Lee , With a full album reaction on the way , maybe some more live GG would be the go . A tune that shows their jaw dropping versatility is ‘ Funny Ways ‘ , but it has to be from the BBC Sight and Sound concert from early 1978 ( the same concert you did ‘ On Reflection ‘ from )and not the Long Beach concert . The quality is better . The song shows Ray Schulman handing the bass to vocalist brother Derek so he can concentrate on the violin and the trumpet . Kerry jumps from cello to keyboards to vibes as well as sharing vocals . The musicianship displayed is spell binding 👍👏👍👍
Only a considered study and repetition will allow you to see past the twists and turns to even try to plumb the intricacies of this music. They are incredibly proficient and flexible but so dedicated to the construction and point of the song. After 40+ years i still marvel at their imagination and creativity and do my best to follow all those layers running together. J.S. Bach would be proud, i think. Plenty more where these came from…
@@Rowenband While I agree that Giant for a Day! is by far the worst Gentle Giant album, Civilian is for me an excellent album, with a straightforward, rock direction but containing great tracks.
I have no idea about that ending of Way of Life but GG still is one of the greatest most underrated bands EVER. Oddly enough they have some of the best Live Prog 70s video recordings.
Was there TOO much music that came out in the early 70's , that this band escaped my notice? It's baffling, as they were/are right up my alley. Thanks James R for suggesting them. I can't wait to hear more. Thanks L33, your channel shows me how little I know anything at all about music from my time, lol. Blessings all. Peace
I was a fan of ELP, Tull, Genesis, Yes and stuff back then and I´d read the name Gentle Giant from time to time but I swear I never ever heard just one single song of this band on the radio or anywhere else. Obviously their music was considered as being "too much" even for the usual prog listener. That´s the simple reason why GG music didn´t make it big - you´d never hear it! The one and only time they´d made an exception on the air that I´d witnessed was the beginning of my admiration for this band.
Basically these guys were real composers, or at least tried to be, and they achieve true counterpoint with their music. It’s literally “classical rock” if there ever was such a thing. This goes beyond most prog bands, especially the emphasis on writing vs vamps/solos of which there are very little with GG. Truly a league of their own
GG!!! This album was originally not released in the USA, and was pretty hard to find. I searched a lot of used record stores in the 80’s trying to find it, and complete by GG collection.
One of the most astounding bands ever to come on the scene..... even Frank Zappa gave them his stamp of approval and he doesn't like a whole lot lol...... what I find unique about gentle giant...... among many other things..... is that they never play with each other.... rather they play against each other... yet it all seems to come together to form a unified steamship of beautiful Prog greatness....Legends!!!!
Full album reaction, yessss ! Just make sure it ain't Giant For a Day (their one clunker) or Convenience (where they are trying to be something they're not).
I do hope the full album you're doing is octopus. I believe it was the third album but it was certainly a breakout album for them here in the states. By the way the double live album called playing the fool is getting a 50th anniversary do-over with lots of extra material and I can't wait
In most cases I don't like if music jumps from one point to another without any connection because in most cases it seems people do not know how to contimnus and therefore do something different. Not so with Gentle Giant. In their case I think they knew at every moment exactly what they were doing.
Columbia Records in the US ditched this album for not being commercial enough. They started going in a more commercial direction four years later with "The Missing Piece" (1977). To be honest, the only Gentle Giant album I have trouble stomaching is"Giant For a Day". I like TMP and "Civilian".
"Severely simplified", yet not many other bands could actually play the stuff from "Giant For A Day" not as simple as one might think. A stinker of an album though.
If there was ever a band that was "beyond my paygrade" or "trying to teach rocket science to an oyster" this would be it. But damn is it fun or what??
❤🎉❤ these guys sound a little Frank Zappa'ish to me!! Fun!
@@marthag9321 Zappa did actually like GG.
@@lemming9984 not surprised, great listening!! 🎧
You’ll never go wrong with GG once you ‘ get ‘ them and it sounds like you’re nearly there . They mesmerise 👍👏
Lee ,
With a full album reaction on the way , maybe some more live GG would be the go . A tune that shows their jaw dropping versatility is ‘ Funny Ways ‘ , but it has to be from the BBC Sight and Sound concert from early 1978 ( the same concert you did ‘ On Reflection ‘ from )and not the Long Beach concert . The quality is better .
The song shows Ray Schulman handing the bass to vocalist brother Derek so he can concentrate on the violin and the trumpet . Kerry jumps from cello to keyboards to vibes as well as sharing vocals . The musicianship displayed is spell binding 👍👏👍👍
Oh how I love Gentle Giant!!!!❤️👍🐍❤️👍🐍
Only a considered study and repetition will allow you to see past the twists and turns to even try to plumb the intricacies of this music.
They are incredibly proficient and flexible but so dedicated to the construction and point of the song.
After 40+ years i still marvel at their imagination and creativity and do my best to follow all those layers running together. J.S. Bach would be proud, i think.
Plenty more where these came from…
GG is such an eclectic band to listen to. The bass and keys were the standouts to me. Thanks James.😊
I"ve never heard them before, glad i sat in!
Thanks!
Great to see new people discover this incredible band. You can try any album (except the 2 last ones), you won't be disappointed.
@Rowenband thanks!
@@Rowenband While I agree that Giant for a Day! is by far the worst Gentle Giant album, Civilian is for me an excellent album, with a straightforward, rock direction but containing great tracks.
This was so good ... fun stuff ... thank you
In my opinion, their best album
Sonically A true Gem 💎… a pleasure to listen… high quality Prog Audio!
Ah, GG's beautiful chaos. Not so chaotic though, if you're paying attention.
RIP Ray Shulman
They were crazy good musicians.
I have no idea about that ending of Way of Life but GG still is one of the greatest most underrated bands EVER. Oddly enough they have some of the best Live Prog 70s video recordings.
Just wait for the title track...it's just about my favourite GG track.
Amazing band. Wild stuff
Undercurrent 💥
Was there TOO much music that came out in the early 70's , that this band escaped my notice? It's baffling, as they were/are right up my alley. Thanks James R for suggesting them. I can't wait to hear more. Thanks L33, your channel shows me how little I know anything at all about music from my time, lol. Blessings all. Peace
I was a fan of ELP, Tull, Genesis, Yes and stuff back then and I´d read the name Gentle Giant from time to time but I swear I never ever heard just one single song of this band on the radio or anywhere else. Obviously their music was considered as being "too much" even for the usual prog listener. That´s the simple reason why GG music didn´t make it big - you´d never hear it!
The one and only time they´d made an exception on the air that I´d witnessed was the beginning of my admiration for this band.
Basically these guys were real composers, or at least tried to be, and they achieve true counterpoint with their music. It’s literally “classical rock” if there ever was such a thing. This goes beyond most prog bands, especially the emphasis on writing vs vamps/solos of which there are very little with GG. Truly a league of their own
GG!!! This album was originally not released in the USA, and was pretty hard to find. I searched a lot of used record stores in the 80’s trying to find it, and complete by GG collection.
The Martian Boogie by Brownsville Station
One of the most astounding bands ever to come on the scene..... even Frank Zappa gave them his stamp of approval and he doesn't like a whole lot lol...... what I find unique about gentle giant...... among many other things..... is that they never play with each other.... rather they play against each other... yet it all seems to come together to form a unified steamship of beautiful Prog greatness....Legends!!!!
Jane. By Jefferson starship
Leave a like on the video if you can and drop a comment with another track to do by ANYONE. I might just pick it..
John Lennon "Remember"
Cat Stevens - 18th Avenue
Rupert Hine - "One Man's Poison"
Rewarding listen
Thanks Lee!
Loved it ❤❤
After all this time GG still retain their fascination. Sometimes nothing else will do. I look forward to your full album choice.
This isn't my thing but, I appreciate it.
In my opinion the best gentle giant album is their second album acquiring the taste from 1971 it's their weirdest and most psychedelic album.
Love it
Full album reaction, yessss ! Just make sure it ain't Giant For a Day (their one clunker) or Convenience (where they are trying to be something they're not).
GG
Ray Shulman and John Weathers could groove so hard.
Mix genesis with Zappa you get gentle giant ❤❤❤
I do hope the full album you're doing is octopus. I believe it was the third album but it was certainly a breakout album for them here in the states. By the way the double live album called playing the fool is getting a 50th anniversary do-over with lots of extra material and I can't wait
The vocals were so good. I tried to follow it but got lost 😅
In most cases I don't like if music jumps from one point to another without any connection because in most cases it seems people do not know how to contimnus and therefore do something different. Not so with Gentle Giant. In their case I think they knew at every moment exactly what they were doing.
The end of Way of Life is weird, even for a GG fan like me. Experience is just a masterpiece.
Amazing band.
However complex there music was, fhere was always a playfulness there.
They ssverely simplified their music 5 years after this album.
Columbia Records in the US ditched this album for not being commercial enough.
They started going in a more commercial direction four years later with "The Missing Piece" (1977). To be honest, the only Gentle Giant album I have trouble stomaching is"Giant For a Day". I like TMP and "Civilian".
@danielwang7793 In A Glass House skld fairly well as an import apparently.
"Severely simplified", yet not many other bands could actually play the stuff from "Giant For A Day" not as simple as one might think. A stinker of an album though.
@BG-id2cv simplified compared with their earlier stuff, not compared to your run-of-the-mill MOR.
❤❤❤
Gentle Giant kept time with witchcraft.