Plays Live is the first live and fifth album overall by English rock musician Peter Gabriel. His first not titled simply Peter Gabriel, it was originally issued as a double album and long-play cassette in 1983, with sixteen songs. It was rereleased in 1985, as a single CD called Plays Live (Highlights) with only twelve songs, some of which are edited so the album fits on a single disc. It was rereleased in its entirety as a double CD set in 1987. In 2002, a remaster of the Highlights version was issued. In 2019, the complete double-LP version was released on streaming platforms for the first time.
Plays Live | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | 8 June 1983 [1] | |||
Recorded | November–December 1982, United States 1983, Bath, England | |||
Genre | Art rock | |||
Length | 89:53 (original version) 66:50 (highlights version) | |||
Label | Geffen (US & Canada), Charisma | |||
Producer | Peter Gabriel, Peter Walsh | |||
Peter Gabriel chronology | ||||
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Singles from Plays Live | ||||
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Source | Rating |
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Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
In 2021 the original 2CD version was released in remastered form. The sound recordings copyright (p) date featured on the back of the package suggests this had actually been remastered at the same time as the rest of Gabriel's back catalogue in 2002.
"Plays Live" concerts were recorded at:
Liner notes by "the producers" admit, "Although this album was compiled from four concerts in the mid-West of the United States, some additional recording took place not a thousand miles away from the home of the artist. The generic term for this process is 'cheating'. Care has been taken to keep the essence of the gigs intact, including 'human imperfection'."
Armando Gallo took the cover photograph. "I was always listening to the music when I photographed a concert," he said. "Somehow my index finger pressed the clicker in time with the lights and the percussion - the heart of the music. I always felt grateful that I could shoot Peter’s entire shows. Once I asked Peter if he didn’t mind me being in the pit photographing his every move. 'No, I love to see a friendly face,' he answered. Making me feel good about it."[6]
The album's previously unreleased "I Go Swimming" received airplay and made the US Mainstream Rock charts in 1983. The song was initially recorded for Gabriel's third album[7] and was performed on his 1980 tour.
"I Don't Remember" was issued as a single, with an accompanying music video, in the UK.
All songs written by Peter Gabriel.
This side was recorded at Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas on 4 December 1982.
Chart (1983) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[8] | 55 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] | 21 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10] | 40 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[11] | 25 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[12] | 31 |
UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 8 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 44 |
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Studio albums | |
Live albums | |
Singles |
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Soundtracks | |
Compilations | |
Concert tours |
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Video games | |
Other |
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Peter Gabriel discography |
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