Editing Peter Gabriel (section)

=== 1975–1985: Solo debut with four self-titled albums ===
Gabriel described his break from the music business as his "learning period", during which he took piano and music lessons. He had recorded demos by the end of 1975, the fruits of a period of writing around 20 songs with his friend Martin Hall.<ref name=MM751206>{{cite web|url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/interview-pg-gabriel-tells-all-melody-maker-6th-december/|title=Behind Peter Gabriel's mask|first=Chris|last=Welch|date=6 December 1975|work=Melody Maker|pages=8–9|access-date=20 June 2019|archive-date=20 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620170128/https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/interview-pg-gabriel-tells-all-melody-maker-6th-december/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1977, Gabriel released his solo debut, ''[[Peter Gabriel (1977 album)|Peter Gabriel]]'', which was recorded in Toronto with [[Bob Ezrin]] serving as the album's producer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Chris |date=8 January 2021 |title=How Peter Gabriel ditched the masks and made the album that changed his life |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-peter-gabriel-ditched-the-masks-and-made-the-album-that-changed-his-life |access-date=27 February 2025|website=Louder}}</ref> Gabriel did not title his first four studio albums. All were labelled ''Peter Gabriel'', using the same typeface, with designs by [[Hipgnosis]]. "The idea is to do it like a magazine, which will only come out once a year," he remarked in 1978. "So it's the same title, the same lettering in the same place; only the photo is different."<ref>''Best'' magazine, May 1978; translated in Gabriel fanzine ''White Shadow'' (#1, p. 13) by editor Fred Tomsett</ref>

''Peter Gabriel'' (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 1: Car'') was released in February 1977 and reached No. 7 in the UK and No. 38 in the US. Its [[lead single]], "[[Solsbury Hill (song)|Solsbury Hill]]", is an autobiographical song about a spiritual experience on top of [[Solsbury Hill]] in Somerset. "It's about being prepared to lose what you have for what you might get&nbsp;..." said Gabriel. "It's about letting go."{{sfn|Easlea|2018|p=203}} Gabriel toured the album with an 80-date tour from March to November 1977 with a band that included guitarist [[Robert Fripp]] of [[King Crimson]] often playing off stage and introduced as "Dusty Rhodes".<ref name="Lamb">{{Cite news |last=Charone |first=Barbara |date=16 April 1977 |title=The Lamb Stands Up |url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/sounds-barbara-charone-interviews-peter-gabriel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018210112/https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/sounds-barbara-charone-interviews-peter-gabriel/ |archive-date=18 October 2021 |access-date=14 April 2024 |work=[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]}}</ref>

[[File:Peter gabriel 31081978 02 400.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Gabriel onstage in 1978]]
In late 1977, Gabriel started recording the [[Peter Gabriel (1978 album)|second ''Peter Gabriel'' studio album]] (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 2: Scratch'') in the Netherlands, with Fripp as producer. Its "Mother of Violence" was written by Gabriel and his first wife Jill. Released in June 1978, the album went to No. 10 in the UK and No. 45 in the US. Gabriel's tour for the album lasted from August to December 1978. On this tour, Gabriel and his band shaved their heads.

Gabriel recorded the [[Peter Gabriel (1980 album)|third ''Peter Gabriel'' studio album]] (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 3: Melt'') in England in 1979. He developed an interest in African music and [[drum machine]]s and later hailed the record as his artistic breakthrough. Gabriel banned the use of cymbals on the album in order to grant more sonic space for instruments like keyboards and synths. This resulted in the creation of the distinctive [[gated reverb]],<ref>{{cite journal |last=Flans |first=Robyn |date=1 May 2005 |title=Classic Tracks: Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html |url-status=dead |journal=Mix Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317065230/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_phil_collins_air/index.html |archive-date=17 March 2007 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> a noise processing technique which came about while recording drums on "[[Intruder (song)|Intruder]]", one of the tracks featuring [[Phil Collins]]. Collins implemented the reverb to great effect on his debut solo single "[[In the Air Tonight]]" and it has since became a signature sound of the 1980s and beyond.

Upon completion [[Atlantic Records]], Gabriel's US distributor who had released his first two albums, refused to put out ''Peter Gabriel 3: Melt'' as they thought it was not commercial enough. Gabriel signed a [[recording contract]] with [[Mercury Records]].<ref name="Rolling Stone 1987-10-29">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/peter-gabriel-hits-the-big-time-106473/|title=Peter Gabriel Hits the Big Time|first=Steve|last=Pond|date=29 January 1987|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622145805/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/peter-gabriel-hits-the-big-time-106473/|url-status=live}}</ref> Released in May 1980, the album went to No. 1 in the UK for three weeks. In the US, it peaked at No. 22. The single "[[Games Without Frontiers (song)|Games Without Frontiers]]" went to No. 4 and "[[Biko (song)|Biko]]" went to No. 36 in the UK. After a handful of shows in 1979, Gabriel toured the album from February to October 1980. The tour marked Gabriel's first successful instance of [[crowd surfing]] (following his failed June 1971 attempt when touring with Genesis) when he fell back into the audience in a crucifix position. The stunt became a staple of his live shows.<ref name="Rolling Stone 1987-10-29" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/thearchive/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sounds-March-8th-1980-HF-reviews-pg-at-Edinburgh-1733x2500.jpg|title=On the road – The games people play|first=Hugh|last=Fielder|page=51|date=8 March 1980|work=Sounds|access-date=22 June 2019|archive-date=13 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613102425/http://thegenesisarchive.co.uk/thearchive/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Sounds-March-8th-1980-HF-reviews-pg-at-Edinburgh-1733x2500.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Peter Gabriel 19800906.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Gabriel performing in 1980]]
On [[Peter Gabriel (1982 album)|''Peter Gabriel'' four]] (a.k.a. ''Peter Gabriel 4: Security''), Gabriel took on greater responsibility over the production than before. He recorded it in 1981 and 1982, solely on digital tape, with a mobile studio parked at his home, [[Ashcombe House, Somerset|Ashcombe House]], in Somerset. Gabriel utilized a [[Fairlight CMI]] digital [[Sampler (musical instrument)|sampling]] synthesizer and incorporated electronic instrumentation with sampling world beat percussion. "Over the course of the last two albums," he observed, "I've got back into a rhythm consciousness. And the writing—particularly with the invention of these drum machines—is fantastic. You can store in their memories rhythms that interest you and excite you. And then the groove will carry on without you, and the groove will be exactly what you want it to be, rather than what a drummer thinks is appropriate for what you're doing."<ref name="White Shadow pp12" />

The fourth ''Peter Gabriel'', released in September 1982, hit No. 6 in the UK and No. 28 in the US. The second single, "[[Shock the Monkey]]", became Gabriel's first top 40 hit in the US, reaching No. 29. To handle American distribution, Gabriel signed with [[Geffen Records]], which—initially unbeknown to Gabriel—titled the album ''Security'' to differentiate it from the first three. Gabriel's 1982 tour lasted a year and became his first to make a profit.<ref name="Musician 1986-07" /> Recordings from the tour were released on Gabriel's debut live release, ''[[Plays Live]]'' (1983).

Gabriel produced versions of the third and fourth ''Peter Gabriel'' albums with German lyrics. The third consisted of the studio recordings, overdubbed with new vocals. The fourth was remixed, with several tracks extended or altered.

In 1983, Gabriel developed the soundtrack for [[Alan Parker]]'s drama film ''[[Birdy (film)|Birdy]]'' (1984), co-produced with [[Daniel Lanois]]. This consisted of new material, without lyrics, as well as remixed instrumentals from his previous studio album.