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GENTLE GIANT

Eclectic Prog • United Kingdom


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Gentle Giant picture
Gentle Giant biography
Formed in 1970 in London, UK- Disbanded in 1980

GENTLE GIANT is known as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. The multi-instrumentation capabilities of the musicians gave such dynamic to their music, which set parameters to a whole coming generation up to these very days. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes, violins, cellos and horns among others.

The band was able to come across the 70's maintaining an outstanding level on their music, altering their style over the years and keeping the quality as only a few bands were able to do. Among their magnificent discography, all the albums from "Acquiring the Taste" through "Playing the Fool" are essential progressive rock releases (with the possible exception of "Interview"). This portion of the band's career would see a fittingly grand conclusion on the live "Playing the Fool" album. What more is there to say about these masters of progressive music?

See also: Three Friends

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GENTLE GIANT discography


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GENTLE GIANT top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.96 | 1426 ratings
Gentle Giant
1970
4.28 | 1741 ratings
Acquiring the Taste
1971
4.13 | 1439 ratings
Three Friends
1972
4.31 | 2224 ratings
Octopus
1972
4.35 | 1889 ratings
In a Glass House
1973
4.32 | 1820 ratings
The Power and the Glory
1974
4.30 | 1706 ratings
Free Hand
1975
3.73 | 889 ratings
Interview
1976
2.98 | 671 ratings
The Missing Piece
1977
2.33 | 584 ratings
Giant for a Day
1978
2.78 | 536 ratings
Civilian
1980

GENTLE GIANT Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.53 | 498 ratings
Playing the Fool - The Official Live
1977
3.59 | 33 ratings
In Concert (BBC Radio 1)
1994
4.12 | 67 ratings
Out of the Woods - The BBC Sessions
1996
2.52 | 39 ratings
The Last Steps
1996
4.16 | 67 ratings
King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents
1998
4.05 | 36 ratings
Out Of The Fire
1998
1.84 | 17 ratings
In A Palesport House
1999
4.17 | 50 ratings
Totally Out of the Woods - The BBC Sessions
2000
2.00 | 24 ratings
Live Rome 1974
2000
2.17 | 17 ratings
Interview In Concert
2000
1.82 | 16 ratings
Artistically Cryme
2002
3.75 | 25 ratings
Experience
2002
1.42 | 10 ratings
Endless Life
2003
3.84 | 11 ratings
Missing Face
2003
1.93 | 15 ratings
Way of life
2003
2.17 | 13 ratings
Prologue
2003
3.83 | 4 ratings
Playing the Cleveland
2003
3.60 | 5 ratings
Live In New York 1975
2005
2.42 | 10 ratings
Santa Monica Freeway
2005
3.36 | 27 ratings
King Alfred's College Winchester
2009
3.98 | 37 ratings
Live In Stockholm '75
2009
3.99 | 41 ratings
Live at the Bicentennial
2014
5.00 | 1 ratings
Front Row Center
2022

GENTLE GIANT Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.64 | 212 ratings
Giant On The Box
2004
4.29 | 107 ratings
GG At The GG
2006

GENTLE GIANT Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.26 | 8 ratings
The Original Studio Gentle Giant - Vol. 1
1974
3.27 | 7 ratings
The Original Studio Gentle Giant - Vol. 2
1974
3.37 | 25 ratings
Giant Steps... The First Five Years 1970-1975
1975
3.11 | 6 ratings
Pretentious for the Sake of It
1977
2.10 | 2 ratings
Circling Round The Gentle Giant
1981
3.42 | 5 ratings
Gentle Giant
1982
3.05 | 2 ratings
Il Grande Rock
1991
4.35 | 64 ratings
Edge of Twilight
1996
3.14 | 71 ratings
Under Construction
1997
4.23 | 40 ratings
Free Hand/Interview
1998
3.25 | 36 ratings
Scraping The Barrel
2004
3.90 | 31 ratings
I Lost My Head - The Chrysalis years (1975-1980)
2012
2.31 | 17 ratings
Memories Of Old Days
2013
3.98 | 54 ratings
Three Piece Suite
2017
4.63 | 13 ratings
Unburied Treasure
2019

GENTLE GIANT Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.20 | 5 ratings
Rock Power
1971
4.56 | 18 ratings
Prologue
1972
4.50 | 22 ratings
In A Glass House
1973
4.51 | 33 ratings
The Advent Of Panurge
1973
4.39 | 18 ratings
The Power and the Glory
1974
3.67 | 9 ratings
Give It Back
1976
2.75 | 8 ratings
I'm Turning Around
1977
3.55 | 11 ratings
Two Weeks in Spain
1977
4.43 | 14 ratings
Just the Same (live)
1977
2.71 | 7 ratings
Mountain Time
1978
1.70 | 11 ratings
Thank You (edit)
1978
3.00 | 5 ratings
Dando Vueltas
1978
3.11 | 9 ratings
Words from the Wise
1978
3.17 | 6 ratings
Underground
1980
2.50 | 8 ratings
All Through The Night
1980
2.67 | 3 ratings
In A Power Free In'terview
2009
2.25 | 11 ratings
The Power And The Glory
2010

GENTLE GIANT Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Live In Stockholm '75 by GENTLE GIANT album cover Live, 2009
3.98 | 37 ratings

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Live In Stockholm '75
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by VianaProghead
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Review Nš 758

According to Progarchives, "Live In Stockholm' 75" is the twenty-first live album of Gentle Giant and was released in 2009. The music was recorded by the Swedish Radio Ltd on 12th November 1975, and was taken from a live performance of Gentle Giant which took place in the Students Union, at Club Karen, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.

1975 was a great year for Gentle Giant. It was the year of the release of their seventh studio album "Free Hand", an album considered by some their greatest masterpiece. It was also the culmination of a brilliant and meteoric musical career and that would be relatively short for a band as brilliant as they were. We may say that "Free Hand" was also their last masterpiece and which was from here that began their musical decline, although their next studio album "Interview" still is a great album. Anyway, their first seven studio albums are so great that is difficult to choose the best.

But, besides be a great year for them, it was also a very busy year for Gentle Giant. On January and February they were touring in U.S.A. On March, April and May they were writing and recording "Free Hand". On June they were busy on a couple of festivals and filming a T.V. special in Brussels, Belgium. On August they were back in America, on September in Europe, and they were also back and touring again in the U.S A. On November they started another European tour which took them 'till Christmas. So, it was in that context that appeared the recordings of "Live In Stockholm' 75".

"Live In Stockholm' 75" has seven tracks. The first track "Cogs In Cogs" was a track originally released on their sixth studio album "The Power And The Glory". The second track "Proclamation" was also a track originally released on their album "The Power And The Glory". The third track "The Runway/Experience" is a live performance of two songs "The Runway" and "Experience". Both tracks were originally released on their fifth studio album "In A Glass House". The fourth track "So Sincere" was a track originally released on their album "The Power And The Glory". The fifth track "Plain Truth" was a track originally released on their second studio album "Acquiring The Taste". The sixth track "Free Hand" was a track originally released on their seventh studio album "Free Hand". The seventh track "Just The Same" was also a track originally released on their album "Free Hand".

In this well recorded live concert, originally recorded for the Swedish Radio, Gentle Giant is in a great shape. Derek Shulman's live vocals are a revelation, losing none of their power and sincerity. Gary Green and Kerry Minnear are amazing as is usual and the bass playing of Ray Shulman was simply awesome, one of the best ever. Finally, strings by Ray and Kerry and percussion "madness" involve the whole band all over the show. The set list is quite good, though very similar to many of the other shows that most Gentle Giant's fans have heard from that period. The sound quality is surprisingly solid, easily better than many of the other recordings that have floated out over the years, and gives a great representation of the power of this band during that time period. This gig featured some songs from the then new album "Free Hand" like the title track and "Just The Same", plus older staples such as the complex "Cogs In Cogs", the mighty "Proclamation", the "In A Glass House" medley of "The Runaway/Experience" and the extended versions of "So Sincere" and "Plain Truth". "Proclamation" and "Cogs In Cogs" kick off a storming gig, the streamlined latter number being a particular highlight. Deep into the two lengthy numbers, "The Runway/Experience" and "So Sincere", the band break wildly free of their own loose conventions and hone jams that show why they remained aloof from the prog pack. In "So Sincere" and "Plain Truth", both feature some long percussion jams and a terrific violin solo from Ray Shulman.

Conclusion: "Live In Stockholm' 75" is, in reality, a great live album. However, in my humble opinion, it's a bit far away from the quality level of "Playing The Full", given the extremely high level of the live performance on that album. The reference for this band's live recordings remains "Playing The Fool". Who is familiarized with my reviews knows that I'm a great fan of that Gentle Giant's live album, and that I consider "Playing The Full", "Yessongs" and "Welcome Back My Friends To The Show That Never Ends", probably the three best live albums released in the 70's. But, Gentle Giant's live is simply an amazing experience. And "Live In Stockholm' 75" isn't an exception. It's a very good live album for several reasons. In the first place, the choice of the songs is very good and belong to some of the best studio albums of them, particularly "In A Glass House", "The Power And The Glory" and "Free Hand". In the second place, the songs are in general performed live, substantially different from their studio versions, including even a drum solo, so typical of the live albums from the 70's. In the third place, the live performance of the band, without being brilliant, is very good and inspired enough to provide a great live show. So, "Live In Stockholm' 75" is, without any doubt, a great addition for any progressive collection and once more shows us the Gentle Giant's complex music, especially when performed live.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

 King Alfred's College Winchester by GENTLE GIANT album cover Live, 2009
3.36 | 27 ratings

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King Alfred's College Winchester
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by VianaProghead
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Review Nš 754

According to Progarchives, "King Alfred's College Winchester" is the twentieth live album of Gentle Giant and that was released in 2009. This album represents one of the first Gentle Giant's live concerts and was performed at King Alfred's College, in Winchester, in 1971. This is a live concert performed after the release of their eponymous debut studio album "Gentle Giant" and just before they have released their second studio album "Acquiring The Taste" in 1971.

"King Alfred's College Winchester" is, in reality, an official bootleg of the band released in a very cheap way. This is a live recording of a little known band, at the time and unfortunately even today, which was played in a very small room. But, surprisingly, we are in presence of a very good live show. Off course, we can't expect of it the hi- fi quality that it deserves. Its sound quality isn't really great. We may say its quality is only being acceptable, especially in some parts of the album. Possibly, this was the main reason why these recordings took almost forty years to see the light of day.

But, notably, and what is probably the main reason to check this live album, "King Alfred's College Winchester" contains two very rare tracks "Hometown Special" and "City Hermit" and contains also a lost track "Peel Off The Paint", which became the most interesting track on this CD, especially for Gentle Giant's fans. So, this is an interesting album.

"King Alfred's College Winchester" is a live album with ten tracks. The first track "Giant" was a track originally released on their debut studio album "Gentle Giant". The second track "Hometown Special" was a track never released in any studio album of the band. It only can be heard on the later compilation albums of Gentle Giant. The third track "City Hermit" was also a track never released in any studio album of the band. As happened with "Hometown Special", it only can be heard on the later compilation albums of Gentle Giant. The fourth track "Funny Ways" was also a track originally released on "Gentle Giant". The fifth track "Plain Truth" was a track that would be originally released on their second studio album "Acquiring The Taste". The sixth track "Alucard" was also a track originally released on "Gentle Giant". The seventh track "Isn't It Quiet And Cold" was also a track originally released on "Gentle Giant". The eighth track "Why Not" was also a track originally released on "Gentle Giant". The ninth track "The Queen" was also a track originally released on "Gentle Giant". The tenth track "Peel Off The Paint" is a track that has the same lyrics as "Peel The Paint", a track that would be released on their third studio album "Three Friends". But, despite of that, this is a very different track with different music and more heavy than that future studio version that will be released on that album.

In 1971 Gentle Giant was still in a phase of upheaval. Just a moment ago they were called Simon Dupree And The Big Sound and played blues rock, R&B and above all cover versions of current chart toppers. Now, they are striving for higher things as Gentle Giant, inspired by Frank Zappa and King Crimson. This live album features live versions of songs from the band's first eponymous debut studio album and second "Acquiring The Taste", complemented by live versions of two songs that were not included on the regular studio albums but included on later anthologies. So, the band presents itself accordingly ambiguous here. "Hometown Special", "City Hermit" and "Peel Off The Paint" like "Why Not", for example, are jazz or blues rockers that may not quite go with the rest of the material, which at least, has some genuine prog classics like "Giant" and "Funny Ways". Long guitar solos, like on the unfortunately incomplete "Peel Off The Paint", were no longer Gentle Giant's things. A few words about the arrangements can also be said for this album. Because some of the songs are heavily modified and expanded, such as "Plain Truth", which is about three minutes longer than the studio version, but also mostly through solos. The sound quality for a live recording of a little known band playing one of their first shows in a small hall in 1971 is surprisingly good. But, don't expect hi-fi quality.

Conclusion: Gentle Giant is one of the best, most creative and original rock bands that ever existed in the prog rock scene. Gentle Giant is also one the bands that made some of the most complex and original music in the prog music. They are one of my favourite prog bands. "King Alfred's College Winchester" represents a very simple, rare and curious live recording from Gentle Giant, a band in the beginning of their musical career. Despite its sound hasn't great quality and being only acceptable, especially in the end of the album, this became a very important live document of Gentle Giant. So, you're not going to come here for the highest of fidelity quality, but to hear a very fascinating recording, of unknown source, of a very early Gentle Giant's gig. I must confess that I had many doubts between giving 3 or 2 stars to this live album. Musically speaking, this album shows a great live musical performance and represents a rare live recording with Martin Smith on drums. But, unfortunately, the recording has it failures and although we can consider this is a live recording from 1971 by an almost unknown band, the sound quality has some flaws in the tape recordings. So, by the criterion of Progarchives, it would be rated with 2 stars. But, I can't do that. I think it deserves 3 stars, really.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

 Acquiring the Taste by GENTLE GIANT album cover Studio Album, 1971
4.28 | 1741 ratings

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Acquiring the Taste
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by Boi_da_boi_124

5 stars Review #135!

A masterful Gentle Giant recording. This is when they found their groove, their style. This is the first in the string of six albums that I think are all masterpieces from Gentle Giant. And this is a surprisingly diverse second output! You got sea- shanties ('Wreck'), psychedelic jazz prog ('The House, The Street, The Room', 'Black Cat'), mesmerizing horn/string solos and such ('Pantagruel's Nativity', 'Edge of Twilight', 'The Moon is Down'), and pure oddities ('Acquiring the Taste', 'Plain Truth'). A truly magical album, and one of my favorite prog albums of all time. Prog on, you weirdos, and acquire the taste!

 Three Friends by GENTLE GIANT album cover Studio Album, 1972
4.13 | 1439 ratings

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Three Friends
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by Boi_da_boi_124

5 stars Review #128!

'Three Friends', the big turning point in Gentle Giant's career where prog influences were moving from noticeable only with sharp ears to in the forefront for all to see (or hear, rather). The band serves up an interesting mix of classic rock, jazz- improvisation-style breakdowns (an element diminished to an extent since the previous album, 'Acquiring the Taste'), and prog insanity. It is also the band's first concept album, narrating the story of three friends whose connection was torn as they grew older through songs depicting each one of them, of course, with some prologues for context and a conclusion track. One friend works behind a desk ('Working All Day'), one an easel('Peel the Paint'), and one who worked his way up from a white-collar job to being a well-off executive ('Mister Class and Quality?!'). The largely instrumental first track, 'Prologue', has one of my all time favorite Gentle Giant guitar riffs. The minimal lyrics are amazing and act as preparation/context for the songs to come. 'Schooldays' has many passages with Gentle Giant trademark layered vocals that would be more prominent in the oncoming albums. The Soft piano section is a great part, like a callback to some similar stuff going in the debut and "Taste". 'Working All Day' has some great lyrics and an amazing solo which takes up the middle half of the track, utilizing many keyboard instruments (such as the Fender Rhodes) and guitar. 'Peel the Paint' has an interesting main rhythm, definitely progressive. Violins are omnipotent in this song, always ready for an interlude where they can show off. The aggressive guitar solo accompanied with vocals is one of Gentle Giant's most heavy moments, like Black Sabbath or some crap like that were featured here. Perfection. Metal perfection. Like an early 'Machine Messiah'. 'Mister Class and Quality?!' has an interesting blend of almost country influences, jazz, and rock in the music and medieval in the vocals. This seamlessly transitions into the title track, a symphonic chant of a song that summarizes the album with only twenty-two words. A wonderful way to complete a concept album like Gentle Giant has masterfully crafted. Prog on.

 The Advent Of Panurge by GENTLE GIANT album cover Singles/EPs/Fan Club/Promo, 1973
4.51 | 33 ratings

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The Advent Of Panurge
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by Boi_da_boi_124

5 stars Review #102!

I found out about this single's existence and felt I needed to raise awareness and my opinion on it. Side one is 'The Advent of Panurge'. This is possibly one of the greatest prog tunes ever written. Taking lyrical inspiration from the 16th- century book series 'Gargantua and Pantagruel', this song is deeply rooted (like many other Gentle Giant songs) in the medieval theme, both musically and lyrically. It also has some strong funk undertones. 'Prologue' is found on Gentle Giant's 'Three Friends', and as expected, is the opening track. It is basically one big guitar solo until the vocals begin. It is also pretty funky. These are two great songs, and they pair well to make a great single. Prog on.

 Octopus by GENTLE GIANT album cover Studio Album, 1972
4.31 | 2224 ratings

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Octopus
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by Frets N Worries

5 stars 9/10 Our more 'underground' (less well known) pick this week goes to 'Octopus'. Gentle Giant's best album can be interesting, one must listen to it several times, the music is very complex (not as complex as Tales From Topographic Oceans, but still complex) and utilizes a variety of different instruments, almost more so than Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, but even that doesn't have a xylophone solo. The album opens with 'The Adventure of Panurge' which is an epic in every sense, and changes a lot, it's a great song. 'Raconteur Troubadour' is a quirky weird British humor song. The next few songs come and go, with the occasional xylophone solo and bongos, but then you get to 'Dog's Life' which is a fun ditty about.. well.. the life of a dog, it's an adorable song. Has some xylophone. 'Think of Me With Kindness' is perhaps one of the greatest love songs ever written, I can not express how much I love this song. It's just beautiful, the lyrics, the vocals, the horns, the piano, just everything, if you listen to nothing else off of this album, listen to that. The next song is 'River', which is a nice album closer, not much to say on that. If anyone likes the weird humor of Monty Python, I recommend Gentle Giant, they're just so British, and I love them for it, also the Steven Wilson remix makes everything sound a bit warmer, it's nice.
 The Power and the Glory by GENTLE GIANT album cover Studio Album, 1974
4.32 | 1820 ratings

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The Power and the Glory
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by AJ Junior

4 stars After the release of the less notable "Glass Houses" Gentle Giant decided to one-up themselves and put out their most auditory challenging LP yet. Based on the loose concept of the corruption of power in the world "The Power and the Glory" was inspired by Watergate and Cold War tensions. Derek Shulman's bombastic vocals carry the band through the craziest sections all the while, Kerry Minear puts on a spectacular show with his amazing keyboard work.

"Proclamation" is a perfect example of the Gentle Giant sound, and is a great way to open this landmark album for the group. The beginning odd-time signature Wurlitzer is soon joined by guitar and vocals from Derek. About a third of the way through the song, John Weathers (drums) picks up the ride for an absolutely absurd passage with Hammond Organ. The song goes back into a sped-up version of the main theme to end off the last few minutes. This is one of the best songs on the album right from the start. Unfortunately, the follow-up "So Sincere" doesn't carry the trend. I think it's quite a jumbled mess, to be honest. The time signature doesn't even bother me, but the way the band carries the melody through the staccato jumpiness of the song doesn't sit right with me. IMHO, the live version of "Playing the Fool" is ten times better.

Kerry Minear's track "Aspirations" is another highlight of the album. This song is about all of our hopes and dreams and how they can tragically fall through. Kerry's voice and Wurlitzer work are superb in this song. The Acoustic guitar from Gary Green adds really nice licks throughout the entire song and the bass and drums thump as well. After the great song, Gentle Giant follows with yet another banger in "Playing the Game." This song is a tight meticulous piece on an odd-time signature which is typical for Giant. Here we see Derek hop back in the lead vocal seat while Kerry takes over on the bridge sections. The weird mix of marimba and Hohner Clavinet somehow really goes well on this song. The band also sprinkle in some nice softer Wurlizter and Hammond sections with Kerry singing during the song. This song is probably my favorite on the album especially with that great Organ solo from Kerry.

"Cogs in Cogs" keeps the theme of fast paced bombasticity from the previous tracks. The song opens with fast vocal harmonies from Derek and the band as he rambles about the cogs in the Machine with fits heavily with the concept of the album. An ensemble sings during the middle section before coming back into the opening bombastic keyboard riffs by Kerry to end the song. "The Face" is one of those Giant deep cuts that you can only recall by listening to the whole album. Its a really great referencing song to the rest of the album which is heavy with Clavinet, high vibrato organ, and screeching, odd-time signature, Violin. This song is honestly just a total bop.

The album closes on "Valedictory" which is an omage to "Proclamation" and other various tracks on the album. It repurposes the riffs in different keys and time signatures to give a rightful end to the album. The self titled bonus track "The Power and the Glory" is quite good as well featuring some good guitar work from Gary Green. I always thought this song was on the album to begin with, but apparently not. This album is great, and a spectacular addition to any prog collection. I'd even go as far as to say that it is the quintessential GG album after maybe "Octopus."

 Free Hand by GENTLE GIANT album cover Studio Album, 1975
4.30 | 1706 ratings

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Free Hand
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by Boi_da_boi_124

5 stars Review #79!

I must admit, I did not have high expectations for this album. But, as always, Gentle Giant managed to surprise me. The album begins with a catchy little melody. This turns into one of my favorite Gentle Giant songs of all time. 'Just the Same' feels like a song from The Police, which I love. Then is 'On Reflection'. This is a slower song apart from the beginning and the 'all around' sequences. The title track has some great piano in it. About halfway you get to hear a great piano solo which slowly leads into guitar, and then into the main melody. On the beginning of side two is 'Time to Kill', which sounds like a track that would fit in an earlier Gentle Giant album. 'His Last Voyage', another slower track, is the longest song on the album. It is followed by the shortest song on the album, 'Talybont', which feels like a callback to the strong medieval sound on 'Octopus' and other early Gentle Giant records. Call me crazy, but this is my favorite song on the album. It encapsulates Gentle Giant so beautifully. The final track on the album, 'Mobile', gave me some minor Van Der Graaf Generator vibes. A quality ending to a very high-quality Gentle Giant album.

 Three Friends by GENTLE GIANT album cover Studio Album, 1972
4.13 | 1439 ratings

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Three Friends
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by Megaphone of Destiny

5 stars Gentle Giant's masterpiece has to be Three Friends. I know all Giant's fans have a different favourite, that is the beauty of their work, but i find Three Friends the most poetic and musical of all the albums. I must say that apart from the last two albums, Civilian and Giant for a Day, their work is top notch. Any of their albums from the seventies can be examples of extreme well crafted prog rock. Their musicianship is always excellent. Kerry Minnear on keyboards and percussion and composition is an absolute genius with a beautiful voice also. Ray Shulman is an sadly underrated bass player, also great composer. Funky as hell, lyrical when it needs to be, powerful when the giant kicks in. Phil Shulman and Derek Shulman provide the beautiful layering of all the voices and horn arrangements. A beautiful blending of saxes and trumpets particularly on "Working All Day" with the use of a baritone sax. Gary Green provides the guitars, alternating between the calm and precision on "Schooldays" or the rawness of the electric blues on the "Peel the Paint" drum and guitar jam. Malcolm Maltimore is the drummer and I'm delighted to say that his playing is almost perfection. The unheard breaks of drums on "Prologue" the power on "Peel the Paint" and the clockwork precision on "Mister Class And Quality". All musicians seem to be perfectly aware of the composition process and with playing their instruments, an amazing array of violins, cello, saxes, trumpets, vibraphone, xylophone, piano. Etc. One can say the story is a bit lame, yes, three friends in school are drawn apart, and we get to know the place they occupy in the society after some years. It is a pretty straightforward plot but the way it develops can say something also about the way we live our lives. First we Work All Day (we're young), then we Peel the Paint (we decide our way, we struggle, we face the contradictions of life) and then we become, hopefully a mister class and quality where the world looks at us to "give and take the orders". I know, i am also a bit lame myself. The music in the album is almost perfect. If you don't know this record, you're the only one to blame. It is a masterpiece and in my opinion is one of the most beautiful records of the 70's prog rock. 1972. What a year that was. I was 3.
 The Power and the Glory by GENTLE GIANT album cover Studio Album, 1974
4.32 | 1820 ratings

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The Power and the Glory
Gentle Giant Eclectic Prog

Review by Boi_da_boi_124

5 stars Review #11!

In my opinion, 'The Power and the Glory' is Gentle Giant's number one album. As of writing this, I bought the beautiful record on vinyl for a whopping five dollars at my go-to local record store and listened to it all the way through for the billionth time. But enough about me, let us talk about this masterpiece of a concept album. 'Proclamation' opens the album subtly, but effectively. It is also the longest track on the album, running at a moderate (for progressive rock, at least) six minutes and forty-four seconds, according to my original vinyl. This is the same length as 'Playing the Game'. The second track is 'So Sincere'. Funky, complex, and verging on math rock. It is my personal favorite song on the album. Then is 'Aspirations', the saddest song on the album. This track is beautiful, to say the least. 'Playing the Game' is one of the more accessible tracks on this album, regardless of the length. Groovy keyboards really sell this song. 'Cogs in Cogs' is my least favorite track on this album, but not for an actual reason, if you get what I mean. The only reason I dislike this song is because of the painful brevity of it all. It ends abruptly, which doesn't help. 'No God's a Man' manages to have some of the best vocal dubs in the entirety of Gentle Giant's discography. 'The Face' is arguably the most starkly political track on the album. To put this wonderful record to an end is the rocky 'Valedictory', which features an altered 'Proclamation' reprise. This ending track acts as a summarization of the album. I had a lot of good things to say about this album, but I'm not done. This concept album is quite confusing when it comes to story. Complex lyrics and no real timelines to follow, each song feels more like one singular sentiment as opposed to something akin to a chapter in a book. But, I've written enough. This is a great album in terms of music, lyrics, and conceptual themes, even if the latter was not executed perfectly. I hope everyone can find something in this album like I did. I even managed to get a friend into this album by listening to it with them. Have fun listening.

Thanks to Ivan Melgar M for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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