40 Years Since Peter Gabriel's 'So' Revolutionized His Career and Defined the '80s Sound
Exactly 40 years ago today, an iconic rock music star released an album that changed everything for the artist and grew to largely define his legacy. Peter Gabriel's So is also remembered as one of the greatest albums of the 1980s.
Peter Gabriel's Landmark Album ‘So' Was Released 40 Years Ago and Changed His Career
On May 19, 1986, Peter Gabriel released his fifth solo album, So. It would go on to be the biggest hit of his career as it reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart. Gabriel's three singles that charted the highest on the Billboard Hot 100 were all from So. "In Your Eyes" reached No. 26, "Big Time" peaked at No. 8, and "Sledgehammer" became his only track to top the chart at No. 1.
An undeniably beloved artist, Gabriel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014 after many years of releasing hit songs. The thing that many of his fans may not realize is that his career arguably had two stages, before So and after it. Peter Gabriel's website describes So as a "watershed release in his career," because "its marriage of the artistic and the commercial made for an indisputable success."
Earlier in his career, including when he was a member of Genesis, Gabriel's music and performances were very experimental. Although fans who know him for songs like "Sledgehammer," "Big Time," and "In Your Eyes" may not realize it, Gabriel was once known for performing in elaborate costumes and makeup. As his website noted, So appears to be the album that marked the moment that Gabriel figured out how to be experimental and commercial at the same time. The legendary music video for the album's track "Sledgehammer" may be the perfect example of that since it was groundbreaking and immensely popular.
Peter Gabriel's 'So' Is Often Listed as One of the Best Albums From the 1980s
Over the last four decades, Peter Gabriel's So has often been considered a masterpiece. In addition to its three biggest hits, the iconic album also featured celebrated tracks like "Don't Give Up," "Mercy Street," and "Red Rain," among others. The album has also long been praised for embracing rhythms and instruments from international music styles.
For all those reasons and more, Peter Gabriel's So has been included in several lists that bring together the best music from the 1980s. In November 1989, Rolling Stone named it the 14th best album of the decade. Similarly, Slant Magazine called Sothe 80s' 41st best album, and Treble Zineranked it the 61st.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 8:12 AM.