Gentle Giant (Official Thread)

[Terra812]

I noticed there wasn't Gentle Giant thread So...

Back in the 70's our local rock station, on Sunday nights, use to have an import show.
That was the first I heard of Gentle Giant. I picked up "The Missing Piece"... loved it.
Later I found both "The Power and the Glory" and "Octopus" at Record head...
enjoyed them some but at 15 I think it was a little too experimental for me to really enjoy fully.

Gentle Giant was a British progressive/experimental rock band. Formed in 1970 by three sons of a jazz trumpeter.
There is a lot of classical and medieval instrumentation and influence in their music.



All the members were very talented multi-instrumentalists.

* Phil Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, recorder, percussion (1970–72)
* Derek Shulman - lead vocals, saxophone, recorder, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, Shulberry
* Ray Shulman - bass, trumpet, violin, vocals, viola, drums, percussion, recorder, guitar
* Kerry Minnear - keyboards, lead vocals (on recordings only), cello, vibraphone, xylophone, recorder, guitar, bass, drums
* Gary Green - guitar, mandolin, vocals, recorder, bass, drums, xylophone
* John "Pugwash" Weathers - drums, percussion, vibraphone, xylophone, vocals, guitar

Choosing between his family at home and life on the road, Phil leaves GG in 1972.

Studio albums

* Gentle Giant (1970)
* Acquiring the Taste (1971)
* Three Friends (1972)
* Octopus (1972)
* In a Glass House (1973)
* The Power and the Glory (1974)
* Free Hand (1975)
* Interview (1976)
* The Missing Piece (1977)
* Giant for a Day! (1978)
* Civilian (1980)




Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do it


I'm Turning Around


Funny Ways - 16mm Film - 1974


Memories of Old Days

 

[Magic]

Re: Gentle Giant

I am glad you took the time to make a thread for Gentle Giant, Terra.

I like GG, they are a very complex band with tons of talent. I like their jazzy symphonic feel.........they are a great band to 'chill' with

I have a couple of their albums:

Free Hand and The Power and the Glory.

 

[electric funeral]

Re: Gentle Giant

Making a Gentle Giant thread was constantly on my mind, but never got around to making one. And now you did.

I have all the albums on vinyl, Three Friends, Octopus and In a Glass House are my favourites.

 

[Mr. Shadow]

Re: Gentle Giant

Playing the Fool - The Official Live - The Gentle Giant Home Page

Lots of good band info in this article. I have a few bootlegs--I think one was in Greece and the other in Sweden.

 

[DaKillerWolf]

Re: Gentle Giant

I love Gentle Giant. Probably my favorite Progressive rock band but that is open to change constantly. Always a top 3 prog band for me. I have the S/T , Acquiring the Taste , Octopus, In a Glass House , The Power and the Glory,Free Hand and Interview. I like Acquiring the Taste, Octopus and Interview best so far but need more of their stuff

 

[METALPRIEST]

Re: Gentle Giant

Oh man what a great thread!! This is awesome!!

 

[Terra812]

Re: Gentle Giant

I love grooveshark Is there a better music listening site out there?

Listened to all of Gentle Giant's self titled first album yesterday. I will say my music appreciation has matured in the last 33 years


Why Not



Nothing At all

 

[LG]

Re: Gentle Giant

Nice intro Terra...

I have been a fan of Gentle Giant for over 30 years, ever since my brother bought a copy of their debut. I think I have all of their albums, at least all the essentials are laying around somewhere and I got a really nice Japanese version of "Octopus" last week, they are far more meticulous when it comes to making CD's than most other countries I can think of.



I would have guessed this was a Roger Dean gatefold album cover even if he didn't sign it.

 

[Aktivator]

Re: Gentle Giant


Big long time fan of Gentle Giant. Been a fan since 76 when I first heard Freehand. Then was blown away seeing them live in 77 and 78. I've got most of their studio albums(Debut, Acquiring the taste, Octopus, Three Friends, In a Glass House, The Power and the Glory, Freehand, The Missing Piece, Prologue) plus a bunch of live stuff. Favorite album is either Octopus or In a Glass House. I love their complexed and disjoined time signatures that make them such an interesting and unique band.

Last year Gary Green put together a great band that played Gentle Giant material called Three Friends. They did a great job of playing Gentle Giant tunes. Here is a shot from NEARfest

 

[joe]

Re: Gentle Giant

One of the great classic prog bands. Thier first seven albums are exceptional. The live album "King Biscuit Flower Hour" is one of the best live albums from a prog band from the '70's IMO.