Ranking the Studio Albums: Steve Hackett (Viewer Appreciation Day with Anthony Ferraro)

Join Pete Pardo and special guest co-host Anthony Ferraro as they rank the studio albums of ex-Genesis guitar legend Steve Hackett. #stevehackett
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[@eternalnocturne1849]

Voyage of the Acolyte, Please Don't Touch! , Spectral Mornings, Defector. Now that's a wild ride. Those albums speak to me on a level that's hard to describe. Great job guys!

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

This is the one I've been waiting for and you guys absolutely delivered. I've been a huge fan of Steve Hackett and he has made some of the most beautiful music ever plus he is the only guy who has kept all of the classic material of Genesis alive. Thanks SOT and keep up the good work

[@tableface77]

I actually like with way the Randy Crawford song starts the second side of Please Don't Touch and then segues into A land of a thousand autumns before taking the unexpected twists and turns that make the second side of the record very special.

[@franckb8279]

My top 10 : 1 - Voyage of the Acolyte 2 - Spectral mornings 3- Please don't touch 4 - Defector 5 - Darktown 6 - To watch the storm 7 - Highly strung 8 - Wild orchids 9 - Guitar noir 10 - Out of the tunnel's mouth I met Steve twice and one time it was backstage after a show in Olympia Paris, the guy is so gentle, humble, he seems so normal, and on stage this guy is transformed in a GIANT ;-)

[@elfensteen5222]

the painting for "Voyage of the Acolyte was also from Kim Poor !

[@davidcottone2700]

Wow I just looked up Steve Hackett discography he has a lot of solo albums more than Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel put together

[@garyjoyce2160]

WELCOME ANTHONY! Great job with PETE ! 👍💯

[@peterichards3261]

Marvellous musician. Love his early albums, his acoustic albums and his recent few albums. Amazing compositions and flawless performance. So excellent live as well whether with the older Genesis material or his own. Such a great band he has now

[@jamescastelli]

Kim Poor painted all those old covers, including Acolyte and Touch. She just used a different technique on Spectral.

[@t702942]

...and then I had to order a bunch of Steve Hackett albums. Thanx for always making me spend my hard earned money on CDs! 🤪

[@HighnoonsVinyl]

Great discussion. Any way we slice Steve's catalog, we all have to agree there are some incredible gems that are must own. Amazing guitarist and truly a creative songwriter who can draw emotion through his guitar. Loved every minute of this gentlemen.

[@robsmith1400]

Hackett is probably my fave guitarist, I own all of his rock albums. I've never really had much of an issue with his vocals, especially on the recent albums. My faves include Shrouded Horizon, Wolflight, Night Siren, Wild Orchids, Acolyte & Spectral Mornings.

[@damiankarras]

Been looking forward to this Ranking the Albums for weeks since you announced it. Very disappointed not all albums are included. His classical albums are amazing, especially Bay Of Kings.

[@John-fc7wc]

Same. Bay of Kings is my favorite Hackett album of them all.

[@williamlangan5902]

Welcome, Anthony! You and Pete compliment each other. Great video from both of you! "They looked they were all strung out on LSD!" That line made me laugh!

[@sspbrazil]

He did the Blues album in the 90’s too and Kim did the album artwork for “Voyage Of The Acolyte” and “Please Don’t Touch”, Spectral Mornings” was not her first Steve cover art.

[@stevesmith3990]

I agree with your top 4. Spectral & Voyage were the first albums I bought with my own money having started work in 1979, two of my fave albums ever!

[@williamwalker146]

Anthony did a phenomenal job there! Fun episode.

[@waynevowell9732]

Pete, I remember going with my new bride to a big record shop in the mid 70's (remember those?) and they had something playing on the big loudspeakers that caught my ear. It was Voyage of the Acolyte and I've been hooked ever since. I still have that original LP by the way (and the wife too!)

[@SavoxYt]

You're probably going to have to update this every now and then because Steve never takes a break from releasing albums. He's like the prog rock version of Buckethead.

[@TheVinylverse]

Loved this! Thanks for doing this ranking Pete! Great job Anthony! I think you're ready to make some videos now. Top 5: 5. Darktown 4. Defector 3. Please Don't Touch 2. Voyage of the Acolyte 1. Spectral Mornings

[@sspbrazil]

Oooh good one Pete, thanks! My favorites of his later albums are “Darktown”, “To Watch The Skies”, “Beyond The Shrouded Horizon”, “Wild Orchids”, “Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth”, “The Night Siren” and his latest album. I like “Guitar Noir”, that’s the first time I saw him live, I was working at record shop and I got put on the guest list for the show by Caroline. The greatest thing about that show is it was at a very small venue in Detroit with only about 200 people, I met him the first time that night (I met him years later in NY), however, beyond that, I had both Trick of The Tail and Wind & Wuthering LP’s signed by Phil, Tony and Mike and Steve signed both copies that night to make the signatures complete, I have both albums still in frames, we also had a beer together after the show with the Caroline Rep in the bar Adjacent to the stage. Great night.

[@thomasbeck2934]

Good job Anthony! Thanks for finally 😁 getting to Hackett. You both did a fine job in describing the nuances of each album and why they appealed, or didn’t , to you. I’ve got 90% of his studio catalog and can’t really distinguish if I have a favorite. They ALL work for me. My wife first discovered Steve when I put on “Midsummer Nights Dream”. She soon wanted to hear his “other stuff” and also became a fan.

[@FundamentalsUK]

Great show guys , spectral my no.1 just 🤘🏻👍🏻

[@Existmusiccloud]

Cured- “Cradle of Swans” , best classical guitar solo. Saw this tour at the Roxy in Hollywood after 4 Pilsner Urquells and an Anchor Steam, kept walking in front of Steve to get to the loo

[@marciopainhas5828]

Man, what a kickass guitar player! I have "Voyage of the Acolyte" (epic) album, and dig it a lot. Remarkable songs.

[@teamrail]

Been waiting for this, brilliant job Pete. How about doing Anthony Phillips?

[@jlaker7]

Thanks to both of you for this - really appreciated your thoughts on these albums. And a fantastic job by your co-host Anthony Ferraro - he clearly knows the catalogue, front to back. Steve Hackett's albums have been hit & miss for me, but that's to be expected with a career so long and varied. He's such a dedicated and thoughtful artist that I'll always make the time to pay attention to his releases.

[@SkelatorRevisited]

Kim first did Artwork on Voyage right ??

[@ChrisPropfeMusicallyObsessed]

Great video! Love to see Anthony on the channel! You guys had great dialogue together. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@ModernDayWarrior2112]

I never got any Hackett solo stuff. After watching this episode, I need to remedy that. Thank you Anthony and Pete! Cheers 🍻

[@michaelsrensen3398]

Love it when you bring in one of your viewers Pete. The topic being Steve Hackett, well then it does not get any better. Keep up the good work, just love your channel. Greetings from Denmark.

[@guillaumeavon1449]

I've been requesting this video for so long! Finally! Thanks Pete!

[@SwisstedChef2018]

Thats a great idea Pete. Kudos to you

[@threepistols7]

Nice job, Anthony.

[@curlessmania4708]

Great job guys, I am a huge Steve Hackett fan and your lists were totally on point. His first few solo records are classics, I had forgotten how great Defector was until I revisited it recently. So good!

[@lazarossamaras4427]

Great discography 1. Voyage of the Acolyte 2. Spectral mornings 3. Please don't touch 4. Wolflight 5. Darktown His latest albums are really good, Defector too.

[@EternalChampion435]

Been looking forward to this!!!

[@enjois5464]

i saw steve with genesis several times from 73-77, he was always kinda in the background playing beautifully, but when i saw him at reading in 1979, he was hercules unchained , the power from that band on everyday and angel of mons !!!! i stood there with my mouth wide open , that cant be the same person !!!!! met him once he seemed very mystical, and he signed my lamb album, what a guitarist.

[@nicholasadams9881]

Ahh beautiful, always overlooked his solo career and didn't really notice it until he did the Genesis Revisited 2 album in 2012. Saying that he is my favourite member of the classic Genesis line up. 17 albums in a discography unless you are already into them is a lot to digest but thank you Pete and Anthony, for breaking this down for me and giving me a better understanding of where to start. Nick :)

[@michaelbenz8092]

1. Please Don't Touch 2. Spectral Morning 3. Defector 4. Voyage of the Acolyte 5. Beyond the Shrouded Horizon 6. Out of the Tunnel's Mouth 7. Highly Strung 8. At the Edge of Light 9. Till We Have Faces 10. Cured 11. Darktown 12. Night Siren 13. Wolflight 14. Wild Orchids 15. To Watch the Storms 16. Guitar Noir 17. Feedback '86

[@mundoaseptico8785]

Nice work guys.

[@herrdwabash]

I remember when "Out of the Tunnel's Mouth" came out in 2010. Was blown away! Best album he had done in decades. I don't think any of the albums that followed have been as good as that one. "Wolflight" came pretty close.

[@paulmortimer4131]

Yeah what a show Steve Hackett my. Hero too love the man my top favourite albums top 5 spectral mornings voyage of the acolyte please don’t touch defector at the edge of light fantastic albums thanks Pete

[@brucewelton1964]

I recall a list on the last page of a guitar magazine in the `80s where Alex Lifeson listed his top 5 guitar albums. He picked Jeff Beck`s Blow by Blow, Bill Bruford`s Feels Good to Me, Electric Ladyland-Hendrix, Hackett`s Voyage of the Acolyte and unfortunately his 5th pick eludes me? I made a point of acquiring them all and the Hackett album knocked me out. Still have it and enjoy it immensely with every spin.

[@ModernDayWarrior2112]

Just picked up the Wolflight CD/Blu Ray combo. Can't wait to listen to the surround mix of this.

[@gerrypiche]

Well, that was so interesting! Just happen to be a big Hackett fan for the last 40-some years and fell onto this last night. Would have had very similar rankings. A few different, but generally close. Also is sending me back to listen to some I might have been lax in getting into them. Good show!

[@stuartwexelbaum9070]

Great Show..Love Hackett..Voyage is an all time classic as is Please Don't Touch..

[@MudFlanagan]

Wolflight gets better the more you listen. Top 5 easily. Excellent job guys. thanks

[@mundoaseptico8785]

Acolyte, Please and Spectral are my favorites records. In the last few years I have listened to the most is "There are many sides to the night". Steve's voice in the intros is warm and friendly; almost the voice of a good friend. The arranges and the performances are amazing. I think it is an album as exquisite as it is discreet.

[@diannecarpenter7718]

I don’t have Steve Hackett’s Music. What album/CD do you recommend me to start with? Thank you guys for your review.🎼🎤🎸🎵🥁

[@johnmavroudis2054]

You could just go in order... Voyage of the Acolyte, then Please Don't Touch, then Spectral Mornings... then Defector... I think those are his four best albums.... you can see his confidence grow with every release... To me, those are the key albums. But you could also work backward... If I could only pick one album to start with, though... probably Spectral Mornings. A fantastic pop song ("Every Day") that includes an epic guitar solo... along with some amazing songs, culminating in the shimmering epic title track.... Talk about a soaring guitar! Can't go wrong! (Enjoy the journey!)

[@johnmavroudis2054]

@ lol

[@diannecarpenter7718]

@@johnmavroudis2054 Thank you for your recommendations. 🎼🎤🎸🎵🥁

[@TractorCountdown]

A friend and I got to interview Steve in 1980 at his flat in London for our Genesis fanzine, and Steve played Horizons for us. We were 20 at the time and I'll never forget it. Steve - as Pete says - is a true gentleman. Having Richie Havens and Randy Crawford sing on PDT was a stroke of genius, I think, and he would've done well to carry on with that approach - Massive Attack did well on it years later!

[@tanis7050]

Great show Pete. Very happy for Steve Hackett's album ranking. I was one of those who had been waiting for a long time. Most bands both Prog and Heavy Metal are covered for me. The only one that remains in my opinion is "The Gathering" which was one of Pete's favorites in the poor 90s, unless I'm wrong?

[@johnneycrossey9016]

Been watching for quite a while now pete you promised something on candlemass just saying love the channel you introduced me to at least 50 new bands

[@kamranmalik8546]

Hackett had some incredible albums I only own Voyage of the Acolyte (1975) and Guitar Noir (1993) on CD. I have listened to some of his other albums. Squackett (2012) album is another great album. I’m curious if you are into Gabriel’s solo albums and probably not Collins albums, would you consider ranking Gabriel’s albums. Great rankings, thanks for doing this!

[@herrdwabash]

One video to check out is a bonus feature on the "Genesis Revisited: Live at the Royal Albert Hall" DVD (or Blu-ray). Steve Hackett does a quick run-through of his ENTIRE solo catalogue from "Voyage of the Acolyte" to "Beyond the Shrouded Horizon." I learned quite a bit from that video.

[@valuevinyl110]

WE WANT MORE FERRARO!

[@bastidface]

@10:47 I just now listened to an interview where Hackett said Phil Collin's was the one pushing to include "Horizon's." In Hackett's words, "Phil said 'this sounds like people will applaud at the end,' so it got on the album."

[@bastidface]

Steve was actually pretty active releasing both new and live material in the 90s with "Time Lapse," "Guitar Noir," "Blues with a Feeling," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Genesis Revisited," "The Tokyo Tapes," "Darktown," "Sketches of Satie," and "Feedback '86."

[@johnmavroudis2054]

My Top Five: 1. Spectral Mornings 1. Voyage Of The Acolyte (yeah... tied) 2. Please Don't Touch 3. Defector I'm going to have to start listening to his later work that has been propped... Wolflight, and Dark Town, among others...

[@stevefletcher6163]

Really good guide for me to explore Steve Hackett, for two reasons firstly I’m finding Steve Hackett more enjoyable than Genesis in the main, and his reworking of the Genesis material I do like., but there’s a lot to explore so this is a useful guide.Secondly I found Petes pronunciation of Loch Lomond much more entertaining than I should, rewound it few times. Thanks.

[@joshuak4372]

Great stuff.

[@ModernDayWarrior2112]

If you ever do a viewer appreciation week ranking Rush’s albums Pete, I’d really love to be a part of that! Just putting it out there... :)

[@herrdwabash]

Thank you for this video! Check out the "Broken Skies Outspread Wings" set that covers his albums from 1984 to 2006. The albums have all been remastered and have never sounded better!

[@deanwolfechannel]

The silly song on spectral mornings is why I like Hackett. He doesn't take himself too seriously. That is what makes him so great.

[@stevewhiteside4525]

Funny Pete should say the back cover of Highly Strung is a bit Marillion-ish, Ian Mosley was on drums.

[@sbrycroft]

Hey Pete, how about a show on ranking the Steve’s? Howe, Hackett, Morse, Nicks, Perry, Smith, Stills, Walsh, etc. Thanks, Steve

[@alecschulze216]

Would've been to my first Hackett concert by now, back in May in Sydney on his Genesis Revisited tour. They've dropped Spectral Mornings (my personal favourite) from the setlist for the rescheduled dates unfortunately. Still excited though!

[@westrokker]

You had me until you dissed “Hoping love will last” . Absolutely Beautiful song. Actually one of my favorite Steve H compositions. To each his own I guess ….

[@eyestick8012]

I almost spit out my drink of Pepsi when I heard him say "Hoping Love Will Last" did not do it for him. Most Hackett fans consider it a minor masterpiece...

[@westrokker]

@@eyestick8012 totally agree with you ..

[@henryneuville3071]

Pete, any chance of doing a ranking on the instrumental albums? Bay, Momentum, Midsummer, Metamorphosis, Tribute, Sketches of Satie, Med Sky,

[@lening9]

1) Voyage of the Acolyte 2) Please Don’t Touch 3) Spectral Mornings 4) Defector 5) To Watch the Storms 6) Wild Orchids 7) Wolflight 8) The Night Siren 9) At the Edge of Light 10) Out of the Tunnel’s Mouth 11) Darktown 12) Beyond the Shrouded Horizon 13) Till We Have Faces 14) Feedback 86 15) Guitar Noir 16) Blues With a Feeling 17) Highly Strung 18) Cured 19) Bay of Kings 20) Momentum 21) Metamorpheus 22) A Midsummer Night’s Dream

[@darkhymnsfromthecoldnorth]

Only recently got into his solo work. Still digging through his discography, but Voyage of the Acolyte is my favorite so far.

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

1. Voyage Of The Acolyte 2. Defector 3. Spectral Morning 4. Momentum 5. Please Don’t touch 6. To Watch The Storm 7. A Mid Summer Night Dream 8. Wild Orchid 9. Out Of The Tunnel Mouth 10. Guitar Noir

[@alexhamilton4084]

I always got the impression that the rest of the Genesis guys didn’t like Steve much. Peter Gabriel seems to laugh about him. I always feel sorry for Steve, I think he was given a raw deal from Genesis.

[@jimmycampbell78]

He was a grammar school boy from South London and apart from Collins the rest were posh public schoolboys who went to Charterhouse School in Godalming. Gabriel, Banks and Rutherford naturally looked down on him. It's the English class system at work as it was in the 1960s/1970s, unfortunately.

[@lemming9984]

Yeah, and he wasn't included initially in the Six Of The Best gig. He did come on for a couple of songs - an afterthought.

[@Ontariosound]

@@lemming9984 Steve was late to the show due to flight delays.

[@kennbrown4638]

Wish you would have included the Blues album. One of my favorites by him.

[@cantlookaway1921]

Great subject regardless of all of us having different feelings about his vast catalog! You did not mention Squackett at all. I know it was a partnership with Chris Squire but I found it to be more of a Hackett album than a squire album.

[@seabud6408]

Great insight into all these albums, many I’ve yet to hear. Only thing I totally disagree with you both on ... “Hoping love will last” with the great Randy Crawford, would be a desert island disk/song for me. So beautiful in its chordal movement/instrumentation ... the great intro and orchestral passage midway and how Randy comes back in after this section. I have played that track to death.

[@SkelatorRevisited]

No mention of “Midsummer Nights Dream. Amazing album

[@3dimensionsofmusic3D]

So cool Pete. The only 4 albums I have are the top 4 of both your favorites. Accident, I think not. Greg

[@lahloonatic]

This was great. I am surprised you didn’t rank Jobson! That should be next

[@anthonyferraro9854]

Lol

[@lahloonatic]

@@anthonyferraro9854 Seriously bro, tell Pardo! I'm sure he knows.

[@uckbee]

Almost thought you'd mention "Hammer in the Sand." ;^ )

[@ragnathebloodedge17]

Steve Hackett is my favorite guitarist and solo artist and Darktown is my favorite album of ALL TIME. 2. Defector, 3. Highly Strung, 4. Spectral Mornings and 5. depends on day. All-around great video, but some mistakes on the way like "casino royale"? And the first album Kim Poor made the artwork was in fact Voyage of the Acolyte.

[@TonVenhuizen]

My first Hackett album actually was Cured, and I liked it, but not too much either. Loved A Cradle of Swans on it. Then I got the other stuff and really dug Please Don't Touch and Spectral Mornings. I loved also Defector and 'Till we have Faces (the Rio Connection). Later I bought the Beyond the shrouded Horizon CD (and liked it) and signed when I visited the Genesis Revisited II show. I have still much to discover, but count me as a fan! PS. I also dig Ruch's Roll the bones rap! and the Genesis revisited stuff is awful (good)! Great show for both of you.

[@Kopo2007]

I thought that because it has such a different musical theme than most, you would include 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', which seems to me to be another excellent album by Steve,

[@captainbeyond7469]

I only have Voyage of The Acolyte awesome prog album love it.

[@ajkima4163]

Hey Pete. Just a question. Steve Hackett is coming to Melbourne and I am thinking if I should go to his concert. I am more a Hard rock and Heavy metal fan. I have not listened to prog much. Would you still suggest me to go to to his concert!!

[@M27Holts]

Aye the first 4 cannot be bettered

[@63mckenzie]

Gabriel got a lot of praise for his innovative albums but Hackett's are just as inventive.

[@sspbrazil]

Yep

[@79lerxst]

Oh Freddy on the chainsaw lost his feet, thinking about the blonde he'll never meet!.. Tried to take his life again,the other week!!!👏👍✌️🍻🤘good stuff..love it..

[@adamsmashups4839]

Have you done a ranking the studio albums for that other famous Steve of prog..Mr Howe?

[@desbrown8119]

Unfortunately it's the genesis stuff what sells tickets but yes that overshadows his solo stuff ,plus I think nad struggles on Gabriel stuff ,I wish he'd just play solo stuff,but like I say genesis sells ticks

[@brunosamppa]

The rap rap section on Roll The Bone is Geddy voice, not Peart. Cheers!

[@juliesaint-pierre7588]

fantastic please do anthony phillips did

[@johnhenfrey5936]

Got tickets for is tour next year at Bradford. Just swopped our tickets for even better tickets, and they haven’t charged us anymore money.

[@peterr1001]

One album you didn't mention was his collaboration with Chris Squire, as Squackett, A life within a day. I prefer it to GTR, which you did mention, and of course Chris appears on some of the solo albums as well. If I were to include it in a ranking of Steve's albums I think it would be in my top 5 a superb album.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

It's ok...not among my very favorites though.

[@thomasbeck2934]

If you can get your hands on the 4 CD box set “Live Archive 70-80-90” do it! Not cheap but 3 decades of live shows with only Steve’s material, no Genesis.

[@blackcatcentralmusic]

There was also "Blues With a Feeling". Somehow that one was missed. Circa 1994.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

We stated at the beginning that we wouldn't be including that...just the prog albums.

[@blackcatcentralmusic]

@@seaoftranquilityprog I thought that was just the acoustic albums and Genesis Revisited. Now that I reviewed the video I see the blues album was cited as not included. My apologies.

[@donaldanderson6604]

Can't disagree with Voyage and Spectral Mornings in that order (bought them the day they both came out. ) What I love about Please Don't Touch is Ritchie Havens' vocals. (He supported Genesis in 1977. ) What is also good is the way it so different from Voyage. I've lost count of how many times I've seen him live; always plays at full pitch.

[@meinlausgestur7262]

Was probably one of those asking for this a while back. Still waiting for Roger and Gilmours ranking, i bet theres an audience for that. anyway great video like always.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I've already done the DG show, a while back actually. Not a fan of the RW solo stuff.

[@meinlausgestur7262]

@@seaoftranquilityprog me neither actually, i was just curious how you felt about them since they are so beloved by pf fans but i guess that answers my question.

[@thomasbeck2934]

I think Radio Kaos is actually pretty good. Tons or catchy riffs and very accessible songs. Face it, on his own, RW ain’t very prolific.

[@kamranmalik8546]

I have seen Anthony Phillips albums you check them out too.

[@cbarbe02]

Does anyone like the gtr stuff, the sound is so 80s and a understand the concept behind the sound with making the guitars sound like keyboards not a big fan.

[@lemming9984]

I pre ordered the 12 inch single before the album came out. The second I saw the logo on the sleeve I knew it was going to be bad. (echoes of Asia). I hated the songs on the single so much I never bought the album. Over produced mushy prog - just like Asia!

[@booshting3520]

I've not heard any of his albums after To Watch The Storms. Only the songs that have appeared on his live blurays. Going to have to fix that.