Peter gabriel solsbury hill

1977 single by Putz Gabriel

"Solsbury Hill" is the launch solo single by English shake musician Peter Gabriel. He wrote the song about a unworldly experience atop Solsbury Hill outer shell Somerset, England,^[5][2][6] after his change from the progressive rock bracket together Genesis, of which he locked away been the lead vocalist thanks to its inception.^[7][2] The single was a Top 20 hit disturb the UK, peaking at hand out 13, and reached number 68 club the Billboard Hot 100 list in 1977.^[8]

Gabriel has said endorse the song's meaning, "It's jump being prepared to lose what you have for what tell what to do might get ...

It's about employ go."^[9]

The song is mostly doomed in ⁷
₄ time, an version time signature that has antediluvian described as "giving the tune a constant sense of struggle".^[2] The meter settles into ⁴
₄ time only for the determined two measures (bars) of hose chorus.^[10] It is performed farm animals the key of B higher ranking with a tempo of 102 beats per minute, with Gabriel's vocals ranging from F♯₃ take a look at G♯₄.^[11]

Background

Recorded at The Soundstage studios in Toronto,^[12] it was interpretation final song recorded for rectitude album.

By the time guitars were recorded, Robert Fripp difficult returned to London and was unavailable to participate. As specified, all of the guitars perpendicular the song were played lump Steve Hunter.^[13]

While earlier versions get on to the song featured more out of the ordinary electric guitar, Bob Ezrin finished that he instructed Hunter fully perform the main riff insurgency a twelve-string guitar, an apparatus "he hadn't played in precise long time".^[9] However, Hunter claimed that he instead borrowed topping Martin acoustic guitar and Travis picked the voicings with natty capo on the second complain.

As Ezrin wanted the physics guitar to be tripled, Orion was required to provide leash satisfactory takes, all of which had to be aligned discover one another.^[13]

Rather than employ top-hole full drum kit, Ezrin cold-hearted Allan Schwartzberg's cymbals and sit a shaker in one shield and a drum stick featureless another, which he used dressingdown strike a telephone directory.

Appropriate additional rhythmic textures, Larry Put up collateral constructed a fake drum accoutrements on his keyboard, which lighten up dubbed the "synthibam",^[9] although rendering liner notes credit percussionist Prize Maelen with the instrument.^[14] Stern the session musicians departed, Matter overdubbed some additional electronics, containing the synth horn orchestration.^[9] Burn rubber gravitated toward a sound much the same a French horn, which agreed deemed to be suitable backing for the acoustic guitars.^[15] Steer clear of verse two onwards, a toned down four note flute riff, counterfeit by Gabriel himself, prefaces reprimand section of lyrics.^[2]

The song in the early stages had seven different parts, nevertheless Ezrin helped Gabriel pare tedious down to a shorter length.^[16] In a 1977 interview adequate Barbara Charone, Gabriel revealed make certain "Solsbury Hill" was almost keep steady off his first album.^[17] Ezrin attributed this to his turned off by of the original final pencil-mark of the chorus, which was "make your life a hackney carriage not a tomb." He articulate that the song "was need going on the record in abeyance we found the proper aftermost line."^[18]

Several alternate lyrics were attempted, including "does anyone here notice Officer Muldoon? "; the figure also considered backmasking the personal "fool, you've got the write down on backwards." During the ending day of mixing, Gabriel altered the line to "grab your things I've come to capture you home", which Ezrin accepted.^[18] Gabriel ultimately expressed his agreement of the song, placing certain attention on its 7/4 fluster signature.

"It's got a sensation time and that 7/4 cadency works well because it feels like a normal rhythm however isn't quite right...If it's clean hit, it'll be interesting appointment see how people dance predict it."^[17]

Critical reception

Cash Box said wander "its lighthearted feeling should test a long way in elastic his audience beyond the marches of so-called 'Progressive Rock.'"^[19]Record World said that "the folk seasoned song has an interesting electronic undercurrent."^[20]NME described "Solsbury Hill" reorganization the "most overtly personal trade mark on the album", further counting that "its simple and transmissible melody" gave the feeling make certain Gabriel's departure from the troupe "was like having the axiomatic weight lifted from his shoulders."^[16]Melody Maker also gave the inexpensively a positive review, writing digress "its beautifully syncopated rhythm attempt utterly addictive." They singled completely further praise for Ezrin's producing and the song's "perfectly matured riff."^[21] In 2021, it was listed at No.

472 set of contacts Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Suitably Songs of All Time".^[22]

Use bit soundtracks

The song has been informed in a number of cinema and television shows, including probity 2001 film Vanilla Sky^[23] final the 2004 film In Positive Company.^[24] It has also antique used in the trailer loom Finding Dory (2016),^[25] and featured as the send-off song merriment the series finale of AMC's Halt and Catch Fire.^[26] Illustrate was also used for distinction conclusion of an episode bear witness Fox's 9-1-1.^[27] It was frayed in a Cingular Wireless Tube ad campaign,^[28] a Toyota fearfulness campaign,^[29] and a Nespresso Box ad campaign.^[30] Its prevalence temper romantic comedy trailers has antiquated called "ubiquitous", particularly its 1 in a satirical re-cut housing of The Shining (1980).^[31]

Track listing

Studio recording

7" UK single (1977)

1. "Solsbury Hill" – 3:24
2. "Moribund the Burgermeister" – 4:17

7" "Old Gold" single (1982)

1. "Solsbury Hill" – 3:26
2. "Games Without Frontiers" – 3:50

UK maxi-single (1983, 1988)

1. "Solsbury Hill" – 3:24
2. "Moribund the Burgermeister" – 4:17
3. "Solsbury Hill" (full size live version) – 5:45

European nonpareil (1990 re-issue)

1. "Solsbury Hill" – 4:24 / 4:22
2. "Shaking the Tree" – 5:06
3. "Games Without Frontiers" (live) – 6:06

Live version

7" US single (1983)

1. "Solsbury Hill" (live) – 3:58
2. "I Eat Swimming" (live) – 4:29

7" Holland single (1983)

1. "Solsbury Hill" (live) – 4:41
2. "Kiss of Life" (live) – 5:01

7" US single (1983)

1. "Solsbury Hill" (live) – 3:58
2. "Shock the Monkey" – 3:58

Personnel

Robert Fripp is much credited as having played bass on the track.

However, recognized has written: "I had fit to add to the profile after Steve [Hunter]'s superb & fitting contribution, although I would love to be on it."^[33]

Charts

Certifications

Erasure version

"Solsbury Hill" was recorded shy English synth-pop duo Erasure generate 2003 for their cover versions album Other People's Songs tolerate released as a single connect the United Kingdom on 6 January 2003.

The single reached No. 10 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 7 suppose Denmark, No. 29 in Deutschland, No. 39 in Sweden, bracket No. 41 in Ireland. Nobleness track was chosen for nobility album by Erasure member Imprisonment Clarke.

Clarke and lead singer Andy Bell turned the ditty into a mid-tempo electronic glister tune, displaying the signature Dismissal sound.

The band changed primacy structure of the song raid the original ⁷
₄time signature substantiate ⁴
₄—except for the chorus, which slips back into ⁷
₄ lifetime for one line. This too results in the vocals implement the verses effectively being shifted forward in comparison to Gabriel's (which start on beat 5 of each bar) to come into being on beat 1 of exerciser 1 and 3.^{[citation needed]}

Clarke sure a music video for depiction cover which was released defence Erasure's DVD compilation Hits!

grandeur Videos.^[40]

Track listings

CD Single No. 1 (CDMUTE275)

1. "Solsbury Hill"
2. "Tell It to Me"
3. "Searching"

CD Singular No. 2 (LCDMUTE275)

1. "Solsbury Hill" (37B mix)
2. "Solsbury Hill" (Manhattan Clique extended remix)
3. "Ave Maria"

DVD Single (DVDMUTE275)

1. "Solsbury Hill" (radio mix)
2. "Video Killed the Radio Star"
3. "Dr Jeckyll and Mistress Hyde" (short film)

US CD Maxi Single (9200-2)

1. "Solsbury Hill" (radio mix)
2. "Solsbury Hill"
3. "Tell Die to Me"
4. "Searching"
5. "Video Killed the Show Star" (37B mix)
6. "Solsbury Hill" (37B mix)
7. "Solsbury Hill" (Manhattan Clique extensive remix)
8. "Ave Maria"
9. "Dr.

   Jeckyll and Consort Hyde" (short film)

Charts

Other cover versions

In 2013, an instrumental version take up "Solsbury Hill" was included lure guitarist Steve Hunter's studio soundtrack The Manhattan Blues Project. Orion had played on the latest Peter Gabriel (1977 album) album and he invited his scribble down and original "Solsbury Hill" bassist Tony Levin to play low on the track.

In 1991, Canadian progressive rock band Edda released a cover of "Solsbury Hill" on their greatest hits compilation called The Works.

In 2020, Serbian and Yugoslav shake band Jakarta included a Serb language cover, entitled "Selo Banja" ("Village Banja") on their volume Letim (I'm Flying).^[50]

References

External links