SLEDGEHAMMER: Music Production Breakdown

US 80s classic unpacked instrument by instrument      14/10/26

Peter Gabriel's SLEDGEHAMMER gets deconstructed here by Creating Music and Sound, taking apart every element of the hit 1986 song. The video timestamps are below, with every element covered and then a look at the arrangement - and sections on some of the individuals who contributed to the song. Here's more form the video: 

Peter Gabriel SLEDGEHAMMER: Music Production BREAKDOWN

0:00 Intro 0:50 Drums - Manu Katché 1:40 Snare Reverb 2:36 Bass - Tony Levin 3:37 Drums & Bass Variations 4:15 Guitars - David Rhodes & Daniel Lanois 4:30 Keyboards 5:35 Piano 6:10 The "Flute" 7:04 Horn Section 8:15 Vocals 8:43 Unique Song Arrangement

 

Recording The Drums And Bass Changed Everything -- Including The Otis Redding Connection From Manu Katché's one-take drum performance to Wayne Jackson's horn arrangement -- played by the same trumpet player Gabriel had seen backing Otis Redding as a teenager -- this is a song built from a 20-year obsession with soul music. We break down every element: drums, bass, guitars, keyboards, the iconic Shakuhachi flute, horns, backing vocals, and the unique arrangement that makes it all work. Released: 1986 Lead Vocals · Peter Gabriel Drums · Manu Katché Bass · Tony Levin Guitar · David Rhodes · Daniel Lanois Keyboards · Synthesizer · Sampler · Peter Gabriel Trumpet · Wayne Jackson Tenor Saxophone · Mark Rivera Trombone · Don Mikkelsen Backing Vocals · PP Arnold · Coral Gordon · Dee Lewis Tambourine · Daniel Lanois Written by · Peter Gabriel Produced by · Peter Gabriel · Daniel Lanois Peter Gabriel · Sledgehammer · So · 1986


More from Creating Music and Sound

About the author [midierror]: midierror is co-founder of Potato Audio, he makes nifty Max For Live devices, award-winning Sample Packs and hosts the 'midierror meets...' interview series speaking with all kinds of people working in sound & music. 


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