So

Peter Gabriel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1986
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000000OPU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (263 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,826 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Red Rain

2. Sledgehammer

3. Don't Give Up

4. That Voice Again

5. In Your Eyes

6. Mercy Street

7. Big Time

8. We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)

9. This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

So is generally regarded as a peak in Gabriel's recording career, notable both for its solid set of songs and lush yet musicianly production. For Gabriel, who'd put his music in theatrical contexts ever since his days with Genesis, the modern sound of So (co-produced with Daniel Lanois) was itself a dramatic conceit that effectively played off the more organic roots of many of its songs. The album's big hit was "Sledgehammer," the English rocker's somewhat stilted take on the Stax/Volt style of rhythm & blues. Gabriel was much more powerful on his own art-rock songs, such as "Red Rain," which evoked nuclear ruin with its cascading rush of guitars and synthesizers. "Don't Give Up" is perhaps Gabriel's best ballad, with Kate Bush's heavenly second vocal enough to give anybody encouragement. But the song that best exploited So's blend of technology and soul is "In Your Eyes," a beguiling rhythmic tapestry in which Gabriel duets with Youssou N'dour. --John Milward

Product Description

Tracks: Red Rain 5:39 / Sledgehammer 5:16 / Don't Give Up 6:32 / That Voice Again 4:53 / In Your Eyes 5:29 / Mercy Street 6:20 / Big Time 4:29 / We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37) 3:21 / This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds) 4:18

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 81 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The 3 Stars is for the overall package; 5 stars for the album October 22, 2012

By spaceboy

Format:Audio CD

Where are all the B-Sides and alternate mixes? Couldn't the live stuff be marketed separately? And finally, my biggest problem with this package is a familiar issue with many immersion sets of late, AND I finally have a solution! Here it goes:

It's called "Build Your Own Box". It would be a several step process on the artists' page of selecting the content you want AND on the media that you want it on, not unlike building your own PC at Dell. It's really quite simple; Do you want vinyl or CD? Do you prefer Blu-ray or DVD? The only redeeming quality here is that you are given a 24 bit download code for ALL of the audio in the box.

A lot of work went in to the DNA CD so props for that. Though it would have been nice for some full alternate takes or demos. I can't express my disappointment enough with the exclusion of B-Sides (Curtains, Walk Through The Fire, Across The River, Don't Break This Rhythm, Ga-Ga I Go Swimming) and alternate mixes, especially the special extended mix of In Your Eyes which to my knowledge has never been released on CD, only vinyl. They could have even included Out Out from the Gremlins soundtrack which came out around the same time.

Finally, live stuff is great but had this live stuff been sold separate (and on Blu-ray), it would have freed up more space for studio stuff which, I believe, the really hardcore fans wanted. Half the content here is live. It should have been called "So/Live 25".

As someone who has been a big fan of PG since my youth, I'd really love to hear what others think about this set. Are you as disappointed as I am?

65 of 75 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So Perfect July 27, 2002

By Alan Caylow

Format:Audio CD

1986's "So" was Peter Gabriel's big commercial breakthrough, and it's not difficult to see (or hear) why: "So" has all of the power & passion of Gabriel's previous efforts, but it also has a great warmth to it's songs, as Gabriel's past albums may have sounded a little too dark and serious for the masses of record buyers. "So," however, with it's lighter mood, was welcomed by the public with open arms, and finally catapulted Gabriel out of cult status & into superstardom.Quite simply, every single song on "So" is a masterpiece. Gabriel's singing has never been better, his songwriting here is phenomenal, as is the production, and the marvelous playing of Gabriel and his supreme team of session players, including the reliable Tony Levin on bass and David Rhodes on guitar. Many of these songs are FM radio staples, and have been widely covered by other artists: the thunderous "Red Rain," the smash hit "Sledgehammer" (with Gabriel cutting loose with a big, brassy R&B throwdown), the gorgeous duet "Don't Give Up" (w/ Kate Bush), and the outstanding "In Your Eyes" & "Mercy Street." There's also the great pop-rockers "Big Time" (another big hit), and "That Voice Again," with Gabriel hitting a long high note that is guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. "This Is The Picture" is a terrific, light-groove collaboration with Laurie Anderson, combining singing with spoken word, and the funky guitar of Nile Rodgers. And finally, there's "We Do What Were Told," the song that sounds most like Gabriel's earlier, darker material. It's brief, lyrically simple, but very, very haunting....This new remastered version of "So" sounds sensational, bringing out new sonic textures to the album that I had never heard before, beautiful notes that were previously undetected. However, I am a bit puzzled by the decision to re-shuffle the song "In Your Eyes," so it's now the last song on the album, instead of "We Do What We're Told" (the old vinyl version) or "This Is The Picture" (the old CD & cassette versions). Personally, I think "We Do What We're Told" works better as an album closer, but no matter. "In Your Eyes" is an all-time favorite Gabriel tune, and I'm sure in time I'll get used to it as the new finale for "So."Peter Gabriel's "So" was rightfully nominated for the Grammy for Album Of The Year," but it lost to Paul Simon's "Graceland"---a very good album, granted, but it's not musically stronger than "So," nor has it's impact been as longlasting as "So." The Grammy commitee also goofed big time (excuse the pun) when they passed over Gabriel for Robert Palmer in the Best Male Pop Vocal category. Go figure. But these shocking Grammy injustices take nothing away from Gabriel's monumental achievement with this album. "So" is a classic, sparkling album from the first note to the last, and an important testament to the power of gifted, intelligent songwriting & performing, and as only Peter Gabriel can do it. "So" is so perfect. :-) Read more ›

60 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Rearranged SO still more than humdrum experience (Pleasae note this is a review for single disc edition NOT 25th Anniversary) May 31, 2002

By Wayne Klein HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

For a long time Peter Gabriel and the idea of a commerical breakthrough seemed polar opposites. With So Gabriel suddenly demonstrated that there was a market (again) for intelligent and well crafted songwriting. Although not necessarily PG's best, SO functions as a snapshot of the artist in top form.This edition of SO differs a bit from the original US release. The songs differ both from the original album, cassette and CD releases with In Your Eyes as the final track. On vinyl the last song was We Do What We're Told which made sense both artistically and musically. The CD release duplicated the line up of the cassette release featuring Gabriel's collaboration with Laurie Anderson This Is The Picture (Excellent Birds)as the final track. Reportedly, the track order here was the way the original album was intended to be released. Due to the limitations of vinyl sonics, Gabriel rearranged the line up to the traditional previously released version. The album's original smooth continuity suffers on the remastered edition. The final track (In Your Eyes) is a classic to be sure but putting the chilling We Do What We're Told in its new position robs that powerful track of much of its power. I certainly appreciate the fact that SO is now as its maker intended but there was really nothing wrong with it to begin with.The sound quality is stunning with considerably more depth, clarity and definition. This is particularly noticable on the album opener Red Rain and the two outstanding ballads of the album Don't Give Up and Mercy Street. The latter which is probably one of PG's greatest ballads has more warmth in the sound than ever heard before. SO stands (along with Melting Face aka Peter Gabriel 3) as PG's most compelling and powerful collection of songs.... While slicker than Melting Face, it also has a humanity and warmth missing from that dark masterpiece. The two form curious bookends to Gabriel's style and, listened back to back, they each illuminate the other album in unique and powerful ways.The limited edition US digipak is inferior to the traditional vinyl like sleeves issued in Japan. It's something of a bastard child; half vinly artwork/half CD. Really, it doesn't make anyone happy. If the spindle that holds the CD breaks (which, by the way, was the case with half the reissues I purchased), there's no way to replace it. Sadly there are no bonus tracks. Demos, outtakes and b sides would have been welcome. One can understand why Gabriel would want to stick with the original album and not tack on extras; most of the b sides (save the minor classic Don't Break This Rhythm) really would sound of place here. Still, one could argue for the inclusion of the various alternate mixes for Sledgehammer, Big Time and Don't Give Up. I suppose they're saving it for a boxed set so they can fleece the public one more time.The booklet now comes with a number of rare and new pictures. Unfortunately, there's no essay about the making of the album and the credits are standard issue as well. The original song lyrics are included as well but, again, some thoughts on the making of the album would have been interesting.A great album mishandled in its reissue, SO still deserves a place in any CD collection. Gabriel's sweeping stylistic jumps and arrangements finally sound as great (if not, dare I say it, better than) as they did on vinyl. A pity they couldn't have gotten the packaging right. Read more ›