Well, you can't mention Gabriel without Genesis.
I was both early and late to the Genesis/Gabriel game. When I was a little turd, my dad was always playing Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Trick of the Tail. My mom was always playing late era Beatles (mostly Sgt. Peppers). I loved the songs, but really didn't know who the artists were. Good musical foundation though.
Still pre-teen, my first attachment/repulsion to the Genesis crew was:
Genesis: Land of Confusion (1986)
Phil Collins: Sussudio (1985)
Peter Gabriel: Sledgehammer (1986)
All, of course, on MTV. I liked the dopey videos, but really thought the songs were kind of lame.
I had a friend that was a huge Genesis/Collins/Gabriel fan. And he would try to convert me with these songs. It only pushed me away. A few years later he played Genesis' Dancing on a Volcano. It brought back all my young turd years with my dad blaring it on the stereo. "I know that song. I friggin' love that song. Who is that?" He told me it was Genesis and I responded "why didn't you just play me this stuff? You would have converted me in milliseconds." Keep in mind, there was no internet, google or youtube. You had friends, radio and MTV (and guitar magazines) to discover new music.
Sledgehammer and Big Time were wonderful hits for Gabriel, but terrible introductions for me. Once I finally heard the whole album, I realized he had somehow managed to put garlic on the albums doorstep. Love the album immensely. Probably my