#297 Peter Gabriel, 'So' (1986)

Previously #187

Gabriel’s fifth album is the first to actually have a title (the previous four were all called ‘Peter Gabriel’). ‘So’ is the former Genesis vocalist’s magnum opus, an album that has sold more than 5 million copies in the States alone. 5x platinum in the US, 3x platinum in both the UK and Aus, this album was major. Led by the single, ‘Sledgehammer,’ this album transitioned Gabriel from an experimental, cult artist, into a mainstream popstar. As a young child, I remember the groundbreaking video constantly being played on TV.

Another major single from the record was ‘Don’t Give Up,’ featuring Kate Bush. The song has elements of African music and gospel, which is strangely coincidental as ‘So’ lost out on winning ‘Album Of The Year’ at the 1987 Grammys to Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland,’ an album famously steeped in African music. Kate Bush wasn’t the only famous collaborator on the record. Also on the record were contributions from Tony Levin, Stewart Copeland, Daniel Lanois (who also produced it), P.P. Arnold, Youssou N’Dour, Jim Kerr, Nile Rodgers and Laurie Anderson, amongst many others. 

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