Phil Shulman's role in Gentle Giant

They definitely became more rock forward once Phil left. I feel like Weathers taking over the drum stool had something to do with that too. 

^I agree that the technicality increased post-Phil, but it was always there to begin with. I think they would have been more tech even with him remaining in the band, but I imagine there would be more literary references/themes. He was a teacher IIRC, and returned to it full-time upon leaving GG. Family time by that point for him!

Phil was great but the band got better without him: In A Glass House, Power & The Glory, Free Hand - all better than anything with Phil (well, maybe not Octopus but certainly the first three.)

^ It was better when they used to sell vegetables at gigs. People didn't have to resort to throwing glasses and bottles.

Never realized Phil sang on so many great songs!  I love both GG versions with and without Phil, but definitely prefer the early albums over the latter...

Tom Ozric wrote: He plays some trumpet and provides back-vocals........ I dunno when it comes GG. I'm sure Phil inserted his twist on the compositions. Probs why I don't love GG albums post-Octopus as much.......

I stopped being interested in the group after the third album 

Dellinger wrote: ... but somehow I decided to give their earlier studio albums a chance and, well, I did love their first two albums, and sort of liked the next two also, but they already began to show signs of the elements I didn't like from the albums I had checked before... so, I'm not sure what exactly might have been, but I believe Phil was a very important element for what I liked from GG on their early albums, and perhaps the attempt of the band to shift the sound is what made him leave.

Darious wrote: Borris wrote: So please give me your thoughts on Phil's contribution to Gentle Giant. Excellent interviews. And yes, with Phil's departure from Gentle Giant it was the beginning of the end for the group

The "beginning of the end" took another 7 years to "kill" the group after Phil left........hardly a quick death, especially when most people on PA, including myself, believe their best albums span from In A Glass House up to and including Free Hand (see top PA 100 albums). Sure their first 3 albums with Phil are great but their next 4 albums, including the live Playing the Fool are IMHO even better.

Mascodagama wrote: Magnum Vaeltaja wrote: zravkapt wrote: They lost a warmth and atmosphere when Phil left; their music became more mechanical and cold...still good just not great like before. Preach brotha. The first 4 GG albums had soul, man.  I'm pretty much with you guys. The only post-Phil album I unconditionally love is TPATG.

The first Gentle Giant album I got was "Playing the Fool" (since I am fond to try live albums first to get an overview of band's careersu up to that point, and that particular album had such great reviews), and it almost led me to not try them out any further, for I just couldn't get much enjoyment out of it (and that reinforced by the fact I had checked out "The Power and the Glory" on Youtube and didn't do much for me either)... but somehow I decided to give their earlier studio albums a chance and, well, I did love their first two albums, and sort of liked the next two also, but they already began to show signs of the elements I didn't like from the albums I had checked before... so, I'm not sure what exactly might have been, but I believe Phil was a very important element for what I liked from GG on their early albums, and perhaps the attempt of the band to shift the sound is what made him leave.