The Essential of Gentle Giant
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About the Album
A Brazilian compilation CD on EMI Brazil (821620 2). The sound quality is reportedly excellent; however, several tracks are shortened as noted below. (Thanks to Yvon-Louis Trottier for detailed information about this album.)
Track List
- Proclamation (6:48) - fades out 5 seconds early
- Giant For A Day (3:48)
- Just The Same (5:32)
- Aspirations (4:38) - fades out 42 seconds eearly
- No God's a Man (4:26)
- Words From The Wise (4:13)
- Edge Of Twighlight [sic] (3:48)
- Pantagruel Nativy [sic] (6:52) - fades out 3 seconds early
- Mobile (4:47) - final drums are omitted
- His Last Voyage (6:25)
- It's Only Goodbye (4:18)
- Rock Climber (3:50)
- So Sincere (3:49)
- Exepts [sic] From Octopus (15:36)
Liner notes
Portuguese
Formado em 1969 pelos irmâos Shulman, Derek (vocais, guitarra e baixo), Ray (vocais, baixo, violino) e Phil (saxofone) depois que o antigo grupo deles, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound acabou. Kerry Minnear (Teclados e vocais), Gary Green (guitarra/vocais) e Martin Smith (bateria) completavam a primeira formação do Gentle Giant que tento fugir das inclinaciones pop/soul de sua banda antecessora para o experimenta, estilo progressivo reminiscente do Yes et do King Crimson. O sexteto assinou com o selo Vertigo em 1970 e junto com o produtor Tony Visconti completou o album de estéria que indicou todas as pistas do caminho a seguir nas gravações subseqüentes . Esse ambiscioso trabalho misturava rock pesado e classico com um arriscado uso de mundanças complexas de acordes que, se não tiveram sucesso commercial, pelo menos serviram para indicar uma busca por excelência e originalidade. Apesar de ter sido considerado pretensioso por vários criticos e analistas, não se podia negar a ambição e a individualidade que esse lançamento introduziu. Smith deixou o groupo depois de Acquiring the Taste, sendo substituído por Malcom Mortimore que apareceu em “Three Friends” et teve sua saída forçada por um acidente de moto. John « Pugwash » Weathers, veterano do Eyes of Blues, Graham Bond et Pete Brown do Piblokto, integaram o Gentle Giant para Octopus, indiscutivelmente seu mais conhecido lançamento. O álbum seguinte Power and the Glory’s rendeu novo contrato com a Chrysalis já o álbum subseqüente, Free Hand, se tornou o disco do Gentle Giant mais vendido no Reino Unido. Interview, que veio em seguida, invocou o estilo expermental dos premeiros lançamentos. O álbum duplo Playing the Fool confirmou a destreza do quinteto em concertos.
English
Formed in 1969 by brothers Shulman, Derek (vocals, guitar and bass), Ray (vocals, bass, violin) and Phil (saxophone) after their former group, Simon Dupree and the Big Sound disbanded. Kerry Minnear (keyboards and vocals), Gary Green (guitar/vocals) and Martin Smith (drums) completed the first line-up of Gentle Giant who tried to get away from the pop/soul leanings of their predecessor band to the experimental, progressive style, reminiscent of Yes and King Crimson. The sextet signed with the Vertigo label in 1970 and together with producer Tony Visconti completed the debut album that indicated all the clues of the way forward in subsequent recordings. This ambiguous work blended heavy rock and classical with a risky use of complex chord changes that, if not commercially successful, at least served to indicate a quest for excellence and originality. Despite being considered pretentious by several critics and analysts, there was no denying of the ambition and individuality that this release introduced. Smith left the group after Acquiring the Taste, being replaced by Malcolm Mortimore who appeared in Three Friends and was forced out by a motorcycle accident. Eyes of Blues veteran John « Pugwash » Weathers (who also played with Graham Bond and Pete Brown & Piblokto!) joined Gentle Giant for Octopus, arguably their best-known release.
The follow-up album, The Power and the Glory, yielded another contract with Chrysalis, and the subsequent album, Free Hand, became Gentle Giant's best-selling record in the UK. Interview, which followed, invoked the experimental style of early releases. The double live album Playing the Fool confirmed the quintet's prowess in concert.
More artwork
Outside cover
Inside cover
