How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Advantages:
Solsbury Hill, Moribund the Burgemeister
Disadvantages:
Brought Collins out of his shell
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
... in which Mr Gabriel decides to leave the rat race behind and return to our screens as a very oddly shaped mouse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Flower?
Heard that one before - well, I have, it was the cry that used to go up at live Genesis gigs when they were at their peak with the magical Peter at the helm. However, just as punk descended on our lives, the said Mr G split the scene and so avoided the worst of the criticism of his sad old prog rock mates as Baldy Collins came stage centre.
Gabriel chose instead to plough his own furrow and reappeared with the quaintly autobiographical single masterpiece 'Solsbury Hill', a piece of sheer bliss and a suitable intro to this amazing little debut solo album.
############################################# Not the man I used to be...
No, Peter, you're very much the man you always were and in 'Solsbury Hill' we get a typical vintage Genesis track, but the little mastro certainly branched out with barbershop harmonies on 'Excuse Me' and weirdie voices on the sublime 'Moribund the Burgemeister' - ooh, this is ace stuff.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ I will find out....
And you did, Peter, and you did.....
Okay, weirdness over.....
Peter Gabriel emerged following his departure form Genesis in 1976 with a solo album to die for. 'Peter Gabriel', also known as 'One', to distinguish it from 'Peter Gabriel' and 'Peter Gabriel' (? sorry, if you're lost), was an absolute classic which saw Gabriel stretch all his musical frontiers as he forged himself a whole new identity and put together an assured and very different brew of exactly what he had been hiding under a bushel for years.
Fulsome praise should go to this man for taking a new direction and, while he never really moved much beyond this wonderful opening to his solo career, he had done enough here.
????????????????????????????? And then there were none....
Gabriel went, Collins sang and gradually prog rock cult world beaters became stodgy old middle of the roaders - what a shame, but at least we've got a solid gold classic with this one.
Thanks Petey.
Okay, so what do you get with the first 'Peter Gabriel' album, released back in February 1977 as his first solo statement after splitting prog rockers Genesis after the triumphant double album, 'The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway'?
Well, you get this track listing - 1. Moribund The Burgermeister 2. Solsbury Hill 3. Modern Love 4. Excuse Me 5. Humdrum 6. Slowburn 7. Waiting For The Big One 8. Down The Dolce Vita 9. Here Comes The Flood
You also get the man himself in full flight and wonderful form over a totally new sound which seized an enormous chunk of the former Genesis audience and you get a dude who immediately became instantly credible with the new wave crowd thanks to that wonderful debut single, 'Solsbury Hill' a totally infectious rush of sublime pop with a hard edge.
If you like Petey you'll love this, if Gabriel doesn't mean anything to you, then check out this album - it's an epic release which launched the man's solo career with an effortless, diamond edged enthusiasm
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How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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