"So" is the fifth studio album by English musician Peter Gabriel, released on May 19, 1986. It's widely regarded as one of Gabriel's best works and a seminal album in the 1980s. The album features hit singles like "Solsbury Hill," "In Your Eyes," "Big Time," and "Kiss of Life." It's known for its eclectic mix of rock, pop, and world music influences.
🧠 Verdict – Should You Seek It Out?
Yes, if:
You want the best-sounding stereo digital version of So without buying vinyl.
You can find a legal download (try Qobuz or 7digital – sometimes relisted).
You’re willing to accept 24/48 as “good enough” (most can’t hear beyond 20kHz anyway).
No, if:
You already own the 2002 DVD-A (which has a great 24/96 stereo track – but it’s different EQ).
You prefer the 2016 half-speed mastered vinyl (rip that yourself).
You want absolute archival spec (then wait for a potential 24/192 from analog tape).
The Historical Context: Why 2012 Was a Watershed Year for ‘So’
1986 (Original CD): Dynamic but harsh. Early digital masters often suffered from low-level digital tape hiss and primitive anti-aliasing filters. The original ‘So’ CD is beloved by purists for its lack of dynamic range compression, but hated for its shrill high-end.
2002 (Remaster): Smoother, but louder. The 2002 remaster tamed the highs but introduced noticeable dynamic range compression (DR6-DR8 on the loudness meter). It was a “modernization” for iPod ears, but it crushed the life out of tracks like “Mercy Street.”
2008 (SACD): The first true high-res release (DSD 64). Many consider this the gold standard, but SACD is a niche, physical format. Ripping it to FLAC requires specific PS3 hardware. Hence, SACD rips circulated, but they were often incomplete or poorly transferred.
2012 (The Digital Pivot): This is where our keyword shines. In 2012, Gabriel’s Real World Records began quietly supplying high-resolution 24-bit FLAC files to stores like HDtracks, Qobuz, and 7digital. However, early batches had errors. Metadata was wrong. Some tracks had clipping. The “UPD” version represents the corrected batch—the one that a careful archivist uploaded to private communities after verifying checksums against a known good master.
Report: Peter Gabriel – So (2012 FLAC 24bit/48kHz “UPD” Release)
Aim for DR12 or higher per track. “Sledgehammer” should be DR12, not DR8.
Understanding the Specification: 24/48
24-bit: Refers to the bit depth of the audio, which measures the number of bits used to represent the amplitude of an audio sample. A higher bit depth allows for a greater dynamic range, meaning it can capture both very quiet and very loud sounds with greater detail.
48 kHz: Refers to the sample rate, which is the number of samples of audio carried per second. A higher sample rate can more accurately reproduce the nuances of the original sound.
Listen For
The decay on the piano in Red Rain.
Tony Levin’s bass growl in Sledgehammer without digital clipping.
The separation between Gabriel and Kate Bush’s vocals in Don't Give Up.
❌ Cons
Harder to find legitimately (Real World has since moved to 24/96 for some titles).
Some copies mislabeled as “24/96” but actually 24/48 (check with mediainfo).
No bonus tracks (unlike 2002 CD which had “Courage” and “Sagrada”).
Not a full analog-to-digital transfer; likely sourced from a 48kHz PCM master.
