Peter Gabriel 3

Description

Remastered reissue: Peter Gabriel 3 is the third album by Peter Gabriel released in 1980. The first four studio recordings by Gabriel are self-titled, so this album is commonly referred to either as number 3 or by the name Melt, in reference to the cover, a photo of the artist altered to give the impression that his face is melting. After 2 albums (Peter Gabriel with the hit Solsbury Hill and Peter Gabriel 2), Peter Gabriel released a darker album than the previous ones with new sounds, which would give rise to world music. Gabriel here becomes the "champion" of engaged music with famous tracks like Games Without Frontiers, a critique of nationalism, and especially the famous Biko, the last track on the album, a tribute to Steve Biko, a leader against apartheid in South Africa, tortured and murdered in 1977. Phil Collins, Gabriel's former partner in the band Genesis, and Kate Bush contribute to this album: Collins on drums and percussion on several tracks (notably Intruder and Biko) and Kate Bush providing backing vocals on the songs No Self Control and Games Without Frontiers (she sings "Games Without Frontiers"). Also noteworthy is the presence of Robert Fripp, Paul Weller, Dave Gregory (XTC), and John Giblin, alongside the usual Jerry Marotta, Tony Levin, and Larry Fast, with guitarist and backing vocalist David Rhodes added. The album is produced by Steve Lillywhite, then producer for U2, and recorded by Hugh Padgham. One of the great features of this record is the absence of cymbals and the use of the "gated drum" effect applied to the drums, which later became a characteristic of Phil Collins' sound.