Sledgehammer

Peter Gabriel released Sledgehammer on April 25, 1986 as the lead single from his fifth studio album So. The track arrived under Charisma, Virgin Records, and Geffen Records labels. Produced by Gabriel alongside Daniel Lanois, the song blended art rock sensibilities with soulful grooves and pop accessibility. This collaboration resulted in a sound that felt both experimental and undeniably catchy.

The music video directed by Stephen R. Johnson utilized groundbreaking stop-motion animation techniques featuring puppets, claymation, and rotoscoping. Surreal imagery included fruit cages, dancing body parts, and animated vegetables dominating MTV airplay upon release. The visual component became an instant cultural phenomenon that helped propel the song to massive commercial success.

Critically, the track achieved significant milestones including becoming Gabriel's only number-one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in August 1986. It also topped the UK Singles Chart marking a major crossover moment for the artist. In terms of certifications the single has been certified Platinum in the United States by the RIAA for sales exceeding one million units. [edit]