Peter Gabriel

Shaking The Tree

Lots of treasures grow on this tree

Review Score:

(10/10)
The title of this collection is in my opinion, a relatively accurate title for this amazing collection. This CD came out in 1990 so it might be kind of obsolete but Gabriel has put out little music since 1992s US but this CD contains 16 excellent singles from 1977 through 1990. Indeed this CD is a great collection of 16 'Golden' greats because all the tracks are great.

There are a few flaws to this album. That is it doesn't include 'In Your Eyes' off 1986s SO but while the selected tracks on here are 'golden' 'In Your Eyes' to me is more like a diamond track. I guess it wasn't all that bad to leave it off this CD so that SO can remain in print and sell well because putting that on here would've put almost all of SO's best tracks on here, making it almost a useless album but I guess In Your Eyes was left off to keep that album in print.

Another flaw that dogs most 'Greatest Hits' CDs is the shortening of several tracks. First I Don't Remember is shortened so is Sledgehammer. The blazing rock ending of IDR kind of gets louder at the last 3 seconds before Sledgehammer. Sledgehammer on here has a slightly edited beat towards the ending and the track ends, instead of fading out on the parent album version.

Finally there aren't even any tracks from the PG2: Scratch LP.

Even with the flaws this collection is a wonderful set of 16 excellent tracks plus a new (at the time) song under the same title as this collection that features duet with Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour. It's an incredible colorful track with alot of Red Rain-esque keyboards and excellent drums.

Two songs on here are diffferent from their parent album versions. Here Comes The Flood on here unlike the original is a stunningly beautiful piano solo. Gabriels singing is incredible on here. It's a delightful treat to hear this song in a whole different way from it's original version. In fact it's one of my favorite tracks off this collection. The other is a 1983 remix of 1982s I Have The Touch. The version on Security is much heavier with window rattling and pounding beats. The 1983 edit has lighter beats and different sequence of keyboards and more electronic sounds to it giving it more of a retro feel.

This collection while far from perfect is a great album to get for the newbie fanbase as well as for the veteran fanbase. I say buy this album first and then gradually buy PGs entire catalog.

I just want Mr. Gabriel to maybe soon release a collection of B-Sides and rarities because they should have been included on the remastered albums. And when is UP going to come out?

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