Article: The Best Version Of… Peter Gabriel’s So

[Josh Mound]

On 5/28/2019 at 4:38 PM, ted_b said:

I've seen PG 8 or so times, the first being the Lamb tour with Genesis back in Cleveland.  I think both his tours and his albums peaked at Melt, but that's like saying the Beatles peaked at Revolver.    The remaining catalog is still a treasure.  I go back and forth between the 24/48 and the SACD rip (DSF).  I am interested to hear Josh's comments (or anyone else who has both).  I often use Tony's stick and the percussion at the last minute of Don't Give Up to set up one of my comparisons.  The dsf rip seems to have a blacker background, the 2448 a warmer tone.  Both are great IMHO, especially given that my Holo treats each format differently.

 

There wasn’t a single moment that I used. I tried to consider multiple tracks and zero in on moments in those tracks that really varied between versions. The bass at 2:40 in “Red Rain” really stands out, but there are many small moments like that throughout the album that clearly illustrate the 24/48 download’s edge in clarity. 

[Josh Mound]

22 hours ago, fas42 said:

Interesting that So is regarded like this - to my ears this is far less interesting than album IV; the latter is a remarkable creative triumph, that still blows me away every time I listen to it; before and after albums have nowhere near the impact, for me.

 

9 hours ago, tmtomh said:

 

I like So a lot. But yes, I agree with you 100% - IV/Security is more interesting, more impactful, and just better all around in my book. Different strokes I guess.

 

I actually was already planning on asking people to rank their favorite Gabriel solo albums in the comments. As much as I love So, it’s not my favorite album of his, either. I chose it because it’s his most iconic album and the mastering story/complexity was most interesting.

 

My ranking (subject to change, especially in the second half) is:

 

1) Melt

2) Security

3) So

4) Up

5) Car

5) Us

6) Scratch

 

I’m leaving out Scratch My Back and New Blood, since they’re not albums of new material, and adding them in would make things more complicated. I could draw So into a near-tie with Secruity for the number two spot, and I could also easily flip Car and Us. Scratch is definitely last for me, though, and Melt is definitely first. (I also think Up is incredibly underrated.)

[tmtomh]

6 hours ago, JoshM said:

 

 

I actually was already planning on asking people to rank their favorite Gabriel solo albums in the comments. As much as I love So, it’s not my favorite album of his, either. I chose it because it’s his most iconic album and the mastering story/complexity was most interesting.

 

My ranking (subject to change, especially in the second half) is:

 

1) Melt

2) Security

3) So

4) Up

5) Car

5) Us

6) Scratch

 

I’m leaving out Scratch My Back and New Blood, since they’re not albums of new material, and adding them in would make things more complicated. I could draw So into a near-tie with Secruity for the number two spot, and I could also easily flip Car and Us. Scratch is definitely last for me, though, and Melt is definitely first. (I also think Up is incredibly underrated.)

 

Nice list! Security was the first Gabriel album I owned, so that might have something to do with my rankings, but at any rate, here's my list by preference - although #2-4 are very close in my book (albeit very different):

1. Security
2. Melt
3. So
4. Car
5. Up
6. Us

[ted_b]

6 hours ago, JoshM said:

My ranking (subject to change, especially in the second half) is:

 

1) Melt

2) Security

3) So

4) Up

5) Car

5) Us

6) Scratch

 

I’m leaving out Scratch My Back and New Blood, since they’re not albums of new material, and adding them in would make things more complicated. I could draw So into a near-tie with Secruity for the number two spot, and I could also easily flip Car and Us. Scratch is definitely last for me, though, and Melt is definitely first. (I also think Up is incredibly underrated.) 

+1  If I'd written this ranking and paragraph it would have been nearly the same words!    The multichannel version of UP is one of my favorite mch releases of all time.

[DuckToller]

7 hours ago, JoshM said:

My ranking (subject to change, especially in the second half) is:

 

1) Melt

2) Security

3) So

4) Up

5) Car

5) Us

6) Scratch

+1 for this ranking,

I need to admit, the most played record from Peter Gabriel in my house has always been "Plays Live", by a long distance to So and Up.
Best, Tom
 

[KDinsmore]

Excellent Josh!

The Dark Side of the Moon next please.

[Josh Mound]

7 hours ago, tmtomh said:

 

Nice list! Security was the first Gabriel album I owned, so that might have something to do with my rankings, but at any rate, here's my list by preference - although #2-4 are very close in my book (albeit very different):

1. Security
2. Melt
3. So
4. Car
5. Up
6. Us

 

I’m guessing Scratch is also your bottom pick, since it’s not even listed? 😄

[Josh Mound]

3 hours ago, KDinsmore said:

Excellent Josh!

The Dark Side of the Moon next please.

 

Oh boy. I’ve already done some preliminary work on Dark Side, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to tackle it. Such a complicated mastering history! I have a list of about 65 albums for future TBVOs, and as far as I know DSOTM has the most masterings (or alleged masterings) of any album on the list.

 

In the mix for my next columns are the CSN couch album, one of Stevie Wonder’s ‘70s classics, and Joni Mitchell’s Blue. (So is Rumours, once I make sure I have all of the masterings.)

 

Wish You Were Here will probably be the first Floyd album I tackle and might end up leapfrogging some of the above albums. It has a very interesting mastering history, but there aren’t quite as many masterings as Dark Side. (It’s also probably my favorite Floyd album, though that’s a tough call.)

[austinpop]

21 minutes ago, JoshM said:

I have a list of about 65 albums for future TBVOs

 

Any Yes? 

[Ralf11]

No

[Josh Mound]

1 hour ago, austinpop said:

 

Any Yes? 

 

Yes! I’m a big fan of two maligned ‘70s genres: prog and funk. So Yes is on the list. I’m not sure whether I’ll do The Yes Album, Fragile, or Close to the Edge, though. 

[austinpop]

6 minutes ago, JoshM said:

 

Yes! I’m a big fan of two maligned ‘70s genres: prog and funk. So Yes is on the list. I’m not sure whether I’ll do The Yes Album, Fragile, or Close to the Edge, though. 

 

Excellent! My simplistic view so far has been to just trust the Steven Wilson remixes, but a deeper look into any or all of those 3 would be very welcome.

[fas42]

Nicely timed! I'm visiting an audio friend today, who is a huge Yes fan - we have listened frequently to various albums, and some remasters. The latter are all pretty dreadful, I must say - the originals are so much richer and more rewarding; but require a setup in excellent shape to properly showcase what has actually been captured.

[One and a half]

1 hour ago, fas42 said:

Nicely timed! I'm visiting an audio friend today, who is a huge Yes fan - we have listened frequently to various albums, and some remasters. The latter are all pretty dreadful, I must say - the originals are so much richer and more rewarding; but require a setup in excellent shape to properly showcase what has actually been captured.

I guess the setup in excellent shape is your laptop and speakers? I couldn’t resist.

[loop7]

A fantastic analysis!

 

"24/48 hi-res download available with the box is much more dynamic than the CD included in the box"

 

I bought the Immersion Box and was worried about the remastering but the 24-48 download of So is my favorite with the 86 CD a close second. I find the Immersion Box CD pretty much an assault and unlistenable.

 

I also have the SACD and find it unremarkable.

 

The Live in Athens BRD is a masterpiece and, without a doubt, my favorite concert video; nothing else comes close. The video and sound are gold standard in my opinion.

[fas42]

10 hours ago, One and a half said:

I guess the setup in excellent shape is your laptop and speakers? I couldn’t resist.

 

I don't have any setup at the moment which is in excellent shape - but that doesn't stop me appreciating efforts which aim for that standard ...

 

More on topic, this afternoon we did quite a bit of listening to Yes, specifically, Going for the One and Tormato album tracks. At peak moments of tune both came across very well.

[Mr Wensleydale]

14 hours ago, JoshM said:

 

Yes! I’m a big fan of two maligned ‘70s genres: prog and funk. So Yes is on the list. I’m not sure whether I’ll do The Yes Album, Fragile, or Close to the Edge, though. 

Would be very interested to read your thoughts on The Yes Album, in particular the MFSL Gold CD. 

 

Have really enjoyed your articles. Great work!

[Don Blas De Lezo]

Ok ,  I guess I will be that weirdo Yes fan that would like either Relayer or Tales From Topographic Oceans ....   

[firedog]

18 hours ago, JoshM said:

 

Yes! I’m a big fan of two maligned ‘70s genres: prog and funk. So Yes is on the list. I’m not sure whether I’ll do The Yes Album, Fragile, or Close to the Edge, though. 

Definitely one of those. Their 3 best. 

[Le Concombre Masqué]

Based on "Don't give up" only I still rank the SACD first.

If I was to focus on the hint of congestion of KB's forte on the SACD and on the layering of instruments on the 24/48, I would follow Josh's opinion.

 

However I am more sensitive to the organic presence of PG's vocals and to the strong low end of the SACD and find the 24/48 boring in comparison

[Axial]

I found the review exhaustively long but that's all the charm. 😎

 

As for So, I love the album (record vinyl). It feels like . . . Earth. 

Thanks for the writing. 

[KDinsmore]

On 5/30/2019 at 3:38 PM, JoshM said:

I've had numerous CSN couch. My go to is still the Atlantic Gold Series Gold Disc FWIW

Oh boy. I’ve already done some preliminary work on Dark Side, and I don’t know when I’ll be able to tackle it. Such a complicated mastering history! I have a list of about 65 albums for future TBVOs, and as far as I know DSOTM has the most masterings (or alleged masterings) of any album on the list.

 

In the mix for my next columns are the CSN couch album, one of Stevie Wonder’s ‘70s classics, and Joni Mitchell’s Blue. (So is Rumours, once I make sure I have all of the masterings.)

 

Wish You Were Here will probably be the first Floyd album I tackle and might end up leapfrogging some of the above albums. It has a very interesting mastering history, but there aren’t quite as many masterings as Dark Side. (It’s also probably my favorite Floyd album, though that’s a tough call.)

 

[KDinsmore]

On 5/30/2019 at 6:04 PM, austinpop said:

 

Excellent! My simplistic view so far has been to just trust the Steven Wilson remixes, but a deeper look into any or all of those 3 would be very welcome.

I have multiple issues of Yes and you cannot do any better than the Steven Wilson's issues in my listening experience. That goes for all the Tull releases plus the two ELP issues he did as well.

[Sal1950]

On 5/28/2019 at 1:29 PM, Jud said:

Well, but aargh.  I love the album, but I'm not going to spend nearly $100 and email the website store to get a nice download (plus getting a lot of extra physical media for which I won't have much use).

Amen Jud, I'm with you and the others. I not paying that kind of money to then have to jump thru hoops to acquire the download.

"While it might take some effort, it’s absolutely worth it to hear the superlative version of So".

Sorry Josh, but IMHO it's in no way worth the $ and effort.  fuhgeddaboudit 

 

You can hear the 2012 remasters balance etc by listening to the Spotify stream of the 2012 remaster. But then you have to accept the 320kbps compression.

So times you just can't win.

 

[TubeLover]

Adding my voice to those above, absolutely outstanding article on one of my favorite albums. Ranking it in the Gabriel hierarchy is always a difficult challenge. Really superb work though. 

 

My vote for Yes, also one of my most cherished bands, prog fan that I am, would be for Close To The Edge. I could easily understand you alternately deciding to go with Fragile though. 

 

JC