PLAYS LIVE

Ladies and gentlemen. Give welcome to the most innovative musician of all time (other opinions are available). 1, 2, 3, 4, So, it's Peter Gabriel. Aye, keep Up. I might need you to Scratch My Back. Pretty sure that would be good for Us. As long as there are no photos, I don't want to watch the Birdy! i/o (In order) to show some Passion, you'll likely have to Play(s) Live.

OK, I lost the last one a little, but couldn't resist trying to note as many PG albums as I could fit in. Its all part of Growing Up. Yes, yes, I need to stop now. I have. But then, I was always told Don't Give Up! (that's not an album title, I know).

I bought this on 3rd August 1983. I know that because I wrote the date inside the cover. However, I can't recall where. Given the date there's a good chance it would have been my local Woolworths. Ah, those were the days when you could pop into your local high street shop and spend time (but not money) looking through the albums on sale. Its the best method of shopping, dropping each cover between your fingers until you find that one, that one you just have to have. I'm not sure if there is a verb for this action. I'll put forward "SIFTING". What do you call it?

I would have known this was on release as it would have been advertised in "Sounds" magazine, which I bought religiously every week. For further info you can read about it here: SOUNDS: UK pop & rock music magazine 1970-1991

Anyway, Plays Live was PGs first live album and was recorded across the US. He had a pretty good band with him then and continues to do so to this day. In addition to the band, this tour saw the introduction of a fairly expensive tool to a live show. It was called the "Fairlight CMI" and was basically a sampling machine. With it being its first outing, the tour was not without issues, but the end result was stunning. Almost every song in the charts these days has some sampling contained. Peter Gabriel started it all in 1982.

There are 16 songs offered here, from what was the tour of the fourth album called "Peter Gabriel". (It was known across the Atlantic as "Security" for some reason. I believe it was so Americans could tell the albums apart, given all of the first 4 were titled "Peter Gabriel".) PG began to explore different sounds and styles on 4, with the Fairlight providing the opportunity to use those sounds to make music. They were reproduced live to provide a stunning backdrop to the songs played from 4, such as "The Rhythm Of The Heat" and "The Family & The Fishing Net", but to greatest effect on "San Jacinto".

My favourite track however, is "Family Snapshot", the closer on side 1. I don't know why, but its a song that creeps forward, building, drawing you into the story being told before ending quietly, all alone in a corner! Quite a mesmerising song. I had the pleasure of hearing it live when we saw the "BACK TO FRONT" tour in October 2013 and again in December 2014. Yes, I went twice. Glasgow Hydro and Aberdeen AECC.

The songlist of course, includes "Solsbury Hill". Probably one of the most uplifting songs of all time. There is no argument to be had against this statement! Another track to note was "I Go Swimming", which was previously unreleased. A pleasant ditty, I would call it. Not his best song, but very far from being his worst. The album finishes with, as do all his shows to the present day with "Biko", a song written about the murder of a black man in South Africa at the height of apartheid. It was the beginning of PG's political involvement and he retains a strong interest in fairness and solidarity.

As briefly mentioned earlier, the band was pretty good. Innovative bass player Tony Levin and guitarist David Rhodes are brilliant musicians and are still part of Gabriel's live band to this day. Larry Fast on keyboards and Jerry Marotta on drums were part of a number of artists employed to record the first 4 albums. They perform live with great skill.

I have really enjoyed re-visiting this album. It spans PGs growth from still proggy-rock to the more cerebral and innovative sounds which would continue to be developed in the following albums and years. Peter Gabriel live shows would become an event. He was involved in the development of Vari-Lites bringing new dimensions for colours at concerts. In-the-round concerts allowed a different way to reach the audience. He has never stood still sound-wise, always willing to explore. There is always something new with him.

With Peter Gabriel, you can always LIE BACK AND ENJOY IT

Track Listing:

The Rhythm Of The Heat

I Have The Touch

Not One Of Us

Family Snapshot

D I Y

The Family And The Fishing Net

Intruder

I Go Swimming

San Jacinto

Solsbury Hill

No Self Control

I Don't Remember

Shock The Monkey

Humdrum

On The Air

Biko

Members: Peter Gabriel - Piano, Synthesiser, Lead Vocal

Jerry Marotta - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals

Tony Levin - Stick, Bass, Backing Vocals

David Rhodes - Guitars, Backing Vocals

Larry Fast - Keyboards, Synthesisers