Видео

My gateway album into Soft Machine was Third - I still play it regularly.. Robert Wyatt's vocals on Moon in June are sensational and Out-Bloody-Rageous is one of my all time favourite tracks - in fact in a sense it was a CBS double album sampler Blockbuster which was the gateway album as there was an excerpt of Out-Bloody-Rageous on it which really piqued my interest and made me go out and buy Third. Oddly enough I bought 4 , 5, 6 and Softs but with Ratledge, Dean and Wyatt leaving at various stages I progressively lost interest. But after your video I will give the later albums a visit/revisit!

Been listening to Yes and Jon Anderson since 1971. This album is a winner. Great review.

21. Heaven and Earth 20. Open Your Eyes 19. The Quest 18. Union 17. Big Generator 16. Mirror to the Sky 15. Fly From Here 14. Tormato 13. Yes 12. Talk 11. The Ladder 10. Keystudio (studio songs in KTA I & II) 9. Time and a Word 8. Magnification 7. Drama 6. Going for the One 5. Fragile 4. Tales From Topographic Oceans 3. Relayer 2. Close to the Edge 1. The Yes Album

I can't remember the first record album I bought. Probably something by Yes or Deep Purple - although I remember buying a tape of Georgie Fame when I first got a reel to reel machine in my teens. However, your thoughts on Soft Machine got me thinking. A great group. Love their work. Like you, I like Bundles and Softs. I am also a great fan of Seven. Some of their work - One and Two especially - is a little too avant garde for me. Of course, there was also Matching Mole, with Robert Wyatt. I went to see them at one time. They were the warm-up band for John Mayall at the Manchester Free Trade Hall. Unfortunately, Matching Mole were there, but their equipment was still in London. Mayall came on and did an extended set. Brilliant. Many years ago, we had a jazz night in our local pub every Tuesday (in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire). One of the regulars there was Gary Boyle. Always had some good players with him. I came across this video of Gary playing with Soft Machine recently. Enjoy! ruclips.net/video/CKDuevCr90Q/видео.html

Largely agree, except that I think you over-rate Going For The One, which I would rate just above Tormato. I really think their melodic muse has abandoned them on this one - I've heard peple quote Awaken as an amazing song, but I don't think it contains enough ideas for a five minute tune, let alone a 15 minuter.

I saw them in NJ for 5 bucks

I just got the Free Hand CD today and listened to it all the way through and I must say, I was utterly transported by its contrapuntal mastery! I love it! I think it's going to be hard to displace -- the only other albums I've listened to all the way through are Octopus and Gentle Giant, which I liked a lot, but Free Hand feels like something special to me.

It took me a while to learn to listen to GG. The first time I listened to it, I realized it was a bit complicated, hard to like immediately like Genesis, Yes, EL&P... There were many new things together. But I'm used to classical music, so I insisted, listening to each album at least twice, paying close attention. Until, to plagiarize you, I also had an epiphany! It was at the end of the track "Mister Class and Quality", mixed with the beginning of "Three Friends", and the "magic" lasted until the end of the album. It's easier to describe a psychedelic trip than to describe what I felt. That same night I listened to all the albums again, each one more than once, and it was as if I had never heard them before. In fact, I'm a layman when it comes to music, I don't know how to evaluate it technically. I only know that the closest I got to that feeling was when I understood Schubert's "Unfinished", or when I heard "Casta Diva" (Bellini's Norma) performed by Joan Sutherland for the first time. Moments that only (very) good music can provide us.

Going for the One never connected with me.

Fragile was the launching pad for their greatest albums of Close, Tales and Relayer

I live TALK but you just cannot match Close, Tales, or Relayer

Thanks for your opinion and expertise. I like your ranking. In deed all these lists are very, very personal and subjective, as you said. Also a very important hint is, that it matters, where one comes from - era, age, memories, context ... I got introduced to YES as a 13 year old mainstream or classic rock fan (Saga, Boston, Supertramp, Toto, Styx, Journey, ...) by '90125'. That was a huge hit album in germany, where I am from. I remember that every 'true' (and older) YES fan did not accept that record while new listeners - like me - loved it. About 40 years later - I meanwhile discovered Prog Rock and YES, even though it is still not my only or even favorite genre - I like and appreciate YES a lot. But with my personal background, my Top 10 list would look like this: 1. 'The Yes Album' and '90125' 3. 'Yes', 4. 'Time and a word', 5. 'Drama', 6. 'Close to the edge', 7. 'Fragile', 8. 'Going for the one', 9. Tormato', 10. 'Big Generator' ... or 'Relayer'? Hmm, I don't know. And, there I said it: I absolutely dislike 'Tales from topographic oceans'. Can't stand it. Too complicated, self-absorbed and even pretentious - for me. I don't get that feeling you describe. But that's the fun part about music, right? It's so individual and debatable. Prog fans are particularly passionate about it ;-) Cheers! Thanks again for your video.

Bridge over the river kwai for the thousandth time - best description of a 70s Uk Xmas ever. Love gg

My fav band but I’ve got 2 huge problems with them. - the albums are too short - Gary Green uses wah-wah in almost every solo. The band would have been better off with a more sophisticated [= guitar effects on par with Minnear’s keyboards] guy like Hackett [- a minor thing but I almost get rashes from Derek’s pronunciation of _spain_ in Three Weeks In Spain] 1. Free Hand 2. Octopus 3. In a Glass House 4. The Power and The Glory 5. Acquiring the Taste 6. Gentle Giant 7. Interview 8. Three Friends 9. The Missing Piece 10. Civilian 11. Giant for a Day

I started listening to ELP, etc but when I heard GG I clicked with them directly. They are my fav band and Free Hand is my favorite album. I’ve had the same experience as you with Van de Graaf. I’ve listened to H to He at a friend and I wasn’t ready for this music. About a year later I heard to Pawn Hearts and it knocked me off.

Unique band. My list would go something like this, from favorite to less favorite: 1. Acquiring the Taste 2. Three Friends 3. Octopus 4. Gentle Giant 5. In a Glass House 6. The Power and The Glory 7. Free Hand 8. Interview 9. The Missing Piece 10. Civilian 11. Giant for a Day

They practice in Richie's parents basement as far as I know. Don't forget Richie is a 5th generation musicians and his father is a kick-ass guitarist. Also, owning a music store (Castellano's House of Music) on Staten Island helps a bit.

Hello sir. I really enjoyed your ranking and your agonising over the upper reaches! It's hard sometimes isn't it? I've been into progressive since 83/84 and GG are the great elusive band that I've always known I should get into but never did until last year. Before I got any albums I looked at a load of ranking videos and also read some reviews/rankings and a curious thing struck me.....any one of the first 7 albums topped the various rankings. Pretty unusual. My curiosity was at fever pitch when I started buying the CD's. My favourite is Acquiring the Taste. It puzzled me because so many rankers described this as a hard listen. I just don't get it. I would say Octopus through Free Hand are the hardest listens. So I rate the first 2 very highly. I love their relative 'straight-forwardness'. I love the Visconti productions. I love the ornate tendencies.....those quirky string-laden gems like Funny Ways, Isn't it Quiet and Cold, Edge of Twilight, The Moon is Down and Black Cat. I wish there was more of this type of song. Consequently I couldn't forgive Three Friends for being a retreat into rock music. It's Zappa-esque in places but 'frankly' I prefer Zappa. Octopus I find a little perverse. There's just too much going on. I think Acquiring the Taste is the more mature album. There's a natural flow there. Octopus no doubt has some impressive playing but it's just too widdly for me. Again, I want Zappa if I need my widdly fix. I see the next four as related albums. There is a wonderful progression and I love all four. Free Hand might be my number two but I really like this period per se. The Missing Piece and Civilian are both fantastic. I have no problem with AOR Giant. Yup, album number 10 is rightfully bottom of most lists but the title track and the deceptively simple Spooky Boogie are just magnificent. So my ranking would be highly individual (like all those ones I watched last year). Three Friends and Octopus would be mid or lower ranking albums for me. This band defy consensus which might work against them in this world of algorithms. Anyway, thanks for you heartfelt ranking video!

Gentle Giant and King Crimson created and defined prog. I'm 70 now and got to see every ban mentioned on the video. You cant go out right now and see this type of original innovation, musical capabilities and the abilities to produce a live show with what is now limited technical stage electronics. God bless the past.

22. Heaven and Earth 21. The Quest 20. Open Your Eyes 19. Mirror to the Sky 18. Fly From Here 17. Union 16. KeysStudio 15. Magnification 14. Big Generator 13. The Ladder 12. Drama 11. Yes 10. Time and a Word 9. Tormato 8. 90125 7. Talk 6. The Yes Album 5. Takes from Topographic Oceans 4. Fragile 3. Relayer 2. Close to the Edge 1. Going for the One.

I've always thought that the Missing Piece is a vastly underrated album. Yes, some of it isn't particularly proggy, but I don't think there's a bad track on it. Surely, Bet you thought we couldn't do it was their attempt at a punky song.(It was after all the year of punk 77) the lyrics fit and it lasts less than 2 minutes. For nobody is one of their best tunes too, and has been mentioned elsewhere, IMO Memories of Old Days is the most gorgeous prog ballad ever.(Only their own Aspirations comes close).

I loge Gentle Giant!

Agree True is an UNAPOLOGETIC encomium to Classic Yes, but I also hear some song sections that evoke the Rabin-era stuff like Talk or even Big Generator which is cool too. Anybody else hear just a little bit of the two Trevors sprinkled in?

Great rankings! I can listen to a fellow GG aficionado discuss the albums all day long. Octopus is my #1 as it was my first, as someone below also mentions, but yeah you summed it up. I agree with your feeling about "Interview", ha I feel better about that now. They always had this huge rock edge, so the 3 later albums weren't that far off - I pulled 3 or 4 tracks from each one and it's a pretty good collection! So good job, thank you. We'll just have to listen to them all over again now... How do you feel about the surround sound releases?

Excellent run up.

im an 11 year old and i love progressive rock and over all rock and metal of course [besides nu metal] and i think gentle giant is too overshadowed by king crimson and in my opinion is an ever better band to some degree

I tried, and realized that I am actually unable to rank these first 6 beautiful albums. Octo, Acquiring, Three Friends, Glass, Power and their debut are all absolutely unique in their approach, but none of them is better or worse, they all different. Now being dropped off on a desert island and told I can only bring one, I guess it would be Octopuss, but again, that would be heartbreaking.

11. Giant For A Day 10. Interview 9. Acquiring The Taste 8. Civilian 7. The Missing Piece 6. Gentle Giant 5. Three Friends 4. Power And The Glory 3. In A Glass House 2. Octopus 1. Free Hand

I feel about Glass House how you feel about Interview. My faves below (all are great - GG are brilliant musicians!): Octopus (1972) The Power and the Glory (1974) Interview (1976) Free Hand (1975) Three Friends (1972) Acquiring the Taste (1971) The Missing Piece (1977) Giant for a Day! (1978) Civilian (1980) In a Glass House (1973) Gentle Giant (1970)

Hi all you lovely people... I'm looking for some people to come on to the channel (a small group) who have been to the Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks doing their Yes Classics & Epics live gig, and tell us about their experience.. If you'd be interested in coming on and talking about it? please let me know 😎

I can't rank them as I never have sat through Giant for a Day or Civilian (I am sure they are fine) I would pick the same top four as you though. For me the songs that have the heavy vocal counterpoint are what do it for me, I don't care to hear them play long instrumental passages, they were too ornate to make a long composition work (which is why I think Glass House is a low end record from what I have heard.. no offense Glass House fans, it has less vocal twists and more instrumentals, it does not focus on GG's strengths __ it is still a good album though)

Considering you mentioned having 'everything' music-wise, I hope you'll consider more rankings or discussing your top 3 or 5 from the other bands you cherish on the level of Yes.

I've been hearing a lot of people drop their name over the past couple of years, so I really need to give them a try. Someone told me that they are mostly instrumental, which is why I've semi-shy'd away from them. Not that I have anything against all instrumental music, as I'm also a fan of Fusion, but I do 'prefer' vocals, as long as they don't suck! (hehe). I know this might ruffle some folks' feathers, but I'm not wild about female vocalists in Prog, with the obvious exception of Annie Haslam. Most others I've heard have been weak to me, or simply didn't compliment the music as I felt it should have. Then again, that's just me... but I digress. I will be listening to Wobbler later today (specially the 2 you suggested) and will post comments soon thereafter. Thanks so much for the tips!! After your Gentle Giant ranking, I trust your judgement, and am excited to dive into Wobbler, vocals or not.

I pretty much enjoyed everything from the debut up to Big generator. After that everything pales in comparison. The current Yes line up should be called the Steve Howe band. Nothing wrong with the last two albums but to me its not Yes. My rankings would be 12. Big Generator 11.Yes debut 10. Time and a word 9. Tormato 8. Drama 7. 90125 6. Fragile 5. Tales from Topographic Oceans 4. Going for the one 3. The Yes Album 2. Relayer 1. Close to the edge I enjoyed Union and bits and pieces from later albums, the best of the later albums for me is Magnification, thats my honorable mention. The first 12 albums are their best work for me.

U.S. radio stations were great for most of the 70's, and a bit into the 80's, but by the 90's they turned to shite. Today, you're not missing a thing. I haven't listened to any radio (included Sirius XM) for years now. I'd rather hear what I want to hear, and exactly when I want to hear it. Van Der Graaf on the RADIO? Wow!!! I don't believe I've ever heard that. Maybe they played "Pawn Hearts" back in the day, but I missed it. Your videos are excellent, and I love your personality. Your passion and honesty shine through. There's one American Prog RUclips show that the host does nothing but yell all the way through. I don't get that crap. Oh well, to each his own. I'll stick with you and Barry Robinson from Classic Album Review. Far more descriptive and informative, not to mention exceptional taste in great Prog! Please keep up the great work!!!

Excellent!! I have viewed and subscribed to Vine Messiah!! Keep up the great work! At first I couldn't find you, so I assumed you were the drummer. I finally got a better shot of you further into the track. They didn't highlight you enough. All members should receive equal camera time, not just the singer. Just my opinion.

My list, at least at this moment: 21. Mirror to the Sky 20. The Quest 19. Open Your Eyes 18. Heaven and Earth 17. Keystudio (Keys 1 > Keys 2 originals) 16. Big Generator 15. Talk 14. Yes 13. Magnification 12. Union 11. 90125 11. Time and a Word 10. Drama 9. Fly From Here (original > return trip) 8. Tormato 7. The Ladder 6. Going for the One 5. Tales 4. Relayer 3. The Yes Album 2. Fragile 1. Close to the Edge ABWH I'd probably put in front of Union. JA & the Band Geeks, which I consider more Yes than at least the two most recent "official Yes" releases, I'd put somewhere in the top 10.

I'm not usually a fan of Jon Anderson solo efforts--I always thought he needed Squire to provide grounding. But to my amazement, Richie Castellano was able to fill that role and the end product was outstanding. As an aside, the last track "Thank God" was apparently written for Jon's wife, but listening to it I also wonder if it isn't also a little bit directed at Jon's fans, as he recognizes that there may not be many more chances to thank them. Regardless, a remarkable album, haven't liked one this much in over a decade.

Interview on n°9 ? It's my third favorite! How cound rate Interview on 9 and Free Hand on 1st ? These two go so well together. My list would go 1. Free Hand - 2. The power and the glory - 3. Interview - 4. In a glass house… I find these albums perfect because they are rock, tight, innovative and perfect. The first period is, to my ears, more mellow even marshmellowish. Although I love them also and rate them above the 2 last ones.

Love your Genesis shirt, and the photo of Hendrix behind you!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed watching your GG program, and the passion you have for their music. I just love watching the reactions on visitors faces when they walk into our home and hear "Knots" playing over our sound system. The expressions on their faces are priceless, and it makes for a fun ice-breaker!!! My wife and I celebrated our 10 Year Wedding Anniversary last week. I popped "Knots" on in my vehicle during one of our first dates. That was a fun conversation, to be sure!

This is the very first time I've watched any ranking of the Gentle Giant catalog that mirrors my choices exactly!!! I, too, struggle between "Octopus" and "Free Hand". "Octopus" was my first exposure to them, and "Free Hand" came next. These guys blew me out of the water, and I've been a massive fan (in my Top 5 favorites of all-time) ever since. Even most of your comments regarding the tracks, are spot on! note: Although these are in chronological order, my ranking is exactly the same as yours! GENTLE GIANT Favorites: Nothing At All, Alucard Least: The Queen (no disrespect intended), Why Not? ACQUIRING THE TASTE Favorites: Pantagruel's Nativity, The House, The Street, The Room Least: Acquiring The Taste, Black Cat THREE FRIENDS Favorites: Peel The Paint, School Days Least: Prologue, Working All Day IN A GLASS HOUSE Favorites: The Runaway, In A Glass House Least: An Inmates Lullaby, Way Of Life OCTOPUS Favorites: The Advent of Panurge, Knots, Raconteur Troubadour Least: River, Think Of Me With Kindness THE POWER & THE GLORY Favorites: Everything Else! Least: So Sincere, The Face FREE HAND Favorites: Everything Else! Least: Talybont INTERVIEW Favorites: Timing, Empty City Least: Design, Interview THE MISSING PIECE Favorites: As Old As You’re Young, Memories Of Old Days, For Nobody, I’m Turning Around Least: Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It, Mountain Time GIANT FOR A DAY Favorites: Giant For A Day Least: Everything Else CIVILIAN* Favorites: Number One, Inside Out Least: Underground, Shadows On The Street (*) I honestly believe this album was a step in the right direction. I envision their next album as potentially being the album they’d been striving for, but they gave up one album too soon. Even the tracks I don’t care much for aren’t horrible, although I can’t stand “Underground”.

1 Acquiring the Taste 2. Three Friends 3. Glass House 4. Power and the Glory 5. Free Hand 6. Octopus 7. Gentle Giant - All the rest aren't my cup of tea. When I think of mysterious Prog, I think of my number one, Acquiring the Taste. I love dreamy Prog the most, "Edge of Twilight" favorite GG track. Yeah, like you said about some fans, the later albums alienated me too, like RUSH did after Hemispheres. I became jaded..... GG Fan since 77

1. The Power And The Glory 2. Three Friends 3. Free Hand 4. In A Glass House 5. Octopus 6. Acquiring The Taste 7. Gentle Giant 8. Interview Joint 9th place: The Missing Piece, Giant For A Day, Civilian. A proviso of the last 3 albums in joint 9th place is that I listened to them on RUclips but never got into them. Decided not to buy them.

I'm a big fan of most of Interview and especially the second side of Missing Piece, none of that sounds to me like vanilla rock music anything like the first side of Missing Piece and the albums Giant for a Day and Civilian. Three Friends is good because it's full-on GG but its music just doesn't click much for me, I like it but not as much as most of their other albums. Here's my list: 1. Octopus 2. In a Glass House 3. Power and the Glory 4. Free Hand 5. Acquiring the Taste (or might be #4) 6. Interview 7. Missing Piece (it'd be #2 overall if both sides were like the second side) 8. Three Friends 9. Gentle Giant 10. tie Giant for a Day and Civilian

11 - Giant For A Day 10 - Civilian 09 - The Missing Piece 08 - Gentle Giant 07 - Acquiring the Taste 06 - Interview 05 - Three Friends 04 - Free Hand 03 - Octopus 02 - The Power and the Glory 01 - In a Glass House

I had to laugh when you put Interview below The Missing Piece. Interview is basically Free Hand part two.

I like their albums with Elton Dean..

My favourite has always been Octopus, though I do find the doggie song a bit twee these days. Also their first album because it has Alucard on it!

Frankly I was more a Genesis fan than Yes, but it doesn't matter I liked this. I couldn't really compare to older albums, but I liked some of their works, particularly the middle period from going for the One, Drama and also 90125, and later stuff like Union, talk and the Ladder. Of course I heard some other albums but I wasn't so moved. The song "Shine on" reminds clearly the Trevor Horn produced music from 1983, but all in all it feels like new music. The sound recording is great, energy is outstanding, with Jon's voice everywere it's really sounding YES, no doubt. Listening now. Does I heard on "Counties and Countries" at 1'00 the Chariots of fire theme just slightly modified? Just a glimpse! 😉 Well that's funny, a tribute to Vangelis? Very nice piano rundowns. The guitar solo is also really very Howe style. Sorry have to listen to the rest again, but undoubtedly it feels to be going epic. Last thought, they should have used another cover design for such a beautiful album, they really have to consider. I heard it wasn't easy collaboration with Roger Dean, but they are great visual artists out there! This is kind of a mistake, that sleeve should stay inside the book or in the back maybe.