February 16, 2010


British rock singer and songwriter Peter Gabriel has taken what he calls the "scary" step of paring down a new album of cover songs confined to orchestral instruments and his voice.

Called "Scratch my Back," the album is being released in the United Kingdom on February 15 and the United States on March 2. It is Gabriel's first solo album in eight years and features 12 covers of artists ranging from experienced to emerging, including Radiohead, Talking Heads and Regina Spektor.

But it is far from just another album of cover songs, according to the singer who just turned 60 years-old. He said that in return, the artists will reinterpret Gabriel's songs on a second album called "I'll Scratch Yours."

"It's scary," Gabriel told Reuters about the album and an upcoming tour of Europe in March and the United States in May. "But I wanted to do something a little bit different and something quite fresh for me."

Early reviews have described "Scratch My Back" as a poignant, contemplative album that is stripped down to the essentials, featuring just Gabriel's voice accompanied by chamber instruments as well as brass and keyboards.




(Album art)


"I thought we could take away the guitar and take away the drums and just use the pallet of the piano and the orchestra," he said. "Normally I have a thing about how to fix the lyrics or the arrangement, and on this I was really focused on being a singer and interpreting songs, so that was good.

"Some of it is quite stark and empty but from my taste it works better as a whole," he added.

SCRATCHING BACKS

Songs featured on the album include "Street Spirit" from Radiohead, "The Boy in the Bubble" from Paul Simon as well as a slowed down version of David Bowie's "Heroes", Talking Head's "Listening Wind" and Regina Spektor's "Apres Moi."

Gabriel also covers songs by Neil Young, Arcade Fire, Lou Reed, Elbow and The Magnetic Fields, who have already recorded an electronic version of Gabriel's "Not One Of Us" for release on the second album.


The former Genesis singer said his new project was born of wanting to collaborate with the other artists.

"To do a covers album seemed a bit boring to me, so I really thought maybe we could do a swapping process where, 'you do one of my albums, I do one of yours', along with some dialogue and interaction," he said.

Gabriel has made many bold moves in a long career, starting with leaving Genesis, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next month.

"It was my childhood, if you like, my teenage years but for some of the band it has been twenty to thirty years ," Gabriel said.

But his career longevity does not mean he is out of touch with the current state of the record business and new developments in music.

"As a young man I always tried to follow what was going on," he said. "Now I just follow the same interests."






Song List:

1. Heroes (David Bowie)
2. The Boy In The Bubble (Paul Simon)
3. Mirror Ball (Elbow)
4. Flume (Bon Iver)
5. Listening Wind (David Byrne/Talking Heads)
6. The Power Of The Heart (Lou Reed)
7. My Body Is A Cage (Arcade Fire)
8. The Book Of Love (The Magnetic Fields)
9. I Think It s Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman)
10. Apres Moi (Regina Spektor)
11. Philadelphia (Neil Young)
12. Street Spirit (Fade Out) (Radiohead)

http://abcnews.go.com/Ent...202&page=2
[Edited 2/16/10 11:37am]

I read about this - it doesnt sound very appealing to me

My preference is for new self-penned material, but I am interested in hearing his version of "The Boy in the Bubble".

Identity said:

I think I only want to hear that, and "Heroes". I hate when artists pull out some random shit to do a cover of. Just doesn't appeal to me. I'm not a fan of covers in general, but this sort of c-list stuff is silly to me. Stop trying to be artsy, and shit.

I'll listen to it. I'm also hoping to see him at the Hollywood Bowl with the orchestra in May, one set of the covers album & one of his original stuff.

It is strange, I usually really like the way he does arragements with his rock band. But I like him enough to check out something off the wall.

I'm trying to think if he's done covers before. His first solo tour he was doing versions of Ain't That Peculiar, Heard It Thru The Grapevine and All Day and All Of The Night, so there are bootleg recordings of those, but I can't think of any he's done since.

I love Peter Gabriel and I like the song selection, but I'm not crazy about what I've heard of it so far.

9. I Think It s Going To Rain Today(Randy Newman)

Sorry, but Bette Midler owned this song.

Nick715 said:

I thought the same till:

^ Just watched this now. Interesting version, but not for me. I know she had a following, but I do not like how she did this.

definitely checking this one out!! love Peter. (Gabriel that is.)

Im going to check out but the responses and reviews i have seen so far have been pretty bad.

I'm about to listen to it for the first time, and was just about to start a thread

I didn't even know about this release until today thanks for the email Pete

Mirrorball

My fave version: Katie Melua




btw.. "Flume" doesn't sound too good imo.