Gentle Giant. Where to start?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
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=97594
Printed Date: April 18 2024 at 07:27
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Gentle Giant. Where to start?
Posted By: libertycaps
Subject: Gentle Giant. Where to start?
Date Posted: March 20 2014 at 00:14
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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. ------------- dynaco THE FISHER Marantz Sansui Nakamichi Line Magnetic Oppo Yamaha Dynavector Sumiko Grado Denon Pioneer Advent Klipsch/Crites |
Replies:
Posted By: UMUR
Date Posted: March 20 2014 at 01:35
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I´d start here: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=616 ------------- http://www.metalmusicarchives.com/" rel="nofollow - Metal Music Archives https://rateyourmusic.com/~UMUR" rel="nofollow - UMUR on RYM |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: March 20 2014 at 02:12
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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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Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: March 20 2014 at 02:50
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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=" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=97217&KW=
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Posted By: libertycaps
Date Posted: March 21 2014 at 12:02
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Right. Sorry about that. Anyway, after sampling tracks on youtube i decided to start with In a Glass House. ------------- dynaco THE FISHER Marantz Sansui Nakamichi Line Magnetic Oppo Yamaha Dynavector Sumiko Grado Denon Pioneer Advent Klipsch/Crites |
Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: March 22 2014 at 16:15
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IMO there is only one place to start and that's at the beginning. Believe me it's all worth it. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Posted By: Dr. Occulator
Date Posted: March 22 2014 at 16:17
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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. ------------- My Doc Told Me I Have Doggie Head. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: March 24 2014 at 02:58
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. |
libertycaps wrote:Posted By: Vincent Carr's SUMIC
Date 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! |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: March 25 2014 at 17:13
This may explain way I was never terribly keen on this album. I fear a rebuy is in order. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: March 25 2014 at 17:36
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The Power and the Glory, Acquiring the Taste, Octopus, and Three Friends, in that order
------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow">  The greatest record label of all time! |
Posted By: frippism
Date Posted: March 25 2014 at 17:42
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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 |
Posted By: libertycaps
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 01:23
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http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?PID=8093863&style=MUSIC" rel="nofollow - 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. ------------- dynaco THE FISHER Marantz Sansui Nakamichi Line Magnetic Oppo Yamaha Dynavector Sumiko Grado Denon Pioneer Advent Klipsch/Crites |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 02:39
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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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 09:58
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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. Haquin |
Posted By: Xonty
Date Posted: March 27 2014 at 14:25
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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
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Posted By: ShipwreckedSoldier
Date 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!). |
Posted By: Dayvenkirq
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 03:08
| ^ Feel free to continue on here: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=43" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=43 |
Posted By: ProgMetaller2112
Date Posted: March 28 2014 at 16:04
 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 |
Posted By: 2dogs
Date Posted: April 03 2014 at 00:50
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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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Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: April 03 2014 at 09:10
IMO the complexity of the later work didn't always mean better songs and albums.
 ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: April 04 2014 at 18:30
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I'd say Power and the glory, Three friends, Freehand, In a glass house and Civilian are my fave 5. ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 13 2014 at 09:11
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Ah... the Giant. well as long as you do NOT start with Giant for a day you should be safe. I personally believe the best of the best is a mix of Free Hand, In a Glass House, or Three Friends with a smattering of Power and the Glory. The live album is a treasure too! Playing The Fool may be the best album they have released! ------------- 
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Posted By: Gooner
Date Posted: April 13 2014 at 10:43
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I would start with "Acquiring The Taste"....then "Octopus"...then "Free Hand". You can then fill in the cracks as I've found the others in between to be transitional albums which are still incredible, but I find the aforementioned to be the "established" GG sound. Later albums from Interview to Civilian are a mixed bag, but I'm a superfan and like them all.
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Posted By: Mirror Image
Date Posted: April 13 2014 at 10:47
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I say start with Three Friends. This is probably my favorite GG album. I used to enjoy a good bit of their music. I own all of those Allucard remasters, and they do sound great no question about it, but I've kind of grown rather intolerant of much their music. I remember enjoying In A Glass House in addition to Three Friends. Octopus, although an undisputed fan favorite, has worn out it's welcome with me and it doesn't do much for me anymore. I think a lot of problems with GG is they try to cram so much into just 5-7 minutes and a lot of times it just doesn't work for me. Their 'polystylism' seems to lack a certain cohesiveness that I get from Genesis, Yes, or even King Crimson. But, at the end of the day, all of our ears are different. But I still have a fondness for the afore mentioned albums. ------------- “Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for music.” - Sergei Rachmaninov |
Posted By: libertycaps
Date Posted: June 08 2014 at 15:44
 ------------- dynaco THE FISHER Marantz Sansui Nakamichi Line Magnetic Oppo Yamaha Dynavector Sumiko Grado Denon Pioneer Advent Klipsch/Crites |
Posted By: musitron
Date Posted: June 10 2014 at 15:00
I Agree ------------- “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” Dark Side Radio - Best new Prog 2015 mixed with good old stuff. - www.live365.com/stations/young_gun |
Posted By: Saperlipopette!
Date Posted: June 10 2014 at 16:03
...is only about my fourth favorite but its still a perfect introduction. 1. Acquiring The Taste (GG's defining album imo. Perfect) 2. Three Friends 3. Debut 4. Octopus 5. In A Glass House 6. Interview 7. Power and the Glory 8. Free Hand (I still give it a 7 out of 10 though) Generally I find more beauty in their early works while the also great 1973-1976 albums feels a little colder (so I listen to them less). ------------- 
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