View source for Octopus

{{album
| year=1972
| inFirstTwelveAlbums=4
| isOfficial=yes
| isLive=no
| isCompilation=no
| image=octopus-eu.gif
}}

== About the Album ==

Gentle Giant's fourth album has a harder, more rocking edge, making a striking contrast with their more symphonic [[Three Friends|third album]]. No doubt the reason was the introduction of [[John Weathers]] on drums. The album still contains a wide variety of sounds and textures, from the rocking power of [[The Advent Of Panurge]] to the vocal intricacies of [[Knots]] to the beauty of [[Think Of Me With Kindness]].

The title was allegedly invented by [[Phil Shulman]]'s wife, [[Roberta Shulman|Roberta]]. It is short for "Octo Opus," or eight musical works. (Thanks to Robert Jacobson.)

The album was released with a [[Roger Dean]] cover in the UK (above left), and the "octopus in a jar" cover in the USA by [[Charles White]]:

[[Image:octopus-usa.gif]]

See the [[:Image:Octopus-japan.jpg|Japanese CD cover]].

See the [[:Image:ggoct2.jpg|cover proposed by George Underwood]] which was not used.

The band had an [[:Image:Balloon.jpg|octopus balloon]] as a promotional item.

=== Musicians ===

[[Gary Green]] - Guitars, percussion

[[Kerry Minnear]] - All keyboards, vibraphone, percussion, cello, Moog, lead and backing vocals

[[Derek Shulman]] - Lead vocals, alto saxophone

[[Philip Shulman]] - Saxophones, trumpet, mellophone, lead and backing vocals

[[Raymond Shulman]] - Bass violin, guitar, percussion, vocals ''(note typographical error, "bass violin")''

[[John Weathers]] - Drums, percussion, xylophone.

Many thanks to [[Martin Rushent]] for laugh coinspin and variable speed oscillator, and Mike Viccars, Moog operator.

NOTE: The "Mike Viccars" credited above is "actually Mike Vickers, guitarist, saxist with the Manfreds, the band who used to back Manfred Mann in the 1960s." (Thanks to Marcel Glen Safier!) Marcel spoke with Mike Vickers and "told him about Martin Smith's passing but he said in fact he didn't really know the guys, he was just called in for the album as he got one of the very early Moogs (well before Manfred in fact) and was into setting up the sounds patches. He also did orchestration and arranged the string part on the Beatles All You Need Is Love with George Martin."

Other liner notes:
 
   All titles composed by [[Minnear, Shulman, Shulman and Shulman]]
   All titles published 1972 by [[Alucard Music]] (ASCAP)
   Produced by Gentle Giant
   Engineer: [[Martin Rushent]]
   Mastering Engineer: Cliff Morris
   Tape Operator: Geoff Young
   Over-all American Supervision: Murray Krugman
   Recorded at [[Advision Studios]], London
   Cover Concept and Design by John Berg
   Art by Fluid Drive
   Illustration: Charles White III
   Design: Kenny Kneitel
   Lettering: Michael Doret

== Track List ==

# [[The Advent Of Panurge]] (4:40)
# [[Raconteur Troubadour]] (3:59)
# [[A Cry For Everyone]] (4:02)
# [[Knots]] (4:09)
# [[The Boys In The Band]] (4:32)
# [[Dog's Life]] (3:10)
# [[Think Of Me With Kindness]] (3:33)
# [[River]] (5:54)

== Lyrics ==

{{lyrics permission}}

''- submitted by Marshall Wood''

=== The Advent of Panurge ===

Lead vocals: [[Kerry]], overdubbed (or perhaps with [[Phil]]); [[Derek]] ("Then said he fair Pantagruel..."); [[Phil]] ("Look at my friend...")

'' (The fabulous [[Rabelais|Rabelaisian]] giant, [[Pantagruel]], discovers a lifelong friend and companion, [[Panurge]].) ''

 There coming over Charenton Bridge
 Look do you see the man who is poor but rich.
 What do you wish; and where do you go;
 Who are you; where are you from:
 will you tell me your name?
 Rest awhile; call me your friend.
 Please stay with me I'd like to help.
 Then he said,
 How can I speak when I'm dry and my
 throat is burning.  So bring me aid
 and I'll answer your doubts.
 Friend in need I'd like your help
 Please take me home I'll stay with you.
 Then said he fair Pantagruel
 My name is Panurge and I have come from Hell.
 Look at my friend
 Look all around you
 Look at my friend
 Take all round you.
 Hey, Friend
 (Improvised foreign words in middle section)
 So brotherhood was made as their bond
 Carried him home and provide for his needs
 and his shelter; this day was done
 as no other the like.
 Faithfully their vow was made and from
 that day they were as one.

Note: Some people hear "bring me aid" as "bring me ale," especially as his throat is dry and burning.

=== Raconteur Troubadour ===

Lead vocals: [[Derek]]

'' (Here we have tried to capture something of the medieval English troubadour, by the instrumentation, arrangement and lyrics.) ''
 
 Gather round the village square
 Come good people both wretched
   and fair.
 See the troubadour play on the drum
 Hear my songs on the lute that I strum.
 I will make you laugh,
 Revel, Merry-dance.
 Throw your pennies, then you'll hear
   more of
 the story-telling half.
 There's no other chance,
 Always move on
 Raconteur, troubadour.
 Take the face that you see for the man,
 Clown and minstrel, I am what I am.
 All my family, not of my kin.
 Home, wherever, the place that I'm in.
 Humors give me wage,
 Favors for my art.
 Rising, falling
 Everyone struggle on.
 All the world's a stage
 All can play their part.
 I have chosen
 Raconteur, troubadour.
 Dusk is drawing my story is spun,
 Dawn is falling my day's work is done.
 Morning, rested I set on my way.
 Find new faces to offer my play.
 I will make you laugh,
 Revel, Merry-dance.
 Throw your pennies, then you'll hear
   more of
 The story-telling half.
 There's no other chance.
 Always move on
 Raconteur-Troubadour.

=== A Cry For Everyone ===

Lead vocals: [[Derek]]

'' (The lyric gives away something of the lyric thoughts of one or two members of the band, and is inspired by the literature and philosophy of Albert Camus.) ''
 
 Run, why should I run away
 When at the end the only truth certain -
 One day everyone dies -
 If only to justify life.
 Live, I've lived a thousand lives;
 And anyone is the right, the just life.
 If I could cry, I'd cry for everyone.
 Doubts, no doubt, is all I know.
 There is no fate, there's no luck,
   what does
 that show.
 Showing is proof, but proving is nothing
   but fear.
 If I could cry, I'd cry then for everyone.
 Hope, I've hoped two thousand years,
   but
 no one hears, so I've cried, crying
 vain tears.
 Always too late, too late to cry, cry
 for everyone.

=== Knots ===

{{otheruses|article=knots}}

Lead vocals: [[Phil]], [[Kerry]], [[Derek]] and ??? (in order of appearance);

'' ([[R.D. Laing]], an eminent psychologist, has stimulated us by his intriguing, logical, poetic riddles into composing this latter-day madrigal - and something of a musical jigsaw.) ''
 
 All in all each man in all men
 All men in each man.
 He can see she can't, she can see
   she can
 see whatever, whatever.
 You may know what I don't know,
   but not that
 I don't know it and I can't tell you
 so you will.
 To tell me all man in all men
 All men in each man.
 He can see she can't, she can see
   she can
 see whatever, whatever.
 You may know what I don't know,
   but not that
 I don't know it and I can't tell you
 so you will have to tell me all.
 It hurts him to think that she is
 hurting her by him being hurt to think
 that she thinks he is hurt by making her
 feel guilty at hurting him by her thinking
 she wants him to want her.  Her wants
   her to
 want him to get him to want him to get
 him to want her she pretends.
 He tries to make her afraid by not
 being afraid. (permutations)
 You may know what I don't know, but not
 that I don't know it and I can't
 tell you so you will have to tell
 me all.
 I get what I deserve.  I deserve what I
 get.  I have it so I deserve it. I deserve
 it for I have it.  I get what I deserve.
 What I deserve - what I deserve what
   I get.
 I have it so I deserve.
 He tries to make her afraid by not
 being afraid.

=== The Boys in the Band ===

'' (Not to be confused with the play of the same name - at least not the characters, we hope. This piece is for Gentle Giant as a whole - our engineer, [[Martin Rushant]], included.) ''

''Instrumental''

=== Dog's Life ===

{{otheruses|article=Dog's Life}}
Lead vocals: [[Phil]]

'' (A backhanded tribute to our roadies; our musical parody could only be drawn to a wily old dog. Surely two more unmatched sounds as the Regal (a medieval reed organ) and string section could not be found, but they seem to successfully convey the whine of both dog and roadie.) ''
 
 Shuffling down the street with his
   sideways feet,
 Stopping now and then and he'll
   stop again,
 No doubt in his mind where he's going.
 He doesn't care for his hair or his teeth
 And if the truth were known he's a bit
   of a thief,
 Innocently lies, and it's showing.
 Who'd imagine he's man's best friend.
 Knowing he's your friend in the end.
 Won't be around when you shout
   or swear
 Not very sorry, he doesn't care;
 God knows why we call him old faithful.
 Pat him on the head, give the dog a
   bone;
 Use a friendly tone, he won't leave
   you alone.
 No one understands like old faithful.
 Early rise.  Is it wise?
 Wonders happen now and then.
 Eats his fill, time to kill,
 Then goes back to sleep again.
 Trusty slave, bold and brave,
 And he roars like a lion
 But in fact, it's an act,
 And the truth is that he isn't
 No one understands it's a dog's life.
 Chases dreams, so it seems
 He shines in his master's light.
 Looking good, so he should
 For the choice is very narrow
 No one understands it's a dog's life.
 Repeat:  Shuffling down the street, etc.

=== Think of Me With Kindness ===

Lead vocals: [[Kerry]]

'' (A personal song. It has been kept simple to retain the essentially intimate mood of the piece.) ''
 
 Why am I using words, no more to say
   without you
 Close the door, put out the lights and go.
 Late in the night, in the night your
   shadow falls between us.
 Nevermore, never know.
 There, memories are sorrow,
 When there's no tomorrow.
 Sleep while the sweet sorrow wakes
   my daydream;
 Sleep while you think of me with
   kindness, please remember former
   days.
 Sweet the song that once we sang, the
   silent parting ways.
 And you know, and you know,
 And you know, long ago when first we
   made our promise -
 Empty words, I wonder did you know -
 The laugh that love could not forgive,
 Is gone and tells no more to live,
 And we who look in beauty's love;
 Must now, through all, look back on
   before -
 The tears that I first cried, no more;
 Your love has come and gone, no more.
 And we who look in beauty's love
 Must now through all think back
   on before.
 Sleep while the sweet sorrow wakes my
   daydream
 Sleep while you think of me with
   kindness, please remember former
   days.
 And you know, and you know.
 And you know, when we two parted in
   tears
 and silence
 past the days, the parting ways.
 Fare thee well, fare thee well, you
   that was once dear to me.
 Think of me with kindness
 Think of me.

=== River ===

Lead vocals: [[Derek]] (main), [[Phil]] ("Moving highway...")

'' (We have tried to create several atmospheres within the boundaries of one song by using the various electronic devices at our disposal in the recording studio.) ''
 
 Touching the last of what is past
 Moving silent water fell the first
   that comes.
 Slow and winding, flowing free
 Peaceful music in its sound of distant
   drums.
 Trust the shallow virgin stream
 Danger wild, beware the deeper it
   becomes.
 Moving highway, twisting byway
 Can't turn back.
 Singing in the summer rain
 Rain that's caught in its flow.
 Spreading, shining, silver lining
 Gold on black.
 Echoes moods of the moon and sun
 Sun that shines from below.
 Makes a soft and easy way
 Left to choose its path will always be
   a friend.
 Touch the last of what has past.
 Never idle river drifting to the end.

== Cover art ==

The [http://pictureboxgallery.org/artists/charles-white-iii/ original cover art for Octopus is for sale] for a mere $8000 (US).

{{cool stuff}}

{{scores for album}}

== CD releases ==

{{CD releases disclaimer}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Country
! Label Information
|-
| Germany
| [[LINE Records]], LICD 9.00736
|-
| USA
| [[Columbia]], CK 32022
|-
| UK
| [[Vertigo]], 842 694-2
|-
| Japan
| [[Nippon Phonogram Co., Ltd.]], PHCR-4203
|-
| Japan
| [[Nippon Phonogram Co., Ltd.]], PPD-3094
|-
| Korea
| [[Si-Wan]], SRMC 0044
|-
| Germany
| [[Repertoire Records]] IMS-7032
|-
| Japan
| [[Universal Japan]] (British Rock Legend series)
|}

=== Defects ===

The Columbia disc is missing 2 seconds of piano -- really, a quiet little piano riff -- played just before "A Cry For Everyone." Greg Hajic reports that his Columbia LP is also missing this riff, but his Vertigo UK LP has it. David Bradley reports that the Steven Wilson blu-ray "flat transfer" disc of the original stereo master is also missing the riff.

Mats Westin reports that the LINE CD has a "ghost image" in the right channel: "The vocals on 'The Advent of Panurge' start off to the right but when more instruments kick in, they appear centre." I suspect you have to listen very closely with headphones to detect this.

Espen Beranek Holm reports that the Vertigo disc has a minor dropout in the track "The Boys In The Band" at 2:43 (out of a drum-fill). It is detectable with headphones.

Noda Hiroshi reports that the Nippon disc has none of the above defects. monkey@gold.interlog.com says that the Repertoire disc does not have the defects either. I know nothing more about the Si-Wan release.

Basil Francis reports that the Repertoire version has a defect in [[Raconteur Troubadour]] around 3:08, where they seem to have cut out a fraction of a second, making the verse not flow.

Jimmy Patto reports that the Repertoire version has the dynamics compressed. He verified this by comparing the tracks to those on the Vertigo CD using [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Audacity].

== Reviews ==

* [[Octopus Review by Jason Rubin]]
* [http://www.seaoftranquility.org/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=23 Octopus Review from Sea Of Tranquility]
* [http://starling.rinet.ru/music/gentle.htm#Octopus George Starostin review]
* [http://www-1.unipv.it/britishrock1966-1976/pdf/mooreeng.pdf Essay by Allan F. Moore]

== See also ==

* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_(album) Wikipedia entry]

[[Category:Derek Shulman]]
[[Category:Phil Shulman]]
[[Category:Ray Shulman]]
[[Category:Kerry Minnear]]
[[Category:Gary Green]]
[[Category:John Weathers]]
[[Category:Octopus]]
[[Category:Vertigo]]
[[Category:Nippon Phonogram Co., Ltd.]]
[[Category:LINE Records]]
[[Category:Universal Japan]]
[[Category:Columbia]]
[[Category:Repertoire Records]]
[[Category:Si-Wan]]
[[Category:Albums remixed by Steven Wilson]]