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Topic ClosedGentle Giant. Where to start?
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libertycaps View Drop Down
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Points: 72 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Gentle Giant. Where to start?
    Posted: March 20 2014 at 00:14
One of the few "Greats" that has hitherto escaped me.
I'm not a fan of excessive brass in my Prog Rock if that's any help.
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Points: 3010 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 20 2014 at 01:35
I´d start here: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=616
Metal Music Archives

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Points: 26108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 20 2014 at 02:12
before someone else says it - at the beginning

First eight studio albums are all worth checking out
GG
Aquiring The Taste
Three Friends
Octopus
Power And The Glory
In A Glass House
Freehand
Interview

As far as live albums go then Playing The Fool is well liked although I like the BBC Sight And Sound In Concert a bit more although that may only be available as a bootleg.
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Points: 10970 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 20 2014 at 02:50
Any of the suggestions above will do.

Make sure you check out similar threads before you start a duplicate. You just might find the starter that suits you on this thread: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=97217&KW=


Edited by Dayvenkirq - March 20 2014 at 02:59
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libertycaps View Drop Down
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Points: 72 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 21 2014 at 12:02
Right. Sorry about that. Anyway, after sampling tracks on youtube i decided to start with In a Glass House.
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Points: 627 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2014 at 16:15
IMO there is only one place to start and that's at the beginning. Believe me it's all worth it.
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Points: 627 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 22 2014 at 16:17
Also apart from Giant for a Day in their later years, I think In a Glass House is their weakest classic album. I hated the production and thought the arrangements were not nearly as well thought out as their other classic albums.
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Points: 26108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 24 2014 at 02:58
Originally posted by libertycaps libertycaps wrote:

Right. Sorry about that. Anyway, after sampling tracks on youtube i decided to start with In a Glass House.



If you do get that album on CD make sure you get the 2009 Alucard release as remastered from the original master tapes. The earlier 35th Anniversary release was botched and has horrible sound and way too much hiss.
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Points: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2014 at 05:15
I started with 'Live-Playing The Fool' and it did me no harm

But yeah, starting at the beginning would be a great journey!
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Points: 166178 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2014 at 17:13
Originally posted by richardh richardh wrote:


Originally posted by libertycaps libertycaps wrote:

Right. Sorry about that. Anyway, after sampling tracks on youtube i decided to start with In a Glass House.

If you do get that album on CD make sure you get the 2009 Alucard release as remastered from the original master tapes. The earlier 35th Anniversary release was botched and has horrible sound and way too much hiss.


This may explain way I was never terribly keen on this album. I fear a rebuy is in order.
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Points: 14169 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2014 at 17:36
The Power and the Glory, Acquiring the Taste, Octopus, and Three Friends, in that order
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Points: 4160 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 25 2014 at 17:42
The Power and the Glory is the one I think summarizes their sound best. In A Glass House is a bit more varied and also great. Acquiring The Taste still remains my favorite. I don't really like Octopus at all :O nor Free Hand that much. Also the debut is nice. 

A band whose softer medieval like passage are usually much better than their sometimes cheesy hard rock songs...
There be dragons
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libertycaps View Drop Down
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Points: 72 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2014 at 01:23
http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?PID=8093863&style=MUSIC
Just checked. It's the Alucard remaster! Phew.
I'll prolly get Octopus next if sufficiently moved to do so. 
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richardh View Drop Down
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Points: 26108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2014 at 02:39
Originally posted by libertycaps libertycaps wrote:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?PID=8093863&style=MUSIC
Just checked. It's the Alucard remaster! Phew.
I'll prolly get Octopus next if sufficiently moved to do so. 

yep thats it

BTW Edge Of Twilight has all of Octopus bar one track Dog's Life which is considered one of GG's weakest tracks. I did splash out on the most recent Alucard remaster which comes in a replica gatefold sleeve and includes a bonus track 'Excerpts From Octopus' of them playing live. I think it was worth it for that.
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Points: 20451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2014 at 09:58
I see that 'libertycaps'  started with Glass House....well., it has the highest rating here at PA so I suppose that's as good as place as any though it's interesting that the band themselves weren't as fond of that one....at least from what I read once.
I have always liked the first two the best...the later ones are certainly more sophisticated but for me not as accessible and not as melodic at times.
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
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Points: 1759 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 27 2014 at 14:25
Power And The Glory is the only one I really like to be honest, and I listened to their debut, Octopus, and In A Glass House, but never got into it. The Power And The Glory is the essence of Gentle Giant for me - I'd say start there Smile
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Points: 1 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2014 at 02:43
I started with the first album(s/t)and just went chronically until "Free Hand"(1975). I didn't really enjoyed their later stuff. But my favorite GG album is probably "In A Glass House". (BTW my first post here, Cheers!).
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Dayvenkirq View Drop Down
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Points: 10970 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2014 at 03:08
^ Feel free to continue on here: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=43
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ProgMetaller2112 View Drop Down
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Points: 3145 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 28 2014 at 16:04
Originally posted by Dr. Occulator Dr. Occulator wrote:

IMO there is only one place to start and that's at the beginning. Believe me it's all worth it.


The only place to start in my opinion
“War is peace.

Freedom is slavery.

Ignorance is strength.”

― George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four



"Ignorance and Prejudice and Fear walk Hand in Hand"- Neil Peart
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Points: 705 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 03 2014 at 00:50
I've started with the first one and quite liked it, have now got to Acquiring the Taste. I like this one more, particularly the complexity and having a number of contrasting things to listen to simultaneously.
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