So

Personnel includes: Peter Gabriel (vocals, keyboards); Kate Bush, Laurie Anderson, Youssou N'Dour (vocals); David Rhodes (guitar, background vocals); Daniel Lanois (guitar, tambourine); Nile Rodgers (guitar); L. Shankar (violin); Mark Rivera (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Don Mikelsen (trombone); Richard Tee (piano); Simon Clark (Hammond B3 organ, synthesizer, bass); Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick); Larry Klein, Bill Laswell (bass); Manu Katche (drums, talking drums); Jerry Marotta, Stewart Copeland (drums); Chris Hughes (programming); Djalma Correa (surdu, congas, triangle); Jimm Kerr (background vocals).
Engineers: Kevin Killen, Daniel Lanois, David Bottrill.
Recorded at Ascombe Studios, Bath, England between Feruary and December, 1985.
All tracks have been digitally remastered.
SO consolidated Gabriel's reputation as an original and exciting composer, capable of projecting sophisticated lyrics on accessible melodies. 'Sledgehammer' was a massive hit (number one in the USA), as was 'Don't Give Up', with Kate Bush's vocals adding extra pathos. 'This Is The Picture' clearly shows the slightly surreal influence of co-writer Laurie Anderson, and the whole is given flight by Daniel Lanois' impeccable production. The towering achievement, however, is 'Mercy Street', a sparely orchestrated and perfectly constructed tribute to the late poet Anne Sexton.