GENTLE GIANT

This is a very special compilation. It was released in 1982, and was one of my first Gentle Giant albums. I already owned Civilian and Free Hand, but the songs on the compilation were from the first years of the band.

The booklet that comes with the LP is extensive (but the text is in Italian) with lots of photos. In the days before internet, these kind of compilations were very valuable,

Because of the internet, these kind of compilations aren't as valuable anymore, because song-wise it has nothing new to offer. But for the Gentle Giant-enthousiast, this is a real gem (althought the biography is in Italian).

So I will rate it 4 stars, because it features really great songs and the booklet is so extensive.

Review Nº 476

"Gentle Giant" is a compilation of Gentle Giant that was released in 1982. This is a compilation album that comprises tracks from the beginning of the career of Gentle Giant, which means that it comprises only tracks from 1970 to 1972. It means that it has only tracks from their first four studio albums. So, it has three tracks from "Gentle Giant" of 1970, one track from "Acquiring The Taste" of 1971, two tracks from "Three Friends" of 1972 and two tracks from "Octopus" of 1972, too. So, this means that we are in presence of a compilation with tracks of the beginning of Gentle Giant's career.

"Gentle Giant" has eight tracks. The first track "Funy Ways" was originally released on their eponymous debut studio album "Gentle Giant". "Funny Ways" is a track completely different from the previous one. It's a mellow song, more classic and acoustic, with an extraordinary exploration of several musical instruments, some classic and acoustic and others electric and more modern, which are fantastically married with each other. It's also, in my humble opinion, a song with a relatively complex musical composition. This is a perfect example how these guys were absolutely unique and great. The second track "Alucard" was also originally released on their eponymous debut studio album "Gentle Giant". "Alucard" is, if you haven't noticed already, "Dracula" spelled in the backwards. This is an atypical song of the group because is more a hard rock influenced song. It's relatively complex and has some interesting and good instrumental musical passages with some disturbing vocals. However and despite its quality, it never was one of my favourite songs on that album. The third track "Giant" was another track originally released on their eponymous debut studio album "Gentle Giant". "Giant" is a fantastic opening song to that album. This is a truly classic progressive Gentle Giant's song, very dynamic and creative. I love the way how the guitar is played and the great keyboard work made by Kerry Minnear. This represents one of the best moments on that album, really. The fourth track "Pantagruel's Nativity" was originally released on their second studio album "Acquiring The Taste". "Pantagruel's Nativity" is one of my favourite tracks on that album that became a classic Gentle Giant's track. It's a song with continuous music and a nice melody. It has beautiful keyboards very well combined with a powerful and great guitar work. What is most impressive on this track is the use of so many musical instruments such as saxes, vibraphone, celesta, harpsichord, tympani, trumpet, clarinet and so on, in only one song. The fifth track "The Advent Of Panurge" was originally released on their fourth studio album "Octupus". "The Advent Of Panurge" is a track strongly influenced by the jazz music, full of energy, with varied melodies and different singing styles. It's apparently a chaotic song where all instruments seem to be played in different directions. Which is more impressive on this music is that in the end we have a song with an excellent harmony. The sixth track "Knots" was also originally released on their fourth studio album "Octupus". "Knots" is the less accessible track on that album and is also one of the most complex and intricate songs ever composed by them. It's an avant-garde song that explores a cappella vocal style by the four vocalists of the band. This song is a perfect example how great and astonishing is the vocal work of this incredible group. It's true this is a very difficult song to hear, but this is truly a great piece of music. The seventh track "Peel The Paint" was originally released on their third studio album "Three Friends". "Peel The Paint" is a track inspired by the classical music, in the beginning, that starts very slow and delicated, but that suddenly develops into a more intense and dense, with a heavy rock format. Curiously, in the heavy rock part, it reminds me of Deep Purple. I think we are in the presence of an interesting song but, at the same time, a strange song in their repertoire. The eighth track "Three Friends" was also originally released on their third studio album "Three Friends". "Three Friends" represents the second best moment on that album with the opening track "Prologue". This is a song where all comes together in the music, the keyboards, the guitar, the bass and all the other instruments. I like the keyboard work of Kerry Minnear. We are in presence of another great song, a very short, but a cohesive piece. Despite be so short, it's really a great piece that sounds fantastic to me.

Compilation: "Gentle Giant" is a very nice compilation of the band and is well representative of the band in the beginning of their musical career. As happened with some other compilations of Gentle Giant, this compilation covers only a part of the career of the band, in this case, from their first four studio albums. It means that it covers the first musical phase of the band, the time on what the three brothers Shulman were members of the band. The selection of the tracks is very good. However, those albums are so great that any of the tracks that belong to those albums would fit perfectly well here. We can say that it has all what a compilation of Gentle Giant must have. Besides, it has a very nice and interesting extensive 12-page booklet attached to the inside. Thus, this is a good reason to have it. Anyway, and despite all I said before, a compilation can never substitutes the original albums. So, I'm gonna give to it only 3 stars.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)