Peter Gabriel - (1977) I

Peter Gabriel's first solo album was a huge success to me personally. Lyrically, 'Peter Gabriel 1' is another noteworthy accomplishment. This album is a step away (not necessarily forward or backward) from Gabriel's previous sound with Genesis. Gabriel, I think, was being more creative and experimenting a bit more on this. He tried a bluesier tune (waiting for the big one) and barbershop style (excuse me), and a very poppy song (Solsbury Hill). The other tracks are nice (for the most part) and vary to keep it interesting. The album concludes beautifully with one of Gabriel's best songs 'Here Comes the Flood'. There is a piano version as well (not on the album), but I find the instrumental a bit more powerful. Great album overall, good for an introduction to prog, methinks, and definately to the Gabe's solo works.

Studio Album, released in 1977

Track Listings

Side 1
1. Moribund The Burgermeister (4:18)
2. Solsbury Hill (4:21)
3. Modern Love (3:38)
4. Excuse Me (3:20)
5. Humdrum (3:26)
Side 2
6. Slowburn (4:37)
7. Waiting For The Big One (7:14)
8. Down The Dolce Vita (4:42)
9. Here Comes The Flood (5:56)

Total Time: 41:34
Line-up/Musicians

- Peter Gabriel / voices, keyboards, flute, recorder
- Allan Schwartzberg / drums, directories
- Tony Levin / bass, tuba, leader of Barbershop Quartet
- Jim Maelen / percussion, synthibam, Bones and Barbershop
- Steve Hunter / Full frontal guitar, electric & acoustic rhythm guitar, pedal steel
- Robert Fripp / electric guitar, classical guitar, banjo
- Jozef Chirowski / Frontal keyboard, Barbershop
- Larry (Wires) Fast / synthesizers and programming

With:
- Dick Wagner / backing voices, solo guitar on "Here Comes The Flood" and at the end of "Slowburn"
- The London Symphony Orchestra / on "Down The Dolce Vita"
- Michael Gibbs / Orchestra arranger and Conductor