So is the fifth studio album by British rock musician Peter Gabriel, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music). Many of its songs reflect a more conventional pop writing style which became radio hits. Others still retained Gabriel’s dark, brooding sense of experimentalism and are held as classics by his more eclectic fans.

This is Peter Gabriel’s first album produced and performed with Canadian artist Daniel Lanois. Lanois had been previously known for his ambient collaborations with Brian Eno. Lanois brought many of his own ambient sensibilities to this album.

The album begins with an emotionally charged piece titled "Red Rain". Its lyrics vividly depict dream imagery that reflect a sense of vulnerability.

The second track is Peter Gabriel's most popular single, "Sledgehammer". "Sledgehammer" is an upbeat piece with strong Motown influences, and a world music touch from its famous use of the shakuhachi flute. An eccentric video was made for this song which won MTV's 1987 Top Music Video Awards. This video features stop motion animation by the Aardman Animation company who later created the famous Wallace and Gromit series. The video ends with a shadowy dancing figure covered with lights. While performing "Sledgehammer" in his 2002 tour, Peter Gabriel recreated this image by wearing a jacket covered with LED lights.

Tracks 3-6 cover more serious emotional content. These tracks are a duet with Kate Bush titled "Don't Give Up", "That Voice Again", "In Your Eyes" and a piece dedicated to Anne Sexton titled "Mercy Street".

Track 7 is the album's last upbeat pop piece, "Big Time". This song is a parody of the narcissism of the 1980's.

Then comes the album's darkest and most experimental track titled "We Do What We’re Told (Milgram’s 37)". The title refers to the 37 out of 40 compliant subjects of the Milgram experiment's Experiment 18.

The album then ends with a pictorial and meditative piece titled "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)". This song features Laurie Anderson, who co-wrote the piece. This track is not included on the original vinyl release of the album, but was added to the audio cassette edition and later CD reissue. Anderson had previously recorded a version of the song entitled "Excellent Birds" for her 1984 album, Mr. Heartbreak (which also featured vocals by Gabriel).

In 1998 Q magazine readers voted So the 81st greatest album of all time; in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 91.

Track listing

all songs by Peter Gabriel, except where noted

1. "Red Rain" - 5:39
2. "Sledgehammer" - 5:12
3. "Don't Give Up" - 6:33
4. "That Voice Again" (Gabriel, David Rhodes) - 4:53
5. "In Your Eyes" - 5:27
6. "Mercy Street" - 6:22
7. "Big Time" - 4:28
8. "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" - 3:22
9. "This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" (Laurie Anderson, Gabriel) - 4:25¹

¹Not included on original vinyl release.

Personnel

• Peter Gabriel - vocals, synthesizers, piano (except track 7), percussion (track 4), Linn (tracks 3, 7 & 9), Synclavier (track 9)
• Tony Levin - bass (except tracks 6 & 8)
• David Rhodes - guitar (except tracks 6 & 9), backing vocals (tracks 1 & 5)
• Jerry Marotta - drums (tracks 1, 5 & 8), drumstic bass (track 7)
• Chris Hughes - Linn programming (track 1)
• Stewart Copeland - hi-hat (track 1), drums (track 7)
• Daniel Lanois - guitar (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7 & 9), tambourine (track 2)
• Manu Katch&eacute - drums (tracks 2-5), percussion (tracks 3-5), talking drum (tracks 5 & 9)
• Wayne Jackson - trumpet (tracks 2 & 7), cornet (track 7)
• Mark Rivera - saxophone (tracks 2 & 7), processed saxophone (track 6)
• Don Mikkelson - trombone (tracks 2 & 7)
• P. P. Arnold - backing vocals (tracks 2 & 7)
• Coral Gordon - backing vocals (tracks 2 & 7)
• Dee Lewis - backing vocals (tracks 2 & 7)
• Richard Tee - piano (tracks 3, 5 & 6)
• Simon Clark - synthesizer (tracks 3 & 7), organ (track 7), bass (track 7)
• Kate Bush - vocals (track 3)
• L. Shankar - violin (tracks 4 & 8)
• Larry Kline - bass (tracks 5 & 6)
• Youssou N'dour - vocals (track 5)
• Michael Been - backing vocals (track 5)
• Jim Kerr - backing vocals (track 5)
• Ronnie Bright - bass vocals (track 5)
• Djalma Correa - surdu , congas, triangle (all on track 6)
• Jimmy Bralower - Linn (track 7)
• Laurie Anderson - vocals (track 9)
• Bill Laswell - bass (track 9)
• Nile Rodgers - guitar (track 9)

Production

• Producers: Peter Gabriel, Chris Hughes, Daniel Lanois
• Engineer: Dave Bascombe, David Bottrill, Steve Boyer, Ary Carvalhaes, Richard Chappell, Jairo Gualberto, Kevin Killen, Bruce Lampcov, Daniel Lanois, David Stallbaumer
• Assistant engineers: Jam Crisp, Edel Griffith, Dan Roe, David Stallbaumer
• Track mix: David Bascombe
• Mastering: Ian Cooper
• Remastering: Tony Cousins
• Recording: David Bascombe
• Programming: Chris Hughes
• Assistants: Norma Bishop, Steve Boyer, Jam Crisp
• Horn arrangements: Peter Gabriel, Wayne Jackson, Daniel Lanois
• Arranger: David Rhodes
• Session supervisors: Charlene Colon, Renato Costa, Graciela Silberberg
• Studio coordinator: Luigi Hoffer
• Studio manager: David Stallbaumer
• Studio support: Luigi Hoffer
• Management: Gail Colson
• Design: Peter Saville
• Graphic design: Marc Bessant
• Photography: Armando Gallo, Trevor Key, Margaret Maxwell, Connie Moest, Neal Preston
• Packaging: Real World Design
• Sleeve design: Peter Saville, Brett Wickens

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Singles - Billboard (North America)