Search - Peter Gabriel :: Hit

A stellar overview to Peter Gabriel's solo career up to now

Terrence J. Reardon | Lake Worth (a west Palm Beach suburb), FL | 11/27/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Peter Gabriel's 2-CD best of called Hit (or Hit and Miss as the CDs are called themselves) was released in November of 2003.

This collection spans the original lead singer of Genesis Peter Gabriel's adventurous solo career from 1977 to 2002.

Most of his albums are represented sans 1978's underrated second album also known as Scratch, the soundtracks to Birdy and The Passion of the Christ and the two live albums Peter Gabriel Plays Live and Secret World Live.

From the self-titled 1977 solo effort a/k/a Car we have his first solo hit "Solsbury Hill" which is one of his best tracks. Another track from that album "Here Comes the Flood" is here in an version recorded on the 1990 Shaking the Tree best of.

His 1980 masterpiece a/k/a Car is represented by "I Don't Remember", "Family Snapshot", "Games Without Frontiers" and of course my favorite on that album "Biko". All key choices.

His 1982 fourth album (known as Security here in the States) is represented by his first big US hit "Shock The Monkey", "San Jacinto" and "The Rhythm Of the Heat". All good choices except "I Got the Touch" is not here but that's life and in the words of Mick Jagger "You Can't always get what you want but if you try sometimes you find you get what you need".

His 1986 masterpiece So is well represented by "Red Rain", his only US #1 hit single "Sledgehammer", the powerful duet with Kate Bush called "Don't Give Up", "Big Time" and of course "In Your Eyes". All superb choices.

The 1992 proper follow-up Us is well represented by "Digging In The Dirt", "Steam" (in its single form), "Blood of Eden" and "Love to Be Loved". Only missing is "Come Talk to Me" and "Kiss That Frog" but that would have been a 3-CD set (and why not).

His recent album of all new material 2002's Up is represented by "Growing Up" (in a remixed form), "Signal to Noise", "More Than This" (in edited form), "The Drop" and "I Grieve". Great choices IMHO.

There's also one previously unreleased song, the great rocker "Burn You Up Burn You Down" (an out-take from the Up sessions). Plus the exquisite "Lovetown" from the "Philadelphia" movie soundtrack.

There's three songs from Gabriel's import-only release OVO which are "The Tower That Ate People", "Father, Son" and a live rendition of "Downside Up" (featuring Gabriel in a duet with his daughter, Melanie).

There's even the great song called "Cloudless" from Gabriel's Rabbit-Proof Fence movie soundtrack.

If one has to have one Peter Gabriel collection then this is it and (as of right now) the only Peter Gabriel release in print here in the US as Geffen has discontinued all of his previous albums (so you'll have to get the European imports). I say Peter should put out a box set including some harder to find tracks like "Out Out" recorded for the Gremlins soundtrack and the recent Oscar nominated "Down to Earth" from Wall-E. Wishful thinking here. However, Peter Gabriel's Hit (and Miss) is a great overview to Peter Gabriel the solo artist.

Recommended!"

Stellar, But Not Comprehensive Gabriel Collection

Terence Allen | Atlanta, GA USA | 10/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Hit" is a double-CD collection of Peter Gabriel's greatest hits, one disc labelled "Hit," and one labelled "Miss." The great Mr. Gabriel is the former lead singer of Genesis and one of pop/rock's greatest talents because of his clever and inventive lyrics, and notable visual style on videos and in concert. Moreover, his selfless devotion to popularizing world music has made him a champion of otherwise unknown Third World musicians.



"Hit" captures early Gabriel ("Solsbury Hill" "Shock The Monkey"), middle Gabriel ("Sledgehammer" "Steam") and later Gabriel ("I Grieve" "The Drop") and many other songs that capture the flavor and essence of Gabriel's soulful, eclectic style. But as good as this collection is, it's not comprehensive. Missing is "I Have The Touch" and "Mercy Street," and other fans would think of other songs that should have been included.



But this much Gabriel is always a great thing, and "Hit" is worth having for that reason alone."