Peter Gabriel Retropesctive: Album 04- Security

 

The fourth solo album by Peter Gabriel.  After three self-titled albums, the record executives named this album 'Security' to differentiate it from the other three albums.

Album:  Security

Year Released:    1982

Lineup (numbers are the tracks in order):  

• Peter Gabriel – vocals (all tracks), Fairlight CMI (all tracks), Prophet-5 (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7), Linn LM-1 programming (tracks 1–6), piano (track 7), surdo (tracks 1, 8), additional drums on track 2
• Tony Levin – bass guitar (tracks 1, 7, 8), Chapman stick (tracks 2–5), fretless bass guitar (track 6)
• David Rhodes – guitar (tracks 2–8), backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 8),
• John Ellis – guitar on tracks (2, 4), backing vocals (tracks 1, 3, 8)
• Jerry Marotta – drum kit (all tracks), surdo (track 1), percussion (track 6)
• Larry Fast – Moog synthesizer (tracks 1–4, 8), Prophet-5 (tracks 1, 3, 5, 7), [[electronic percussion (track 8)
• Stephen Paine – Fairlight CMI (track 4)
• David Lord – Polymoog and Prophet synthesizers (track 6), Fairlight CMI (tracks 6, 7), piano (tracks 7, 8)
• Roberto Laneri – treated saxophone (track 4)
• Morris Pert – traditional Ethiopian pipes (track 4), timbales (track 6), percussion (track 8)
• Jill Gabriel – backing vocals on track 2
• Peter Hammill – backing vocals on tracks 4, 5, 6
• Ekome Dance Company – Ghanaian drums on track 1

Track listing:

1. "The Rhythm of the Heat" 5:15

2. "San Jacinto" 6:21

3. "I Have the Touch" 4:30

4. "The Family and the Fishing Net" 7:08

5. "Shock the Monkey" 5:28

6. "Lay Your Hands on Me" 6:03

7. "Wallflower" 6:30

8. "Kiss of Life" 4:17

Overall Thoughts:

With his fourth album, Peter Gabriel expanded his music repetoire, adding world music from Africa and South America.  Gabriel continued putting political messages in his songs, including talking about human rights violations ("Wallflower") and the loss of Native America Communities ("San Jacinto").  But other songs are much more personal- about Jealousy ("Shock the Monkey") or healing through trust ("Lay Your Hands On Me").  Of the songs, "Wallflower" is the most potent in terms of imagery.

It's a good mix of songs- not as many great songs as Melt, but an impressive album. Gabriel's earlier solo albums were all over the place, in terms of both music and themes.  But with each album, he manages to put the tools together and in more focussed manner.

And on his next album, it all comes together.

Ranking of Peter Gabriel Albums (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. Peter Gabriel (Melt)
2. Security
3. Peter Gabriel (Car)
4. Peter Gabriel (Scratch)

Top 10 Peter Gabriel Songs (adding as more albums are reviewed):

1. "Solsbury Hill", Peter Gabriel (Car)
2. "Wallflower", Security
3. "Games Without Frontiers", Peter Gabriel (Melt)
4. "I Don't Remember", Peter Gabriel (Melt)
5. "Here Comes the Flood", Peter Gabriel (Car)
6. "Family Snapshot", Peter Gabriel (Melt)
7. "Biko", Peter Gabriel (Melt)
8. "San Jacinto", Security
9. "Waiting for the Big One", Peter Gabriel (Car)
10. "The Rhythm of the Heat", Security