Gentle Giant: Discography Part 2 (1975 - 1980)

 GENTLE GIANT PART 2: 1975 - 1980

                                

This is the 2nd post regarding the discography of Gentle Giant

07. Free Hand (1975)
08. Interview (1976)
09. The Missing Piece (1977)
10. Playing The Fool (Live) (1977)
11. Giant for a Day! (1978)
12. Civilian (1980)


07. GENTLE GIANT - FREE HAND 1975

                         

Free Hand is perhaps Gentle Giant's most realized effort. After the excellent In a Glass House, the group further developed its Renaissance-medieval approach, producing one of the most creative and complex

recordings in progressive rock history. Their vocal approach to the four-part fugue "On Reflection" was revolutionary for its time and is looked upon as one of the genre's defining moments. Despite the complexity of the arrangements, the music never sounds academic and in fact is very accessible thanks to several melodic hooks. The combination of superb musicianship, dry wit, and creative compositions make this an essential and historical recording. 
                                                 

Gentle Giant – 1975 - Free Hand
Label: Terrapin Trucking Record Co. Ltd – TRUCK CD 004
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1993
Country: UK
Released: 1975    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                                 

01. Just The Same    5:34
02. On Reflection    5:41
03. Free Hand    6:14
04. Time To Kill    5:08
05. His Last Voyage    6:27
06. Talybont    2:43
07. Mobile    5:05

LINE - UP

Derek Shulman - lead and backing vocals, bass, saxes  
Ray Shulman - bass guitar, electric and acoustic guitar, violins, backing vocals
Kerry Minnear -  Hammond organ, Minimoog, Mellotron, piano, backing and lead vocals
Gary Green - lead guitar, 12 string guitar, backing vocals
John Weathers - drums, percusions

Flac Size: 194 MB

08. GENTLE GIANT - IN'TERVIEW 1976

                               

Generally considered to be the last must-have recording from these progressive rock giants. Recorded at a frenetic pace, the band had the impossible task of topping their classic, Free Hand. Interview is actually a concept album centering on a fictitious interview based upon the music business. There are the typical

complex harmonies and intricate musical passages, but the real progress is in the group's expanded sound, thanks in large part to Kerry Minnear's stellar keyboard innovations. Unfortunately progressive rock was nearing its initial run as a popular form of music, forcing most prog bands to either adapt to the changing times or simply fade away. Unfortunately, Gentle Giant tried their hand at pop for a short and embarrassing time before disbanding. Gentle Giant's legacy began with their eponymously titled debut and ended with this one. 
                     

Gentle Giant – 1976 - In'terview
Label: Chrysalis – none
Format: Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo 2012
Country: UK
Released: 1976    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                          

01. Interview    6:53
02. Give It Back    5:12
03. Design    5:00
04. Another Show    3:30
05. Empty City    4:24
06. Timing    4:52
07. I Lost My Head    7:00
08. Intro (Live 1976)    1:38
09. Interview (Live 1976)    6:57
10. Give It Back (Live 1976)    5:17

LINE - UP

Derek Shulman – vocals, saxes
Gary Green – guitars
Kerry Minnear – keyboards
Ray Shulman – bass, violin
John Weathers – drums

Flac Size: 304 MB

09. GENTLE GIANT - THE MISSING PIECE 1977

                           

The Missing Piece was Gentle Giant's last album to chart in the U.S. Until 1977 Gentle Giant's

complicated music won them fans all over the world, but as market tastes changed, their fan base ceased to grow. In an attempt to attract a wider audience, the band decided to streamline its sound with simpler styles and a more "live" sound. There were always distinctions between their complex studio work and their concert arrangements, so they now brought the two together by testing material on the road that might work well both live and in the studio.
                       

Gentle Giant – 1977 - The Missing Piece
Label: Chrysalis – none
Format: Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, VBR
Country: UK
Released: Aug 16, 2016
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Classic Rock

TRACKS

                                 

01. Two Weeks In Spain    3:07
02. I'm Turning Around    4:00
03. Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It    2:23
04. Who Do You Think You Are?    3:34
05. Mountain Time    3:22
06. As Old As You're Young    4:21
07. Memories Of Old Days    7:18
08. Winning    4:16
09. For Nobody    4:06

BONUS TRACKS

10. Two Weeks In Spain (Live, 1978)    3:27
11. I'm Turning Around (Live, 1978)    4:09
12. For Nobody (Live, 1978)    4:25

LINE - UP

Derek Shulman – lead vocals on all tracks
Gary Green – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (track 7)
Ray Shulman – bass, 12-string guitar (track 7), percussion (track 8)
Kerry Minnear – Hammond organ (tracks 1, 2, 5–9), electric piano (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7), piano (tracks 4–6, 8), synthesizer (tracks 1, 4, 7), Minimoog (tracks 3, 6, 8), Clavinet (track 6), percussion (track 8), vocals (track 6)
John Weathers – drums (track 1–6, 8, 9), tambourine (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 9), cymbal crash (track 7), percussion (track 8), drum machine (track 8)

Flac Size: 336 MB

10. GENTLE GIANT - PLAYING THE FOOL (LIVE)1977

                         

This live album was released in the wake of a single-disc bootleg of the same name taken off of an FM radio concert. The repertory includes lots of stuff off of their early albums, including the never-released-

in-the-U.S. In a Glass House. The sound is very vivid and close, whether the band is rocking to "Just the Same" or recreating the medieval-style a cappella vocals to "On Reflection." One Way has done an unusually good job with the sound on this album, and the original art has also been nicely recreated. This disc will obviously appeal to serious fans most of all, but even neophytes might consider this as an early acquisition. 
                               

Gentle Giant – 1977 - Playing The Fool
Label: Drt Entertainment – RTE00354
Series: 35Th Anniversary Edition
Format: 2 x CD, Album, Enhanced, Reissue, Remastered 2005
Country: US
Released: 1977    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

CD1.

                      

01. Just The Same   6:08
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman    
02. Proclamation   5:07
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman
03. On Reflection   6:24
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman
04. Excerpts From Octopus   15:35
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman
05. Funny Ways   8:35
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman    

CD2.

                          

01. The Runaway   3:57
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman    
02. Experience   5:33
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman    
03. So Sincere   10:22
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman    
04. Free Hand   7:40
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman
05. Sweet Georgia Brown (Breakdown In Brussels)   1:15
Written-By – Bernie, Casey, Pinkard
06. Peel The Paint / I Lost My Head (Medley)   7:35
Written-By – Shulman, Minnear, Shulman

LINE - UP

Derek Shulman – vocals, alto saxophone, descant recorder, bass and percussion
Ray Shulman – bass, violin, acoustic guitar, descant recorder, trumpet, vocals and percussion
Kerry Minnear – all keyboards, cello, vibes, tenor recorder, vocals and percussion
Gary Green – electric, acoustic and 12-string guitars, alto and descant recorders, vocals and percussion
John Weathers – drums, vibes, tambourine, vocals and percussion
    

Flac Size: 515 MB

11. GENTLE GIANT - GIANT FOR THE DAY! 1978

                                   

When one considers the musical achievements of Gentle Giant -- the composition and execution of some

of the best progressive rock from 1971-1976 -- one wonders why this talented band would lower themselves to 4/4 rockers and five-minute ballads. The fairytale "rise of punk/fall of prog" of the '70s led to The Missing Piece (1977), which found the band testing the waters with more "normal" songs and a diluted complexity. With the cartoon-cutout album cover, the band trumpets their new makeover from the get-go. Its playfulness matches the straightforward, bright sounds of the music found inside. 
                        

Gentle Giant – 1978 - Giant For A Day!
Label: Chrysalis – none
Format: Album, Reissue, Remastered Feb 23, 2010
Country: Europe
Released: 1978    
Genre: Rock
Style: Hard Rock, Pop Rock

TRACKS

                     

01. Words From The Wise    4:14
02. Thank You    4:49
03. Giant For A Day    3:50
04. Spooky Boogie    2:55
05. Take Me    3:35
06. Little Brown Bag    3:26
07. Friends    2:00
08. No Stranger    2:30
09. It's Only Goodbye    4:17
10. Rock Climber    3:53
11. Giant For A Day (Live)    5:25

LINE - UP

Derek Shulman – vocals
Ray Shulman – bass
Kerry Minnear – keyboards
Gary Green – guitars
John Weathers – drums

Flac Size: 263 MB

12. GENTLE GIANT - CIVILIAN 1980

                        

At the end of the '70s, many of Gentle Giant's progressive rock contemporaries were looking for new

directions that would sell. With its darker outlook and hard-hitting sound (it is the only Gentle Giant album without acoustic guitar), Civilian was definitely a turn for the better. But unlike Genesis, Gentle Giant never made it over the hump; it was announced that the tour that followed would be their last, and they disbanded. 
                       

Gentle Giant – 1980 - Civilian
Label:The Road Goes On Forever – RGF CD 1008
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 1993
Country: UK
Released: 1980
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                        

01. Convenience (Clean And Easy)    3:12
02. All Through The Night    4:20
03. Shadows On The Street    3:17
04. Number One    4:44
05. Underground    3:47
06. I Am A Camera    3:29
07. Inside Out    5:50
08. It's Not Imagination    3:57
09. Heroes    4:25

LINE - UP

Derek Shulman – vocals
Gary Green – electric guitars
Kerry Minnear – keyboards, vocals
Ray Shulman – bass, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
John Weathers – drums, backing vocals

Flac Size: 251 MB