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Peter Gabriel – Recording Compendium, Part 3: 1979 – 1980 (Melt)

It took a while until Peter Gabriel’s third album was released. Peter started to be involved in various projects. In the end this also affected his own output, as you can read here.

Official stuff, Demos, Outtakes & more

Part 3: Peter Gabriel 3 (Melt) | 1979 – 1980

Last update: 09.02.2025
Introduction
back to part 2 | on to part 4

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The tour for Peter Gabriel’s second album ended at Christmas 1978. Some songs from the third album had already been played on the tour: I Don’t Remember, early versions of Not One Of Us and Family Snapshot, and the Gabriel/Robinson number Bully For You (see part 2). During the development phase of the album in spring/summer 1979 there were three rare (guest) appearances with partly new material…

1979

The Woman With The Child In Her Eyes [live 1979]

(Kate Bush)

I Don’t Remember [live 1979] *

(Peter Gabriel)

Let It Be [feat. Kate Bush & Steve Harley] [live 1979]

(John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

First known performance date: 12th May 1979 – London, Hammersmith Odeon (Kate Bush Show)

Bully For You [live 1979] *

(Peter Gabriel/Tom Robinson)

It’s Only Rock’N Roll (But I Like It) [live 1979] **

(Mick Jagger/Keith Richards)

First known performance date: 23rd June 1979 – Glastonbury, Glastonbury Fayre (Peter Gabriel & Friends)

Biko [live 1979] *

(Peter Gabriel)

Don’t Know How To Stop [No Self Control] [live 1979] *

(Peter Gabriel) (3:35)

Intruder [live 1979] *

(Peter Gabriel)

Games Without Frontiers [live 1979] *

(Peter Gabriel)

First known performance date: 26th August 1979 – Reading, Reading Festival
Best available source: Bootleg – Kate Bush The Bill Duffield Concert
* Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Reading Rock ’79 (Vanillag Remaster)
** Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Glastonbury Fayre ’79

A first version of I Don’t Remember was created even before the actual album sessions. And the result of the first collaboration with Kate Bush was broadcast on TV at the end of 1979…

I Don’t Remember (Alternate Version)

(Peter Gabriel) (3:26)

Recording date: 1979
Recording location: Trident Studios/London; overdubbed at Atlantic Studios/NYC; mixed at Paragon Studios/Chicago
Produced by: Peter Gabriel & Stephen W. Tayler
Performed by: Peter Gabriel
First official release: 9th February 1980 – Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers (UK 7″//Charisma CB 354)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Flotsam And Jetsam [2019 remaster?] (48kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

Another Day

(Roy Harper) (3:28)

Recording date: 1979
Recording location: BBC Studios Pebble Mill/Birmingham (?)
Performed by: Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
First official release: 28th December 1979 Kate Bush Show (UK TV broadcast)
Best available source: Bootleg Kate (DVD-r//Epping Forrest EFDVDVA02)

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Album Tracks

Peter Gabriel used the first half of 1979 to write more songs for the forthcoming album, which was finally recorded in the second half of the year…

1979

Intruder

(Peter Gabriel) (4:54)

No Self-Control

(Peter Gabriel) (3:55)

Start

(Peter Gabriel) (1:21)

I Don’t Remember

(Peter Gabriel) (4:42)

Family Snapshot

(Peter Gabriel) (4:29)

And Through The Wire

(Peter Gabriel) (5:00)

Games Without Frontiers

(Peter Gabriel) (4:07)

Not One Of Us

(Peter Gabriel) (5:22)

Lead A Normal Life

(Peter Gabriel) (4:15)

Biko

(Peter Gabriel) (7:33)

Recording date: Summer/Autumn 1979
Recording location: Manor Mobile/Bath, The Townhouse/London
Produced by: Steve Lillywhite
Performed by: see album credits
First official release: 30th May 1980 – Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel (Melt) (UK LP//Charisma CDS 4019)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel (Melt) [2002 remaster] (96kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

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Outtakes

A few more songs were recorded but are not included on the album. Two of them only got their permanent place on later works…

1979

Bully For You *

(Peter Gabriel – Tom Robinson) (5:00)

I Go Swimming **

(Peter Gabriel) (4:34)

Milgram’s 37 [We Do What We’re Told original version instrumental] **

(Peter Gabriel) (7:55)

Wallflower [original version instrumental] **

(Peter Gabriel) (4:16)

First official release: —
* Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel The Shop Tape
** Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Ashcombe Work

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Different versions

Peter Gabriel’s idea of a foreign language project led to ‘Melt’ being re-released with German lyrics and the subtitle Ein deutsches Album. The music was also edited at one point or another…

1979

Eindringling

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (5:00)

Keine Selbstkontrolle

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (4:00)

Start

(Peter Gabriel) (1:21)

Frag Mich Nicht Immer

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (4:41)

Schnappschuss (Ein Familienfoto)

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (4:26)

Und Durch Den Draht

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (4:28)

Spiel Ohne Grenzen

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (4:07)

Du Bist Nicht Wie Wir

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (5:31)

Ein Normales Leben

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (4:21)

Biko

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (8:55)

Remix date: 1980
Remixed by: Peter Gabriel & David Lord
First official release: July 1980 – Peter Gabriel Ein deutsches Album (UK LP//Charisma CDS 4013)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Ein deutsches Album {2015 remaster] (96kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

Several versions of the album tracks and two of the outtakes have surfaced over the years. And in 2009-10, two sample packs of individual tracks from Games Without Frontiers and Not One Of Us were made available via the RealWorldRemixed.com website. The intention was to allow fans to create their own remixes of these songs, which were then submitted in large numbers and were temporarily available to listen to on the aforementioned website…

Intruder [alternate mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:30)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Book Of Memories

Intruder [alternate mix 2]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:50)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel The Shop Tape

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No Self-Control [instrumental mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:00)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Ashcombe Work

No Self-Control [edit]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:46)

First official release/Best available source: 2nd May 1980 – Peter Gabriel No Self Control (UK 7″//Charisma CB 360)

No Self-Control [edit 2]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:24)

First official release/Best available source: 1980 – Various Artists Hot Wax (UK LP//K-Tel NE 1082)

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Start [alternate mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (1:18)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Ashcombe Work

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I Don’t Remember [instrumental mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:35)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Ashcombe Work

I Don’t Remember [edit]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:38)

First official release: August 1978 – Peter Gabriel I Don’t Remember (US. /Mercury 76016)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Shaking The Tree – Sixteen Golden Greats [2002 remaster] (96kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

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Family Snapshot [alternate mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:28)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel The Shop Tape

–

And Through The Wire [alternate mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:30)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Ashcombe Works

And Through The Wire [alternate mix 2]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:30)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel The Shop Tape

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Games Without Frontiers [instrumental mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (6:21)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Book Of Memories

Games Without Frontiers [edit]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:48)

First official release/Best available source: 9th February 1980 – Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers (UK 7″//Charisma CB 354)

Games Without Frontiers [edit 2]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:56)

First official release: 19th November 1990 – Peter Gabriel Shaking The Tree – Sixteen Golden Greats (UK CD//Virgin PGTVD 6)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Shaking The Tree – Sixteen Golden Greats [2002 remaster] (96kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

Games Without Frontiers (Massive/DB Mix)

(Peter Gabriel) (5:20)

Remix date: 1992
Remixed by: David Botrill & Massive Attack
First official release: January 1993 – Peter Gabriel Steam (UK. CD/Virgin PGST 8)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Flotsam And Jetsam [2019 remaster?] (44.1kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

Games Without Frontiers [5.1 surround mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:50)

Remix date: 2004
Remixed by: Daniel Lanois & Richard Chappell with Paul Grady
First official release/Best available source: 25th October 2004 – Peter Gabriel PLAY – The Videos (DVD//Warner 5050467-5681-2-9)

Games Without Frontiers [sample pack]

(Peter Gabriel)

First official release/Best available source: December 2008 – RealWorldRemixed.com Sample Pack 13 (download//pg_gwf_wav.zip)

Games Without Frontiers (Japan Aircraft – Indaba Remix)

(Peter Gabriel) (4:05)

Remixed by: Steven McKerlie a.k.a. Japan Aircraft
First official release/Best available source: 19th Janauary 2011 – Peter Gabriel Games Without Frontiers (iTunes download//Real World)

X Games Without Frontiers

(Peter Gabriel/Lord Jamar/Greg Jennings) (?)

Remix date: 2008
Remixed by: Lord Jamar
First official release: January 2009 – Winter X Games XIII (TV broadcasts)
Best available source: ?

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Not One Of Us [full length version]

(Peter Gabriel) (5:44)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel The Shop Tape

Birdy’s Flight (from ‘Not One Of Us’) / Quiet And Alone [original mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:52)

Recording date: Summer/Autumn 1979 & October/November 1984
Recording location: Manor Mobile/Bath, The Townhouse/London, Ashcombe Studios/Bath
Produced by: Peter Gabriel & Daniel Lanois
Performed by: see album credits
First official release: 21st December 1984 – Birdy (movie release)
Best available source: Birdy [2023 remaster] (UK Blu-ray//Powerhouse Films PHSE028B)

Birdy’s Flight (from ‘Not One Of Us’)

(Peter Gabriel) (3:03)

First official release: 18th March 1985 – Peter Gabriel Birdy – Music From The Film (UK LP/Charisma CDS 4013)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Birdy – Music From The Film [2003 remaster] (CD/SACD//Virgin SACASCD 1167)

Not One Of Us [sample pack]

(Peter Gabriel) (3:48)

First official release: December 2008 – RealWorldRemixed.com Sample Pack 17 (download//pg_notone_wav.zip)

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Biko [alternate mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (7:07)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel The Shop Tape

Biko [edit]

(Peter Gabriel) (6:55)

First official release: 19th November 1990 – Peter Gabriel Shaking The Tree – Sixteen Golden Greats (CD/Virgin PGTVD 6)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Shaking The Tree – Sixteen Golden Greats [2002 remaster] (96kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

Biko (Remixed Version)

(Peter Gabriel) (9:00)

First official release: August 1980 – Peter Gabriel Biko (UK 12″//Charisma CB 370-12)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Flotsam And Jetsam [2019 remaster?] (48kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

Biko (Special Edited Version)

(Peter Gabriel) (4:00)

First official release/Best available source: August 1980 – Peter Gabriel Biko (UK promo 7″//Charisma CBDJ 370)

Biko (Wellow School Version) [feat. The Looking Glass School choir]

(Peter Gabriel) (5:33)

Remix date: 11th June 1980 (Choir & PG ovedubs)
Remixed by: Peter Gabriel & David Lord
First official release/Best available source: 29th January 2025 – Peter Gabriel Biko (Wellow School Version) (subscriber HD FLAC download//petergabriel.bandcamp.com/track/biko-wellow-school-version)

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Bully For You [instrumental mix]

(Peter Gabriel – Tom Robinson) (4:49)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Book Of Memories

–

I Go Swimming [instrumental mix]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:39)

First official release: —
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Ashcombe Works

Ga-Ga (‘I Go Swimming’ Instrumental)

(Peter Gabriel) (4:32)

First official release: June 1987 – Peter Gabriel Red Rain (UK 12″//Virgin PGS 412)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Flotsam And Jetsam [2019 remaster?] (48kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

I Go Swimming (Studio Rough Mix)

(Peter Gabriel) (4:39)

Remix date: July 1981 (PG vocal & synth overdub)
Remixed by: Peter Gabriel & David Lord
First official release/Best available source: 13th January 2025 – Peter Gabriel I Go Swimming (Studio Rough Mix) (subscriber HD FLAC download//petergabriel.bandcamp.com/track/i-go-swimming-studio-rough-mix)

Ich geh’ schwimmen [I Go Swimming german version]

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein) (?)

Remix date: 1982 (PG vocal overdub)
Remixed by: Glenn Tommey
First official release/Best available source: —

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Non Album Tracks

Two further recordings were made in the course of 1980 and were used as single B-sides…

1980

Jetzt Kommt Die Flut

(Peter Gabriel – Horst Königstein) (4:57)

Recording date: 1980
Recording location: ?
Produced by: Peter Gabriel
Performed by: Peter Gabriel
First official release: June 1980 – Peter Gabriel Spiel ohne Grenzen (GER 7″//Charisma 6000 449)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Flotsam And Jetsam [2019 remaster?] (48kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

Shosholoza

(Traditional – Arangement: Egnos/Gray/Peter Gabriel) (5:19)

Recording date: 1980
Recording location: ?
Produced by: Peter Gabriel
Performed by: Peter Gabriel
First official release: August 1980 – Peter Gabriel Biko (UK 7″//Charisma CB 370)
Best available source: Peter Gabriel Flotsam And Jetsam [2019 remaster?] (48kHz/24bit PCM download//Real World Productions)

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Live Tracks

The Tour Of China 1984 began on 20 February 1980 in England and ended on the third leg of the tour on 8 October 1980 in Portugal. In addition to the songs Bully For You and I Go Swimming, which had already been recorded but not officially released, Milgram’s 37 was presented to an audience for the first time, even in German, at concerts in Germany…

1980

Milgram’s 37 [live 1980]

(Peter Gabriel)

First known performance date: 20th February 1980 – Exeter, University
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel Cardiff ’80 Upgrade

Wir Tun Was Ihr Sagt [Milgram’s 37 german version] [live 1980]

(Peter Gabriel/Horst Königstein)

First known performance date: 1st September 1980 – Hamburg, Audimax
Best available source: Bootleg – Peter Gabriel At German Front

Von der Tour wurden zwei Live-Aufnahmen offiziell veröffentlicht…

Not One Of Us [live 1980]

(Peter Gabriel) (5:11)

Performance date: 24th February 1980 – Leicester, De Montfort Hall

Humdrum [live 1980]

(Peter Gabriel) (4:00)

Performance date: 12th July 1980 – New York, Diplomat Hotel
First official release/Best available source: 12th January 1981 – Various Artists The Recorder #2 (UK LP//Bristol Recorder 002)

At some point during the tour, he found time to produce the 3-track EP The Smell Of Home by American band Jules And The Polar Bears (featuring Stephen Hague). Peter Gabriel took another two years to make his next album. Family Snapshot and Not One Of Us were recycled for Peter’s Birdy soundtrack four years later. Biko was re-recorded and released by Manu Dibango with Gabriel’s participation in 1994, and Intruder was re-recorded in 2010-11 for his orchestral work New Blood.

Author: Steffen Gerlach

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