The Power and the Glory
For other uses of "The Power and the Glory", see The Power and the Glory (disambiguation).
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About the Album
A concept album about power and corruption. (Rumors that the album is actually about Watergate are reportedly untrue.)
Some CD releases have a bonus track, The Power And The Glory. Ray Shulman, in Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press (April/May 1976), tells the story:
- "WWA said, 'Now boys, you've got to be commercial, you've gotta make singles. Now you run away and write us a single.' So we did three atrocious numbers. This song's the worst--'You've got it lads!'--and we went into the studio and handed over the tapes when we came out. They put it out, we yelled at them, and they gave it back--took it off the market."
The song was the A-side of the single, and it was indeed widely available in the USA from import dealers. (Thanks to Biffy the Elephant Shrew for this info.)
Musicians
Gary Green - guitars
Kerry Minnear - keyboards, cello, vocals
Derek Shulman - vocals, saxes
Ray Shulman - bass, violin, vocals
John Weathers - drums, percussion, vocals
Other liner notes:
All tracks licensed from Polygram Special Products Special thanks to engineer: Gary Martin All titles composed by: Shulman, Shulman and Minnear Published by Alucard Music, Ltd. Album produced and arranged by Gentle Giant for Alucard Productions, Ltd. Recorded at Advision Studios, London. December '73 thru January '74. Studio time, Hotel reservations and other niceties our secretary Joanna and friend Glen. Cover design produced by Cream. CD Package: Phil Smee at Waldo's Design Co-ordination: David G. Hemmings Album directed by Pat Meehan Snr.
Track List
- Proclamation (6:48)
- So Sincere (3:52)
- Aspirations (4:41)
- Playing the Game (6:46)
- Cogs in Cogs (3:08)
- No God's a Man (4:28)
- The Face (4:12)
- Valedictory (3:21)
- The Power And The Glory (2:53) (bonus track on some CD releases)
Lyrics
All lyrics reproduced with the permission of DRT Entertainment (USA) and Alucard Publishing, Ltd. (UK).
- submitted by Marshall Wood
Proclamation
For other uses of "Proclamation", see Proclamation (disambiguation).
Lead vocals: Derek
1. You may not have all you want or you need all that you have has been due to my hand, it can change, it can stay the same, who can say, who can make their claim. 2. The situation we are in at this time neither a good one, nor is it so unblest it can change, it can stay the same, I can say, I can make my claim. Hail ........ Hail ........ Hail. 3. Unity's strength and all must be as one, confidence in you hope will reflect in me I think everyone not as my nation for you are my people and there must be no change. It can change, it can stay the same I can say, I can make my claim. Hail ........ Hail ........ Hail. Hail to Power and to Glory's way. Hail to Power and to Glory's way. Hail to Power and to Glory's way. Hail to Power and to Glory's way. Day by day. (repeat verses 1 & 3)
So Sincere
Lead vocals: Kerry, plus Derek on choruses
Hear, he'll do it all for you, you will see it, wise and knowing what to do, what to be and every word is ........ Lies, he only tells the truth, for he means it, means, not anything he says, eyes unseen, but everything is ........ So sincere, so sincere, so sincere, so sin. Yes, that is to say no, understanding wrong, he makes his promise right, with your hand you'll never know why. So sincere, so sincere, so sincere, so sincere. So, sincere his thoughts so full, always empty Good, or maybe things are bad, so sincere, and every word is ........ So sincere, so ........
Aspirations
Lead vocals: Kerry
As the dust settles, see our dreams,
all coming true
it depends on you,
If our times, they are troubled times,
show us the way,
tell us what to do.
As our faith, maybe aimless blind,
hope our ideals and
our thoughts are yours
And believing the promises,
please make your claims
really so sincere.
Be our guide, our light and our way of life
and let the world see the way we lead our way.
Hopes, dreams, hopes dreaming that all our
sorrows gone.
In your hands, holding everyone's
future and fate
It is all in you,
Make us strong build our unity,
all men as one
it is all in you.
Be our guide, our light and our way of life
and let the world see the way we lead our way.
Hopes, dreams, dreaming that all our sorrows
gone forever.
Playing the Game
Lead vocals: Derek (verses), Kerry ("My thoughts never spoken...")
As I hold the key to the back door of the world I feel my Hand touching bounds never had before. I can view the power of my position and my eyes can see more than anyone in any place, I'll play the game and never ever lose. I'm the king in fighting competition and the other pieces are there for my art and my tactics now. All my games are won before they're played for I have planned that no opposition can stage a fight I'll play the game and never ever lose. My thoughts never spoken only the visions inside my head the truth never broken within my silent words left unsaid. I will steer the helm of all the nation as the captain take my rewards for all the good I'm doing now, and no words that I'm the knave will alter my philosophy for if any are heard, the games started again I'll never ever lose.
Cogs in Cogs
Lead vocals: Derek
Empty promise broken the path has not been paved any way. Cogs in cogs the machine is being left where it lay. Anger and the rising murmur breaks the old circle, the wheel slowly turns around. All words saying nothing the air is sour with discontent. No returns have been tasted or are they ever sent. Slowly burning is the fire, rising murmur breaks the old circle, the wheel slowly turns around. Cogs in cogs wheel turning around, The circle tuns around, the changing voices calling circle turns around, the changing voices. Slow burning is the fire rising murmur breaks the old circle, the wheel slowly turns around. Cogs in cogs in wheels in circles slowly turn around.
No God's a Man
Lead vocals: Derek
Now the words and claims are seen as always the way they'll always be, way they'll always be. Truth is halfway true, the man is only a man who fails to know, the people shouting for him have turned now telling him to go. Powers that have place, esteemed positions telling him to cry, telling him to cry, Soon another song is sung, in turn for existing blame and then Apologise, conditions turn, then it happens all again. After all the things are said, no God's a man, no God's a man, and yet after all the things are said, no God's a man, must happen all again. After all the things are said, no God's a man, no God's a man, and yet after all the things are said, no God's a man, and then again.
The Face
Lead vocals: Derek
Sing your song, words that have to continue. Tell a tale, seal the screen that is in you. Make your peace, face to face that is after. Reasons plain, tears of pain are not laughter. Cast off the mould, buy all you've sold, confidence lost, pay for the cost. Choose your way, realising our mission, figures lay, pulling strings for position. Take your bows, hear the people are calling. Play the game, Take the blame as you're falling. Time to confess, clean up the mess, stand in the white, step in the light. Use the time, show the face that is sorry, for the day, questions leading to worry. Hide your mask, show the face that is sorry. Time to question, answering all their worry. Time to confess, clean up the mess, cast off the mould, buy all you've sold.
Valedictory
Lead vocals: Derek
And though the hard times,
are really due to me, it is still in me,
to wave all this unrest.
Things must stay,
there must be no change,
anyway, time to rearrange.
You must believe, that there's
been no betrayal all that I've done,
I've really done for you.
Things must stay,
there must be no change,
anyway, time to rearrange.
Hail, to power and to glory's way.
Hail, to power and to glory's way.
Must be a reason why plans
have turned around not only in me,
must also be in you.
Things must stay,
there must be no change,
anyway, time to rearrange.
hail ...
The Power And The Glory (bonus track)
For other uses of "The Power and the Glory", see The Power and the Glory (disambiguation).
- Transcribed by Dan Barrett (mistakes and all). This track was originally released as a single and appeared on the vinyl LP Giant Steps - The First Five Years. Recorded 26 August 1974.
Lead vocals: Derek
Run, run, the shotgun has got you in its range. Turn, turn away, when it's time to make a change. Look where you're going. try not to lose your way. What good is knowing you have to go away? Go, you make go, never know, never know. Time's run away, so have to go, have to go. Put back the ace black, you never made it good. Go while you can go. Go while the going's good. CHORUS: And the power and the glory is over, so I'll take it. The power and the glory is over, so I'll make it. The power and the glory is over, and I'll break it. The power and the glory is over.... Face up to reason, you know it's up to you. Do what you can do, all that you have to do. Move over now, and I'll try to take your place. Time to remember that I have won the race. Go, you make go, never know, never know. Time's run away, so have to go, have to go. Pick up the pieces, to you I'll have to stand. Break up the power, the glory's at the end. (CHORUS) Run, run, the shotgun has got you in its range. Turn, turn away, when it's time to make a change. Look where you're going. try not to lose your way. What good is knowing you have to go away? (ad lib)
Liner notes
These liner notes are reproduced with the kind permission of Terrapin Records (UK) Ltd. Transcribed by Bill Noland.
Formed in 1969, Gentle Giant were hitting something of a musical peak as the seventies moved toward their mid-way point. Ever-presents Ray Shulman (bass), Derek Shulman (vocals, sax), Kerry Minnear (keyboards) and Gary Green (guitar) had been joined by newest recruit John Weathers (drums) to form the definitive line-up. All could - and did - swap these and other, more exotic, instruments, both in the studio and on stage, making them one of Britain's most proficient and versatile outfits. After four albums on that doyen of progressive labels Vertigo, they switched to World Wide Artists for two releases of which this is the second.
'We tried to get a more spontaneous feel by doing it all on first and second takes,' revealed Derek of this 1974 release, which featured a relatively straightforward (for them) selection of instrumentation nearer to the rock mainstream.
As with all Giant albums up to this point, the majority of tracks were brought into the studio by the writing partnership of Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, and Kerry Minnear, with maybe a couple of numbers added as sessions progressed.
Two of the songs on this album, 'Proclamation' and 'So Sincere', were revisited on the live 'Playing the Fool', and comparisons with the originals here are interesting. 'So Sincere', particularly, was transformed into a thundering ten minute plus percussive extravaganza. 'Cogs in Cogs' also made it to the live repertoire, but not so successfully.
As with most Giant releases, 'The Power and the Glory' had an underlying theme, the lyrics dealing with politics and the Machiavellian attitude of those who dabble in it. The original closing track, 'Valedictory', is a reprise of the opener, 'Proclamation' - a device often used by Giant to emphasize their albums' concept format. Its heavier treatment harks back to the Giant of two or three years previously. The overall vocal arrangements and performances are certainly the band's best up to this point, with Derek Shulman outstanding.
A welcome bonus on this release is the title track 'The Power and the Glory' which, in typically perverse Giant style, didn't make it to the album. There was a good reason, however, it hadn't yet been written! It's only ever appeared as a single(backed by an edited version of 'Playing the Game') and on the compilation 'Giant Steps'; savour it now, as with the rest of the album, on CD for the first time.
'The Power and the Glory' was Giant's first Top 50 album in the States, where Capitol had snapped them up following the huge import sales of 'In a Glass House' (now available on CD as RFG CD 1001). They'd gone over contractless, showing considerable self-belief, and employed a tour manager whose contacts had brought them five nights at the Whiskey in Los Angeles. 'It was like a fairy tale,' Derek recalled. 'We had them queueing round the block. That gave us some more dates headlining around the country and "The Power and the Glory" went into the Top 50.'
The band then received a telegram from their management reading along the lines of 'Well done, lads, we knew you could do it!' But 'Free Hand', the following album and their first for new label Chrysalis, documents the band's dissatisfaction with those who controlled their destiny. 'It was a comment on getting rid of the management,' reveals drummer John Weathers, adding: 'It cost us a lot of money to pay the old manager off!' Giant toured the States twice in January and October 1975, and that country remains the territory where they are most highly regarded today.
The album might also have charted in Britain, but for thousands of copies apparently being leaked prior to official release, plus the aforementioned management problems. 'We made a big mistake,' acknowledged Weathers. 'We had a tour set up, but because of the management thing we pulled the tour at the last moment. We stiffed then in England: we were just about to break.'
Derek, now a US record company mogul, looked back on 'The Power and the Glory' two years later as 'too laid back, not quite the album we wanted', but confessed 'I still enjoy all our old albums'. And he should. After the 1976 success of the band's live LP 'Playing the Fool' (at the time of writing the only Chrysalis-era product available on CD), they started to take the songs on the road before recording them.
They'd contacted Chrysalis boss Terry Ellis, who'd been much impressed when they'd supported Jethro Tull in Europe and the States in the early-Seventies' Three Friends era. He signed them up, and they produced six more albums for the label before splitting in 1980. Capitol, who'd put "The Power and the Glory' out in America, were to remain their label there until the end.
The songs were getting simpler in an attempt to grab a wider audience - though, as John Weathers admits, 'the died-in -the wool fans seemed to like if as intricate as possible.' It was a gamble that failed to pay off here as Genesis - the band so often racked alongside them in the shops - got the vote. 'It was going to be them or us - we were pulling the same size crowds in America and Britain, the same people were buying our records as theirs, and they cracked it because the went commercial about two years earlier.'
Of the five Giant members featured here, only Weathers - who replaced Dire Straits-bound Terry Williams on the drum stool for Man - is still on the road. Yet 'The Power and the Glory', a more rounded and consistent album than its predecessor if a degree or two less intricate, stands proudly in its own right as a rewarding piece of progressive rock from one of the genre's master groups.
- Michael Heatley. Many thanks for their assistance to John Weathers and Alan Kinsman.
Cool stuff in the music
- Rumor has it that most of the songs on this album were recorded in one take! (Thanks to Phil at InternetMCI.com; however, recordings from the studio sessions on Under Construction cast some doubt on this claim.)
- Each of the first four songs contains the word "hand." (Thanks to George Seaman.)
- There is much symmetry between the first piece, Proclamation, and the last piece, Valedictory. Musically, the vocal melodies are the same. Also, the main guitar theme that begins Valedictory comes from a small keyboard part found in Proclamation at 2:16. The theme in Valedictory is then interleaved with itself on bass and organ (sort of a stretto, if you are into musical terminology). Lyrically, some of the lines in Proclamation ("It can change, it can stay the same") are reflected backwards in Valedictory ("Things must stay, there can be no change").
- In So Sincere, the guitar solo before the first chorus is the same as the synth countermelody to Kerry's piano in the second chorus . (Thanks to Émile Dallaire.)
- The third piece, Aspirations, contains the line "Please make your claims really so sincere." The word "claims" is surely a reference to Proclamation ("I will make my claim"), and "so sincere" is the title of the second piece, So Sincere.
- In the middle section of Cogs in Cogs, the two vocal parts are in very different meters. The first part to enter ("The circle turns around, the changing voices calling...") is in 6/4, but the second one ("Circle turns around the changing voices") is in 15/8. This means that the two melodies "line up" differently in five different ways. The phrases "meet" every 60 eighth notes. (Thanks to Michael Beauvois and Mark Wendt.)
- Also in the middle section of Cogs in Cogs, after the repeating vocals ("Circle turns around the changing voices") have settled in, a slow, flutey-sounding synthesizer line is repeated. This is a very slowed-down, slightly rhythm-altered version of the lead melody in the first 2 measures of the song. (Thanks to Steve Lottich.)
- The seventh piece, The Face, contains the phase "play the game": surely a reference to track four, Playing the Game.
- In the last verse of The Face, the drums are several beats out of sync with the vocal part, compared with the other verses. (Thanks to Michael Beauvois.) Aldo Brucale says that the drums actually keep their normal time, but the bass and violin play ahead of the beat.
- The last ten seconds of Valedictory is the sound of a tape rewinding. In fact, it's the tape of Valedictory itself. If you play it backwards about 10 times slower than normal, you can hear the music. (Thanks to Greg Hajic and Aldo Brucale.)
Music files
MIDI files
| MIDI File | Title | Album | Contributor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspirations.mid | Aspirations | The Power and the Glory | Dany Page, Lionel Gibaudan |
| Cogs.mid | Cogs in Cogs | The Power and the Glory | J. D. Mack |
| Playgame.mid | Playing The Game | The Power and the Glory | Michel de Repentigny |
| Proclamation-pvl.mid | Proclamation | The Power and the Glory | Peter van Leeuwen |
| Proclamation.mid | Proclamation | The Power and the Glory | Guillaume Beaulieu-Duchesneau |
| Sosincere.mid | So Sincere | The Power and the Glory | Sal La Bruna |
| Valedictory.mid | Valedictory | The Power and the Glory | Ben |
Sheet music
CD releases
This list is out of date.
| Country | Label Information |
|---|---|
| USA | Capitol, CDP 7 91849 2 |
| UK | Terrapin Trucking/Road Goes On Forever, RFG CD 1002 (Later relabeled as TRUCKCD 002) |
| USA | One Way Records, S21-18468 |
| USA | DRT Entertainment |
Defects
The bonus track on the Terrapin disc is mixed slightly louder than the rest of the album.
Several people have reported that the Capitol disc has a track index error: the first two notes of "So Sincere" are part of track 1 instead of track 2. My Capitol CD does not have this defect, so I suspect that there was a bad production run that was eventually corrected.
Reviews
- The Power and the Glory review by Dan Barrett
- The Power and the Glory review by Jason Rubin
- George Starostin review
See also
- Albums
- Albums by Gentle Giant
- Albums remixed by Steven Wilson
- Albums with Derek Shulman
- Albums with Gary Green
- Albums with John Weathers
- Albums with Kerry Minnear
- Albums with Ray Shulman
- Alucard Music
- Capitol
- DRT Entertainment
- Official releases
- Original 12 albums
- Releases from 1974
- Terrapin Trucking
- The Power and the Glory