Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats [Remaster] (CD - 1990)

Personnel includes: Peter Gabriel (vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Youssou N'Dour, Kate Bush (vocals); Steve Hunter, Robert Fripp, David Rhodes, Daniel Lanois (guitar); Hugh Padgham, Steve Lillywhite (whistles); Mark Rivera, Dick Morrissey, Phil Todd (saxophone); Wayne Jackson, Guy Barker, John Barclay (trumpet); Don Mikkelson (trombone); Richard Tee (piano); Larry Fast (synthesizer); Tony Levin, John Giblin, Larry Klein (bass); Allan Schwartzberg, Jerry Marotta, Phil Collins, Manu Katche, Stewart Copeland (drums); Djalma Correa (percussion); Peter Hammill (background vocals).

Producers include: Peter Gabriel, Bob Ezrin, Peter Walsh, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite.

Recorded between 1977 & 1990.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Personnel includes: Peter Gabriel (vocals, whistle, piano, synthesizer, drums, surdo, programming); Youssou N'Dour, Kate Bush (vocals); David Rhodes (guitar, background vocals); Steve Hunter, Robert Fripp (guitar); Shankar (violin); Larry Fast (bag pipes, Moog synthesizer); Mike Rivera (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Wayne Jackson (trumpet, cornet); Simon Clark (piano, organ, keyboards); Richard Tee (piano); Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick); John Giblin, Larry Klein (bass); Phil Collins (drums, surdo); Jerry Marotta (drums, percussion); Manu Katche, Stewart Copeland, Simon Philips (drums); Djalma Correa (congas, surdo, triangle); Dee Lewis (background vocals).

Producers include: Bob Ezrin, Peter Gabriel, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, David Lord.

Recorded between 1977 & 1990.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players.

Personnel includes: Peter Gabriel (vocals, piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Youssou N'Dour, Kate Bush (vocals); Steve Hunter, Robert Fripp, David Rhodes, Daniel Lanois (guitar); Hugh Padgham, Steve Lillywhite (whistles); Mark Rivera, Dick Morrissey, Phil Todd (saxophone); Wayne Jackson, Guy Barker, John Barclay (trumpet); Don Mikkelson (trombone); Richard Tee (piano); Larry Fast (synthesizer); Tony Levin, John Giblin, Larry Klein (bass); Allan Schwartzberg, Jerry Marotta, Phil Collins, Manu Katche, Stewart Copeland (drums); Djalma Correa (percussion); Peter Hammill (background vocals).

Producers include: Peter Gabriel, Bob Ezrin, Peter Walsh, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite.

Recorded between 1977 & 1990.

Greatest-hits albums are a traditional way of buying time for artists between albums. Peter Gabriel's, entitled Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats, arrived in December of 1990, as he was toiling away at the follow-up to his smash So, which was four years old at that point. As greatest-hits albums go, it's pretty good, containing all the hits, plus an effective re-recording of "Here Comes the Flood" and a good new song in the form of the title track. While the sequencing may leave something to be desired -- it is neither chronological, nor as supple as a good mix tape -- it does contain nearly everything a casual fan could want (nothing from the second album, though; both "On the Air" or "D.I.Y." would have been nice additions), making it an effective sampler. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

A portrait of the artist as hit singles machine, SHAKING THE TREE features Peter Gabriel's most commercial post-Genesis material in one convenient package. Every cut is superb, and the dazzling track list includes "Solsbury Hill," still rock's most eloquent resignation speech, the anti-apartheid classic "Biko," the magisterial "Don't Give Up" with Kate Bush, the MTV friendly "Shock the Monkey" and "Sledgehammer," among others. Critical carping about whether this package is representative of his oeuvre as a whole is beside the point. This is, clearly, the Peter Gabriel album you'd most want to play at a party. minimize