Solsbury Hill (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Solsbury Hill" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Peter Gabriel | ||
| from the album Peter Gabriel | ||
| Released | 1977 (UK) | |
| Format | vinyl record (7") | |
| Recorded | 1976 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:21 | |
| Label | Atco Records / Charisma Records | |
| Producer(s) | Bob Ezrin | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Peter Gabriel singles chronology | ||
| - - |
"Solsbury Hill" (1977) |
"Modern Love" (1977) |
| "Solsbury Hill" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by Erasure | ||
| from the album Other People's Songs | ||
| Released | January 6, 2003 | |
| Format | CD Single DVD single |
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| Recorded | 2002 | |
| Genre | Synth pop | |
| Length | 04:22 | |
| Label | Mute Records | |
| Writer(s) | Peter Gabriel | |
| Producer(s) | Gareth Jones, Erasure |
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| Chart positions | ||
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| Erasure singles chronology | ||
| "Moon & the Sky" (2001) |
"Solsbury Hill" (2003) |
"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" (2003) |
- This article is about the song originally recorded by Peter Gabriel. For the geographical feature in Somerset, see Solsbury Hill.
"Solsbury Hill" is a song by British musician Peter Gabriel, about a spiritual experience atop Solsbury Hill in Somerset, England. Gabriel wrote the song after his departure from the progressive rock band Genesis, of which he had been the lead singer since its inception, explaining the reasons behind his departure. It was his debut single. The single reached the Top 70 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It was used for the soundtracks of the 2001 film Vanilla Sky, and the 2004 film In Good Company. A cover version by Erasure became a hit in 2003. Sarah McLachlan, Saga and others have covered the song.
It was also used in the trailers for Big Fish and the popular parody trailer for Stanley Kubrick's The Shining features the first verse.
The song uses the rare septuple (7/4) meter time signature for a vast majority of the song. Only the last line of each chorus is 4/4.
[edit] Erasure version
"Solsbury Hill" was recorded by British synth pop duo Erasure in 2003 for their cover versions album Other People's Songs. The track was chosen for the album by Erasure member Vince Clarke. Clarke and singer Andy Bell turned the song into a mid-tempo electronic dance tune, displaying the signature Erasure "sound". The only major change made to the structure of the song was the modification of the 7/4 time signature to a more basic 8/4.
Mute Records released the song as a single in the UK and the U.S. "Solsbury Hill" returned Erasure to the top-ten of the UK singles chart for the first time in nine years. It peaked at number twenty-nine in Germany.
[edit] External links
- http://www.solsburyhill.org
- http://www.solsburyhill.org/essays/car.htm#solsbury Solsbury Hill song explained on SolsburyHill.org
| Peter Gabriel |
|---|
| Studio Albums |
| Peter Gabriel I (Car) | Peter Gabriel II (Scratch) | Peter Gabriel III (Melt) | Peter Gabriel IV (Security) | So |Us | Up |
| With Genesis |
| From Genesis to Revelation | Trespass | Nursery Cryme | Foxtrot | Selling England by the Pound | The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway |
| Live Albums |
| Plays Live | Secret World Live |
| Soundtracks |
| Birdy | Passion: Music for the Last Temptation Of Christ | OVO | Long Walk Home: Music from the Rabbit-Proof Fence |
| Compilations |
| Shaking the Tree | Revisited | Hit |
| DVDs |
| Secret World Live | Growing Up Live | Growing Up: A Family Portrait | Play: The Videos | Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped |
| German Albums |
| Ein Deutsches Album | Deutsches Album |
