Gentle Giant | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Formed at the dawn of the progressive rock era in 1969, Gentle Giant seemed poised for a time in the mid-70s to break out of its cult-band status, but somehow never made the jump. Somewhat closer in spirit to Yes and King Crimson than to Emerson, Lake & Palmer or the Nice, their unique sound melded hard rock and classical music, with an almost medieval approach to singing. Gentle Giant was born out of the ruins of Simon Dupree & the Big Sound, an R&B-based; outfit led by brothers Derek, Ray, and Phil Shulman. After switching to psychedelia in 1967 and scoring their only major hit that year with "Kites," as Gentle Giant the group abandoned both the R&B; and psychedelic orientations of the previous band; Derek sang and played guitar and bass, Ray sang and played bass and violin, and Phil handled the saxophone, augmented by Kerry Minnear on keyboards, and Gary Green on guitar. Their original lineup also featured Martin Smith on drums, but they went through several percussionists in the first three years of their existence. In 1970, Gentle Giant signed to the Vertigo label, and their self-titled first album -- a shockingly daring work mixing hard rock and full electric playing with classical elements -- came out later that year. Their second effort, 1971s Acquiring the Taste, was slightly more accessible and their third, Three Friends, featuring Malcolm Mortimore on drums, was their first record to get released in the U.S. (on Columbia). Their fourth album, 1973s Octopus, looked poised for a breakthrough; it seemed as though they had found the mix of hard rock and classical sounds that the critics and the public could accept, and they finally had a permanent drummer in the person of John Weathers, an ex-member of the Graham Bond Organisation. In 1974, however, Gentle Giant began coming apart. Phil Shulman decided to give up music after the Octopus tour, and became a teacher. Then the group recorded the album In a Glass House, their hardest-rocking record yet, which Columbias U.S. arm rejected as too uncommercial. The two-year gap in their American release schedule hurt their momentum, and they werent heard from again until the Capitol release of The Power and the Glory in 1975. Gentle Giant released Free Hand, their most commercial album, in 1976, but then followed it up with the jarringly experimental Interview. After the 1978 double-album Playing the Fool, the group went through a seeming change of heart and issued a series of albums aimed at mainstream audiences, even approaching disco, but by the end of the 1970s their popularity was in free-fall. Gentle Giant called it quits in 1980. Ray Shulman later became a producer and had considerable success in England working with bands like the Sundays and the Sugarcubes, while Derek Shulman became a New York-based record company executive. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 42 Title: Acquiring the Taste Released: 1971-07-16 Tracks: 8 Duration: 39:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pantagruel’s Nativity (06:50) 2 Edge of Twilight (03:48) 3 The House, the Street, the Room (06:04) 4 Acquiring the Taste (01:36) 5 Wreck (04:37) 6 The Moon Is Down (04:45) 7 Black Cat (03:53) 8 Plain Truth (07:36) |
| Acquiring the Taste : Allmusic album Review : The bands second album is a major advance on its first, featuring superior singing, playing, and songwriting, as well as a more unified sound, without sacrificing the element of surprise in the first record. Many of the melodies and even the riffs here (check out Gary Greens first guitar flourish on "Pantagruels Nativity") have a pretty high haunt count, and all of the musicianship displays an elegance seldom heard even in progressive circles -- but the record also, amazingly enough, rocks really hard as well. Elements of hard rock and Gregorian chants mix freely and, amazingly enough, well throughout this album. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 42 Title: Three Friends Released: 1972-07 Tracks: 6 Duration: 35:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Prologue (06:13) 2 Schooldays (07:37) 3 Working All Day (05:12) 4 Peel the Paint (07:31) 5 Mister Class and Quality? (03:22) 6 Three Friends (05:26) |
| Three Friends : Allmusic album Review : Gentle Giants third album (and their first self-produced effort, Tony Visconti having run the sessions on the two previous records) was another advance, this time in the direction of a harder rock sound -- everything sounds turned up here, especially the guitars, the bass, and the electronic keyboards. Three Friends hardly sacrificed any of the groups progressive intentions, however, and there are some softer moments here, such as the playful, sprightly first half of "Schooldays"; the harmonies and arrangements still had a distinctly medieval feel, and the melodies, though a little harder to discern here (which made them even more appealing when they did become obvious), were quite engaging. This is supposed to be a concept album, about the relationship between three friends across a lifetime, and the original notes and lyrics have been reprinted, but none of that is necessary in order to enjoy the songs here. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 42 Title: Octopus Released: 1972-10-08 Tracks: 8 Duration: 34:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Advent of Panurge (04:41) 2 Raconteur Troubadour (04:01) 3 A Cry for Everyone (04:03) 4 Knots (04:10) 5 The Boys in the Band (04:32) 6 Dog’s Life (03:11) 7 Think of Me With Kindness (03:33) 8 River (05:52) |
| Octopus : Allmusic album Review : Returning to Gentle Giants fourth album after any kind of lengthy absence, its astonishing just how little Octopus has dated. Often written off at the time as a pale reflection of the truly gargantuan steps being taken by the likes of Jethro Tull and Barclay James Harvest, the bands closest relatives in the tangled skein of period prog, Gentle Giant often seemed more notable for its album art than its music. Octopus, however, marries the two seamlessly, with the cover speaking for itself, of course. And the mood continues within, the deliciously convoluted opening "The Advent of Panurge" itself riding waves of sonic tentacles as Gary Greens guitar shrieks short but so effective bursts around the thundering bass and, occasionally, churchy organ. Against the pulsating volume of the albums heavier tracks -- "Panurge" is joined by "A Cry for Everyone" -- the bands excursions into less excitable territory are never less than captivating. Twiddly though they are, the sometimes a cappella "Knots," the lilting "Dogs Life," and the Yes-with-fiddles-ish "Raconteur Troubadour" all have moments of sublime sweetness, while the instrumental "The Boys in the Band" is a succession of quirky showcases for, indeed, all the boys. Occasionally arrangements do get overly cluttered -- with each of the six bandmembers doubling up on at least three different instruments, theres a distinct sense of overdubs for overdubbings sake. Follow the key instruments alone, however, and the soundscapes not only make perfect sense, but so do the flourishes and intrusions that rattle around. And the end result is an album that has withstood the test of time a lot better than anyone might have expected. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 42 Title: In a Glass House Released: 1973-07-01 Tracks: 7 Duration: 37:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Runaway (07:24) 2 An Inmates Lullaby (04:31) 3 Way of Life (07:45) 4 Experience (07:50) 5 A Reunion (02:08) 6 In a Glass House (07:41) 7 [outro] (00:20) |
| In a Glass House : Allmusic album Review : Gentle Giant was reduced to a quintet on In a Glass House with the departure of elder brother Phil Shulman, but its sound is unchanged, and the group may actually be tighter without the presence of his saxophones. The time signatures are still really strange, and the tempo changes are sometimes jarring, as is the wide range of dynamics, but this is also one of the groups most pleasing records -- they rock out in various places, and elsewhere perform all kinds of little experiments with percussion instruments ("An Inmates Lullaby"), or create a strange, otherworldly sort of modern medieval-style music ("Way of Life"). None of it except possibly "A Reunion" is light listening, but the challenge does yield some rewarding sounds. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 42 Title: The Original Studio Gentle Giant - Vol. 2 Released: 1974 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 The Boys In The Band (04:30) 2 Knots (04:10) 3 The Advent Of Panurge (04:40) 4 Experience (07:45) 5 The Runaway (07:15) 6 In A Glass House (03:20) 7 The Power And The Glory (02:45) 8 Proclamation (02:10) 9 Playing The Game (03:00) 10 Cogs In Cogs (03:05) |
 | Album: 6 of 42 Title: The Original Studio Gentle Giant - Vol. 1 Released: 1974 Tracks: 9 Duration: 42:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Nothing at All (04:20) 2 Funny Ways (04:20) 3 Alucard (06:00) 4 Pantagruels Nativity (06:47) 5 Acquiring the Taste (01:35) 6 Plain Truth (03:20) 7 Peel the Paint (07:27) 8 My Class and Quality (05:50) 9 Three Friends (02:57) |
 | Album: 7 of 42 Title: The Power and the Glory Released: 1974 Tracks: 8 Duration: 37:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Proclamation (06:47) 2 So Sincere (03:51) 3 Aspirations (04:40) 4 Playing the Game (06:44) 5 Cogs in Cogs (03:07) 6 No God’s a Man (04:27) 7 The Face (04:12) 8 Valedictory (03:19) |
| The Power and the Glory : Allmusic album Review : The groups first U.S. release in two years featured ornate playing from Kerry Minnear on keyboards and Gary Greens loudest guitar work up to that time. The Power and the Glory is also a fairly dissonant album, yet it made the charts, albeit pretty low. There seems to be a unifying theme having to do with ones place in the social order, but its very vague in contrast to Pink Floyds re-creations of the post-60s drug experience, Yes sweeping album-length suites, and ELPs sci-fi epics. "No Gods a Man" is an infinitely more challenging piece of music than anything on Jethro Tulls Aqualung, but that wasnt a commercial virtue; nor could the electric violin break on "The Face" or the rippling electric guitar passages throughout cover the effort involved in absorbing these songs. The Power and the Glory vaguely resembled Genesis early art-rock albums, but without any presence as charismatic as Peter Gabriel. "Playing the Game" and "So Sincere" were the most accessible tracks and ended up as key parts of their concert set. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 42 Title: Free Hand Released: 1975-07 Tracks: 7 Duration: 36:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Just the Same (05:33) 2 On Reflection (05:29) 3 Free Hand (06:14) 4 Time to Kill (05:08) 5 His Last Voyage (06:26) 6 Talybont (02:42) 7 Mobile (04:47) |
| Free Hand : Allmusic album Review : Free Hand is perhaps Gentle Giants most realized effort. After the excellent In a Glass House, the group further developed its Renaissance-medieval approach, producing one of the most creative and complex recordings in progressive rock history. Their vocal approach to the four-part fugue "On Reflection" was revolutionary for its time and is looked upon as one of the genres defining moments. Despite the complexity of the arrangements, the music never sounds academic and in fact is very accessible thanks to several melodic hooks. The combination of superb musicianship, dry wit, and creative compositions make this an essential and historical recording. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 42 Title: Giant Steps... The First Five Years Released: 1976 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:39:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Giant (06:20) 2 Alucard (05:56) 3 Nothing At All (09:10) 4 Plain Truth (07:42) 5 Prologue (06:08) 6 A Cry For Everyone (04:00) 7 Why Not? (05:30) 8 Peel The Paint (07:32) 1 Mister Class And Quality? (05:55) 2 River (05:47) 3 Black Cat (03:53) 4 Dog’s Life (03:11) 5 The Queen (01:40) 6 Working All Day (05:11) 7 Wreck (04:37) 8 Power And The Glory (02:45) 9 Playing The Game (06:40) 10 In A Glass House (08:00) |
 | Album: 10 of 42 Title: Interview Released: 1976-04-30 Tracks: 7 Duration: 36:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Interview (06:54) 2 Give It Back (05:08) 3 Design (04:59) 4 Another Show (03:29) 5 Empty City (04:23) 6 Timing (04:50) 7 I Lost My Head (06:58) |
| Interview : Allmusic album Review : Generally considered to be the last must-have recording from these progressive rock giants. Recorded at a frenetic pace, the band had the impossible task of topping their classic, Free Hand. While they didnt surpass the success of previous efforts, they did continue to propel their unique brand of complex music into surprising new directions. Interview is actually a concept album centering on a fictitious interview based upon the music business. There are the typical complex harmonies and intricate musical passages, but the real progress is in the groups expanded sound, thanks in large part to Kerry Minnears stellar keyboard innovations. Although the songs are not as memorable as those on Free Hand, there isnt a weak one in the bunch, with the reggae-styled "Give It Back" being a standout. Unfortunately progressive rock was nearing its initial run as a popular form of music, forcing most prog bands to either adapt to the changing times or simply fade away. Unfortunately, Gentle Giant tried their hand at pop for a short and embarrassing time before disbanding. Gentle Giants legacy began with their eponymously titled debut and ended with this one. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 42 Title: Pretentious Released: 1977 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:14:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Nothing At All (09:06) 2 Why Not? (06:29) 3 Edge Of Twilight (03:48) 4 Schooldays (07:33) 5 Pentagruels Nativity (06:49) 6 The Advent Of Panurge (04:40) 1 Raconteur Troubadour (04:05) 2 Knots (04:10) 3 The Runaway (06:25) 4 An Inmates Lullaby (04:27) 5 Proclamation (06:45) 6 So Sincere (03:45) 7 Cogs In Cogs (03:05) 8 Valedictory (03:17) |
 | Album: 12 of 42 Title: Playing the Fool Released: 1977-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:18:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Just the Same (06:08) 2 Proclamation (05:18) 3 On Reflection (06:25) 4 Excerpts From Octopus (15:39) 5 Funny Ways (08:30) 1 The Runaway (03:54) 2 Experience (05:36) 3 So Sincere (10:20) 4 Free Hand (07:38) 5 Sweet Georgia Brown (Breakdown in Brussels) (01:20) 6 Peel the Paint / I Lost My Head (medley) (07:25) |
 | Album: 13 of 42 Title: The Missing Piece Released: 1977-08 Tracks: 10 Duration: 40:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Two Weeks in Spain (03:00) 2 Im Turning Around (04:00) 3 Betcha Thought We Couldnt Do It (02:23) 4 Who Do You Think You Are (03:34) 5 Mountain Time (03:19) 6 As Old as Youre Young (04:19) 7 Memories of Old Days (07:15) 8 Winning (04:16) 9 For Nobody (04:06) 10 For Nobody (live) (04:31) |
| The Missing Piece : Allmusic album Review : The Missing Piece was Gentle Giants last album to chart in the U.S. Until 1977 Gentle Giants complicated music won them fans all over the world, but as market tastes changed, their fan base ceased to grow. In an attempt to attract a wider audience, the band decided to streamline its sound with simpler styles and a more "live" sound. There were always distinctions between their complex studio work and their concert arrangements, so they now brought the two together by testing material on the road that might work well both live and in the studio. Compared to previous albums, The Missing Piece is an imbalanced effort. New styles from the band included the unconvincing "Betcha Thought We Couldnt Do It" ("proof" that they could pump out power chords like anyone else); the cute "Two Weeks in Spain," a feel-good ode to working-class vacationing; and "Im Turning Around," an effective and poignant power ballad. The rest of the album is more in line with the bands classic topsy-turvy, contrapuntal arrangements. "Winning" sounds like a leftover from the previous album, while "For Nobody" delivers a nice blend of punk aggression and prog dexterity. Apparently the band thought the pop experiment required a second album, the more consistent but oft-flogged Giant for a Day. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 42 Title: In Concert Released: 1978 Tracks: 10 Duration: 45:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Two Weeks in Spain (03:06) 2 Free Hand (06:38) 3 On Reflection (05:39) 4 Just the Same (04:57) 5 Playing the Game (04:31) 6 Memories of Old Days (07:03) 7 Betcha Thought We Couldnt Do It (02:26) 8 Im Turning Around (04:00) 9 For Nobody (04:09) 10 Mountain Time (03:07) |
 | Album: 15 of 42 Title: Giant for a Day Released: 1978-09-29 Tracks: 10 Duration: 35:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Words From the Wise (04:11) 2 Thank You (04:45) 3 Giant for a Day (03:48) 4 Spooky Boogie (02:55) 5 Take Me (03:39) 6 Little Brown Bag (03:28) 7 Friends (01:58) 8 No Stranger (02:28) 9 Its Only Goodbye (04:16) 10 Rock Climber (03:51) |
 | Album: 16 of 42 Title: Three Friends + Gentle Giant Released: 1979 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:12:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Prologue (06:13) 2 Schooldays (07:37) 3 Working All Day (05:12) 4 Peel the Paint (07:31) 5 Mister Class and Quality? (05:51) 6 Three Friends (03:00) 1 Giant (06:24) 2 Funny Ways (04:23) 3 Alucard (06:01) 4 Isn’t It Quiet and Cold? (03:53) 5 Nothing at All (09:08) 6 Why Not? (05:31) 7 The Queen (01:40) |
 | Album: 17 of 42 Title: Civilian Released: 1980 Tracks: 8 Duration: 32:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Convenience (Clean and Easy) (03:14) 2 All Through the Night (04:20) 3 Shadows on the Street (03:18) 4 Number One (04:39) 5 Underground (03:48) 6 I Am a Camera (03:33) 7 Inside Out (05:51) 8 Its Not Imagination (03:59) |
| Civilian : Allmusic album Review : Taking a not so successful pop detour with 1978s Giant for a Day, Gentle Giant was quite unsure where to turn with their follow-up. Lead singer turned manager Derek Shulman hoped that a change of environment would help them tap the American market, so he moved the band to Los Angeles to rehearse and record the new album. Whereas bassist Ray Shulman had dominated the straightforward writing of the previous album, keyboardist Kerry Minnear was given the reins here. The result was a fusion that actually worked: Minnears busy notation, new wave sounds, and driving tempos. At the end of the 70s, many of Gentle Giants progressive rock contemporaries were looking for new directions that would sell. With its darker outlook and hard-hitting sound (it is the only Gentle Giant album without acoustic guitar), Civilian was definitely a turn for the better. But unlike Genesis, Gentle Giant never made it over the hump; it was announced that the tour that followed would be their last, and they disbanded. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 42 Title: Circling Round the Gentle Giant Released: 1981 Tracks: 6 Duration: 45:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Just the Same (05:33) 2 His Last Voyage (06:30) 3 Empty City (04:25) 4 Interview (06:54) 5 I Lost My Head (06:53) 6 (Octopus) Boys in the Sand (15:37) |
 | Album: 19 of 42 Title: Gentle Giant Released: 1989 Tracks: 10 Duration: 54:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Giant (06:23) 2 Funny Ways (04:23) 3 Nothing At All (09:08) 4 The Advent Of Panurge (04:45) 5 Acquiring The Taste (01:36) 6 The Boys In The Band (04:45) 7 Pentagruels Nativity (06:49) 8 Raconteur Troubadour (04:00) 9 The Moon Is Down (04:40) 10 Plain Truth (07:42) |
| Gentle Giant : Allmusic album Review : Astonishingly daring debut album, not as focused or overpowering as King Crimsons first but still crashing down barriers and steamrolling expectations. The mix of medieval harmonies and electric rock got stronger on subsequent albums, but the music here is still pretty jarring. Kerry Minnear was probably the only prog rock keyboard player of the era who allowed his synthesizers to sound like themselves and not mimic orchestras; Gary Greens guitars are alternately loud and brittle or soft and lyrical, and always surprising; and the presence of saxes and trumpets (courtesy of Phil Shulman) was unusual in any rock band of the era -- all of which explains how Gentle Giant managed to attract a cult following but hadnt a prayer of moving up from that level of recognition. "Funny Ways" was the softest prog rock song this side of Crimsons "I Talk to the Wind," but a lot of the rest is pretty intense in volume and tempo changes. "Nothing at All" by itself is worth the price of purchase. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 42 Title: The Missing Piece + Giant for a Day Released: 1990 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:11:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Two Weeks in Spain (03:00) 2 Im Turning Around (03:54) 3 Betcha Thought We Couldnt Do It (02:30) 4 Who Do You Think You Are? (03:33) 5 Mountain Time (03:19) 6 As Old as Youre Young (04:19) 7 Memories of Old Days (07:15) 8 Winning (04:12) 9 For Nobody (04:00) 10 Words From the Wise (04:11) 11 Thank You (04:45) 12 Giant for a Day (03:48) 13 Spooky Boogie (02:55) 14 Take Me (03:39) 15 Little Brown Bag (03:28) 16 Friends (01:58) 17 No Stranger (02:28) 18 Its Only Goodbye (04:16) 19 Rock Climber (03:51) |
 | Album: 21 of 42 Title: Live Rome 1974 Released: 1994 Tracks: 5 Duration: 1:08:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Introduction / Giant / Cogs In Cogs / Proclamation (09:32) 2 Funny Ways (08:13) 3 The Runaway / Keyboard Solo / Experience (09:51) 4 Knots / Guitar Acoustic Duet Solo / The Advent Of Panurge / Recorder Quartet Solo (13:20) 5 Nothing At All / Plain Truth (27:38) |
 | Album: 22 of 42 Title: Edge of Twilight Released: 1996 Tracks: 31 Duration: 2:36:26 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Advent of Panurge (04:43) 2 Funny Ways (04:28) 3 Peel the Paint (07:30) 4 Acquiring the Taste (01:38) 5 Cogs in Cogs (03:08) 6 The House, the Street, the Room (06:02) 7 The Boys in the Band (04:34) 8 Schooldays (07:35) 9 Raconteur Troubadour (04:03) 10 Wreck (04:37) 11 Nothing at All (09:07) 12 Why Not? (05:33) 13 Playing the Game (06:44) 14 Mister Class and Quality? (05:51) 15 Three Friends (03:04) 1 Proclamation (06:48) 2 A Cry for Everyone (04:03) 3 Isnt It Quiet and Cold? (03:46) 4 Plain Truth (07:36) 5 Knots (04:10) 6 Alucard (06:03) 7 Aspirations (04:38) 8 Pantagruel’s Nativity (06:50) 9 River (05:53) 10 The Face (04:11) 11 The Moon Is Down (04:45) 12 Edge of Twilight (03:48) 13 No Gods a Man (04:26) 14 So Sincere (03:49) 15 Think of Me With Kindness (03:32) 16 Valedictory (03:19) |
| Edge of Twilight : Allmusic album Review : Edge of Twilight is a thorough overview of Gentle Giants years at Vertigo Records, containing nearly every highlight from each of their early records. As a result, its not only a perfect introduction to the strange, provocative world of Gentle Giant, it could be all the Gentle Giant most prog-rock fans need. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 42 Title: The Last Steps Released: 1996-11-11 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:19:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Convenience (Clean and Easy) (03:46) 2 All Through the Night (04:19) 3 Free Hand (07:56) 4 Knots (03:31) 5 Playing the Game (05:01) 6 Memories Of Old Days (08:30) 7 Giant for a Day (05:23) 8 Inside Out (06:05) 9 Its Not Imagination (04:10) 10 Underground (03:42) 11 Five Drum Bash (07:03) 12 Band Intro (02:10) 13 For Nobody (04:53) 14 The Advent of Panurge (06:34) 15 Number One (06:42) |
| The Last Steps : Allmusic album Review : The Last Steps is a document of Gentle Giants last show. By the time they packed it in, the bands music had begun to decline, making their departure less painful. And though the group tries valiantly to go out on a high note, the concert is only engaging in fits and starts, guaranteeing that The Last Steps is only of interest to collectors. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 42 Title: Under Construction Released: 1997 Tracks: 44 Duration: 2:26:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Radio Bit (00:13) 2 Freedoms Child (03:59) 3 Hometown Special (04:26) 4 Weekend Cowboy (03:47) 5 Bringing Me Down (05:51) 6 Nothing at All (08:26) 7 RONDO: Playing the Game (01:34) 8 DVS Guitars (06:30) 9 Robin Hood (01:43) 10 Interview Whispers (01:05) 11 Interview (live) (07:01) 12 Timing (live) (09:51) 13 Unreleased Civilian track (05:01) 14 You Havent a Chance (04:15) 15 Sample Archive - freely usable (09:18) 1 The House The Street (01:51) 2 Prologue (00:42) 3 Schooldays (02:56) 4 Peel the Paint (demo) (00:22) 5 Peel the Paint (studio) (04:23) 6 Mr. Class & Quality (03:04) 7 Advent of Panurge (00:57) 8 SHH (00:15) 9 An Inmates Lullaby (03:39) 10 Way of Life (07:07) 11 Experience (06:52) 12 So Sincere (demo) (03:31) 13 So Sincere (studio) (03:29) 14 Intro 74 (02:29) 15 Cogs in Cogs (01:44) 16 Intro 76 (01:40) 17 Just the Same (01:42) 18 Free Hand (02:59) 19 Time to Kill (03:34) 20 Interview (demo) (02:04) 21 Give It Back (02:24) 22 Design (00:48) 23 Another Story (02:25) 24 Empty City (03:38) 25 I Lost My Head (demo) (02:32) 26 I Lost My Head (studio) (01:42) 27 Convenience (01:06) 28 Freedoms Child (demo) (03:19) 29 Kerry (00:04) |
 | Album: 25 of 42 Title: Interview In Concert Released: 1998 Tracks: 9 Duration: 1:16:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Proclamation (04:49) 2 On Reflection (06:41) 3 Interview (07:15) 4 The Runaway ~ Experience (10:50) 5 So Sincere (05:50) 6 Excerpts From "Octopus" (15:26) 7 Give It Back (05:15) 8 Timing (13:23) 9 Free Hand (07:21) |
| In'terview In Concert : Allmusic album Review : Interview in Concert is part of a series of Gentle Giant official bootleg releases undertaken by the label Glass House. This third installment presents a concert from the American leg of the 1976 Interview tour. Therefore, the set list is very similar to the one found on the official live album Playing the Fool, recorded a few months later in Europe. The major difference is the presence of three songs from the 1976 Interview LP: "Give It Back," "Timing," and the title track. The first minute or so of "Proclamation" is missing but, this detail aside, Interview in Concert is a very good bootleg recording. The wide stereo separation and the type of hiss would indicate that this was taken from an FM broadcast. The sound quality is consistent throughout and, if one doesnt mind the hiss level, the CD will be much appreciated by the serious fan. Casual listeners should start with Playing the Fool, of course, but others will find impressive versions of "On Reflection" and "Interview," plus some slightly different renditions of other classic tracks, including the Octopus medley. Interview in Concert is redundant considering what was already available (even "Interview" and "Timing" had live versions included on the limited edition box set Under Construction), but the musicians were in very good shape. And for the die-hard fan, hearing the way the band went from the violin solo in "Timing" to "Free Hand" is alone worth finding this CD. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 42 Title: Out of the Fire - The BBC Concerts Released: 1998 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:34:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Introduction (00:13) 2 Way of Life (06:06) 3 Funny Ways (05:52) 4 Nothing at All (11:20) 5 Excerpts From Octopus (11:20) 1 Introduction (00:25) 2 Two Weeks in Spain (03:25) 3 Free Hand (07:33) 4 On Reflection (05:46) 5 Im Turning Around (04:07) 6 Just the Same (04:54) 7 Playing the Game (04:44) 8 Memories of Old Days (07:20) 9 Betcha Thought We Couldnt Do It (02:38) 10 Special Presentation by John P. Weathers (01:36) 11 Funny Ways (08:23) 12 For Nobody (04:35) 13 Mountain Time (03:44) |
 | Album: 27 of 42 Title: Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour Released: 1998 Tracks: 7 Duration: 45:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Proclamation (05:01) 2 Funny Ways (08:33) 3 The Runaway (03:53) 4 Experience (06:19) 5 So Sincere (09:02) 6 Knots (07:02) 7 The Advent of Panurge (05:54) |
 | Album: 28 of 42 Title: Free Hand + Interview Released: 1998 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:13:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Just the Same (05:33) 2 On Reflection (05:42) 3 Free Hand (06:14) 4 Time to Kill (05:08) 5 His Last Voyage (06:26) 6 Talybont (02:43) 7 Mobile (05:03) 8 Interview (06:50) 9 Give It Back (05:12) 10 Design (05:01) 11 Another Show (03:30) 12 Empty City (04:39) 13 Timing (04:38) 14 I Lost My Head (06:54) |
| Free Hand + Interview : Allmusic album Review : While Gentle Giants personnel remained an incredibly stable unit throughout their Capitol years (1974-1980), there also existed two distinct approaches to their music during that six album stretch -- seven if one includes their live Playing the Fool: The Official Live album. Fortunately, these two releases caught Gentle Giant in their prime as they creatively combined jazz, folk, early music, funk, and rock, creating their unequaled brand of offbeat progressive rock. Marked by intricately timed passages, tight, focused playing and detailed vocal harmonies, these two albums, Interview in particular, also brought to an end their reign as one of the more influential of the non-mainstream British progressive bands. The Missing Piece in 1977 would see them shift to a more basic, radio-friendly sound that, in inimitable late-70s fashion, both disappointed their devoted fans and failed to garner wider commercial appeal. In retrospect Interview was viewed by the band as a hasty effort in which it failed to progress. But, from a fans standpoint, it was a godsend, as it gave them one more album to cherish before the 180-degree shift took place in 1977. An added bonus to this release is a six-page, detailed account of these two albums chronicling both the recording process and aftermath, including quotes by band members Ray Shulman and Derek Shulman. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 42 Title: Live (Playing the Fool) / Civilian Released: 1999 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:50:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Just the Same / Proclamation (11:17) 2 On Reflection (06:27) 3 Excerpts From Octopus (15:35) 4 Funny Ways (08:31) 5 The Runaway / Experience (09:31) 6 So Sincere (10:18) 7 Free Hand (07:39) 8 Sweet Georgia Brown (01:21) 9 Peel the Pain / I Lost My Head (07:27) 1 Convenience (Clean and Easy) (03:14) 2 All Through the Night (04:20) 3 Shadows on the Street (03:18) 4 Number One (04:39) 5 Underground (03:48) 6 I Am a Camera (03:33) 7 Inside Out (05:51) 8 Its Not Imagination (03:59) |
 | Album: 30 of 42 Title: The Essential of Gentle Giant Released: 1999 Tracks: 14 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Proclamation (?) 2 Giant for a Day (?) 3 Just the Same (?) 4 Aspirations (?) 5 No Gods a Man (?) 6 Words From the Wise (?) 7 Edge of Twilight (?) 8 Pantagruels Nativity (?) 9 Mobile (?) 10 His Last Voyage (?) 11 Its Only Goodbye (?) 12 Rock Climber (?) 13 So Sincere (?) 14 Excerpts From Octopus (?) |
 | Album: 31 of 42 Title: Totally Out of the Woods Released: 2000 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:24:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 City Hermit (04:47) 2 Isnt It Quiet and Cold? (04:25) 3 DJs Presentation (00:26) 4 The Advent of Panurge (05:24) 5 Way of Life (05:44) 6 The Runaway (06:36) 1 Knots (02:10) 2 The Boys in the Band (03:55) 3 Organ Bridge (00:53) 4 The Advent of Panurge (05:37) 5 Way of Life (05:47) 6 Proclamation (06:03) 7 Experience (05:31) 8 Aspiration (04:59) 9 Cogs in Cogs (02:57) 10 Free Hand (live Arrangement demo) (00:53) 11 Just the Same (06:00) 12 Free Hand (06:05) 13 On Reflection (05:42) |
 | Album: 32 of 42 Title: Artistically Cryme Released: 2000 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:47:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Opening / Intro (02:19) 2 Just the Same (05:34) 3 Proclamation (05:59) 4 On Reflection (06:53) 5 Interview (07:10) 6 The Runaway / Experience (10:42) 7 So Sincere (11:21) 1 Excerpts From "Octopus" (16:10) 2 Band Introduction (02:12) 3 Funny Ways (08:50) 4 Timing (13:19) 5 Free Hand (09:49) 6 Peel the Paint / I Lost My Head (07:33) |
| Artistically Cryme : Allmusic album Review : First released illegally (bootleg) in the late 90s, Artistically Cryme was given a legit release by the label Glasshouse in early 2003. This concert by Gentle Giant was obviously recorded by an audience member on a cheap cassette recorder. The stereo image is narrow, low frequencies have been lost, and the whole thing sounds muddy. It is a good concert (from Lund, Sweden, September 19, 1976, in case you wondered), typical of the Interview tour. Other shows from that tour have been made available, starting with the official 1977 live album Playing the Fool, but also on Interview in Concert, another title from Glasshouses series that is far superior in sound to Artistically Cryme but misses the encore medley of "Peel the Paint"/"I Lost My Head," included here. The softer numbers like "Funny Ways," "On Reflection," and "Knots" (part of the Octopus medley) have been better captured than loud prog rockers such as "Experience" and "So Sincere," both suffering from signal overload -- the guitar solo in the latter comes through as finely detailed as your morning oatmeal. Add to that frequent drops that will make you wonder if your CD player is skipping (nope, those tiny blanks must have been on the master tape) and you get an "official bootleg" of interest only for the die-hard fan and completist. On the other hand, those looking for the whole experience will find that the concert seems to be complete, from the opening walk-on pre-recorded music down to the cheering before and after the encore. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 42 Title: In A Palesport House Released: 2000 Tracks: 9 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Runaway (?) 2 Way of Life (?) 3 Funny Ways (?) 4 Knots (?) 5 The Advent of Panurge (?) 6 Nothing at All (?) 7 Plain Truth (?) 8 Knots (?) 9 The Advent of Panurge (?) |
| In A Palesport House : Allmusic album Review : In a Palesport House is the second release from Glass House, a label issuing official versions of the best Gentle Giant bootleg recordings. Most material on this one comes from a show in Torino, Italy, early in the In a Glass House tour of January 1973. The set includes material from all albums up to the bands 1973 opus. The beginning of "The Runaway" (the glass section and the first notes) is missing from the master tapes. "Way of Life" gets a nice treatment but the vocals are often offkey. "Funny Ways" is yet another version of that song, the most frequently performed by the band. "Knots" is as evil as can be. "The Advent of Panurge" starts off nicely, but the middle section is missing; an abrupt edit concludes a minute or so of serious imperfections in the master and skips to the middle of the recorder quartet. The most valuable part of the CD is "Nothing at All," downright sleazy when Derek Shulman hits the heavy part. It includes a drum solo. "Plain Truth" features a violin solo but a long section in the middle has been edited out; it fades out during the last verse and there are serious problems with the PA system when the violin enters. The version found on Live Rome 1974 is better. The last two tracks are taken from a television broadcast. Except where edits and defects in the master tape occur, the sound quality is pretty good with a decent mix (some of the instruments used by Gentle Giant were quite nightmarish to mike). This CD is interesting for the dedicated fan, since "Way of Life," "Nothing at All," and "Plain Truth" dont appear on Playing the Fool, the bands only "real" live album. | ||
 | Album: 34 of 42 Title: Prologue Released: 2000-11 Tracks: 14 Duration: 2:08:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Runaway (04:19) 2 Experience (05:57) 3 Prologue (06:20) 4 Funny Ways (09:17) 5 Knots (07:00) 6 The Advent of Panurge (06:30) 7 Nothing At All (16:13) 1 Plain Truth (14:19) 2 In A Glass House (09:43) 3 School Days (09:22) 4 Intro/Cogs In Cogs (07:01) 5 Excerpts From Octopus (16:13) 6 So Sincere (10:07) 7 Free Hand (06:22) |
| Prologue : Allmusic album Review : One of a rapidly growing body of live Gentle Giant performances from the 70s that have begun surfacing on CD, Prologue is the next thing to a bootleg: the fact that the title is misspelled as "Prolouge" on the back cover and the spine is sort of a dead giveaway. The two-CD set encompasses two shows dating from the periods of In a Glass House and The Power and the Glory, respectively; the first disc and part of the second come from an April 5, 1974 concert in Munster, Germany, and the balance of the second disc is filled out with four numbers from an October 10, 1975 show at the Philadelphia Spectrum. The material is drawn from among the groups best work, from their prime creative years, though it is debatable if this is the best way of hearing it. Thats especially true of the Munster material which, though it is a taut and bracing performance, is lacking in sound quality, its sort of medium-fi, with the vocals somewhat weaker than the instruments. Much better is the material from the Spectrum, which comes close to the quality of an official live album, and shows off such pieces as "The Advent of Panurge," "So Sincere," and "Free Hand" to great advantage in a concert setting. Each of the members does get a showcase for his playing, and completists will have to own this set, but more casual fans will be disappointed by the amateurish packaging and uneven sound. | ||
 | Album: 35 of 42 Title: Endless Life Released: 2001 Tracks: 17 Duration: 2:13:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Cogs in Cogs (03:43) 2 Proclamation (04:54) 3 Funny Way (09:16) 4 The Runaway / Experience (09:37) 5 On Reflection (06:22) 6 Excerpts From "Octopus" (15:57) 7 So Sincere (09:38) 8 Plain Truth (07:39) 1 Free Hand (07:39) 2 Just the Same (06:12) 3 Opening (02:28) 4 Cogs in Cogs (04:07) 5 Excerpts From "Octopus" (15:38) 6 So Sincere (10:15) 7 Plain Truth (07:24) 8 Free Hand (05:51) 9 Just the Same (06:14) |
| Endless Life : Allmusic album Review : This 2-CD set pairs recordings from two American concerts in 1975 -- the tour promoting Free Hand. They probably circulated as bootlegs before being officially released by Glasshouse in late 2002. We begin in White Plains, NY on October 3. The set consists of a poorly rendered "Cogs in Cogs" (they never pulled that one right on stage), "Proclamation," "Funny Ways," the usual In a Glass House and Octopus medleys, "On Reflection," "So Sincere" and its drum bash, "Plain Truth" and a truncated violin solo, "Free Hand" and "Just the Same." Sound quality ranks from fair to poor; the show was obviously recorded by a fan in the audience, rather far from the stage. The performance is strong, especially in "On Reflection" and "Free Hand," but nothing here tops the vintage live album Playing the Fool or the excellent official bootleg Interview in Concert from a year later (also released by Glasshouse). Three weeks later (October 28) Gentle Giant performed in Berkley, CA. The set list is exactly the same, minus a few songs to fit both concerts on two discs, the performance equally good, but sound quality takes a dive, going from poor to very poor. Murky sound, crude edits, tape wear and an occasional faulty left channel turn this one into a test of endurance even for the die-hard fan. | ||
 | Album: 36 of 42 Title: Experience [Live] Released: 2001 Tracks: 7 Duration: 44:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Knots (07:05) 2 Proclamation (05:03) 3 Experience (05:53) 4 Funny Ways (07:55) 5 The Advent of Panurge (06:07) 6 So Sincere (08:53) 7 The Runaway (03:51) |
 | Album: 37 of 42 Title: Way of Life Released: 2003 Tracks: 20 Duration: 2:18:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Way of Life (06:31) 2 Runaway / The Experience (09:20) 3 Prologue (05:30) 4 Knots / The Advent of Panurge (13:27) 5 Proclamation (03:49) 6 Funny Ways (08:17) 7 Free Hand (07:20) 8 Just the Same (05:46) 1 On Reflection (05:58) 2 Interview (07:02) 3 Excerpts From Octopus (14:58) 4 Give It Back (05:26) 5 Timing (13:25) 6 Opening / Two Weeks in Spain (03:34) 7 Im Turning Around (04:10) 8 Playing the Game (04:56) 9 Betcha Thought (02:41) 10 Funny Ways (08:42) 11 The Face (03:30) 12 For Nobody (04:25) |
| Way of Life : Allmusic album Review : Buyer beware! At first glance, the delightfully budget-priced two-CD Way of Life looks like a cheap and easy way of picking up the highlights from no less than five earlier Gentle Giant live albums. Interview in Concert, In a Palesport House, Endless Life, Prologue, and The Missing Face were all released on the bands own Glasshouse label during the late 90s and early 2000s, and did indeed represent a hefty investment in both time and money. But youd be foolish to think that Way of Life might cut out the chaff. Rather, some extremely dubious editing finds songs fading, or even stopping short so often, that whoever compiled this set was obviously more concerned with cramming on as many songs as possible, as opposed to affording respect to the songs themselves. A less than informative booklet adds insult to injury, and the only piece of advice that can really be offered to anyone considering buying this collection is -- dont. | ||
 | Album: 38 of 42 Title: Scraping the Barrel Released: 2004-11-15 Tracks: 79 Duration: 2:58:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Giant (vocal mix) (?) 2 Alucard (Derek, Master of Ceremonies) (?) 3 Pantagruels Nativity (vocal mix) (?) 4 Schooldays (piano, studio) (?) 5 Schooldays (grand piano, studio) (?) 6 Working All Day (demo) (?) 7 Peel the Paint (different solo) (?) 8 Mr. Class & Quality (intro bits + complete solos) (?) 9 Three Friends (piano experiment) (?) 10 Three Friends (vocal mix) (?) 11 Kerry’s Kindness (?) 12 Think of Me With Kindness (studio outtake) (?) 13 Keyboard Concerto (Plymouth 1973) (?) 14 In a Glass House (intro) (?) 15 Runaway / Experience (segue) (?) 16 Way of Life (without vox) (?) 17 Proclamation (rehearsal before take) (?) 18 Proclamation (demo) (06:56) 19 Playing the Game (experiment) (?) 20 Playing the Game (Pick’n’mix) (06:45) 21 Playing the Game (alternative part) (?) 22 The Boogie and the Woogie (cogs) (?) 23 No God’s a Man (demo) (?) 24 No God’s a Man (vocal mix) (04:26) 25 The Face (demo) (04:13) 26 Valedictory (starts) (03:26) 27 The Power and the Glory (inbetweenies) (?) 28 The Power and the Glory (demo / band / studio Pick’n’mix) (?) 29 The Power and the Glory (second song) (02:59) 30 With Gentle Giant on KMET (jingle, Oct. 10 1974 L.A. Whisky A‐Go‐Go) (?) 31 On Reflection (rehearsal chaos) (?) 32 Free Hand (riff) (?) 33 His Last Voyage (vocal mix) (?) 1 His Last Voyage (demo) (06:54) 2 Talybont (special mix) (01:04) 3 Talybont (demos) (04:01) 4 Mobile (demos) (01:43) 5 Mobile (studio outtake) (05:00) 6 Give it Back (guitar) (02:41) 7 Give it Back (funny voices) (01:27) 8 Another Show (M8) (01:55) 9 Empty City (studio outtake) (04:33) 10 Empty City (guitar and Rhodes mix) (01:33) 11 Empty City (vocal mix) (00:34) 12 Timing (demo) (03:15) 13 Intro ’77 (01:25) 14 Two Weeks in Spain (rehearsal) (01:34) 15 Two Weeks in Spain (studio) (00:28) 16 12 Bar Warmup / Who Do You Think You Are? (outake / rehearsal) (04:36) 17 Rock Me Baby (01:32) 18 As Old as You’re Young (04:13) 19 Winning (band rehearsal – odd M8) (03:37) 20 Winning (lights rehearsal – Pinewood) (06:58) 21 For Nobody (04:44) 22 For Nobody (vocal mix) (00:38) 23 Friends (demo) (02:48) 24 Rock Climber (band rehearsal) (03:42) 25 Shadows on the Street (03:03) 1 Home Again (03:57) 2 Moog Fugue (03:44) 3 Move Over (04:18) 4 Really Don’t Know (04:10) 5 Heaven’s Tears (03:55) 6 Flower Arranging (03:14) 7 Living in a Restaurant (03:44) 8 You Make Me Very Happy (03:49) 9 Get Out of My Way (04:30) 10 Wisdom Was Calling (03:46) 11 Good Christian Men Rejoice (03:23) 12 Hava Nagila (02:26) 13 Homeland (02:02) 14 Burn My Working Clothes (02:30) 15 On Safari (01:30) 16 Starting Line (demo) (03:44) 17 Running Away (demo) (04:35) 18 Our World (04:22) 19 Back to the Front (04:27) 20 Prehistoric Boss Level (03:47) 21 Volcano (03:55) |
 | Album: 39 of 42 Title: Gentle Giant + Acquiring The Taste Released: 2012 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:16:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Giant (06:24) 2 Funny Ways (04:23) 3 Alucard (06:01) 4 Isn’t It Quiet and Cold? (03:53) 5 Nothing at All (09:08) 6 Why Not? (05:31) 7 The Queen (01:40) 1 Pantagruel’s Nativity (06:50) 2 Edge of Twilight (03:48) 3 The House, the Street, the Room (06:04) 4 Acquiring the Taste (01:36) 5 Wreck (04:37) 6 The Moon Is Down (04:45) 7 Black Cat (03:53) 8 Plain Truth (07:36) |
| Gentle Giant + Acquiring The Taste : Allmusic album Review : This two-fer from the venerable British progressive rock band Gentle Giant features the group’s 1970 eponymous debut and 1971 sophomore outing Acquiring the Taste, both of which, along with their classic third release, Octopus, represented career highs. Of the two, Acquiring the Taste carries the most weight, boasting three of their best cuts in "Edge of Twilight," "The House," "The Street, The Room," and “The Moon Is Down,” but their inaugural offering is notable for effectively establishing the band’s eclectic sound. | ||
 | Album: 40 of 42 Title: I Lost My Head: The Chrysalis Years (1975-1980) Released: 2012-08-13 Tracks: 58 Duration: 4:50:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Just the Same (05:34) 2 On Reflection (05:43) 3 Free Hand (06:15) 4 Time to Kill (05:09) 5 His Last Voyage (06:27) 6 Talybont (02:43) 7 Mobile (05:03) 8 1976 Intro Tape (01:39) 9 Just the Same (John Peel session) (06:05) 10 Free Hand (John Peel session) (06:08) 11 On Reflection (John Peel session) (05:42) 12 Give It Back (International 7" mix) (03:48) 13 I Lost My Head (7" mix) (03:29) 1 Interview (06:51) 2 Give It Back (05:12) 3 Design (05:02) 4 Another Show (03:31) 5 Empty City (04:39) 6 Timing (04:39) 7 I Lost My Head (06:55) 8 Two Weeks in Spain (03:06) 9 Im Turning Around (03:59) 10 Betcha Thought We Couldnt Do It (02:25) 11 Who Do You Think You Are? (03:36) 12 Mountain Time (03:23) 13 As Old as Youre Young (04:19) 14 Memories of Old Days (07:19) 15 Winning (04:17) 16 For Nobody (04:07) 1 Just the Same / Proclamation (live) (11:17) 2 On Reflection (live) (06:27) 3 Excerpis From "Octopus" (live) (15:39) 4 Funny Ways (live) (08:31) 5 The Runaway / Experience (live) (09:31) 6 So Sincere (live) (10:19) 7 Free Hand (live) (07:40) 8 Sweet Georgia Brown (live) (01:22) 9 Peel the Paint / I Lost My Head (live) (07:28) 1 Words From the Wise (04:16) 2 Thank You (04:50) 3 Giant for a Day (03:51) 4 Spookie Boogie (02:55) 5 Take Me (03:37) 6 Little Brown Bag (03:29) 7 Friends (02:01) 8 No Stranger (02:31) 9 Its Only Goodbye (04:20) 10 Rock Climber (03:53) 11 Thank You (7" single edit A) (03:50) 12 Words From the Wise (7" single edit B) (03:04) 13 Convenience (clean and Easy) (03:13) 14 All Through the Night (04:23) 15 Shadows on the Street (03:16) 16 Number One (04:47) 17 Underground (03:49) 18 I Am a Camera (03:32) 19 Inside Out (05:52) 20 Its Not Imagination (04:04) |
 | Album: 41 of 42 Title: Three Friends + Octopus Released: 2013 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:09:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Prologue (06:13) 2 Schooldays (07:37) 3 Working All Day (05:12) 4 Peel the Paint (07:31) 5 Mister Class and Quality? (03:22) 6 Three Friends (05:26) 1 The Advent of Panurge (04:41) 2 Raconteur Troubadour (04:01) 3 A Cry for Everyone (04:03) 4 Knots (04:10) 5 The Boys in the Band (04:32) 6 Dog’s Life (03:11) 7 Think of Me With Kindness (03:33) 8 River (05:52) |
| Three Friends + Octopus : Allmusic album Review : BGOs 2013 double-disc set pairs two 1972 albums from Gentle Giant: their third album Three Friends and its successor, Octopus. Gentle Giant took the reigns of their own production on Three Friends, resulting in a slightly harder sound; "Peel the Paint" wails like hard rock while "Working All Day" works a nice slow grind. Octopus is much more characteristic of Gentle Giant: its heavier tracks feel as dense as jazz and its open-ended tunes feel teasingly complex. By definition, Gentle Giant did not make music intended to be sampled, but this two-fer isnt a bad way to hear the group at both its most direct and most elliptical. | ||
 | Album: 42 of 42 Title: Three Piece Suite Released: 2017-09-29 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:07:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Giant (06:26) 2 Nothing at All (09:06) 3 Why Not? (05:32) 4 Pantagruel’s Nativity (06:55) 5 The House, the Street, the Room (06:08) 6 Schooldays (07:41) 7 Peel the Paint (07:36) 8 Mr. Class and Quality? (05:51) 9 Three Friends (02:56) 10 Freedom’s Child (03:57) 11 Nothing at All (Steven Wilson 7 inch edit) (04:52) |