SHAKING THE TREE: SIXTEEN GOLDEN GREATS

If you like radio edits, remakes and re-mixes you might like this. This is a so-so introduction to the solo career of Peter Gabriel. Most of the songs here are in edited form. "Here Comes The Flood" is a new recording based on the version on Robert Fripp's Exposure album. "I Have The Touch" is a re-mix with added parts. I actually like this version better than the one on the fourth album. It sounds fuller.

You get the title track taken from Youssou N'Dour's 1989 album. Here it has a new vocal. There are no songs from the second album. It would have been nice if they at least included "On The Air". Oddly, they do have a song from Passion, "Zaar" but in edited from. One of Gabriel's most well known songs, "In Your Eyes", is not included. "Solsbury Hill", "Family Snapshot", "San Jacinto", "Red Rain" and "Big Time" are the only songs that appear in their album versions.

I have yet to hear Passion but "Zaar" always sounded interesting to me. Having said that, I don't think anything from Passion should have been included. "San Jacinto" also seems like an oddity here. They should have included one of his first and best singles "Modern Love". This could have been so much better than it is. You're better off just getting his first three albums. 2 stars.