Solsbury Hill (song)

"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. The song was his debut single. The single was a Top 20 hit in the UK and reached #68 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1977.[1]  The song re-charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, reaching #84.

Gabriel has said "It's about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get... It's about letting go.". Former bandmate Tony Banks acknowledges that the song reflects Gabriel's decision to break ties with Genesis, but it can be also applied in a broader sense.

It has been used in a number of films, for example in the soundtracks of the 2001 film Vanilla Sky,[2]  and the 2004 film In Good Company.[3]  Its prevalence has been called "ubiquitous", particularly its inclusion in a satirical re-cut trailer of The Shining.[4]  The song has been covered by many artists, including Lou Reed, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe. moe.], Dave Matthews, Erasure, Sarah McLachlan, Saga, Kyte and Justin Hines, among others.

The song uses a 7/4 time signature for the vast majority of the song. The last two measures of each chorus are in 4/4.



Contents
[hide]  *1 Track listing  ==Track listing[ edit] == ===7" UK single (1977)[ edit] === ===7" "Old Gold" single (1982)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === ===UK maxi-single (1983, 1988)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===7" European single (1990 re-issue)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===12" UK single (1990 re-issue)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === ===Live Version<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===7" US single (1983)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===7" Netherlands single (1983)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  === ===7" US single (1983)<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ==Personnel<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  == ==Erasure's cover version<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">]  == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:17.9200000762939px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14.3999996185303px;">"Solsbury Hill" was recorded by British synthpop duo Erasure in 2003 for their cover versions album Other People's Songs and released as a single in the UK on 6 January 2003 and in the US on 14 January 2003. The single reached # 10 on the UK chart in January 2003. The track was chosen for the album by Erasure memberVince 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 4/4—except for the chorus, which slips back into 7/4 time for one line. ==Other cover versions<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:17.9200000762939px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14.3999996185303px;">Though not an official cover version, Dream Theater's song Solitary Shell was based on Solsbury Hill in style, though the lyrics are completely of their own creation.
 * 1.1 7" UK single (1977)
 * 1.2 7" "Old Gold" single (1982)
 * 1.3 UK maxi-single (1983, 1988)
 * 1.4 7" European single (1990 re-issue)
 * 1.5 12" UK single (1990 re-issue)
 * 1.6 Live Version
 * 1.7 7" US single (1983)
 * 1.8 7" Netherlands single (1983)
 * 1.9 7" US single (1983)
 * 2 Personnel
 * 3 Erasure's cover version
 * 4 Other cover versions
 * 5 References
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill" – (3:24)
 * 2) "Moribund The Burgermeister" – (4:17)
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill" - (3:26)
 * 2) "Games Without Frontiers" - (3:50)
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill" – (3:24)
 * 2) "Moribund The Burgermeister" – (4:17)
 * 3) "Solsbury Hill (Full Length Live Version)" – (4:45)
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill" – (4:24)
 * 2) "Shaking The Tree" – (5:06)
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill" – (4:22)
 * 2) "Shaking The Tree" – (5:06)
 * 3) "Games Without Frontiers (Live)" - (6:06)
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill (Live)" - (3:58)
 * 2) "I Go Swimming (Live)" - (4:29)
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill (Live)" - (4:41)
 * 2) "Kiss Of Life (Live)" - (5:01)
 * 1) "Solsbury Hill (Live)" - (3:58)
 * 2) "Shock The Monkey" - (3:58)
 * Peter Gabriel - vocals, keyboards,flute
 * Tony Levin - bass
 * Larry Fast - synths
 * Robert Fripp - guitar
 * Steve Hunter - guitar
 * Alan Schwartzberg - drums
 * The band Kyte recorded a cover for their album, Two Sparks, Two Stars.
 * Ingram Hill recorded the song for their EP "Why the Wait".
 * Dave Matthews Band covered the song twice on their 2009 Summer Tour.
 * Dave Matthews & Friends covered the song for the first time on December 12, 2003 in University Park, Pennsylvania.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[5]
 * Scala & Kolacny Brothers covered the song on their Circle album in 2010, keeping the standard time signature, but performing with only a piano accompanied by an all female choir, adding the track to their growing list of rock covers.
 * Mercury Rev played a cover of Solsbury Hill during their encore following their performance of their classic album Deserter's Songs at the The Roundhouse in London on May 21, 2011.
 * Sarah McLachlan included a live version of Solsbury Hill on the CD for her 1989 single "Steaming."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-6" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[6]
 * The song has also been covered by indie-rock outfit Ruby Isle.
 * The song was also covered by Glass Moon on their self-titled debut album<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-size:11.1999998092651px;">[7]