Best Gentle Giant songs for a Symphonic Prog fan
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=112543
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Topic: Best Gentle Giant songs for a Symphonic Prog fan
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Subject: Best Gentle Giant songs for a Symphonic Prog fan
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 19:29
| As the title suggests, I'm looking for Gentle Giant - a band that I want to get into, as I love 70s British prog - songs. But I'm a symphonic prog fan (favorite bands include Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd and King Crimson), so I'm wondering if there are Gentle Giant songs that would specifically appeal to me. I know that I have the capacity to like this band, because I have already got into "In a Glass House" (so if there are any other GG songs like that one I would like to know about them). So, to sum it up, which Gentle Giant songs are the most melodic, epic/farthest away from pop, have instruments other than guitar, bass, drums and keyboards and have singing that is not too strange/unconventional? (basically which songs are the most like Yes) |
Replies:
Posted By: CosmicVibration
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 19:40
|
Giant's concept album - 3 Friends |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 19:45
| Thank you. I have heard some songs from that album. Still needs to be listened to a little more to grasp it. But I have heard good things about it, so hopefully, it will "click" someday for me. |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 19:50
What's that album's best song, in your opinion? |
CosmicVibration wrote:Posted By: Magnum Vaeltaja
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 20:05
The title track that finishes the album off should be right up your alley as someone who loves symphonic prog. ------------- when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 20:32
|
All imo: Giant from the first album Pantagruel's Nativity from Acquiring the Taste Three Friends from Three Friends (you could combine it with Mr. Class and Quality which is right before it but the title track is the one with the mellotron). Not much from Octopus but it's a really great album nonetheless Free Hand from Free Hand Not much else imo. Most of their music is really quirky and rather complex(though maybe not as complex as some people would have you think). However, their music is held together with strong instrumental interplay and great melodies(most of the time). If you like the above mentioned songs give them a shot and sample or buy their albums. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 20:34
|
IMO the first two albums are melodic and accessible .....try Pantagruel's Nativity from Acquiring the Taste, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Aj4KApHxDg ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 20:42
| I love their first two albums, after that they started getting... well, less melodic. The one song that helped me get into them is "Funny Ways"... the live version on "Playing the Fool" (even if it's the only song I liked in that album, otherwise I prefer the studio album in which it originally came, the debut). |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 21:29
| Anyway, why not look for other stuff that you might like besides Gentle Giant. I recommend the Italian band PFM and also Anglagard. |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 22:50
I have listened to PFM, in fact I found them by looking through this site's album rankings feature. So far, I like their songs "Appena Un Pò" and "Impressioni di Settembre". But I need to listen to the full albums Per Un Amico and Storia di Un Minuto because they're both in the top 50 prog albums of all time list, although I have read that L'Isola di Niente is worth listening to too. I'm looking for the most ethereal, beautiful-sounding songs with this band. What's your favorite song from both their debut and 2nd albums? |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 22:52
It's a great song, thank you for recommending it. Now it's my second fav GG song. |
Posted By: iluvmarillion
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 22:53
I wouldn't say Acquiring the taste is all that accessible. The first though is as it follows the path of prog rock to that point. The next three follow a unique and complex path before they simplify a bit with In a Glass House. For a Symp Rock fan it's difficult to say what songs from Gentle Giant they might like. I'd suggest their live album, Playing the Fool might be a good starting point.
|
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 27 2017 at 23:06
I was just on iTunes looking at Gentle Giant albums, and I saw Playing the Fool on there. Seems like a good collection of songs from what I know about GG! I think it is cool that the band extended some songs to longer lengths ("Funny Ways"). I'll listen to that album because I have found other live albums to be good starting points for bands that I now like, so thank you! |
Posted By: Frankh
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 00:23
|
From Freehand, His Last Voyage. Beautiful, gutsy and has everything that makes the band great. Listen for Kerry Minnear tripping down the ivories during the blues break. My favorite. ------------- Perhaps finding the happy medium is harder than we know. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 00:36
| Gentle Giant are just too unique to try and fit what they do into other band styles. I'm a fan of seventies symphonic prog but I don't really hear anything in GG to compare to ELP, Yes or Genesis. I love Power and The Glory but the more expansive albums like IAGH and 3Friends don't do that much for me although they certainly have good moments. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 00:54
As many have stated - Three Friends. GG have many special albums, this is one of them 
|
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 02:08
Isn't the album's title Free Hand, not Freehand? Anyways, I will listen to that song. Just by the fact that it is the longest song on the album, I can tell it will be good! I have heard good and average reviews of this album, but maybe those who were not so keen on it liked "His Last Voyage", but not enough to outweigh the many lesser songs on the album. Thanks for your suggestion! |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 02:18
I've already listened to it since posting - it is cool and artsy in a good way! Love the melancholic melodies in the title song, because the emotion and expressiveness in the vocals are so much better than the distant, (dare I say it) too proggy vocals in other GG songs. |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 02:25
It seems that every Gentle Giant fan has a unique taste in the band, which is why it's hard to come up with the "Supper's Ready"-type masterpiece of this band. I agree that they don't fit into any other prog style. The only song of Gentle Giant's that seems like another band's song is "Think of Me With Kindness", which sounds like an early Yes song. But all I'm looking for is good music, so I'll just go with what the consensus of GG fans say is their best, and not try to pick out the most "other-band-sounding" songs. |
Posted By: Frankh
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 02:42
|
Yeah. Free Hand. I've only owned the album in one form or another for 42 years. (Ya'd think by now I'd know what it's called.) ------------- Perhaps finding the happy medium is harder than we know. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 03:12
|
Gawd, I can’t recall the actual song titles, but some of Acquiring The Taste sounds ‘symphonic’ to me. And, yes, His Last Voyage is pure majik !! My fave song off of Free Hand. |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 05:28
|
"Octopus" and "Acquiring the Taste" are their best albums, and there is a lot for the symphonic prog fan on them. -------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Squonk19
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 05:49
------------- “Living in their pools, they soon forget about the sea.” |
Posted By: miamiscot
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 09:08
| Anything from Free Hand. I find it's the most "symphonic" GG album. |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 15:18
Haha, since you've listened to thousands of songs, it is understandable that you forget the specific song titles of symphonic songs from a certain album! I will listen to that album for sure. I've already listened to "Pantagruel's Nativity" and a sample of "The House, The Street, The Room", and they're good. I also have to listen to "Free Hand"and "His Last Voyage", per suggestions from this thread, so thank you for recommending that "majik" song, it will be listened to today! |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 28 2017 at 18:24
|
As a fan of their more complex works, I do have to agree with the suggestions in this thread for a symphonic fan. You're pretty much good up to Octopus IMO. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 29 2017 at 14:15
The funny thing is my favorite song of Gentle Giant's is "In a Glass House", which came after Octopus! Thanks for commenting. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 30 2017 at 04:00
I'd be lying if I didn't say said title track is in my top 3 GG tracks of all time. The way I look at their discography, is Octopus was their peak with Phil in that style. The following three recordings are pretty evenly matched as far as I'm personally concerned. In a Glass House, The Power and The Glory, and Free Hand are pretty much archetypal progressive rock. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: Olape
Date Posted: December 30 2017 at 07:47
|
Hi everybody! Try the Three Piece Suite (Steven Wilson Mix) from this year. A really good selection of songs from the first three GG albums, including a lot of the tracks mentioned here.  ------------- 
|
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 30 2017 at 16:48
What are the other two top songs, in your opinion? |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 30 2017 at 16:57
That's a really good suggestion! I have seen that album while perusing through albums on Spotify and ITunes. Sucks that the full Three Friends album isn't available on either one of those music places. But TPS has a really good selection of songs from those three albums, Wilson chose the top 3-4 songs from each imo (missing "Wreck though). |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 30 2017 at 17:02
Cogs in Cogs, Free Hand. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 30 2017 at 21:51
I do not think that GG is a band for you ... and besides ... you have to "ACQUIRE THE TASTE", and you are limiting your taste to something that is not called "Gentle Giant" at all ... I might even suggest to go look under rap somewhere! Heck, it's time for some soup! Try that Russian Beet soup ... I hear it's healthy and progressive!  ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: December 31 2017 at 07:07
| funny ways and giant think of me with kindness |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: December 31 2017 at 08:06
|
It always baffles me how even the biggest prog fans have an issue "hearing" GG. They are the epitome of progressive music for me, and I don't want to sound judgey by saying this, but do you even like prog if your ears can't handle the peak of said style (IMHO)? It's like I was looking for GG my entire life, and no other bands delivered. Just my two cents! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: ClosetothSupperBrick
Date Posted: December 31 2017 at 23:11
?? I don't understand that. |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: January 01 2018 at 02:41
I think he's just doing some friendly teasing! Based on the requests made in this thread, the best elements of GG are being asked to be removed in the opinion of most fans! Kind of like "I want a pizza with no cheese and sauce", so just bread!  The first three records are the sweet spot for such a request. ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: grantman
Date Posted: January 02 2018 at 20:39
| giant and prologue |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: January 02 2018 at 21:33
It was a tease, but then, GG is the biggest tease of them all when it comes to "progressive". And they are not even heavy on the keyboards like the definition says it's supposed to! One of the funniest things to listen to, and sooooo GG, is to hear some Italian idiot interview Gary Green, and explain to Gary what "progressive" music is that GG didn't do ... and GG by the end, even said ... we never wrote anything down ... we just played! To get your head, and thoughts, around that kind of music, is completely contradictory to your request and choice of words for "music" that you would like to listen to. One just has to open up to very different things ... they are the best of the "arts" in history, and they stand up better than most ... GG is no different in the discussions in this board. Once the taste is acquired, I think a lot of people realized how valuable and important their catalogue was to the discussion of "progressive" ... there really is not a whole lot more "progressive" than GG ... even after the top 3 or 4 ... when it comes to their ability and creativity! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: January 03 2018 at 02:15
|
^To add to this, I find that most bands of that era just "played rock n roll", and the public came up with the labels after the fact. Yes was doing their version of rock and roll. My father insists nobody called it prog rock and they might as well have been emulating the Stones for all anyone knew. It's really those top tier bands (Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, VDGG, etc) that exemplified what we now know and love as prog! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: January 03 2018 at 09:05
I was lucky ... from 1974 on I had right next to me, Guy Guden and his Space Pirate Radio (separate thread on this board!), and one of the first things that Guy's show would do for your noodles was to show you how much you were missing if you only listened to those bands ... there was music elsewhere that was vastly different, and deserved the attention it could never have, because folks were stuck in many of those bands. GG never really "fit" into the big and better known groups, but it was a strong player and staple in Guy's shows, not only his signature show but also the others during the week. The same for VDGG and Peter Hammill, that got a lot more exposure through Guy than anyone else ... COMBINED! GG had its greatest appreciation in places like Italy, I think, where a lot of rock music was inspired by classical music and a lot of it, had musical qualities that were closer to classical music concepts than otherwise. GG as a composition, would immediately get everyone's attention in that environment, that was not sucked up by the music establishment and the harsh top ten system, that prevents you from hearing anything else, because it can't be good if it does not sell. Guy's motto (he had many!) usually was ... none of the hits none of the time ... and this allowed a lot of new music to be played, that most folks, even in this board, do not discuss or mention, or if it shows up, its a sort of occasional thing ... and disappears just as fast, because of all this and that about the top three, yet again! And articles that supposedly show how important it is to graph messages in a bottle that are 20 to 30 years old! The hardest part ... to deal with ... was always the reaction of other folks at the station (a commercial one at that!), when they heard different things ... it only made you wonder ... are you EVER listening to music, or just ... agreeing with your friends so you look cool and can try to take that blonde out to ... !!!!!! I guess that the music loses its value quickly there ... somewhere, right? And 30 years later with grown children and a house ... some folks, STILL, have not "heard" that other music, despite it being mentioned! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Frenetic Zetetic
Date Posted: January 03 2018 at 17:18
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^This post just blew my mind! ------------- "I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021 |
Posted By: awaken77
Date Posted: January 04 2018 at 07:49
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Gentle Giant is a symphonic prog band with weird side :-). It has typical main ingredients of symphonic prog: classical, jazz, straight/bluesy rock, and folk. But it sounds different from ELP or Yes, which also have these influences. Strange enough, huh? Very symphonic with magnificent keyboards . I love the part where organ and synth layered together from 3:32, it could be on Wakeman's solo album Kerry Minnear is one of best prog keyboard players, quite underrated |