Peter Gabriel 1 [2002 Digital Remaster]

`Peter Gabriel' is Gabriel's first solo album after leaving Genesis and although that bands influence is still evident here, you can also hear Gabriel finding his own voice. Obviously `Solsbury Hill' is a stand out track here but it is surprising just how fresh it sounds after all this time, I truly never tire of hearing it. I also love `Here Comes the Flood' which has the most amazing poetry and although some of the lyrics seem confusing at first take, they sit together perfectly and weave a pattern of beauty every time I hear them. This is a slightly confused album and it feels less coherent than later releases but it shows how he was beginning to emerge from a band situation and find his own feet in the musical world. Some tracks are easily discounted, but others still sound rich and relevant now. Maybe don't come to this album for your first taste of what Gabriel has to offer (a best of compilation, `So' or `Us' may be a better first album) but definitely add it to your collection at some point and see where his solo work started out and track where it subsequently lead to.Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

Gabriel's first solo outing (1977) is a highly eclectic and entertaining set of 9 songs. The opening track, the classy 'Moribund the Burgermeister', is the most overtly Genesis-sounding song here; indeed it has all the hallmarks of Gabriel's last hurrah with the band, 1975's 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' LP. Hot on its heels comes the evergreen 'Solsbury Hill' which builds to an impressive climax, but, after such an wonderful start, 'Modern Love' seems too mainstream to my ears whilst 'Excuse Me' is certainly different from anything else on this collection. The rest of the running order provides high quality material in spades; the string-laden 'Humdrum' is quite lovely and 'Slowburn' is a classy rocker. The 7 minute 'Waiting For The Big One' is a stop-start bluesy affair which really grows on the listener over time ~ lyrically and musically, this is stunningly good. The pacey 'Down The Dolce Vita' contrasts nicely with the final track 'Here Comes The Flood' which, after hearing the drippy version on the 'Shaking The Tree - 16 Golden Greats' LP, makes you realise just how majestic the original arrangement of this song was. This is a decent place to start if you fancy rediscovering the Gabriel back catalogue although 'Gabriel 3' (1980) is probably the best of his early releases.

Probably his favourite album of mine. From the absurd 'Moribund The Burgermeister' through the jaunty 'Solsbury Hill' (and a hit too!) to the seeming silly, yet strangely sincere 'Excuse Me' - and that's just on the original side one!! The remainder is very epic and includes just about everything chucked into a melting pot (including some funky stuff and full orchestra) and concluding on the harrowing 'Here Comes The Flood' - I don't think he bettered this although the next few were brilliant and So was one I played over and over for years on end... it all comes back here.Actually, I'm a massive Genesis fan (I have multiple copies of some of their albums and a lot of other things besides) and prefer this over The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, any day. Not that I hate the album, just that feel this is far more inspired and still has its occasional nod to prog-rock, yet has some short, snappy numbers that proves he has always been a wonderful artist of such imagination.This was the 2002 remaster that I sent for and received (always worth making sure that all the reviews for a particular album haven't been lumped together...) and sounds amazing. 5/5 - and more! :)

Arrived a few days late in perfect condition

Firstly, I bought this as a fan of his later greatest hits, and in particular Solsbury Hill.Having made the jump and started at the beginning of his solo albums it was a slight shock to hear how eclectic this album is - who'd have expected a track that sounds like a barber shop quartet at the beginning?! I've now been listening on and off for a week and its charms have become apparent - Here Comes the Flood, Solsbury Hill (obviously) - album #2 next then...

There was much anticipation around the release of this, mainly among Genesis fans but in the music press generally. The first I heard of it was "Solsbury Hill" on the radio which had us running to the record shop. As another review noted, there is a sense of release on this album, Gabriel can do whatever he wants. The creative genius was unleashed. Some of the experimental stuff is not exactly easy listening and there is a continued desire to stay away from straight 4/4 rhythms. But even if that is not your thing, the quality of some of the songs is simply stunning. That's the composition and the performance. And now years later this CD re-package delivers the lyrics and other details for the collector and to my ears excellent remastering of the originals.

The music is good and well presented

Solsbury Hill is the greatest song ever written. What's the rest of the record like? I'd been wondering for years, so I bought the CD from Amazon last week and gave it some listens. It's like prog moving beyond prog but not knowing where it's headed. Oddly, it reminds me of Throbbing Gristle - maybe not sonically, but artistically it's quite similar. You have this beautiful work of art sleeve, and underneath that there is the record, and the record is bonkers. Maybe I listened to Marillion too often as a kid, but this LP sounds familiar in a new way.