Prog Manager Gail Colson on her favourite songs and shows

By Daryl Easlea
( Prog )
published

She's the woman behind Peter Gabriel and Peter Hammil's solo careers, but do either feature among Gail Colson's favourite recordings and performances? We find out!

black and white portrait of Gail Coulson at Charisma in the 70s
(Image credit: Barry Wentzell)

COLSONGS:

Gail’s Five Favourite Recordings

1. In Your Eyes Peter Gabriel, Charisma, 1986

2. Everyday Is Like Sunday Morrissey Produced and co-written by Stephen Street, HMV, 1988

3. We Don’t Need Nobody Else Whipping Boy, Columbia, 1995

4. Who? Where? Why? Jesus Jones, Food, 1991

5. Refugees Van der Graaf Generator, Charisma, 1970.
Colson: “Although it was before I was managing Peter, it was on Charisma and I therefore worked on it.”

GAIL’S FORCE 10 PERFORMANCES

(Image credit: Photo by Getty Images)

1. Peter Gabriel: Forum Montreal, November, 1982. “When he could sell out arenas in Canada and only theatres in the States.”

2. The Subways: Reading Festival, main stage, 2008. “Also their first Shepherds Bush Empire, sold-out show.”

3. The Pretenders: Any of the Australian tour dates with Blondie, 2010. “Watching pissed Aussies singing along to every word of every song was most enjoyable!”

4. Jesus Jones: September 20, 1989. First sold out show at the Astoria, Charing Cross Road.

5. Peter Hammill/VdGG: Reunion at the Royal Festival Hall, May 6, 2005.

Daryl Easlea
Daryl Easlea

Daryl Easlea has contributed to Prog since its first edition, and has written cover features on Pink Floyd, Genesis, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel and Gentle Giant. After 20 years in music retail, when Daryl worked full-time at Record Collector, his broad tastes and knowledge led to him being deemed a ‘generalist.’ DJ, compere, and consultant to record companies, his books explore prog, populist African-American music and pop eccentrics. Currently writing Whatever Happened To Slade?, Daryl broadcasts Easlea Like A Sunday Morning on Ship Full Of Bombs, can be seen on Channel 5 talking about pop and hosts the M Means Music podcast.