Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
1977
Album Summary
Peter Gabriel is the debut studio album by the English singer-songwriter and producer Peter Gabriel, released on 25 February 1977 by Charisma Records. After his departure from the progressive rock band Genesis was made public in 1975, Gabriel took a break to concentrate on his family life. In 1976, he began writing material for a solo album and met producer Bob Ezrin, who agreed to produce it. Gabriel hired several additional musicians to play on the album, including guitarist Robert Fripp and bassist Tony Levin. The album was later known as Peter Gabriel I or Car, referring to the album's artwork produced by Hipgnosis. Upon the album's release, it peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 38 on the US Billboard 200. It has since reached Gold certification in both countries for selling 100,000 and 500,000 copies, respectively. The song "Solsbury Hill" was the first single which peaked at No. 13 in the UK. Gabriel supported the album with a tour of Europe and the US through 1977, featuring a seven-piece band including Fripp and Levin. The album was remastered in 2002 and 2011.
WikipediaThe first track sounded about as proggy as expected, so the rest of the album came as something of a surprise! Enjoyed the variety, and the Randy Newman impressions... Fave track - gotta be "Solsbury Hill" - it's an order of magnitude better than everything else on the album. Plus, I just rewatched Vanilla Sky...
A pretty good debut, solo album. Clearly, Peter was trying to find a sound, and I think it’s obvious that it’s songs like “Solsbury Hill.“
A rather incohesive collection of overly eccentric songs. Lucky for us, Peter Gabriel's solo music improved vastly as his career progressed. Let's just say I wouldn't have picked this particular album of his into this list.
I've heard of Peter Gabriel and I'm sure I know some of his bigger hits, so I was quite excited to get this album. I was actually kind of disappointed when I listened to it. The music wasn't horrid or abrasive, I just couldn't easily get into it. Seeing that this was his first album, I'm still excited to check out the rest of his discography and maybe even give this one another try.
I admire Peter Gabriel's artistic vision and achievements very much, but his debut solo album is a huge scrambling mess saved only by the excellent 'Solsbury Hill' and the mysterious 'Here Comes the Flood' (one of my favorite songs).
Well this didn't stand the test of time. I've never listened to the full album before and was profoundly disappointed. There is, of course, Solsbury Hill, and a few other listenable tunes. But half the album seemed to be some kind of fever dream where he mashed up elements of ELO, Styx, and Meatloaf into an unholy sound. I never expected to give this album such a low score. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - I enjoyed listening to it but wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
I was surprised how little I liked this album. Don't think he found his voice yet. 2 🌟
i kind of loved it? hadn’t heard any of the songs but solisbury hill, and that banged, but i didn’t realize it would be so weird. gonna check out more peter gabriel now
This was a good album. I found a couple of the songs a bit strange but it certainly had a few good ones. Favourite: Solsbury Hill
Haven’t heard this one before, I’ve only listened to So. But I really enjoyed the unique instrumentation and songwriting on this one. Looking forward to listening again.
Ok, this unexpectedly ruled. I've heard Solsbury Hill before but wasn't expecting the rest to be so good. I think I'm gonna give it a 5/5!
What an intriguing album. Weirder songs like the Bürgermeister one and the barber shop one, combined with songs that are very grandeur and pompous. The "weirder" songs kinda disrupt the flow of the album, but the other songs are good enough to give this 5 stars. Likely an album that grows on you with each listen
Just an amazing ride from beginning to end. It has Genesis, Pink Floyd and David Bowie vibes, in a great run time, with dynamic production and vibrant songwriting that keeps you engaged and not knowing what will come next. And of course, one of the best songs ever in Solsbury Hill.
Lots going on here. Some of it brilliant, all of it interesting and none of it bad. Rock, folk, blues, disco, prog. It does feel a little bit like he’s searching for his genre as a solo artist. A few tracks remind me of other big hits, but a little bit of research shows me they were all made after this came out. I was on the fence for a 4 or a 5 but Solsbury Hill really resonates with me right now. I had this album over a weekend and listened maybe 5-6 times and could happily listen again to find more going on. So full marks it is.
I was so torn between giving this one 4 or 5 stars that I gave it a second, consecutive spin. My appreciation grew a bit more on the second spin, so here we are. As a solo effort, the scope and vision of this album are extremely impressive - as is the variety. The tracks on the first side of the album don't even really sound like they're from the same band. A bit more consistency would have been nice here. In general, I like the first side (4 stars) a bit less than the second (5 stars). Whereas the first side contains more psychedelia and folk influences, the second side is more clearly progressive hard rock. The exception is the fantastic Solsbury Hill. Gabriel seems to have taken all of what he liked most about Genesis and given it a bit of personal spin - adding some inspiration from Pink Floyd into the mix (not that that's ever a bad thing). Definitely enjoyed this one. Highlights: Solsbury Hill, Waiting For The Big One, Here Comes The Flood
Amazing. Very theatrical. Never listened to before but will need to give another listen.
Prefs: Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill, Humdrum, Down the Dolce Vita, Here Comes The Flood Moins pref: Waiting for the Big One
I didn't expect this to be good but I was surprised. I enjoyed it. I really liked Excuse Me and Waiting for the Big One.
Very like his work in Genesis, showing how much control he had in the band. Solisbury Hill is far and away the best known (and probably with good reason) but the album as a whole is pretty consistent.
Most tracks have a good intro, great riff, and interesting detailing. But the vocal parts lack tension; even when the song is not upbeat on the surface, it just sounds like they have all the answers, so there is no reason for me to care. So I would classify this as a solid nostalgic 70s rock album, but not a timeless classic.
More ‘prog rock’ than I would have expected and pretty polished for a first solo album, reflecting years of prior work with Genesis. Insightful lyrics re: the human condition that are typical of his other work. Big vibe change between the pop single and the other tracks - sound like different albums.
Not bad. Might be willing to listen to again but won't specifically seek it out.
Good album. Solid instrumental and good vocals. Were some parts that weakend songs but I enjoyed.
Awesome album. Some weird tracks but enjoyable. Humdrum, slow burn, down the dolce, solsberry hill
dis shit NOICE. Peter gabriel progboy goat genesis GANG. solsbury hill makes me wanna go on a ketamine bender. swing your dick and balls mr gabriel because you were ahead of your time with this one. sadly Phil Collins is the better musician. Minus one star. solid debut from an influential king
Gotta Love Solsbuty Hill, of course. The rest of the album feels a bit abstract, but still fun
I was never a big fan of Genesis, or any post-Genesis bands or projects, so Peter Gabriel was fairly anonymous for me before listening to his first solo album. My first impression was that the first two songs are fairly underwhelming. By a quick research I found that "Solsbury Hill" is a well-liked single from this album, but I really found it boring and uneventful. Nothing that would excite me, both in the Gabriel's singing and in the musical layer. When moving into the second part of the self titled record, I actually realised how good this is. "Humdrum" and "Slowburn" were a really fun songs, but the best comes at the end, with "Waiting for the Big One" and "Here Comes the Flood". Very nice and not obvious compositions, heavily influenced by progressive rock, with a lot of tempo changes. Interesting solos, piano at the last track and great singing made those two a great songs. I was curious of who was the main creator of the album. Gabriel was the writer of all of the songs, but the music was created by Robert Fripp and Tony Levin, both known from King Crimson, which explains quite a lot. It might be my subconscious, but last few songs on the album, and "Waiting for the Big One" especially, could be easily added to Crimson's discography and no one would notice that there is something wrong. To sum up, I am positively surprised with this album. As far as I know later records are a little bit more pop than alt/prog rock, but going on a trip into Genesis albums and early Phil Collins should be very pleasant. Possibly even on this list!
Peter Gabriel's first solo record starts with 'Moribund the Burgermeister' that still contains quite a bit of the Genesis atmosphere of 'Lamb', but with the beautiful 'Solsbury Hill' Gabriel takes a different path. A perfect pop song with great lyrics and a catchy melody. Next song is the Bowie-like rocker 'Modern Love' makes it clear that this is going to be a varied album. When we continue in a kind of vaudeville style song with the somewhat strange 'Excuse Me' we are going all over the place. Together with Side B's 'Slowburn' and 'Waiting For The Big One' these are the songs on the album that drag it down from a superb debut. The songs feel too much all over the place. Closer 'Here Comes the Flood' is once again a brilliant song, and therefore a nice end to a fine solo debut. The stripped-down version of that song on 'Shaking the Tree' is also very worthwhile.
This album didn't make a huge impression on me, but it was consistently good. It's an interesting look at the interim period between the prog rock Peter Gabriel of Genesis and the pop start Peter Gabriel that I grew up with 4/5
The first half of the album was very interesting, unusual and creative songwriting. It has a few low points but an entertaining listen throughout
I like Peter Gabriel. He's such a little musical gremlin making music for small toadstool-dwelling gnomes. I'm basically saying that if Papa Smurf was real, he would listen to Peter Gabriel. Cool mix of pop and prog rock. I'm a fan. Going to blow smoke rings from my comically oversized pipe now.
I was expecting something very different. Something more experimental or psychedelic, but this album is pretty much diverse. I hear some psychedelic but mixed with old plain rock n' roll, pre-indie rock, and a choir(?). I'll increase my evaluation just because of my surprise.
Enjoyable poppy prog rock album. Standout is "Solsbury Hill" which is extremely catchy. Felt a little over-produced at times, with some exaggerated ballad-y moments.
"Solsbury Hill" is probably the best, most known song on the album and my personal favorite. Nice album though I suppose I was expecting to hear more known songs but that's probably on his other albums. 7/10.
After splitting from Genesis, Gabriel took a break and then released this solo album. And boy what a debut solo it was. Although he was essentially the leader of proggy Genesis for years he completely re-vamped his sound and this album sounds nothing like Genesis. So extra kudos to him for that. There are so many great songs here: Modern love, Down the dolce vita, Here comes the flood, Humdrum etc, but Solsbury Hill has to be one of his all time greatest songs. Overall this is a tremendous debut.
I remember eagerly running out and buying this album, being disappointed with the drivel Genesis had been putting out since Peter Gabriel’s departure. The wonderfully weird opener Moribund the Burgermeister did not disappoint. Solsbury Hill showed he was going to explore different styles, which he confirmed emphatically with Excuse Me. The production on big rockers like Modern Love sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place it and realize now that the missing link was Alice Cooper – Toronto’s Bob Ezrin was producing both artists at that time! The Flood preceded by Dolce Vita is a great finishing combo. Between a 4 and a 5 for me.
Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was such an excellent LP I couldn't believe Peter Gabriel split from Genesis after that one. He was always the weird one in Genesis with the costumes, crazy acid induced lyrics (see Supper's Ready) and singing style. This made him the easy one to like. When his first solo album arrived I remember reading the song names before playing it and seeing the first song was "Moribund the Burgermeister". That made me so happy. I had no clue what this title and that's what I liked about it. It was weird which meant Peter was back in business.
Wow, didn't realize "Solsbury Hill" was Peter Gabriel! This is one of my favorite songs ever. The whole record is awesome! Love Petey Gabe's stuff, especially the more theatrical cuts. Hope more of his work pops up!
Hadn't listened to this album in a long time, enjoyed re-listening. Solsbury Hill is a classic.
Usually, when artists go solo due to creative differences, they start to suck or become more stripped down. In most cases, even if the songs are decent, you feel like the band could make those songs better, or at least that's how I felt in cases like Stevie Nicks or Morrissey. But just like Donald Fagen leaving Steely Dan, Peter Gabriel shows he's full of a colorful diversity you just couldn't expect to find on their band's records. Not saying they're better, in fact these records tend to be less cohesive, but it goes to show how talented these artists are when they have full creative control. At heart, it shows that Peter Gabriel is a pop rock artist, who will fully realize his potential in his later masterpiece So. For now, he's exploring and finding what works for him. But as an audience member, I find myself enjoying every minute. It's actually a really great introduction to Gabriel-era Genesis, less busy and more spacious but still full of as much personality. "Modern Love" appeals to arena rock fans, "Humdrum" to adult contemporary, "Waiting for the Big One" to blues (and a bit of jazz), and "Down the Dolce Vita" to disco. But of course, the one that shines is the folk-like yacht rock "Solsbury Hill." Favorites: Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill, Excuse Me, Down the Dolce Vista
The name of this song is "Solsbury Hill?" wow ok! I checked Spotify to make sure it wasn't glitching out and playing a different track hahah. Yea this song is a 5/5. Unfortunately Spotify started this album in shuffle mode so after the wild first track with weird guttural vocals it went to the rockin track 6, "Slowburn". The contrast wasn't bad or anything, and I think it would have been just as much of a leap as track 1 to track 2, "Solsbury Hill". I really hate accidental shuffle. I love the instrumentation on "Excuse Me". Love a good tuba oompah sound. Really enjoyed the album full through!
Solsbury Hill is a banger. Peter's voice is both so iconic and so well produced that its one of these distinctive sonic signatures in rock and roll. Down The Dolce Vita is also a banger. "stranded starfish have no place to hide."- Here Comes The Flood could be a fun cover.
Long time Peter Gabriel fan (I'm talking kindergarten age, my parents loved his solo work), but I've somehow never listened to this album? I really fuck with it though, it's not as worldly as his other stuff but I think he does enough differently to make it stand out from its contemporaries. It's delightfully weird, in a way that points towards what rock would look like in the next decade. That being said, it's in my bottom half of albums by him. I miss the innovative percussion elements that I associate so strongly with him, which definitely made some his later stuff stand out in comparison to this. I'm not faulting it for being a bit of a bridge album linking his solo stuff to Genesis, but it absolutely feels like a debut. The songs are each distinct in a way that makes it feel like Gabriel is trying out different things to see what sticks (with varying degrees of success, but never outright failures; I think the worst tracks on here are at least decent). Standout tracks: Moribund the Burgermeister, Solsbury Hill (of COURSE), Humdrum, Slowburn, Here Comes the Flood I'm giving it a solid 4. There are some really great tracks on here, some of which are hella underrated, but they aren't all bangers. If I'm in the mood for Peter Gabriel, I'm almost always going to pick Melt or So - both of which I would probably give 5s - over this one.
I really liked this album, it reminded me of my childhood because my dad loves Genesis (I wonder why it reminds me of Genesis hmm...), so I'm definitely accustomed to prog rock. The middle of the album drags a little bit, but was still enjoyable. Some standout songs were "Solsbury Hill" (obviously), "Modern Love," "Down the Dolce Vita," and especially "Here Comes the Flood." "Down the Dolce Vita" gave a cool cinematic experience and "Here Comes the Flood" made me want to hear it live in concert with everyone in the crowd screaming along.
This was so close to being a 5, but it lost me a bit with the last song. Overall a great album that somehow manages to explore a ton of genres without ever losing it's cohesiveness, the songs had enough variety between them that even when there was one I didn't like as much the next song completely, keeping anything from feeling like a drag. If I could give a 4.5 I would. Best tracks: Moribund the Burgermeister, Excuse Me, and Down The Dulce Vita.
Subtle touches of the prog rock Gabriel did with Genesis, subtle touches of blues and synth rock. I never listened to this album other than Solsbury Hill and really enjoyed it. 3.5.
Some cool tunes and got me listening to more of his stuff. Supremely talented.
It seems like he was trying to settle on his style. Some tracks are odd, some show promise, others are brilliant. Solsbury Hill remains one of my top ten songs of all time.
On muutamia asioita joita seuraamalla huomaa vanhentuvansa, yksi niistä on se että Genesis ja Peter Gabriel alkaa kuulostamaan hyvältä. 4/5
intricate compositions (as expected from a former Genesis member), but here the focus is not so much as on intricacy/progression but rather on the vocals and melody - which I loved! definitely a great album which I’ll re-listen soon
Góð plata. Auðvitað einn risastór banger, en restin er líka fín. Meiri blús en mig minnti.
It’s a good album. Out of the 4 self titled albums, is it the best? No. #Melt4Life
Still my favorite male voice. Mostly great. A few songs are just plain goofy.
I'm a huge Peter Gabriel fan, but I've never listened to this whole album, shame on me. The experience is a bit disconcerting. It's like the regeneration scene transitioning from Romana I to Romana II when she tried on a bunch of different bodies. One was right, several were silly. Solsbury Hill shines like a beacon. The rest of the songs are entertaining, but mostly interesting from a historical perspective. I particularly liked Here Comes The Flood. I'm not sure this album influenced anyone but Peter Gabriel, so I'm not completely convinced it belongs on this list. I am, however, entirely happy to have listened to it. 3.5
I love his creativity and exceptional song writing. Great stuff. Personally, I think he was better without Genesis and Genesis was better without him. It's a rare breakup that turns out for the best on both sides.
Com va passar anys més tard amb Phil Collins y ‘In the Air Tonight’, sembla que Peter Gabriel es guardava el seu hit per iniciar amb bon peu la seva singladura en solitari. ‘Solsbury Hill’ és un d’aquells temes pop perfectes. Però la signatura més comercial de Gabriel també es deixa a ‘Here Comes the Flood’ i ‘Modern Love’. Tot el disc és recomenable i deixava pistes de l’exitosa carrera en solitari que tot just començava.
I only knew Solsbury Hill from this album but such a cinematic (is that the right word?) album
I should get to know Peter Gabriel's work better. This album was really good. It won't surprise anyone that I liked Solsbury Hill the most and Here Comes the Flood takes the second spot. I really appreciate the diversity of this album.
Peter Gabriel's self-titled debut album, released in 1977, is a groundbreaking work that defies easy categorization. From the energetic "Modern Love" to the haunting finale "Here Comes the Flood," the album showcases Gabriel's unique vision and artistic sensibility. "Modern Love" is a standout track, with its catchy chorus, driving beat, and classic rock vibe. The organ backing adds a distinctive touch, and Gabriel's vocals are full of energy and passion. The song is reminiscent of the works of Bruce Springsteen or Elvis Costello, with its themes of youthful rebellion and romantic longing. "Humdrum" is another highlight, with its chilled-out atmosphere and sweeping synth sounds. The song's dreamy quality and ethereal vocals create a sense of otherworldliness, and the production is top-notch. The combination of acoustic and electronic elements is a hallmark of Gabriel's style, and it's on full display here. "Here Comes the Flood" is a stunning closer, with its epic scope and theatrical flair. The song builds slowly, with Gabriel's vocals rising in intensity as the arrangement grows more complex. The guitar solo is a thing of beauty, showcasing Gabriel's talent as a musician as well as a singer and songwriter. And then there's "Solsbury Hill," arguably one of the greatest songs ever written. The song's themes of personal liberation and self-discovery have resonated with audiences for decades, and its catchy chorus and memorable guitar riff have made it a classic of the rock canon. Gabriel's vocals are heartfelt and sincere, and the production is impeccable. Overall, Peter Gabriel 1 is a triumph of experimental rock and pop music, and a testament to Gabriel's unique talent and vision. The album's diverse range of styles and influences make it a fascinating listen, and its songs have stood the test of time. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer, there's something to love in this classic album.
Phenomenal debut album. An interesting and enjoyable listen! Made me wanna check out his other albums!
Another trip down memory lane to when I was alive. Solsbury Hill was top 40. And album includes a Tuba / Baritone accompaniment on barbershop harmonic.... Good times