece, "Big Time". This song is a parody of the narcissism of the 1980's.

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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 the Milgram experiment's Experiment 18.

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The album then ends with a pictorial and meditative piece titled "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)". This song features Laurie Anderson, who co-wrote the piece. This track is not included on the original vinyl release of the album, but was added to the audio cassette edition and later CD reissue. Anderson had previously recorded a version of the song entitled "Excellent Birds" for her 1984 album, Mr. Heartbreak (which also featured vocals by Gabriel).

Related Topics:
Laurie Anderson - Audio cassette - CD

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When the album was remastered, the song "In Your Eyes" was moved from the 5th song to the 9th song. This was what Peter Gabriel originally intended. Oddly, the credits in the booklet were not change 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").

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In 1998 Q magazine readers voted So the 81st greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 91.

Related Topics:
1998 - ''Q'' magazine - 2003 - TV network - VH1

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