Scratch My Back
Other albums by Peter Gabriel
Facts about the album "Scratch My Back"
Album: Scratch My Back
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Meta Information: "Scratch My Back" is the eighth studio album by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in 2010. The album is a collection of cover songs, featuring Gabriel's interpretations of tracks originally performed by various artists. "Scratch My Back" showcases Gabriel's distinctive vocal style and emotive delivery, accompanied by orchestral arrangements. The album's title is a reference to the concept of reciprocity in the music industry, with Gabriel covering songs by artists who would later cover his own songs in a companion album titled "And I'll Scratch Yours".
Interesting Facts:
Orchestral Arrangements: "Scratch My Back" is characterized by its lush and expansive orchestral arrangements, which provide a dramatic backdrop to Gabriel's vocals. Gabriel worked with composer John Metcalfe to create these arrangements, which feature a wide range of instruments including strings, brass, and woodwinds. The orchestral approach adds depth and sophistication to the cover songs, transforming them into epic and cinematic pieces.
Song Selection: The album's tracklist includes covers of songs by diverse artists from various musical genres. Gabriel's song choices reflect his eclectic taste and appreciation for both classic and contemporary music. Tracks like David Bowie's "Heroes", Paul Simon's "The Boy in the Bubble", and Radiohead's "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" are reimagined in Gabriel's signature style, showcasing his ability to breathe new life into familiar material.
Companion Album: "Scratch My Back" was conceived as part of a reciprocal project with other artists, titled "And I'll Scratch Yours". In this companion album, artists who were covered by Gabriel on "Scratch My Back" would in turn cover his songs. However, the release of "And I'll Scratch Yours" was delayed, and some artists withdrew from the project. Nevertheless, the album eventually saw the light of day in 2013, featuring covers of Gabriel's songs by artists such as Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, and Regina Spektor. This reciprocal project added an interesting layer of collaboration and exchange to Gabriel's cover album concept.