DreamTheaterForums.org Dream Theater Fan Site
General => General Music Discussion => Topic started by: LieLowTheWantedMan on November 13, 2010, 10:29:33 AM
-
*appreciates* :hefdaddy
The best vocal harmonies in rock IMHO. I'll rank their albums(Interview and before):
1. Free Hand 10/10
2. In A Glass House 9/10
3. Octopus 9/10
4. Three Friends 8.5/10
5. s/t 8/10
6. Acquiring the Taste 8/10
7. The Power And The Glory 7/10
8. Interview 6/10
-
Appreciates. It took me awhile though.. so quirky and almost geeky-sounding, the definition of 'inaccessible prog'. I have all the albums on your list. My favorites are In A Glass House and Octopus, but quite honestly, I haven't even digested it all.
-
I haven't gone through it all, but from what I've heard of gentle giant... I appriciate.
-
I haven't gone through it all, but from what I've heard of gentle giant... I appriciate.
this
-
Appreciates. It took me awhile though.. so quirky and almost geeky-sounding, the definition of 'inaccessible prog'. I have all the albums on your list. My favorites are In A Glass House and Octopus, but quite honestly, I haven't even digested it all.
Yeah, they sure are a hard to digest band. But once you digest it, it's quite amazing.
-
I'm in a gentle giant tribute band. We haven't practiced in months, and performed in almost a year, because our schedules are all so super busy and the demand just isn't there in the economy. We do have a few videos on youtube.
-
I'm in a gentle giant tribute band. We haven't practiced in months, and performed in almost a year, because our schedules are all so super busy and the demand just isn't there in the economy. We do have a few videos on youtube.
Nice. :) Can I get a link to the channel?
-
Here's our Myspace:
https://www.myspace.com/gendesgiant
-
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.
Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).
-Marc.
-
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.
Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).
-Marc.
Personally, if you're starting out, I'd avoid In A Glass House, The Power and the Glory, and Free Hand. Their sort of style is a lot more present in the albums before. To start out, I'd probably go with Octopus and Three Friends, but that's my opinion.
-
Go by discography. :tup
-
Go by discography. :tup
I've thought about that, considering they only have less than a dozen studio albums, but when I first try to get into a band, I got for two of the more well-known, widely-accept and most critically acclaimed albums... then again, I got VdGG's Godbluff and Still Life before Pawn Hearts and H to He, Who Am The Only One...
-Marc.
-
I usually go by discography because that way you can really experience the development and change in their sound. If you listen to my advice, do not give up if you don't like their first album. ;D But then again, if you really want to start with one of their better known works, most people will tell you to go with Octopus, even though I'm not a huge fan of that one...
-
I usually go by discography because that way you can really experience the development and change in their sound. If you listen to my advice, do not give up if you don't like their first album. ;D But then again, if you really want to start with one of their better known works, most people will tell you to go with Octopus, even though I'm not a huge fan of that one...
It's funny, I started with Dream Theater's first album, and found out not long after that that was the only album with their original vocalist, so I pushed forward and discovered more about them, so I know all about hearing less-than-spectacular debuts - I've come not to expect so much when it comes to debuts of older bands.
-Marc.
-
So, I was about to start a thread but I found this old one. Hope nobody minds I want to appreciate Gentle Giant. They are such a great band. And their live performances are just crazy. The musicianship these guys have is very unique.
APPRECIATE!
-
So, I was about to start a thread but I found this old one. Hope nobody minds I want to appreciate Gentle Giant. They are such a great band. And their live performances are just crazy. The musicianship these guys have is very unique.
APPRECIATE!
Indeed. There will never be another band like them. :tup
-
I started with Free Hand and the live album from that tour, Playing the Fool. Between those two, I was absolutely hooked and ended up getting the entire discography.
What's especially cool is hearing the differences between the studio and live versions of songs. They rearranged things, took parts out, and added other parts, because they were constantly messing around with the songs. They view live albums as a document of how they played the songs at that particular point in time.
I always recommend Free Hand as a starting point because it has all the GG trademarks, but is also relatively accessible and has some killer tunes.
-
GG for me hit the right mark of hardcore prog without being pretentious. Van der Graaf Generator never (IMHO) managed that fine line, they often came across as "trying too hard".
rumborak
-
GG for me hit the right mark of hardcore prog without being pretentious. Van der Graaf Generator never (IMHO) managed that fine line, they often came across as "trying too hard".
Yeah that's understandable. They are pretty in-your-face. :P
-
Man, listening to Pantagruel's Nativity. Such a cool song.
rumborak
-
Heard Octopus, fell in love, heard the debut, fell in love again, bought entire discography.
-
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.
Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).
-Marc.
Personally, if you're starting out, I'd avoid In A Glass House, The Power and the Glory, and Free Hand. Their sort of style is a lot more present in the albums before. To start out, I'd probably go with Octopus and Three Friends, but that's my opinion.
i started with Free hand and fell in love with the band, so idk what you're talking about
EDIT: Octopus, TPaTG, and IAGH are my favorites, the rest of the albums are great too, though i could never get into the debut as much as the others
-
I have wanted to get into this band for YEARS now, knowing what a great influence they are on one of my favorite bands ever, Spock's Beard.
Which TWO albums would you suggest to me, as a newcomer to their music with little to know expectations about their sound? I've seen titles like Octopus and In A Glass House thrown around a lot, but I want a couple more suggestions from others before making any commitments. GG is one of the few classic-era prog bands I've yet to digest (along with VDGG, Caravan, and Camel).
-Marc.
Personally, if you're starting out, I'd avoid In A Glass House, The Power and the Glory, and Free Hand. Their sort of style is a lot more present in the albums before. To start out, I'd probably go with Octopus and Three Friends, but that's my opinion.
i started with Free hand and fell in love with the band, so idk what you're talking about
Yeah, actually Free Hand probably wouldn't be that bad. The other two, though...
-
I am bumping this thread because Gentle Giant has become one of my favorite bands. They are truly fantastic and I love all of their music. Too bad they're not around anymore and there isn't much more live videos. I wanted to see the song Giant live :(
-
Pantagruel's Nativity and The Advent of Panurge are such kickass songs. :hefdaddy
I liked Gentle Giant right off the bat, and I started with the debut!
-
Pantagruel's Nativity and The Advent of Panurge are such kickass songs. :hefdaddy
I liked Gentle Giant right off the bat, and I started with the debut!
The Advent of Panurge is pure musical genius. From beginning to end it has me rocking my head and my mind is literally cumming every half second. ATT still leaves me acquiring. I love it, but compared to Gentle Giant-Free Hand, it has been the weakest link. I do like Interview. But you can tell that the first 6 or so albums were the absolute best.
-
I love Acquiring the Taste, but it is pretty weird...even weirder than usual for GG, I guess. The guitar solo in The House, The Street, The Room is one of my favorite GG moments.
-
I think Yankee Doodle in every Advent of Panurge performance live has to be one of the coolest things ever.
-
Too bad they're not around anymore and there isn't much more live videos. I wanted to see the song Giant live :(
If you're in the Chicago area, try to see Gende's Giant, the GG tribute band some time. That's their opening song, and they sound great. Splent is their singer, so as a bonus, you get a chance to meet a fellow DTFer.
-
who would believe me now that my hands are free, that my hands are free~
-
I recently started going through their discography again. Octopus rocks!! :metal
-
Too bad they're not around anymore and there isn't much more live videos. I wanted to see the song Giant live :(
If you're in the Chicago area, try to see Gende's Giant, the GG tribute band some time. That's their opening song, and they sound great. Splent is their singer, so as a bonus, you get a chance to meet a fellow DTFer.
I have family in the Chicago area, so I'll have to visit ;D
And Octopus is probably my favorite. Think of Me With Kindness is a masterpiece. And of-fucking-course Knots.
-
who would believe me now that my hands are free, that my hands are free~
Love that song. It's so catchy it's insane.
-
who would believe me now that my hands are free, that my hands are free~
Love that song. It's so catchy it's insane.
I think Just the Same is catchier.
See me, what I am, what I was, what I'll be :)
-
Gentle Giant is just a catchy band in general. Amazing how they can be so complex yet so catchy at the same time. The second half of In a Glass House especially. The riff is one bar of 7/8, one of 10/8, and one of 12/8 and repeats that yet it's so amazingly catchy, as are the vocals over top.
-
One reason why I love Advent of Panurge so much is how they use the vocal trade offs and harmonies like in Knots, but it's also like shit loads catchier.
I've been listening to Gentle Giant for a little over a year and every time I listen to a song it feels just as magical as the first listen.
-
I'm giving them a first listen now, the Octopus album. Sounds good so far.
-
Octopus is pretty awesome. I always thought Dogs Life was an underrated song from that one.
-
Octopus is pretty awesome. I always thought Dogs Life was an underrated song from that one.
So true. The lyrics are so great for that song too. I find people don't like Raconteur Troubadour either.
-
Octopus is pretty awesome. I always thought Dogs Life was an underrated song from that one.
So true. The lyrics are so great for that song too. I find people don't like Raconteur Troubadour either.
That's odd. Raconteur Troubadour is great. It love the medieval feel of it.
-
I think that's what turns people off from it. But, it shouldn't. That sound is pretty much a mainstay in Gentle Giant.
I think one of their better songs is I Lost My Head. I like the whole Interview album, but I Lost My Head is just great. I think after listening to every other album after first hearing I Lost My Head, it does seem formulaic and "safe" for Gentle Giant, but I still love the song.
-
Yeah, Interview isn't bad, but I find it weaker.
Anyways, I decided to listen to Octopus now. God I love Knots, even if it's not as catchy with the harmonies as The Advent of Panurge, but I love the complexity of it. But this is why On Reflection is my favourite GG song, it's a perfect amount of catchy harmonies and insane complexity in the harmonies.
-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Shulman
My God. This man has done so much for music.
-
I think one of their better songs is I Lost My Head. I like the whole Interview album, but I Lost My Head is just great. I think after listening to every other album after first hearing I Lost My Head, it does seem formulaic and "safe" for Gentle Giant, but I still love the song.
That's one of my favorites. The second half is rifftastic and catchy as hell. Gentle Giant was great with dynamics.
-
Just listened to Acquiring the taste all the way through. What an album. :hefdaddy
I'm gonna play Octopus now. :metal
-
Courtney is buying me Free Hand on vinyl. Another reason why I wanted her to be my eternal fuck buddy.
-
That's so romantic. The way you call her your "fuck buddy".
-
That's so romantic. The way you call her your "fuck buddy".
She'd dig it.
-
That's so romantic. The way you call her your "fuck buddy".
She told me to say "That Orbert tiger is right. You're an asshole Christian" :rollin
-
She's obviously quite intelligent.
Pretty cool, too. Free Hand on vinyl was also my first exposure to Gentle Giant.
-
She's obviously quite intelligent.
Pretty cool, too. Free Hand on vinyl was also my first exposure to Gentle Giant.
I'm super stoked to get it. Gotta wait for like another week though :(
-
Working from home today, supposedly a vacation day, but I had some programs to run since the data was running late again this week. A few hours, tops (or so I thought). I loaded up WinAmp with the first three GG albums. One good thing about working from home is that I can listen to tunes.
Half the data didn't even show up until 11am, I'd be going another few hours, so I went ahead and added everything up through Free Hand. By this afternoon, it was obvious that things were running really slowly. Shit. I went ahead and loaded the rest, Interview through Civilian. Just in case.
Things finally finished half an hour ago (it's almost 11pm Chicago time), and right now "Underground" is playing (I'm halfway through Civilian).
The bad: I'm gonna log eight hours today. Some vacation day. Yeah, I took lunch and dinner breaks, even watched a movie, but I was tied to the computer all day, so I was "working" the whole time.
The good: I'm gonna take another vacation day some other time, fuck the company. Also, less than 15 minutes from now, I will have listened to the entire Gentle Giant studio discography in a single day. Ten albums.
Damn, these guys were amazing. Even the later albums, after they'd dropped all the extracurricular instrumentation and kept it to vocals-guitar-keys-bass-drums, and mostly 4/4, their songs were still great. The countermelodies, the layers, the harmonies. Very few solos; instead, rhythmic jams and counterpoint. Brilliant stuff.
-
Just about to check GG out myself. I've been watching vids on youtube this last week and really digging the live performances. I had no idea Shulman was the founder of Roadrunner. :omg:
-
I've been spinning Octopus the last couple of days. The one song that finally struck me is Think of me with kindness, it's so beautiful. And yeah, the awesomeness of Knots, The Boys in the band and A Cry for everyone tells me this album will be in my player for a while. :smiley:
-
Just about to check GG out myself. I've been watching vids on youtube this last week and really digging the live performances. I had no idea Shulman was the founder of Roadrunner. :omg:
Following his recording career, Shulman became a prominent record executive.[1] Starting as an A&R representative at PolyGram Records, where he rose to the ranks of Senior Vice President, he signed Bon Jovi, Dan Reed Network, Cinderella, and Kingdom Come, among many others. in 1988 he became President and C.E.O of Atco Records (where he signed the progressive metal band Dream Theater as well as Pantera). He also re-established the careers of AC/DC and Bad Company both of whom sold multi-platinum albums under his watch. He then went on to become President of Roadrunner Records overseeing signings like Slipknot and Nickelback.
Holy shit, this guy's like an A&R god. :o And he was in Gentle Giant ;D
-
Yeah, he's definitely a beast. Love the guy.
-
He didn't found RR, but he was President for a while. But yes, he's still done tons for music, and is a great musician.
-
This guy is my hero. Not only he played in one of the greatest prog rock bands, he actually helped some of my favorite bands of all time.
-
He didn't found RR, but he was President for a while. But yes, he's still done tons for music, and is a great musician.
So true. Elton John also failed to be a vocalist for them. So good for music in general. I like both groups, and like Dave Mustaine having Megadeth (some people apparently like Metallica), we have 2 bands instead of one to appreciate!
-
I'm looking for Just the Same bass tabs. it's impossible.
-
I don't play guitar or bass, so I don't understand tabs, but this might help:
https://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Sheet_music (https://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Sheet_music)
Anyone who likes Gentle Giant should visit Dan Barrett's excellent GG website. He doesn't have time to update it as often as he used to, but he built up a great site, and it's not like a ton of GG stuff has come out recently.
-
Only problem is that I can't read sheet music.
-
Yeah, that's why I didn't know if sheet music would help you.
(And you should learn anyway.)
-
Yeah, that's why I didn't know if sheet music would help you.
(And you should learn anyway.)
If I had the same passion as I once had with the bass, I would make the time. It has formed into more of a hobby. I create music that sounds great (to me of course) but I can't play other people's shit worth a shit.
-
I've heard people don't like the album Giant for a Day?
Why?
-
Because it's not very good at all. At least that's my opinion.
-
I've never even heard Giant for a Day and Civilian.
-
For pop albums, they're pretty damn good.
-
Giant for a Day isn't horrible, but I consider it the weakest of Gentle Giant's studio albums, and most GG fans seem to agree. It's not just that they all but abandoned their prog roots by this point, but the pop itself just isn't that great.
I like Civilian, though. They came back and finished strong. It's still pretty stripped-down GG, but it's got some kick.
-
I've never even heard Giant for a Day and Civilian.
Plus the previous two albums, in my case. Are they worth listening to?
-
After Free Hand, they seemed to have made a conscious decision to tighten their sound, dropping the strings and woodwinds and other extracurricular instruments, and sticking with your standard vocals-guitars-keyboards-bass-drums. I still like Interview, but there are moments where I do feel that they hadn't really progressed past Free Hand, plus the structure of the album (a scripted "interview" with the band) gets a bit tedious upon repeated listenings. But there are still some very strong moments and some good songs.
The Missing Piece has some gems, but it does represent the first step firmly in a more commercial direction. Overall, not a bad album, but almost a different band from the early stuff. Pretty much everything from here on out was straight-on rock in 4/4, with the occassional 3/4 for variety. The only remnant of their early progressive sound is the dueling acoustic guitars, which show up here and there. Not exactly unique in the rock world, but they do it well, and it's nice to hear.
And as mentioned, Giant for a Day is considered by most to be their weak point, while they did come back and finish strong with Civilian, which is one of my favorites.
-
My God. Three Friends.
-
As I stated before, I love Gentle Giant, I'm in a tribute band for them, it's amazing.
Gigs are getting organized for hte upcoming year, I just hope they come to fruition.
-
The Missing Piece is a weird album because the first side is much poppier than the second. I really like As Old as You're Young. Too bad Kerry Minnear sang less on the later albums, because I like his voice a lot. Winning sounds like it could be part of The Power and the Glory, even lyrically. The word "aspirations" turns up in it.
-
As I stated before, I love Gentle Giant, I'm in a tribute band for them, it's amazing.
Gigs are getting organized for hte upcoming year, I just hope they come to fruition.
I watched ALL of your YT videos last night. The vocalist (sorry if it's you!) is amazing. Some songs his voice doesn't quite fit with. Like, the grittiness of Giant, but on Think of Me With Kindness I was tearing up!
This band is so special. Dream Theater will always be my favorite, but I just can't believe how awesome GG is.
Oh, and School Days. Wow.
Alsoooo, I'm going to do a cover of all the vocal parts from Knots and On Reflection. splent, I'm having a hard time figuring out who sings which part? Once it gets all jumbled right before "Still you stay.." I kind of lose track. Any help?
I've got Knots pretty much figured out, just On Reflection is giving me some trouble. It's a little more wordy.
-
Splent is the vocalist for Gende's Giant, and yeah he's amazing. I saw them a while back, at a gig where Gary Green himself showed up.
-
Gentle Giant's "Free Hand" and "In'terview" are both being released as a CD/DVD package this February 27 (UK) and March 6 (US)
Each special edition will include the 2011 remastered CD and a DVD of a DD and DTS (96/24) Quad Mix
The Quadraphonic tapes were found recently.
Available for pre-order on Amazon and other online stores.
Saw this on Spincd.com, cdjapan, and stevehoffmanforum.
I was hoping that they would release some surround sound for this band.
Just checked out Free Hand and I'm liking it very much
I am guessing that if these two releases do well then they will remix "The Power & The Glory" and "Octopus"
in 5.1 since they just found the original mastertapes.
-
GG sure rerelease material a lot. I need a new copy of Free Hand because my CD is defective.
-
As I stated before, I love Gentle Giant, I'm in a tribute band for them, it's amazing.
Gigs are getting organized for hte upcoming year, I just hope they come to fruition.
I watched ALL of your YT videos last night. The vocalist (sorry if it's you!) is amazing. Some songs his voice doesn't quite fit with. Like, the grittiness of Giant, but on Think of Me With Kindness I was tearing up!
This band is so special. Dream Theater will always be my favorite, but I just can't believe how awesome GG is.
Oh, and School Days. Wow.
Alsoooo, I'm going to do a cover of all the vocal parts from Knots and On Reflection. splent, I'm having a hard time figuring out who sings which part? Once it gets all jumbled right before "Still you stay.." I kind of lose track. Any help?
I've got Knots pretty much figured out, just On Reflection is giving me some trouble. It's a little more wordy.
Yep, that's me. Derek's voice is very unique, and while I have his range I don't have his full out power. My voice quality is way more like Kerry's. Thanks for the kudos on Think of Me, I love singing that song.
We are currently booked for a gig in Milwaukee in June and possible in the Chicago area in September. We were supposed to gig in Ohio in Sept but that gig was cancelled. We would love to play more around the country, if you or anyone else knows of a place were they play prog bands we would love to play there! We already sent a demo to NJ Prog House.
As far as the voice parts for On Reflection, check this out:
https://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Phil_Smith
Phil is the keyboardist in Gende's Giant and does all the transcriptions. We have used a lot of his transcriptions as a guide to help us play. He does a pretty good job ;)
-
My Octopus LP just came in the mail.
I just came in my pants.
HNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
-
Which cover does it have? There was a version with a Roger Dean "angry red octopus" and the "octopus in a jar" version.
-
Which cover does it have? There was a version with a Roger Dean "angry red octopus" and the "octopus in a jar" version.
Jar version. The lyric sheet and cover are in horrendous shape. The record is fine. A bit of scratching, most notably on The Advent of Panurge. When the instrumentations kick in, you can't notice it. In fact, I think the noise adds a bit of charm to the song.
-
I have that one, too. It wasn't until years later that I even knew that there was the Roger Dean version.
A bit of noise, as long as it's not too bad, is okay, especially since I grew up with LPs. It means you're getting all the music.
/analog fanboy
-
I have that one, too. It wasn't until years later that I even knew that there was the Roger Dean version.
A bit of noise, as long as it's not too bad, is okay, especially since I grew up with LPs. It means you're getting all the music.
/analog fanboy
Yeah.
Man, I'd give my left nut if someone sold me their self titled album LP. Octopus is my favorite album, but Gentle Giant is my very close second.
-
I'm serious about the testicle offer.
-
I'm not really in the market for testes right now, but I'm pretty sure I have the first five or six albums on vinyl. I'll check, and if you make an obscenely high offer (cash, not bioparts), I'll consider selling it.
-
'Free Hand' was Gentle Giant's first album for Chrysalis Records, released in July 1975. This special edition (CD/DVD) features a previously unreleased lost quadraphonic mix. The special 4.1 Surround Sound mix (for you audiophiles it's DTS 96/24 and Dolby Digital 48kHz/24bit) has been adapted from those original Quad mixes. The release also includes newly commissioned sleeve notes written by the band themselves.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006CNR0BG/emimusiccamp001-21365-21/ref=nosim (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006CNR0BG/emimusiccamp001-21365-21/ref=nosim)
'In'terview', Gentle Giant's second album for Chrysalis was released in April 1976, and as the title suggests, is loosely a concept album based upon a series of interview questions posed to the band by journalist Phil Sutcliffe. This special edition (CD/DVD) features a previously unreleased lost quadraphonic mix. The special 4.1 Surround Sound mix (for you audiophiles it's DTS 96/24 and Dolby Digital 48kHz/24bit) has been adapted from those original Quad mixes. The release also includes newly commissioned sleeve notes written by the band themselves.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006DX2MKO/emimusiccamp001-21366-21/ref=nosim (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006DX2MKO/emimusiccamp001-21366-21/ref=nosim)
-
Thanks for the reminder. I'm jumping on those.
-
Gende's Giant is on an indefinate hiatus right now, as the creator of it is going through some tough personal stuff right now. Don't know when the next time will be that we can get together and play, it's all based on him. He said we could get a new bassist, but then why call it Gende's Giant, since his last name is Gende?
Anyways, just enjoy the youtube vids for now :)
And Orbert, glad to see you came back ;)
-
Gende's Giant is on an indefinate hiatus right now, as the creator of it is going through some tough personal stuff right now. Don't know when the next time will be that we can get together and play, it's all based on him. He said we could get a new bassist, but then why call it Gende's Giant, since his last name is Gende?
Anyways, just enjoy the youtube vids for now :)
And Orbert, glad to see you came back ;)
umm...I'm a bassist.
edit: It doesn't look like I'll be able to snag that record for cheap. Which is a damn shame. I'd REALLY like it.
-
And Orbert, glad to see you came back ;)
I didn't really leave; I just didn't post for a few days. It was a bit silly overall.
-
Either way, glad you're back. :)
-
Thanks. :)
-
Free Hand CD + DVD, including "Unreleased 1975 Quad Mix and New Sleeve Notes by the Band" (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006CNR0BG/ref=ox_ya_os_product)
I have ordered mine.
-
I bought a copy of The Power and The Glory over the weekend.
So Sincere :eek
-
Free Hand CD + DVD, including "Unreleased 1975 Quad Mix and New Sleeve Notes by the Band" (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006CNR0BG/ref=ox_ya_os_product)
I have ordered mine.
Interview also came out in this format.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Interview-2012-Remaster-Gentle-Giant/dp/B006DX2MKO/ref=pd_sim_m_h__4/279-4150517-3352662 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Interview-2012-Remaster-Gentle-Giant/dp/B006DX2MKO/ref=pd_sim_m_h__4/279-4150517-3352662)
Mine should be here in a couple days. My first Gentle Giant CDs! Hope enough copies are bought so they will consider doing 5.1 mixes of the other albums.
-
I'm on a Gentle Giant spree lately.
-
Free Hand CD + DVD, including "Unreleased 1975 Quad Mix and New Sleeve Notes by the Band" (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006CNR0BG/ref=ox_ya_os_product)
I have ordered mine.
Interview also came out in this format.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Interview-2012-Remaster-Gentle-Giant/dp/B006DX2MKO/ref=pd_sim_m_h__4/279-4150517-3352662 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Interview-2012-Remaster-Gentle-Giant/dp/B006DX2MKO/ref=pd_sim_m_h__4/279-4150517-3352662)
Mine should be here in a couple days. My first Gentle Giant CDs! Hope enough copies are bought so they will consider doing 5.1 mixes of the other albums.
Yeah, I saw Inter'view as well, but I can only afford one of them right now, and Free Hand is my favorite. This will be the third time I've bought it on CD, but I must have the quad mix.
As for them doing 5.1 mixes, I honestly doubt that will happen. They're awesome, but still relatively obscure, and the demand won't be great enough. If they do, it will be in a limited run, and limited = expensive. The quad mixes of Free Hand and Inter'view were already done, so it was "just" a matter of mastering and releasing them. Creating 5.1 mixes from scratch is a very time- and resource-consuming process, which I really can't see anyone investing in. Not in today's economic climate. But stranger things have happened.
-
Free Hand CD + DVD, including "Unreleased 1975 Quad Mix and New Sleeve Notes by the Band" (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006CNR0BG/ref=ox_ya_os_product)
I have ordered mine.
Interview also came out in this format.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Interview-2012-Remaster-Gentle-Giant/dp/B006DX2MKO/ref=pd_sim_m_h__4/279-4150517-3352662 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Interview-2012-Remaster-Gentle-Giant/dp/B006DX2MKO/ref=pd_sim_m_h__4/279-4150517-3352662)
Mine should be here in a couple days. My first Gentle Giant CDs! Hope enough copies are bought so they will consider doing 5.1 mixes of the other albums.
Yeah, I saw Inter'view as well, but I can only afford one of them right now, and Free Hand is my favorite. This will be the third time I've bought it on CD, but I must have the quad mix.
As for them doing 5.1 mixes, I honestly doubt that will happen. They're awesome, but still relatively obscure, and the demand won't be great enough. If they do, it will be in a limited run, and limited = expensive. The quad mixes of Free Hand and Inter'view were already done, so it was "just" a matter of mastering and releasing them. Creating 5.1 mixes from scratch is a very time- and resource-consuming process, which I really can't see anyone investing in. Not in today's economic climate. But stranger things have happened.
Very true. I heard the remasters of Octopus and Three Friends sold over 5,000 or so copies each so I wonder how many copies these would have to sell in order for them to consider? Well, if no 5.1 mixes are made, then I will be get the remasters of Octopus, Three Friends and all the others when they are released.
Oh and by the way, here is Free Hand's Amazon.co.uk Bestsellers Rank: 303 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
#95 in Music > Rock
and Interview's Amazon.co.uk Bestsellers Rank: 564 in Music
I think the first one is pretty good for one of the more underground prog bands of the 70s
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6WSLG5r-wE
I love that performance of On Reflection.
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6WSLG5r-wE
I love that performance of On Reflection.
I still need to get that DVD. I have the Giant on the Box and that one is amazing!
-
I have On the Box and need to get Sight and Sound. I rented it recently, and it was amazing. Most of my favorites (Side One of Free Hand plus Funny Ways) and a killer version of Memories of Old Days as well. The only thing more mind-blowing than listening to these guys live is watching them live.
-
Sight and Sound with the commentary is HILARIOUS. I love watching all of their live renditions of songs. They're amazing. Except Weathers can't hit his notes in that On Reflection :lol
-
Crap, I didn't even think of watching it with the commentary. Next time, I guess.
-
HOLY SHIT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjPDtM-5i5Y
This is cool!
-
That was great. :o
-
I also wanted to say that the keys in Proclamation are fucking rockin'
-
Top 5 GG Songs
1.) Advent of Panurge
2.) Just the Same
3.) Funny Ways
4.) On Reflection
5.) Knots
and it was like picking which child was my favorite.
-
Wow, we haven't done one of these, haven't we? Lets see...
1. Pantagruel's nativity
2. The Runaway
3. Proclamation
4. An Inmate's lullaby
5. On reflection
-
Wow, we haven't done one of these, haven't we? Lets see...
1. Pantagruel's nativity
2. The Runaway
3. Proclamation
4. An Inmate's lullaby
5. On reflection
Those are all beastly songs as well :)
-
1. In a Glass House
2. On Reflection
3. Schooldays
4. The Runaway
5. Can't decide between Cogs In Cogs and Peel the Paint
-
1. In a Glass House
2. On Reflection
3. Schooldays
4. The Runaway
5. Can't decide between Cogs In Cogs and Peel the Paint
Cogs is good. Also a great list. It seems as though On Reflection is a big favorite of us GG fans.
-
Finally got a Free Hand remaster to replace my old glitched-out copy. Huzzah!
Also, top ten GG songs...
1. The Advent of Panurge
2. The House, the Street, the Room
3. The Boys in the Band
4. I Lost My Head
5. Cogs in Cogs
6. Aspirations
7. Raconteur Troubadour
8. Pantagruel's Nativity
9. Three Friends
10. Proclamation
-
Legendary Top 10. Surprised I didn't see On Reflection or Knots. But Advent of Panurge, Pantagruel's Nativity, Cogs and Proc seem to be the heavy weights.
-
As I've performed many of these...
1. On Reflection
2. Cogs in Cogs
3. Just The Same
4. Free Hand
5. Giant
-
As I've performed many of these...
1. On Reflection
2. Cogs in Cogs
3. Just The Same
4. Free Hand
5. Giant
The first 3 on Free Hand are fucking killer tracks.
-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg4wBQ6luZk
On Reflection/Experience by Gende's Giant.
-
Great job, man, I can't believe you had the balls to tackle such vocal harmonies. :tup
-
Man, I wish Gentle Giant was still around. The music is good.
-
Great job, man, I can't believe you had the balls to tackle such vocal harmonies. :tup
Thanks. That shit was HARD to put together. It was like singing madrigals in high school. I love that stuff but hard singing it all alone.
Here's a couple of tracks of us performing what I feel were some of our better songs:
Think of me with kindness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOv99JY9B-g
Giant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGZkOUvQfjo
Funny Ways:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otRVTbajuIk
-
I love'em.
Power And Glory is underrated.
Free Hand and In A Glass House = I dont fully get them XD idk..
The Power And The Glory, Octopus and Three Friends = ♥♥♥
-
Think of me with kindness sounds lovely. :heart
-
Ray Shulman is one of my favorite bassists. Nearly everything he played was interesting.
-
Love them! Octopus is one of my favorite albums. I still need The Power and The Glory. I've heard most of it and loved it.
When I was at NEARfest in June I was walking around and I thought I saw Gary Green. I wasn't sure if it was him so I didn't say anything. Then between acts they introduced him on stage. I regret not saying anything especially since I didn't see him at all after that. I would have liked to have said thanks for all the great music or something. I did get to meet Roger Dean and he signed a print of the original Octopus album cover.
-
That is cool. :tup
-
I met Gary at a show. He came to see us and was impressed with how we did.
-
Yeah, he seems like a cool guy. All modesty aside, I'm sure he realizes how crazy Gentle Giant music is and how rare it is for bands to cover them, even songs without a lot of extracurricular instrumentation.
-
It's nuts. Even with how crazy the music is, it's still stupid catchy. Like, yeah. Advent of Panurge? The spoken fake language part has that sexy as hell bassline being played under it. MM MMM MMMMMMMMMM! But it's catchy, too.
-
I thought I'd take a moment to say Dog's Life is an amazing song and one of the most underrated songs I know of. Anyone else think that?
EDIT: Apparently I already said that in this thread. Well shit. :lol
-
I thought I'd take a moment to say Dog's Life is an amazing song and one of the most underrated songs I know of. Anyone else think that?
EDIT: Apparently I already said that in this thread. Well shit. :lol
Completely agree. Its not my favorite from Octopus but its still an excellent track.
Coincidentally, I was just listening to Free Hand earlier. I can't get over how great that album is, especially Just The Same.
-
Give it Back is a great song.
-
Yes, it is.
-
I like essentially every song from the debut to Interview.
-
I've heard a lot of people don't like Interview, which I totally, can understand. But, Give it Back has a real catchy tune.
-
Interview is a very good album. Maybe not as memorable overall as their previous work, but none of the material is bad.
-
Started listening to these guys in light of all of the comparisons Haken got with "Cockroach King." These guys rule! Such amazing vocal harmonies and quirky music done right.
-
:tup Glad to have you on board. Wow I just listened to Cockroach King. Yeah, that is literally the most GG thing I've ever heard not done by GG. :lol
I've heard a lot of people don't like Interview, which I totally, can understand. But, Give it Back has a real catchy tune.
Yeah, it's a pretty good album! Not as good as their previous albums, but still something I'm willing to spin while in the mood.
-
Have you not heard Haken's new album in full?! Get on that shiz.
But yeah, I've listened to Octopus and In a Glass House thus far, and it's all really amazing. Going to Free Hand next.
-
Have you not heard Haken's new album in full?! Get on that shiz.
I have it on my computer, but I've been listening to lots of other new stuff lately, haha. I'll be getting on it very soon though!
-
How many of you guys would like a GG survivor? :)
-
Due to overwhelming demand, I am unable to keep up with a survivor of such magnitude. My apologies.
-
7 great albums in a 6 years span :hefdaddy
-
I'd love a survivor!
-
I'd love a survivor!
Cool. :) Hopefully more would.
-
I really love the sequence Three Friends - Octopus - In a Glass House - The Power and the Glory. Masterpieces, all of them. But I don't like the albums after TPATG. And the first two... I like them, but not that much.
-
I'd love one as well!
-
You know I would... I'll vote whole on here
-
Four people so far... ;D
-
Take Five.
-
Cool. :) Maybe I'll start one out soon then!
-
Been listening to them for years and I still get the "omg, I can't believe they actually made music like this" feeling when I pop them in. The first 7 albums are incredible, with Three Friends being my favorite.
-
just a friendly bump and reminder that I love this band.
-
Was watching some video of GG and the visual impact of this band is awesome too. The band members could all be cast members on Big Bang Theory. The drummer wears coke bottle glasses and Oakland A's gear. The keyboardist whales away on this homemade contraption that looks like an old microwave. The lead singer looks like one of the BeeGees in a white jumpsuit. You wouldn't expect the 2 genres to go together but they're the only prog band that makes you wanna get up and dance. Totally funky prog. And then in a split they ditch the electrics for classical instruments and start singing madrigals. So much fun to watch!
-
I listened to the first album for the first time about a week ago. Thought it was good. I did a binge buy on album duo packs (covering the first four albums) and the Chrysalis Years set that collects the final five studio albums, so all I'm missing is In A Glass House and The Power And The Glory. I... think those are the names, anyway.
-
I bought the first pressing of the Octopus vinyl, great album. I just need to sit down once, and listen to a couple more albums. IMO this is a vinyl band, ie not a band where you put a ton of cd's in the car's stereo, and blast then on the way to work. You need to be focussed to digest the music.
-
Was watching some video of GG and the visual impact of this band is awesome too. The band members could all be cast members on Big Bang Theory. The drummer wears coke bottle glasses and Oakland A's gear. The keyboardist whales away on this homemade contraption that looks like an old microwave. The lead singer looks like one of the BeeGees in a white jumpsuit. You wouldn't expect the 2 genres to go together but they're the only prog band that makes you wanna get up and dance. Totally funky prog. And then in a split they ditch the electrics for classical instruments and start singing madrigals. So much fun to watch!
I grew up listening to the live album Playing the Fool, and I always imagined what it must have been like to see these guys in concert. Switching instruments and genres all the time, the heavy, funky side, the acoustic/classical side, everything you mentioned. Then when I got one of their videos (GG on the Box), it was somehow just what I expected, yet nothing like what I expected. They're an amazing band.
I listened to the first album for the first time about a week ago. Thought it was good. I did a binge buy on album duo packs (covering the first four albums) and the Chrysalis Years set that collects the final five studio albums, so all I'm missing is In A Glass House and The Power And The Glory. I... think those are the names, anyway.
If you like anything about either the early or later stuff, you need to get those last two middle ones, often regarded as two of their best. GG started off very raw and adventurous, maybe a little too crazy for my taste, but a lot of people like that. And the last three albums ditch the strings and winds and stick with basic five-piece rock in 4/4, in a deliberate attempt to sell some albums. They had a strong cult following, but were never really big, which is a shame, because they were so unique. But even as they streamlined things, there was still some real intensity to their music, and the final album, Citizen, is great, one of their best.
I bought the first pressing of the Octopus vinyl, great album. I just need to sit down once, and listen to a couple more albums. IMO this is a vinyl band, ie not a band where you put a ton of cd's in the car's stereo, and blast then on the way to work. You need to be focussed to digest the music.
I hear what you're saying, but I spent 20 years listening to these guys on vinyl, and love the fact that I can blast them in the car on the way to work! I've absorbed and digested them, now I just enjoy them.
-
My wife and I are still trying to figure out the harmonies to Knots and On Reflection. It's hard with two people, but we have a lot of fun doing it!
-
I can't help you with "Knots". The closest my buds and I could ever come was basically jumping around and attempting to reasonbly cover four parts with three voices.
For "On Reflection" we cheated and just kept the last three lines going. That is, one of us would start (Derek), one of us would take the next part, then the next, and when the fourth part came in, the first guy would switch to that. Again, it's about illusion, since you're not going to be able to actually cover all parts. With only two of you, I'd suggest doing something like that, just keep the last two, or maybe one of you start and follow all the way through with the lead part, and the other come in and jump around as necessary.
When it gets to the "Still you stay, tied in your way" you'll have some choices to make, but oddly enough, "All around, all around" might be okay with just the two parts if you pick the right harmony.
-
So I can buy the band's first sic albums for less than $54 USD shipped from a single seller on Amazon....is it worth it? The first four albums are on 2 two-album collections, IAGH is a fairly recent remaster, and TPATG is the new Steven Wilson remix.
I have the money, but I just wanna know if it'll be worth getting these six first to try and get into the band. They're one classic 70's prog band that I never really checked out or got into when I discovered progressive rock ten years ago. I was hooked in the usual suspects: Rush, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, King Crimson, a bit of Jethro Tull, and a couple others. These guys and VdGG were two I always meant to go back to and listen to but as the years went on, I discovered more modern prog bands and never went back to the other major 70's prog bands.
-Marc.
-
Go for it. To be able to start with the first album and work through the first six is an opportunity you just can't pass up. Of course, this is coming from someone who's owned their entire discography for many years. Gentle Giant is a truly unique band. I mean really, there is no one else like them.
It's pretty much unanimous that the earlier albums are the best. They finished on a high note, but around 1976 they stripped away most of the prog and tried for some concise prog-pop, and the results were hit-or-miss. But man, the first six are solid.
I kinda feel like listening through their early albums now.
-
Go for it. To be able to start with the first album and work through the first six is an opportunity you just can't pass up. Of course, this is coming from someone who's owned their entire discography for many years. Gentle Giant is a truly unique band. I mean really, there is no one else like them.
It's pretty much unanimous that the earlier albums are the best. They finished on a high note, but around 1976 they stripped away most of the prog and tried for some concise prog-pop, and the results were hit-or-miss. But man, the first six are solid.
I kinda feel like listening through their early albums now.
As someone who fell in love with the Yes and Genesis crowd, would I enjoy their material over-all? I've loved all the Spock's Beard songs that have that GG influence, and the cover of "Just The Same" on Jordan Rudess' solo album The Road Home was pretty sweet. I really want to try and get into this band, even a decade after getting into prog. I spent nearly all of 2005 and 2006 buying all the albums by Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd...all of those guys, but never really got into GG, so I'm hoping I can now, ten years on as a "seasoned progger".
-Marc.
-
Gentle Giant is different. Some of their stuff is very nice and melodic, and other stuff... deliberately not so. They embrace the avant-garde to a degree that most of the others you've mentioned did not, or would not. Only King Crimson, with some of what I call their "artful noise" comes close, but even then, it's not the same. Gentle Giant pushed the boundaries in ways the others did not. Remember that before it was called "progressive rock", people called it "art rock" because another term had not yet been invented. There's no question that some of what GG did was simply because they could.
Jordan's cover of "Just the Same" is from Free Hand, which is easily the most accessible of Gentle Giant's early albums. By this point, they'd managed to tone down the more outrageous aspects of their music.
The only GG influence I hear in Spock's Beard is the complex a capella bits with counterpoint. Spock's Beard does that very well, but keep in mind that this is only part of what Gentle Giant was all about, and a rather small part at that, even if it is an important part and instantly recognizable.
I suggest checking out YouTube for some Gentle Giant from the early years. This will give you a better idea of what they were all about. I've heard their music described as "what you might think you heard while visiting the Renaissance Faire while on acid". I don't think it was meant as a compliment, although I find the description oddly accurate, and actually quite complimentary.
-
Just for grins, I checked out what AMG had to say about the first album.
----------
AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder
Astonishingly daring debut album, not as focused or overpowering as King Crimson's 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 Green's 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 hadn't a prayer of moving up from that level of recognition. "Funny Ways" was the softest prog rock song this side of Crimson's "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.
----------
Other than the fact that Phil Shulman only played sax (Ray Shulman played trumpet), I agree with pretty much all of this. You may not love this album at first, but parts of it will grab you right away, and as a prog lover, you will come to appreciate it. At the very least, this is music that everyone should try at least twice. Not just once; it's too easy to dismiss a band after one listen.
First album on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBN9wZMEb0o
Amazing video from Long Beach concert in 1975: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csA2qxbIfEU
-
Amazing video from Long Beach concert in 1975: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csA2qxbIfEU
I love how the singer is soooo into the instrumentation! Awesome.
-
Derek Shulman was (and still is) a madman. To be honest, I find it a little distracting, and eventually annoying, when he feels the need to "direct" the band, or point out to the audience who's playing. There's only five of them; it's not like we couldn't figure it out. But he's definitely into it, and that's good.
By the way, you're aware that Derek Shulman, lead singer from Gentle Giant, is the same Derek Shulman who signed Dream Theater and Pantera while he was CEO of Atco, right? You could say that he's done alright in the music biz.
-
Oh that's right. I'd forgotten.
Didn't also have something to do with Roadrunner?
-
Yep, he was president of Roadrunner after he left Atco. Signed Slipknot and (hey, they're not that bad!) Nickelback.
-
the final album, Citizen, is great, one of their best.
Civilian :P
-
Shit. I don't know why, but I often make that mistake, and it's one of my favorite albums.
-
Wait a second, let me see if I got this right - Derek Shulman of Gentle Giant signed Dream Theater and Slipknot? He must be a God! :hefdaddy
M, I'm surprised that such a huge SB fan didn't check out Gentle Giant yet. The influence is apparent in the vocal a capella bits, but some of the musical themes are also very similar. The way The Boys in the band from Octopus starts really sounds like something Spock's Beard would play.
I've been spinning the albums from Interview up to Civilian over the last few weeks, being that I've never gotten into those until now. There are some great tunes in there, although I'm not sure if I would be able to single out an album from that period as being particularly good.
-
Do some research. There's been a ton of reissues over the last 15 to 20 years and many of them aren't as good as some.
-
When Gendes Giant was still a thing (I mean, technically it still is, but we haven't practiced in years), We learned quite a bit from that interview to civilian period... Two weeks in Spain, for nobody, interview, all through the night (we didn't learn anything off giant for a day)...
-
Did people know those songs when you performed them?
It's been two months since my last post and I've spun those albums quite a bit. Interview is fine, I didn't really care for Civilian and The Missing piece, but I have to go out on a limb and say Giant for a day is pretty excellent. It sounds like a really focused, to the point album, filled with well-crafted melodies. The music feels like they're all into it, I'm confused that the band disregarded it because the songs sound like all of the guys are on the same page.
Title track, No stranger, Thank you, It's only goodbye and Little brown bag are all great, some of those tunes are pretty rockin'. :metal
-
I remember someone coming up to us and saying thanks for playing some stuff off of missing piece.
-
So I've been collecting prog in 5.1 as the opportunities arise, and I recently added The Power and the Glory to my collection. It is glorious. I've also put the Octopus Blu-ray on my Christmas list.
I want Free Hand in 5.1. It's my favorite. Hopefully, Steven will get around to it.
-
I want Free Hand in 5.1. It's my favorite. Hopefully, Steven will get around to it.
With one voice from on direction coming out of a different channel so they surround you.
-
Oh yeah. "On Reflection" with one voice in each corner of the room. Then the instrumental fugue at the end, with the drums in the middle mostly, but spread around a bit. Steven is getting very good at this.
-
Somehow this band popped into my mind the other day, and I've been listening to them again. Man, they were oozing prog and skill.
-
And they called it quits at the right time. I admire them even more for that. Some prog bands (and also outside prog) want to keep going and going even though they know the quality of their output already went downhill centuries ago.. :biggrin:
GG is from the debut to Interview, plus "Memories Of Old Days" from The Missing Piece. The rest is (https://imgfast.net/users/3412/60/06/70/smiles/179522.gif)(https://imgfast.net/users/3412/60/06/70/smiles/179522.gif)(https://imgfast.net/users/3412/60/06/70/smiles/179522.gif)(https://imgfast.net/users/3412/60/06/70/smiles/179522.gif)(https://imgfast.net/users/3412/60/06/70/smiles/179522.gif)
-
Incorrect. Most of the final album, Civilian, is very good. Not very proggy, but good stuff.
-
I could never say what my favorite Gentle Giant song was, but now I think its The Moon Is Down. Anyone else love that song?
-
I'm new to the band (but I know about their importance, don't worry) and my first album of theirs may be The Power And The Glory (Steven Wilson's remix, because it has been praised)
-
The Moon Is Down is moody and intense. Those early ones with all three Shulmans got really crazy sometimes, with the winds, vocals, everything doing weird harmonies. I don't know if I "love" the song, but I do like it and appreciate what these guys were doing.
The Power And The Glory is a good starting point, and the Steven Wilson remix is awesome. I say go for it!
-
A really awesome band. I wouldnt rate any of their first 7 albums less than 4/5. I finally own all of them.
-
The Power And The Glory is a good starting point, and the Steven Wilson remix is awesome. I say go for it!
I bought it yesterday and listened to it for the first time today and I agree its a good starting point. Loved it on first listen. Playing the Game is such a fantastic song!
-
Gentle Giant BOXSET
https://burningshed.com/store/madfish/gentle-giant_buried-treasure_boxset
Including a lavish 136-page coffee table hardback book and 96-page tour history book, Unburied Treasure is a 30-disc deluxe boxset with signed photo, authorised by all members of Gentle Giant.
Strictly limited to 2000 copies globally, the set includes remastered versions of the 12 albums the band released between 1970 and 1980, along with 15 concert albums (7 never previously released, 7 never previously officially released and 1 previously unavailable on CD). The box also includes two posthumous live/outtakes albums and a Blu-ray bonus disc (featuring a Steven Wilson surround mix of the bands 1970 debut).
Also included are books, posters, replica promotional items and much more.
**This boxset will be shipped by courier**
---------
The contents of the Unburied Treasure box set include:
Signed photograph by band members Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, Gary Green, Kerry Minnear & John Weathers
Brand new cover artwork illustration by Bob Venables based on original illustrator George Underwood's design for the band's debut album
The 12 original albums released during the band's active years, including live album Playing the Fool
Two albums released after the disbanding: Winchester 1971 (live) & Pinewood Rehearsal 1977 (outtakes)
15 official previously unreleased live albums:
Essen 1972 *
New Orleans 1972 (feat. three previously unreleased BBC recordings)
Hollywood Bowl 1972 *
Vicenza 1973 *
Torino 1973
Munster 1974 *
St Gallen 1974 *
Cleveland Agora 1975
Basel 1975 *
Dusseldorf 1976 Part 1
Dusseldorf & Brussels 1976 Part 2
Munich 1976
Paris 1976
Chester 1977
Roxy 1980
* Audience recording remastered for the highest possible quality
Unreleased material from the 'Playing the Fool' gigs remixed by GG expert Dan Bornemark
All music on the 29 CDs has been newly remastered by Pete Reynolds
Blu-ray disc with a listening experience second to none featuring the full debut album Gentle Giant remixed by Steven Wilson in high resolution 96/24 Stereo LPCM, 96/24 5.1 surround LPCM and DTS-HD 5.1 surround. Also included are the instrumental mixes for every track
136-page hardback coffee table book featuring the band's in-depth story as told by GG expert Alan Kinsman, as well as: rare photographs, posters, passes and unburied memorabilia from the band and fans
Exclusive 96-page tour history book compiled by Jack Skelly, comprising: set lists, memorabilia and gig review notes including commentary on the new live recordings
Two replica posters of their first gig at Portsmouth Polytechnic 1970 and 'The Power & The Glory' voted as the most popular poster on the official band website
Replica 'Playing The Fool' booklet, which was originally given away with the first 10,000 sales of the album
Replica 'Giant For A Day' mask, which was included in the original 1978 album
Replica Missing Piece jigsaw, which was a promotional item for the album when originally released. One randomly chosen boxset will also include the MISSING GOLDEN PIECE, which, when claimed, will award the owner with the coveted 'The Power & The Glory' screen printed mirror
-
CD 1 - Gentle Giant
1. Giant [06:22]
2. Funny Ways [04:27]
3. Alucard [06:01]
4. Isn't It Quiet And Cold? [03:46]
5. Nothing At All [09:07]
6. Why Not? [05:31]
7. The Queen [01:40]
CD 2 - Acquiring The Taste
1. Pantagruel's Nativity [06:49]
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 [07:42]
CD 3 - Three Friends
1. Prologue [06:11]
2. Schooldays [07:33]
3. Working All Day [05:08]
4. Peel The Paint [07:27]
5. Mister Class And Quality? [05:51]
6. Three Friends [03:02]
CD 4 - Octopus
1. The Advent Of Panurge [04:40]
2. Raconteur, Troubadour [04:01]
3. A Cry For Everyone [04:01]
4. Knots [04:08]
5. The Boys In The Band [04:32]
6. Dog's Life [03:10]
7. Think Of Me With Kindness [03:32]
8. River [05:52]
CD 5 - In A Glass House
1. The Runaway [07:24]
2. An Inmate's Lullaby [04:30]
3. Way Of Life [07:53]
4. Experience [07:50]
5. A Reunion [02:11]
6. In A Glass House [08:08]
CD 6 - The Power And The Glory
1. Proclamation [06:47]
2. So Sincere[03:48]
3. Aspirations [04:38]
4. Playing The Game [06:43]
5. Cogs In Cogs [03:07]
6. No God's A Man [04:28]
7. The Face [04:11]
8. Valedictory [03:17]
Bonus Track
9. The Power And The Glory - single [02:52]
CD 7 - Free Hand
1. Just The Same [05:34]
2. On Reflection [05:43]
3. Free Hand [06:15]
4. Time To Kill [06:06]
5. His Last Voyage [06:27]
6. Talybont [02:40]
7. Mobile [05:03]
CD 8 - Interview
1. Interview [06:51]
2. Give It Back [05:09]
3. Design [05:02]
4. Another Show[03:31]
5. Empty City (Interview) [04:39]
6. Timing [04:34]
7. I Lost My Head [06:59]
CD 9 - Playing The Fool - live
1. Just The Same/Proclamation [11:13]
2. On Reflection [06:21]
3. Excerpts From Octopus [15:36]
4. Funny Ways [08:28]
5. The Runaway/Experience [09:29]
6. So Sincere [10:19]
7. Free Hand [07:37]
8. Sweet Georgia Brown [01:18]
9. Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head [07:32]
CD 10 - The Missing Piece
1. Two Weeks In Spain [03:06]
2. I'm Turning Around [03:59]
3. Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It [02:21]
4. Who Do You Think You Are? [03:32]
5. Mountain Time [03:23]
6. As Old As You're Young [04:21]
7. Memories Of Old Days [07:19]
8. Winning [04:14]
9. For Nobody [04:04]
CD 11 - Giant For A Day
1. Words From The Wise [04:12]
2. Thank You [04:47]
3. Giant For A Day [03:47]
4. Spookie Boogie [02:52]
5. Take Me [03:34]
6. Little Brown Bag [03:24]
7. Friends [01:58]
8. No Stranger [02:28]
9. It's Only Goodbye [04:15]
10. Rock Climber [03:51]
CD 12 - Civilian
1. Convenience (Clean And Easy)[03:13]
2. All Through The Night [04:23]
3. Shadows On The Street [03:16]
4. Number One [04:44]
5. Underground [03:49]
6. I Am Camera [03:32]
7. Inside Out [05:52]
8. It's Not Imagination [03:58]
Bonus Track
9. Heroes [04:47]
CD 13
1. Giant (Winchester 1971) [05:31]
2. Hometown Special (Winchester 1971) [05:24]
3. City Hermit (Winchester 1971) [05:56]
4. Funny Ways (Winchester 1971) [08:42]
5. Plain Truth (Winchester 1971) [10:46]
6. Alucard (Winchester 1971) [08:47]
7. Isn't It Quiet And Cold? (Winchester 1971) [02:30]
8. Why Not? (Winchester 1971) [04:59]
9. The Queen (Winchester 1971) [02:58]
10. Peel Off The Paint (Winchester 1971) [08:51]
CD 14
1. Alucard (Essen 1972) [07:44]
2. Funny Ways (Essen 1972) [10:32]
3. Nothing At All (with Malcolm Mortimore drum solo) (Essen 1972) [12:55]
4. Plain Truth (Essen 1972) [09:21]
5. The Queen (Essen 1972) [02:10]
CD 15
1. Prologue (New Orleans 1972) [06:04]
2. Alucard (New Orleans 1972) [06:23]
3. Funny Ways (New Orleans 1972) [07:32]
4. Nothing At All (New Orleans 1972) [02:23]
5. Funny Ways (BBC Session 1972) [07:15]
6. Plain Truth (BBC Session 1972) [06:42]
7. The Advent Of Panurge (BBC Session 1972) [04:47]
CD 16
1. Prologue (Hollywood Bowl 1972) [08:16]
2. Alucard (Hollywood Bowl 1972) [08:00]
3. Funny Ways (Hollywood Bowl 1972) [08:24]
4. Nothing At All/Plain Truth (Hollywood Bowl 1972) [23:56]
CD 17
1. Prologue (Vicenza 1973) [06:12]
2. Alucard (Vicenza 1973) [08:05]
3. Funny Ways (Vicenza 1973) [09:42]
4. The Advent Of Panurge (Vicenza 1973) [07:08]
5. Nothing At All (Vicenza 1973) [13:49]
6. Plain Truth (Vicenza 1973) [14:21]
CD 18
1. The Runaway (Torino 1973) [05:42]
2. Way Of Life (Torino 1973) [07:10]
3. Funny Ways (Torino 1973) [08:50]
4. Excerpts From Octopus (Torino 1973) [12:46]
5. Nothing At All (Torino 1973) [15:27]
6. Plain Truth (Torino 1973) [07:16]
CD 19
1. The Runaway (Munster 1974) [10:04]
2. Prologue (Munster 1974) [06:13]
3. Funny Ways (Munster 1974) [09:22]
4. Excerpts From Octopus (Munster 1974) [13:14]
5. Nothing At All (Munster 1974) [15:53]
6. Plain Truth (Munster 1974) [13:53]
7. In A Glass House (Munster 1974) [09:26]
CD 20
1. Cogs In Cogs (St Gallen 1974) [04:20]
2. Proclamation (St Gallen 1974) [05:14]
3. Funny Ways (St Gallen 1974) [09:26]
4. The Runaway (St Gallen 1974) [03:41]
5. Experience (St Gallen 1974) [07:08]
6. Excerpts From Octopus (St Gallen 1974) [14:35]
7. Nothing At All (St Gallen 1974) [16:42]
8. Plain Truth (St Gallen 1974) [13:19]
CD 21
1. Cogs In Cogs (Cleveland 1975) [03:12]
2. Proclamation (Cleveland 1975) [05:02]
3. Funny Ways (Cleveland 1975) [08:48]
4. The Runaway (Cleveland 1975) [03:54]
5. Experience (Cleveland 1975) [05:59]
6. Excerpts From Octopus (Cleveland 1975) [13:27]
7. So Sincere (Cleveland 1975) [09:21]
8. Mister Class And Quality? (Cleveland 1975) [05:08]
CD 22
1. Cogs In Cogs (Basel 1975) [05:51]
2. Proclamation (Basel 1975) [05:03]
3. Funny Ways (Basel 1975) [08:29]
4. The Runaway (Basel 1975) [03:56]
5. Experience (Basel 1975) [03:52]
6. Excerpts From Octopus (Basel 1975) [15:36]
7. So Sincere (Basel 1975) [10:44]
8. Plain Truth (Basel 1975) [09:04]
9. Free Hand (Basel 1975) [08:38]
10. Just The Same (Basel 1975) [06:10]
CD 23
1. Just The Same/Proclamation (Dusseldorf 1976) [13:04]
2. On Reflection (Dusseldorf 1976) [06:10]
3. Interview (Dusseldorf 1976) [06:58]
4. The Runaway/Experience (Dusseldorf 1976) [10:41]
5. So Sincere (Dusseldorf 1976) [10:03]
6. Excerpts From Octopus (Dusseldorf 1976) [17:16]
7. Funny Ways - snippet (Dusseldorf 1976) [00:43]
CD 24
1. Timing/Violin Solo (Dusseldorf 1976) [10:45]
2. Free Hand (Dusseldorf 1976) [08:47]
3. Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head (Dusseldorf 1976) [07:24]
4. Timing/Violin Solo (Brussels 1976) [11:22]
5. Free Hand (Brussels 1976) [09:42]
6. Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head (Brussels 1976) [07:21]
CD 25
1. Just The Same/Proclamation (Munich 1976) [12:19]
2. On Reflection (Munich 1976) [06:18]
3. Interview (Munich 1976) [07:26]
4. Excerpts From Octopus (Munich 1976) [17:22]
5. Funny Ways (Munich 1976) [08:45]
CD 26
1. The Runaway/Experience (Paris 1976) [10:13]
2. So Sincere (Paris 1976) [10:49]
3. Excerpts From Octopus (Paris 1976) [18:02]
4. Funny Ways (Paris 1976) [08:34]
5. Timing/Violin Solo (Paris 1976) [11:21]
6. Free Hand (Paris 1976) [08:59]
7. Peel The Paint/I Lost My Head (Paris 1976) [07:23]
CD 27
1. The Runaway/Experience (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [09:52]
2. As Old As You're Young (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [05:18]
3. On Reflection (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [06:35]
4. Just The Same/Playing The Game (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [10:00]
5. Memories Of Old Days (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [06:58]
6. Winning (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [07:47]
7. For Nobody - part (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [02:52]
8. Funny Ways (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [07:47]
9. The Face/Plain Truth (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [04:17]
10. So Sincere (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [09:17]
11. Free Hand (Pinewood Rehearsal 1977) [02:34]
CD 28
1. Two Weeks In Spain (Chester 1977) [03:00]
2. Free Hand (Chester 1977) [08:10]
3. On Reflection (Chester 1977) [05:59]
4. I'm Turning Around (Chester 1977) [04:07]
5. Just The Same/Playing The Game (Chester 1977) [09:51]
6. Memories Of Old Days (Chester 1977) [07:45]
7. Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It (Chester 1977) [04:20]
8. The Face (Chester 1977) [14:25]
9. For Nobody (Chester 1977) [04:28]
10. Excerpts From Octopus - part 1 (Chester 1977) [06:05]
11. Excerpts From Octopus - part 2 (Chester 1977) [09:56]
CD 29
1. Convenience (Clean And Easy) (The Roxy 1980) [03:21]
2. All Through The Night (The Roxy 1980) [04:12]
3. Free Hand (The Roxy 1980) [08:28]
4. Knots (The Roxy 1980) [02:41]
5. Playing The Game (The Roxy 1980) [06:05]
6. Memories Of Old Days (The Roxy 1980) [08:13]
7. Giant For A Day (The Roxy 1980) [05:19]
8. Inside Out (The Roxy 1980) [06:03]
9. It`s Not Imagination (The Roxy 1980) [03:52]
10. Underground (The Roxy 1980) [03:40]
11. 5 Man Drum Solo (The Roxy 1980) [06:47]
12. Band Member Introductions (The Roxy 1980) [02:09]
13. For Nobody (The Roxy 1980) [04:51]
14. The Advent Of Panurge (The Roxy 1980) [07:14]
15. Number One (The Roxy 1980) [06:29]
Blu-Ray
1. Giant (Gentle Giant) [06:22]
2. Funny Ways (Gentle Giant) [04:27]
3. Alucard (Gentle Giant) [06:01]
4. Isn't It Quiet And Cold? (Gentle Giant) [03:46]
5. Nothing At All (Gentle Giant) [09:07]
6. Why Not? (Gentle Giant) [05:31]
7. The Queen (Gentle Giant) [01:40]
-
Holy Crap! :eek
-
I only own the SW re-release of Octopus, and I absolutely love it. This might be a great way for me to "dive into the deep end" in a way. But the price tag is fairly steep. OTOH, you certainly could never say you weren't getting your money's worth. I'll have to think about this one.
-
I only own the SW re-release of Octopus, and I absolutely love it. This might be a great way for me to "dive into the deep end" in a way. But the price tag is fairly steep. OTOH, you certainly could never say you weren't getting your money's worth. I'll have to think about this one.
total incl. shipping to Lima is $397.78 USD that price for 30 discs makes each CD only $13.25 USD but you also get the 136-page hardback coffee table book and 96-page tour history book, the posters, the mask, the jigsaw and the chance to be the winner of 'The Power & The Glory' screen printed mirror. I think the price it's a bargain
-
Pretty cool new interview with Derek Shulman. He talks about signing Dream Theater somewhere after the 1:32:50 mark:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfKpC90fmQA (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfKpC90fmQA)
BTW here's the link to the new fan made Proclamation video that gets discussed early in the interview. I was very impressed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYjFP8gildU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYjFP8gildU)
Enjoy! :)
-
sad to bump for this reason.
Ray Shulman RIP
https://www.facebook.com/gentlegiantband/posts/pfbid02XP1hfYTCgERrLAn2kKzWSobqqSuJRZGBLmqbdZyRem2XCbFzD5ad9utv2dofJJNcl
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Raymond Shulman on March 30th, 2023.
Raymond passed away peacefully at home in London after battling a long illness. He is survived by his wife Barbara Tanner and his brothers Derek & Philip Shulman. His family requests privacy at this very sad time.
-
Damn. He was just amazing.
-
Sadness. He was awesome, like everyone else in that band. :(
-
New video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga0W_Zk3IEM
The album The Missing Piece has been remixed by Steven Wilson it will be released on 16th Feb.
More info here:
https://lotsofmuzik.com/gentle-giant-release-their-video-for-two-weeks-in-spain/
-
I saw that. It's a little hard for me to get excited about The Missing Piece, as it's one of my less favorite albums of theirs, but he's already done my faves, so if he's working his way through the catalogue, that's cool, too. I may even pick it up, just because I try to collect surround and 5.1 mixes of bands I like.