MUSC-21600: The Art of Rock Music Prof. Freeze Sledgehammer (1986) Peter Gabriel LISTEN FOR • Two-part form • Elements of southern soul o Horn riffs (played by Memphis Horns from Stax Records) o Hokum-inspired lyrics (with aab lyric verses) o Improvisatory part B with call and response, back-up vocals CREATION Songwriters Peter Gabriel Album So Label Geffen 28718 Musicians Peter Gabriel (vocals, CMI, piano, synthesizer), Manu Katché (drums), Tony Levin (bass), David Rhodes (guitar), Daniel Lanois (guitar, tambourine), Wayne Jackson (trumpet), Mark Rivera (tenor saxophone), Don Mikkelsen (trombone), P. P. Arnold (backing vocals), Coral Gordon (backing vocals), Dee Lewis (backing vocals) Producer Daniel Lanois, Peter Gabriel Recording 1985; stereo Charts Pop 1, UK 4 MUSIC Genre Pop Form Verse-chorus + simple verse Key E-flat major Meter 4/4 MUSC-21600 Listening Guide Freeze “Sledgehammer” (Peter Gabriel, 1986) LISTENING GUIDE Time Form Lyric Cue Listen For 0:00 Intro • Exotic, synthesized flute improvisations. 0:17 • Rhythm and blues horns play a repeated melodic line, propelled by a driving beat. 0:38 A Verse 1 (12) “You could have a steam train” • Vocals enter, as the lyrical allusions remain fairly innocent. • Interlocking rhythmic layers in guitar, bass, organ. 1:17 Verse 2 (12) “You could have a big dipper” • As before, the allusions get a little sexier. 1:37 Chorus (8) “I want to be your sledgehammer” • Backup vocals are added. 1:57 Interlude (4) • Accompanimental groove continues. 2:07 Verse 3 (8) “Show me ’round your fruit cage” • Horn line added, as lyrics push a little further. 2:27 Chorus (8) “I want to be your sledgehammer” • As before. 2:47 Chorus (8) “I want to be your sledgehammer” • As before. 3:07 Interlude (4) • Creates transition to second section. 3:17 B Verse (8) • Synth flute returns. 3:38 Verse (8) “I kicked the habit” • Vocal enters in gospel-style call and response with backup vocals. 3:58 Verse (8) “Show for me” • Vocal harmony added to the lead vocal. 4:17 Verse (8) “Show for me” • Lead vocal improvisation begins as arrangement builds. 4:37 Verse (8+fade) “Show for me” • Vocal improvising continues, influenced by southern soul, as song fades out. 2 MUSC-21600 Listening Guide Freeze “Sledgehammer” (Peter Gabriel, 1986) LYRICS You could have a steam train I’m going to be-the sledgehammer if you’d just lay down your tracks this can be my testimony you could have an aeroplane flying I’m your sledgehammer if you bring your blue sky back let there be no doubt about it all you do is call me I’ll be anything you need sledge sledge sledgehammer You could have a big dipper I’ve kicked the habit going up and down, all around the bends shed my skin you could have a bumper car, bumping this is the new stuff this amusement never ends I go dancing in, we go dancing in all you do is call me oh won’t you show for me I’ll be anything you need and I will show for you I want to be your sledgehammer Show for me, I will show for you why don’t you call my name Yeah, yeah, yeah, I do mean you, only you oh let me be your sledgehammer you’ve been coming through this will be my testimony going to build that power build, build up that power, hey Show me round your fruitcage I’ve been feeding the rhythm ‘cos I will be your honey bee I’ve been feeding the rhythm open up your fruitcage going to feel that power, build in you where the fruit is as sweet as can be come on, come on, help me do all you do is call me yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ll be anything you need yeah, you I’ve been feeding the rhythm I want to be your sledgehammer I’ve been feeding the rhythm why don’t you call my name it’s what we’re doing, doing you’d better call the sledgehammer all day and night put your mind at rest SOURCES • John Covach and Andrew Flory, What’s That Sound, 4th ed. (New York: W. W. Norton, 2015), 430. • Joseph Schloss, Larry Starr, and Christopher Waterman, Rock: Music, Culture, and Business (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), 254. 3 .