Props for including "Interview". Not my favorite album but definitely one of my top GG tracks. Here's my top 10 cause why not. 10. Interview 9. Playing the Game 8. Just the Same 7. The Moon is Down 6. Dog's Life 5. On Reflection 4. Mister Class and Quality 3. Raconteur Troubadour 2. Schooldays 1. Advent of Panurge - Had to put this at number one since it's the first GG song I ever heard. Funny story on how I discovered Gentle Giant. I was bored one day and just googled "medieval rock" hoping to find some gems to add to my library. Somebody mentioned a few bands so I looked em up and downloaded "Octopus" as well as a couple others. Later on that day I took my dog for a walk, loaded up "Octopus" and heard "There coming over Char-it-on Briiiidge" and immediately knew this was gonna be something special. Rest is history, now Gentle Giant is one of my all time favorite bands. Nothing quite like it.
Three that often dont get enough love: 1) Giant from the debut album! Such a powerful song. And an amazing use of the mellotron from Kerry... 2) Working all day: Powerful riff, including the brass; 3) Inside out: From the infamous Civilian, this song is really about atmosphere....
Fantastic band! such a group of amazing musicians! here's my top 10: 10.Giant 9.Aspirations 8.Proclamation 7.The Advent of Panurge 6.On Reflection 5.Three Friends 4.Funny Ways 3.Wreck 2.Free Hand 1.Think of me with kindness Honorable mentions: The Runaway, Edge of Twilight, Just the Same, Way of Life, Interview, Two Weeks in Spain, Knots, Playing the Game, The Moon is Down, Schooldays, Prologue
5 picks off the top of my head, but it's impossible to list every favourite : Aspirations, In A Glass House, On Reflection, Pantagruel's Nativity, Knots.
There was so many choices during the 70s. I don't remember following groups like Renaissance and Gentle Giant. Even though I was a big YES fan. I was stationed in Germany in 1978, the music in Europe was Jazz Rock Fusion. So many groups and musicians at the top of their game. But thank you for RUclips music. Now I can go back and listen to the stuff I missed.
I'm pretty surprised you didn't metion "Think of me with kindness". It's my favourite and it's such a great and emotional song. Other then that, great list and love your channel! You introduced me to some really great bands I've never heard of so thanks for that :)
My top 11 after only knowing this band for three weeks… And in no apparent order… Advent of the panurge Inmates lullaby Way of life Experience Aspirations So sincere Knots Dog’s life His last voyage Just the same On reflection I have only heard four albums - In a Glass House, the Power and the Glory, Free Hand and Octopus. Of those I think Free Hand is less up my alley, but man, all this music is so great!! So excited to get into their other albums!
This is the only place where my favourite bands are often talked about and praised. Nowhere else can I find much on most of them. Thanks for promoting these amazing bands like Gentle Giant and Budgie.
Hey Pete , so far this is something that I cannot rack my brain enough to even come up with a list to come up with a top 20 let alone a top 10. Until their last 2 albums, none of their albums had any filler. On first listen from the Aquiring The taste to possibly The Missing Piece, one never knows what these true geniuses were going to throw at us. There have been some bands that would try to take elements of what Gentle Giant's music contained, but absolutely nobody has written and composed with all the elements, and with the confidence that seemed to perform live with ease. Many bands have had to compromise their studio efforts to perform live, not these guys. I think any Gentle Giant list should contain their amazing live album Playing The Fool. I recommend this album to demonstrate what this band was all about in concert.
The amazing thing about GG albums is that all kinds of crazy shit would be going on from song to song but the album as a whole made sense. Amazing band. One other thing... I’d like to recommend their live album Playing the Fool. Absolutely fantastic! One of my top 5 live albums.
10. Playing The Game 9. Free Hand 8. Mr. Class and Quality 7. A Reunion 6. Raconteur Troubadour 5. The Runaway 4. Advent of Panurge 3. Proclamation 2. Pantagruel’s Nativity 1. In A Glass House
My list is quit different, but the main thing is.... I love your passion for one of the most unique, amazing, creative, talented, bold (the list goes on ad infinitum) group of musicians EVER!! Got to see them twice, one of the times with Renaissance! Gentle Giant was/is awesomeness to the Nth degree!!!!
When I was a DJ in college radio in the late 70's I could check out any records I wanted. That's when I listened to Gentle Giant. Sure, they were great musicians and weren't interested in commercial success. But they recorded one song, three minutes long called Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It. It was a catchy pop-rock tune that went against everything they ever did, hence the title. It's the only one I remember.
Here's my Top 10 Tracks list compiled picking a track out of each album: 01 · Pantagruel's Nativity 02 · In A Glass House 03 · The Advent Of Panurge 04 · Funny Ways 05 · Three Friends 06 · Free Hand 07 · I Lost My Head 08 · The Face 09 · Underground 10 · For Nobody [Honourable mention] · Rock Climber Here's also my best to worst album list: 01 · Octopus 02 · Acquiring The Taste 03 · In A Glass House 04 · The Power And The Glory 05 · Free Hand 06 · Three Friends 07 · Interview 08 · Gentle Giant 09 · The Missing Piece 10 · Civilian 11 · Giant For A Day What an amazing band!
@Hany M.Gamal Oh, thanks! So, what's your ranking. Personally, mine isn't really set in stone. I looked at it now and felt I should swap a few places for both albums and tracks. Still, it was a painstaking process that required a lot of listening to come up with these lists.
@Hany M.Gamal Nice! Quite a similar ranking indeed. By the way, I could also easily have the first five albums on these lists at number one. I really like them all a lot but those five records are just marvellous and so diverse that rating them is like comparing different bands.
I just got into this band. I've heard 3 albums so far. 1. Three friends. 2. Acquiring the taste. 3. Octopus. Anyways I'm getting used to their sound. Don't have a top 10 yet. But I can't help but love peel the paint, I cry for everyone, and pentegruels nativity.
Thanks Pete. I was fortunate to have seem them 2 times both in Baltimore. Once opening for Tull at the Civic Center 1972 and another time Hollywood Palace 1975. I like your list a lot and realize how difficult this task is. Its almost as if you could have lists of favorite GG material based on sub genres ...madrigals, chamber, rockers, blues, folk, accapello, or fusion. Three Friends has got to be in my top 3. Free Hand prob 1 or 2. Im starting to love Glass House. There is so much. Way to go... keep it up. Im a drummer and love playing this material. Keeps me sharp. Cheers long live GG.
Hey Pete... really enjoying you digging Giant so much. Like your choices... saw them live in '75 in Seattle hearing 3 Friends first then Acquiring the Taste... These were amazing times... SO much abundance of great AND varied PROFOUND bands... styles. This band figured prominently in my self discovery... and creativity. P.S. Peel the Paint is an AMAZING analog recording. Just no words... can't imagine life without Giant
Oh man!!! This was the hardest one yet! Top 10 Gentle Giant 1. Free Hand 2. Pantagruel's Nativity 3. The Advent of Panurge 4. Knots 5. Proclamation 6. On Reflection 7. Giant 8. The Runaway 9. Edge of Twilight 10.The Moon Is Down
Just started getting into GG after a false start with "Octopus" a while ago. It didnt grab me. But after Pete recommending "Free hand" as a possible place to start I'm glad ive gone back in!. That album and "The power and the glory" do it for me. Same way that King Crimson's "Red" hits me more that COTCK ever did. Im drawn in by the overall sound of an album and im yet to put my finger on what that is but this week has been a good exploration into GG. Thanks to Pete!
Great list... Congrats... I missed the giant' ballads on the list like Reunion ... but its so hard tô put just 10 songs on the list... Octopus, Three Frinds, Free Hand, In a Glass House and The power and The Glory are treasures of the humanity in my humble opinion.... That's a band that will stay forever in our hearts and minds.
One of the most inique bands ever! 1. Just the Same - Free Hand 2. Edge of twilight - acquiring the taste 3.Why not? - debut 4. Proclamation - power and the glory 5. Boys in the Band - Octopus 6. 2 weeks in Spain- missing piece 7. Convience - civilan 8. Runaway - In a Glass House 9. Peel the Paint - three friends 10. Interview - self title
Hi Pete. Great selection. My top ten, from top top bottom. Funny ways Edge of twilight Memories of old days Experience On reflection Schooldays River Rock Climber An inmates lullaby Just the same I think that last 3 albums of GG are still very underrated. Although time has slowly been turning heads and ears towards them. Cheers.
P R O C L O M A T I O N !! Hi Pete! This is Mel from Meglaphone, with an interesting Gentle Giant song that was never recorded by them! A guy by the name of Jonny Virgil, who also went by the name of Kevin! "SUITE CANNON" ( Kevin Gilbert!) Can we speak candidly?! Al from A&R is REALLY keen on this recording! I really think you should try a hit of this! ( It was, is, and always be a tribute hit!)
Hey Pete. F yeah! I just watched your video on the History of GG, and then discovered this one. I agreed with you on all the albums, and also really like all the songs in your top 10. Anyone who is a hard-core GG fan in a friend of mine. I discovered them when I was in high-school, about 35 years ago, and I’ve never found another band that intrigued me more. Of course I also love Genesis and Yes, and Pink Floyd (the early stuff!), but they are not as weird as GG. That said, my Top 10 would be a bit different from yours. Here ‘tis. 1) Advent of Panurge: We agree. That is the prefect distillation of what GG is. 2) So Sincere: A song that annoyed the crap out of me at first, but I’ve eventually grown to love. The opening melody(?) is so avant-garde, it’s modern art in music. 3) Aspirations: This is, in my opinion, their most beautiful song. Love that organ. 4) Knots: Never thought Bohemian Rhapsody was as inventive. ‘Nuff said. 5) The Runaway: Maybe it’s personal. This was the first song that hooked me. The breaking glass attracted my attention, then the keyboard and synth stuff. I even liked that story. 6) Why Not: Gentle Giant for the non-fan, with rocking guitar riffs. Great song before they got really weird and wonderful. Could equally have gone with, “Nothing At All”. 7) Mister Class and Quality: I find this one the most catchy, though I certainly recognize that insane guitar solo in Peel the Paint. I just enjoy this song more. 8) Experience: Like Advent, this is a crystallization of GG, but a little later. 9) Free Hand: Another one that irritated the hell out of me until I loved it anyway. The synth solo is awesome. 10) The Boys in the Band: Instrumental, I know, but just has that great Octopus feel, and another great synth solo. Of course the ordering is pretty damned flexible, and a top 120 is probably needed to account for daily fluctuations in mood. Also, agree with you on Magma. Can’t get into them. Had a real hard time getting into CAN, too, but eventually did. Lastly, I’m an artist, and I was wondering if my favorite all-time band creeps into my art at all. Maybe, not in terms of specific content, but in relation to experimentation and some sort of orientation: artofericwayne.com/new-art/ If you love GG as much as you do, I'll have to check out your recommendations on other music. Cheers, Eric Wayne
I saw GG at least 5 times, the first was when they were warming up for Jethro Tull's Aqualung, and they did "Three Friends". I bought that album the next day and played it until I wore it out. It holds a special place in my heart. I was able to catch the "Three Friends" band with Gary Green, Malcolm Mortimer, et al a couple of years ago. They were terrific. However, one song just blew me away, "Empty City" from their "Interview" album (never one of my favorites). That is a surprisingly beautiful song that I never paid much attention. (The "Under Construction" outtakes album has an instrumental version of it.)
Pete Pardo: As a usual viewer, I thank you for offering us splendid journeys through the rock/pop musical universe, usually with well-founded and weighty comments, which makes your job solid and reliable. It was great watching the video where you ranked Gentle Giant's albums. Hopefully, I'll see you, one day, assessing Rory Gallagher's ( or Johnny Winter's ) albums and/or songs. Please keep the engine working !!! Cheers from Rio !
glad to see "peel the paint" in your top 3. Nothing beats on reflection for me personally but many good tracks i haven't included (especially from the interview album). 10. The Boys in the Band 9. Mister Class and Quality? 8. Funny Ways (Live version is incredible) 7. Isn't it Quiet and Cold 6. Free Hand 5. Advent of Panurge 4. Proclamation 3. Knots 2. Peel the Paint 1. On Reflection
Just gotten into this band - brilliantly creative and so much fun! Here are my top 10: 10. Way of Life 9. Working All Day 8. The Boys In the Band 7. Proclamation 6. Free Hand 5. Playing The Game 4. I Lost My Head 3. Interview 2. Just The Same 1. The Runaway
Cuz of you you turn me on that band I got me some gentle giant CDs in my collection now I picked him up yesterday I never heard of them to I start watching you on your RUclips channel
My list would change probably every day. So many great songs by GG. You’re right though, this band takes a few listens to get into but the good part is once you get hooked you never get tired of them. Hard to pick favorites from 6 masterpiece albums, 2 great albums, 2 OK albums and one stinker.
GG is one my top 10 prog-rock bands of all time. Unique band, remarkable musicians and glorious songs. My top songs are: I Lost my Head, Free Hand, Funny Ways, Proclamation, The Advent of Panurge, Pantagruel's Nativity, Peel the Paint, and The Runaway.
Very late to this. Nearly impossible to pick only 10, and even more impossible to actually rank them; I just can't do it. Here is a rough - and I do mean rough - estimate of my top 10, and they are in no particular order: Alucard Cogs In Cogs Experience Pantagruel's Nativity Knots So Sincere On Reflection I'm Turning Around Words From The Wise Take Me Most will not be surprised by the first 7, but will probably be most shocked by the final 3. I feel like I'm the only GG fan who absolutely loves ALL 11 of their studio albums; this band could literally do ANYTHING. The utmost level of sophistication and professionalism, alloyed with humor and playfulness, put them in a league of their own. The final 3 albums saw them strip things down drastically, yet, for the most part, delivered masterfully crafted stuff (yes, including the "pop" stuff.) Ironically, or not, if we were ranking the albums, Giant For A Day would actually rank at the very bottom of my list. Yet, I still love the damn thing. And I'd be here all day if it came to honourable mentions...
The list: 10. Interview 9. Prologue 8. Experience 7. Funny ways 6. Knots 5. Proclomation 4. Free hand 3. Pantagruel's nativity 2. Peel the paint 1. Advent of Panurge I largely agree. I think you picked many of the quinessential ones, and I ended up nodding in acknowledgement most of the time. Personally, I would not have Peel the Paint on this list (rather "The house, ", "Schooldays", "Time to Kill", or "Black Cat"), and Knots and Proclomation would not be that high on mine, I think. .. Regardless of lists.. There's a lot of really great music!
Such a hard task, but I accept the Challenge. 1) In A Glass House 2) Wreck 3) Proclamation 4) On Reflection 5) Mister Class & Quality 6) Raconteur Troubadour 7) Giant 8) Interview 9) For Nobody 10) Pantagruel Nativity's
I don't know Gentle Giant enough to moake a top 10 but there is one thing I am sureabout:Three friends (the song) is the kind of track I can listen 3, 4 or 5 times in a row.
Gentle Giant / Genesis / Yes are probably my Top 3 in Prog too ... The problem here is that whenever I listen to one of my top 15 songs from GG, I think 'ok, this is the best one' ... 1. Proclamation 2. Memories of Old Days 3. On Reflection 4. Giant 5. Free Hand 6. The Advent of Panurge 7. Just the Same 8. Wreck 9. Pantagruel's Nativity 10. Think of Me with Kindness Honourable mentions: Cogs in Cogs, The Runaway, Prologue, Interview Of course this list would look different tomorrow ...
Before seeing your choices, here are mine: 1.- Nothing at All 2.- Pantagruel's Nativity. 3.- On Reflection 4.- The Boys in the Band. 5.- Funny Ways. 6.- The Runaway. 7.- Schooldays. 8.- Experience. 9.- Three Friends. 10.- Proclamation.
1 His Last Voyage 2 Schooldays 3 Peel the Paint 4 Alucard 5 Nothing at All 6 Think Of Me With Kindness 7 Aspirations 8 The Runaway 9 A Cry For Everyone 10 Number One
Listening to Gentle Giant on records is kind of like listening to the space shuttle take off on the radio. You KNOW something spectacular is happening, but to get the full effect you really need to be there. I was lucky enough to see Gentle Giant live in the mid-70s, and it remains, to this day, the pinnacle of my concert going experiences.
Fantastic band! 1-The moon is down 2-Prologue 3-Schooldays 4-Three friends 5-The boys in the band 6-Knots 7-Cogs in cogs 8-An Inmate's Lullaby 9-Empty city 10-Interview
Personally I have a great preference for the more rock albums (The Power and the Glory, Free Hand and Interview). My favorite song today (but often) would be His last Voyage.
My favourite Gentle Giant songs are as follows. So Sincere Aspiration The Power and the Glory Two Weeks In Spain Dog's Life A Cry For Everyone Think Of Me With Kindness Advent Of Panurge Raconteur Troubadour
My Top Ten 10. Free Hand 9. The Advent of Panurge 8. Playing the Game 7. The House, The Street, The Room 6. Pantagruel’s Nativity 5. In a Glass House 4. Proclamations 3. Prologue 2. School Days 1. The Runaway
Hi Pete, loving your top tens. I’ve tried to get into Gentle Giant.... god knows I’ve tried but it’s so hard to get into them. I’m totally with you on Genesis and Black Sabbath they are (in order) my top Prog and top hard rock/metal bands. I know you prefer deep purple to Sabbath but that’s moot 😃. Purely because I value your opinion I’m going to try with Gentle Giant again. I’ve downloaded a few of their albums and I’m going to wade through them. One of your honourable mentions was “Two Weeks in Spain”. I know for a fact I will NEVER, EVER like that song. It drives me crazy 😱 As a side note, I’ve always been impressed with the unusual voices of the early prog era. Like Peter Gabriel, Roger Chapman, the Gentle Giant Singer, (sorry I don’t know which Shulman it was) and the singer with Rare Bird, sorry again I don’t know his name either. Unusual voices but awesome, particularly Gabriel. I never understood why he said Phil Collins was a better singer. I always thought he sounded whiney. 😁 Honourable mentions, Cressida Audience May Blitz Gracious Bakerloo Quatermass Nektar Jackson Heights Lindisfarne.
I would recommend their live album Playing The Fool. In a live setting I think that their music is more accessible. I would even suggest checking into their live performances available on RUclips. For me at least, sometimes seeing a band perform live has given me a greater introduction and eventually an appreciation of some bands that at first were somewhat demanding on my ears.
My list ... Memories of old days Old as you’re young Underground In a glass house On reflections Boys in the band Empty city Prologue Three friends Inside out No curtain order......
Part 2: I had always known of this band, but never checked them out, but I recently got into the utterly magnificent Cardiacs .. and a lot of people were comparing them to GG. Check out "On Land and In the Sea" . They opened for Marillion in the mid 80s and got booed off every night - much to the disgust of their big fan, Fish
Here would be my top 10: In A Glass House Prologue Advent of Panurge Cogs In Cogs Just The Same Pentagruel’s Nativity School Days The Runaway Free Hand Time To Kill
1.pantagruel's nativity 2.on reflection 3.free hand 4.giant 5.the advent of panurge 6.just the same 7.proclamation 8.funny ways 9.prologue 10.way of life
In my opinion the best period of Gentle Giants is 1973-77. More universal music. Top ten for me Interview Proclamation In A Glass House The Runaway / Experience Live Free Hand The Face Playing The Game Give It Back I Lost My Head Memories Of Old Days
1. Pantagruel's Nativity 2. The Advent Of Panurge 3. Aspirations 4. The Boys In The Band 5. His Last Voyage 6. The Moon Is Down 7. Edge Of Twilight 8. Cogs In Cogs 9. In A Glass House 10. Experience honorable mentions: The Runaway Proclamation Way of Life Plain Truth On Reflection Playing The Game Free Hand Wreck Peel The Paint Black Cat Giant So Sincere Dog's Life Just the Same No God's a Man Freedom's Child Mr. Class and Quality I Lost My Head
1. Peel the paint 2.proclamation 3.the advent of panurge 4.the river 5.free hand 6. Just the same 7.plain truth 8.pantagruels nativity 9.raconteur troubadour 10.prologue
I like how you always wear the shirt of the band you're presenting. Is this on purpose, or just a coincidence? By the way, I'm writing all these songs down and I plan on listening to them when I've finished,
You're wearing an IAGH t-shirt and not mentioning any tracks from it?? My fav tracks from the 8 worthwhile albums would be Nothing at all/Pantagruel's Nativity/Mr Class-3 friends/Boys/Runaway/Proclamation/On Reflection/I Lost my Head/For Nobody as well as Glass House & Last Voyage for 10 current favs
The Boys in the Band is one of the coolest instrumental tracks I’ve ever heard. Gentle Giant perfectly bridges the gap between whimsical and badass
My number one is "Think of Me with kindness" from the Octopus album .. it's naked and real ;-)
Mine's too
Yep!
Advent of Panurge...number one...DESERVES IT!
Props for including "Interview". Not my favorite album but definitely one of my top GG tracks. Here's my top 10 cause why not.
10. Interview
9. Playing the Game
8. Just the Same
7. The Moon is Down
6. Dog's Life
5. On Reflection
4. Mister Class and Quality
3. Raconteur Troubadour
2. Schooldays
1. Advent of Panurge - Had to put this at number one since it's the first GG song I ever heard. Funny story on how I discovered Gentle Giant. I was bored one day and just googled "medieval rock" hoping to find some gems to add to my library. Somebody mentioned a few bands so I looked em up and downloaded "Octopus" as well as a couple others. Later on that day I took my dog for a walk, loaded up "Octopus" and heard "There coming over Char-it-on Briiiidge" and immediately knew this was gonna be something special. Rest is history, now Gentle Giant is one of my all time favorite bands. Nothing quite like it.
Good selections. I love all those songs, and also agree on #1 as #1.
Love that you included the moon is down, one of my favs from my fav album, very underrated, the sax duet and whole song is gorgeous
I couldn’t agree more !! And wow Prologue - I thought I was the only fan for whom that was a top favorite !
Three that often dont get enough love: 1) Giant from the debut album! Such a powerful song. And an amazing use of the mellotron from Kerry... 2) Working all day: Powerful riff, including the brass; 3) Inside out: From the infamous Civilian, this song is really about atmosphere....
Fantastic band! such a group of amazing musicians! here's my top 10:
10.Giant
9.Aspirations
8.Proclamation
7.The Advent of Panurge
6.On Reflection
5.Three Friends
4.Funny Ways
3.Wreck
2.Free Hand
1.Think of me with kindness
Honorable mentions: The Runaway, Edge of Twilight, Just the Same, Way of Life, Interview, Two Weeks in Spain, Knots, Playing the Game, The Moon is Down, Schooldays, Prologue
Miguel Oliveira wow no in’s glass house anywhere not even honorable mention. That song is legendary!
Love Giant!
Love the T-shirts! How many do you have?
Love the Giant! Greatest unknown (to way too many) prog band ever!
Easily over 100!
5 picks off the top of my head, but it's impossible to list every favourite : Aspirations, In A Glass House, On Reflection, Pantagruel's Nativity, Knots.
your list is exactly the same as mine. Great band!
There was so many choices during the 70s.
I don't remember following groups like Renaissance and Gentle Giant. Even though I was a big YES fan. I was stationed in Germany in 1978, the music in Europe was Jazz Rock Fusion. So many groups and musicians at the top of their game.
But thank you for RUclips music. Now I can go back and listen to the stuff I missed.
Thanks for your GG insights I got backstage a couple times 1975/1976 with the band It was monumental and magical.
I'm pretty surprised you didn't metion "Think of me with kindness". It's my favourite and it's such a great and emotional song. Other then that, great list and love your channel! You introduced me to some really great bands I've never heard of so thanks for that :)
My top 11 after only knowing this band for three weeks…
And in no apparent order…
Advent of the panurge
Inmates lullaby
Way of life
Experience
Aspirations
So sincere
Knots
Dog’s life
His last voyage
Just the same
On reflection
I have only heard four albums - In a Glass House, the Power and the Glory, Free Hand and Octopus. Of those I think Free Hand is less up my alley, but man, all this music is so great!! So excited to get into their other albums!
This is the only place where my favourite bands are often talked about and praised. Nowhere else can I find much on most of them. Thanks for promoting these amazing bands like Gentle Giant and Budgie.
Hey Pete , so far this is something that I cannot rack my brain enough to even come up with a list to come up with a top 20 let alone a top 10. Until their last 2 albums, none of their albums had any filler. On first listen from the Aquiring The taste to possibly The Missing Piece, one never knows what these true geniuses were going to throw at us. There have been some bands that would try to take elements of what Gentle Giant's music contained, but absolutely nobody has written and composed with all the elements, and with the confidence that seemed to perform live with ease. Many bands have had to compromise their studio efforts to perform live, not these guys. I think any Gentle Giant list should contain their amazing live album Playing The Fool. I recommend this album to demonstrate what this band was all about in concert.
The amazing thing about GG albums is that all kinds of crazy shit would be going on from song to song but the album as a whole made sense. Amazing band.
One other thing... I’d like to recommend their live album Playing the Fool. Absolutely fantastic! One of my top 5 live albums.
Never heard any music from Gentle Giant! Should take a listen!
Yes you should. It may take a few listens but it pays off.
...well? What did you think?
10. Playing The Game
9. Free Hand
8. Mr. Class and Quality
7. A Reunion
6. Raconteur Troubadour
5. The Runaway
4. Advent of Panurge
3. Proclamation
2. Pantagruel’s Nativity
1. In A Glass House
My list is quit different, but the main thing is.... I love your passion for one of the most unique, amazing, creative, talented, bold (the list goes on ad infinitum) group of musicians EVER!! Got to see them twice, one of the times with Renaissance! Gentle Giant was/is awesomeness to the Nth degree!!!!
Pick any song play it loud let Ray Schulmans bass massage your heart just truly a truly unique and great band.
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME BAND THANK YOU PETE
When I was a DJ in college radio in the late 70's I could check out any records I wanted. That's when I listened to Gentle Giant. Sure, they were great musicians and weren't interested in commercial success. But they recorded one song, three minutes long called Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It. It was a catchy pop-rock tune that went against everything they ever did, hence the title. It's the only one I remember.
Here's my Top 10 Tracks list compiled picking a track out of each album:
01 · Pantagruel's Nativity
02 · In A Glass House
03 · The Advent Of Panurge
04 · Funny Ways
05 · Three Friends
06 · Free Hand
07 · I Lost My Head
08 · The Face
09 · Underground
10 · For Nobody
[Honourable mention] · Rock Climber
Here's also my best to worst album list:
01 · Octopus
02 · Acquiring The Taste
03 · In A Glass House
04 · The Power And The Glory
05 · Free Hand
06 · Three Friends
07 · Interview
08 · Gentle Giant
09 · The Missing Piece
10 · Civilian
11 · Giant For A Day
What an amazing band!
@Hany M.Gamal Oh, thanks! So, what's your ranking. Personally, mine isn't really set in stone. I looked at it now and felt I should swap a few places for both albums and tracks. Still, it was a painstaking process that required a lot of listening to come up with these lists.
@Hany M.Gamal Nice! Quite a similar ranking indeed. By the way, I could also easily have the first five albums on these lists at number one. I really like them all a lot but those five records are just marvellous and so diverse that rating them is like comparing different bands.
I grew up with gentle giant, too much to mention, no wrong answers with these guys!
Just amazing!!!
All that you say about this incredible band is absolutely true. Thank you by you existing.
I just got into this band. I've heard 3 albums so far. 1. Three friends. 2. Acquiring the taste. 3. Octopus. Anyways I'm getting used to their sound. Don't have a top 10 yet. But I can't help but love peel the paint, I cry for everyone, and pentegruels nativity.
Awesome T shirt brother( and my favourite GG album )
Thanks Pete. I was fortunate to have seem them 2 times both in Baltimore. Once opening for Tull at the Civic Center 1972 and another time Hollywood Palace 1975. I like your list a lot and realize how difficult this task is. Its almost as if you could have lists of favorite GG material based on sub genres ...madrigals, chamber, rockers, blues, folk, accapello, or fusion. Three Friends has got to be in my top 3. Free Hand prob 1 or 2. Im starting to love Glass House. There is so much. Way to go... keep it up. Im a drummer and love playing this material. Keeps me sharp. Cheers long live GG.
I saw them also opening for Tull at the CCenter! Mind still blown.
Hey Pete... really enjoying you digging Giant so much. Like your choices... saw them live in '75 in Seattle
hearing 3 Friends first then Acquiring the Taste... These were amazing times... SO much abundance of great
AND varied PROFOUND bands... styles. This band figured prominently in my self discovery... and creativity.
P.S. Peel the Paint is an AMAZING analog recording. Just no words... can't imagine life without Giant
Oh man!!! This was the hardest one yet!
Top 10 Gentle Giant
1. Free Hand
2. Pantagruel's Nativity
3. The Advent of Panurge
4. Knots
5. Proclamation
6. On Reflection
7. Giant
8. The Runaway
9. Edge of Twilight
10.The Moon Is Down
Hey man I dig your vids, you seem like a cool dude!
Just started getting into GG after a false start with "Octopus" a while ago. It didnt grab me. But after Pete recommending "Free hand" as a possible place to start I'm glad ive gone back in!. That album and "The power and the glory" do it for me. Same way that King Crimson's "Red" hits me more that COTCK ever did. Im drawn in by the overall sound of an album and im yet to put my finger on what that is but this week has been a good exploration into GG. Thanks to Pete!
Great list... Congrats... I missed the giant' ballads on the list like Reunion ... but its so hard tô put just 10 songs on the list... Octopus, Three Frinds, Free Hand, In a Glass House and The power and The Glory are treasures of the humanity in my humble opinion.... That's a band that will stay forever in our hearts and minds.
One of the most inique bands ever!
1. Just the Same - Free Hand
2. Edge of twilight - acquiring the taste
3.Why not? - debut
4. Proclamation - power and the glory
5. Boys in the Band - Octopus
6. 2 weeks in Spain- missing piece
7. Convience - civilan
8. Runaway - In a Glass House
9. Peel the Paint - three friends
10. Interview - self title
Great band. It was Pete that directed me to Gentle Giant through videos like these. And I have not looked back...
Hi Pete. Great selection.
My top ten, from top top bottom.
Funny ways
Edge of twilight
Memories of old days
Experience
On reflection
Schooldays
River
Rock Climber
An inmates lullaby
Just the same
I think that last 3 albums of GG are still very underrated. Although time has slowly been turning heads and ears towards them. Cheers.
P R O C L O M A T I O N !!
Hi Pete!
This is Mel from Meglaphone, with an interesting Gentle Giant song that was never recorded by them! A guy by the name of Jonny Virgil, who also went by the name of Kevin!
"SUITE CANNON"
( Kevin Gilbert!)
Can we speak candidly?!
Al from A&R is REALLY keen on this recording!
I really think you should try a hit of this!
( It was, is, and always be a tribute hit!)
Love the passion mate.....
Saw GG twice at the Tower in Phila. Great, great shows.
Gentle Giant incredible band!
Hey Pete. F yeah! I just watched your video on the History of GG, and then discovered this one. I agreed with you on all the albums, and also really like all the songs in your top 10. Anyone who is a hard-core GG fan in a friend of mine. I discovered them when I was in high-school, about 35 years ago, and I’ve never found another band that intrigued me more. Of course I also love Genesis and Yes, and Pink Floyd (the early stuff!), but they are not as weird as GG. That said, my Top 10 would be a bit different from yours. Here ‘tis.
1) Advent of Panurge: We agree. That is the prefect distillation of what GG is.
2) So Sincere: A song that annoyed the crap out of me at first, but I’ve eventually grown to love. The opening melody(?) is so avant-garde, it’s modern art in music.
3) Aspirations: This is, in my opinion, their most beautiful song. Love that organ.
4) Knots: Never thought Bohemian Rhapsody was as inventive. ‘Nuff said.
5) The Runaway: Maybe it’s personal. This was the first song that hooked me. The breaking glass attracted my attention, then the keyboard and synth stuff. I even liked that story.
6) Why Not: Gentle Giant for the non-fan, with rocking guitar riffs. Great song before they got really weird and wonderful. Could equally have gone with, “Nothing At All”.
7) Mister Class and Quality: I find this one the most catchy, though I certainly recognize that insane guitar solo in Peel the Paint. I just enjoy this song more.
8) Experience: Like Advent, this is a crystallization of GG, but a little later.
9) Free Hand: Another one that irritated the hell out of me until I loved it anyway. The synth solo is awesome.
10) The Boys in the Band: Instrumental, I know, but just has that great Octopus feel, and another great synth solo.
Of course the ordering is pretty damned flexible, and a top 120 is probably needed to account for daily fluctuations in mood.
Also, agree with you on Magma. Can’t get into them. Had a real hard time getting into CAN, too, but eventually did.
Lastly, I’m an artist, and I was wondering if my favorite all-time band creeps into my art at all. Maybe, not in terms of specific content, but in relation to experimentation and some sort of orientation: artofericwayne.com/new-art/
If you love GG as much as you do, I'll have to check out your recommendations on other music.
Cheers, Eric Wayne
my fav albums
Acquiring The Taste, Octopus, The Power And The Glory, and In A Glass House
I saw GG at least 5 times, the first was when they were warming up for Jethro Tull's Aqualung, and they did "Three Friends". I bought that album the next day and played it until I wore it out. It holds a special place in my heart.
I was able to catch the "Three Friends" band with Gary Green, Malcolm Mortimer, et al a couple of years ago. They were terrific. However, one song just blew me away, "Empty City" from their "Interview" album (never one of my favorites).
That is a surprisingly beautiful song that I never paid much attention. (The "Under Construction" outtakes album has an instrumental version of it.)
Pete Pardo: As a usual viewer, I thank you for offering us splendid journeys through the rock/pop musical universe, usually with well-founded and weighty comments, which makes your job solid and reliable. It was great watching the video where you ranked Gentle Giant's albums. Hopefully, I'll see you, one day, assessing Rory Gallagher's ( or Johnny Winter's ) albums and/or songs. Please keep the engine working !!! Cheers from Rio !
I've already ranked the Rory Gallagher catalog.
@@seaoftranquilityprog : Great to know that ! I'll check it !!!
glad to see "peel the paint" in your top 3. Nothing beats on reflection for me personally but many good tracks i haven't included (especially from the interview album).
10. The Boys in the Band
9. Mister Class and Quality?
8. Funny Ways (Live version is incredible)
7. Isn't it Quiet and Cold
6. Free Hand
5. Advent of Panurge
4. Proclamation
3. Knots
2. Peel the Paint
1. On Reflection
Timing off In'terview is my favorite GG song of all time. Never hear anyone talk about it but it's fantastic.
Just gotten into this band - brilliantly creative and so much fun!
Here are my top 10:
10. Way of Life
9. Working All Day
8. The Boys In the Band
7. Proclamation
6. Free Hand
5. Playing The Game
4. I Lost My Head
3. Interview
2. Just The Same
1. The Runaway
Nothing like the Giant!
Cuz of you you turn me on that band I got me some gentle giant CDs in my collection now I picked him up yesterday I never heard of them to I start watching you on your RUclips channel
Counter point arrangements based on a intricate interwoven melodies in various time signatures, brilliant!
My list would change probably every day. So many great songs by GG. You’re right though, this band takes a few listens to get into but the good part is once you get hooked you never get tired of them. Hard to pick favorites from 6 masterpiece albums, 2 great albums, 2 OK albums and one stinker.
The lead singer is in the Bob Dylan, Neal Young, Geddy Lee, Steve Perry category : you can tolerate him or you can't
GG is one my top 10 prog-rock bands of all time. Unique band, remarkable musicians and glorious songs. My top songs are: I Lost my Head, Free Hand, Funny Ways, Proclamation, The Advent of Panurge, Pantagruel's Nativity, Peel the Paint, and The Runaway.
Very late to this. Nearly impossible to pick only 10, and even more impossible to actually rank them; I just can't do it. Here is a rough - and I do mean rough - estimate of my top 10, and they are in no particular order:
Alucard
Cogs In Cogs
Experience
Pantagruel's Nativity
Knots
So Sincere
On Reflection
I'm Turning Around
Words From The Wise
Take Me
Most will not be surprised by the first 7, but will probably be most shocked by the final 3. I feel like I'm the only GG fan who absolutely loves ALL 11 of their studio albums; this band could literally do ANYTHING. The utmost level of sophistication and professionalism, alloyed with humor and playfulness, put them in a league of their own. The final 3 albums saw them strip things down drastically, yet, for the most part, delivered masterfully crafted stuff (yes, including the "pop" stuff.)
Ironically, or not, if we were ranking the albums, Giant For A Day would actually rank at the very bottom of my list. Yet, I still love the damn thing.
And I'd be here all day if it came to honourable mentions...
The list:
10. Interview
9. Prologue
8. Experience
7. Funny ways
6. Knots
5. Proclomation
4. Free hand
3. Pantagruel's nativity
2. Peel the paint
1. Advent of Panurge
I largely agree. I think you picked many of the quinessential ones, and I ended up nodding in acknowledgement most of the time. Personally, I would not have Peel the Paint on this list (rather "The house, ", "Schooldays", "Time to Kill", or "Black Cat"), and Knots and Proclomation would not be that high on mine, I think. .. Regardless of lists.. There's a lot of really great music!
Such a hard task, but I accept the Challenge.
1) In A Glass House
2) Wreck
3) Proclamation
4) On Reflection
5) Mister Class & Quality
6) Raconteur Troubadour
7) Giant
8) Interview
9) For Nobody
10) Pantagruel Nativity's
I don't know Gentle Giant enough to moake a top 10 but there is one thing I am sureabout:Three friends (the song) is the kind of track I can listen 3, 4 or 5 times in a row.
Gentle Giant / Genesis / Yes are probably my Top 3 in Prog too ...
The problem here is that whenever I listen to one of my top 15 songs from GG, I think 'ok, this is the best one' ...
1. Proclamation
2. Memories of Old Days
3. On Reflection
4. Giant
5. Free Hand
6. The Advent of Panurge
7. Just the Same
8. Wreck
9. Pantagruel's Nativity
10. Think of Me with Kindness
Honourable mentions:
Cogs in Cogs, The Runaway, Prologue, Interview
Of course this list would look different tomorrow ...
Before seeing your choices, here are mine:
1.- Nothing at All
2.- Pantagruel's Nativity.
3.- On Reflection
4.- The Boys in the Band.
5.- Funny Ways.
6.- The Runaway.
7.- Schooldays.
8.- Experience.
9.- Three Friends.
10.- Proclamation.
In A Glass House is one of those songs everybody should know.
1 His Last Voyage
2 Schooldays
3 Peel the Paint
4 Alucard
5 Nothing at All
6 Think Of Me With Kindness
7 Aspirations
8 The Runaway
9 A Cry For Everyone
10 Number One
Listening to Gentle Giant on records is kind of like listening to the space shuttle take off on the radio. You KNOW something spectacular is happening, but to get the full effect you really need to be there. I was lucky enough to see Gentle Giant live in the mid-70s, and it remains, to this day, the pinnacle of my concert going experiences.
Fantastic band!
1-The moon is down 2-Prologue 3-Schooldays 4-Three friends 5-The boys in the band 6-Knots 7-Cogs in cogs 8-An Inmate's Lullaby 9-Empty city 10-Interview
I Betcha thought I would comment !!
His last voyage,
Great honorable mention!
To me, their best
Guy, you are very good in what you do. Thanks from Brazil.
Listen please OS MUTANTES from Brazil and give your sincerely opinion.
Add King Crimson to your top favs! Love GG too!
Personally I have a great preference for the more rock albums (The Power and the Glory, Free Hand and Interview). My favorite song today (but often) would be His last Voyage.
I've had Acquiring the Taste on fairly constant rotation lately. Sometimes an album just speaks to you.
The Runaway is my top number one.
My favourite Gentle Giant songs are as follows.
So Sincere
Aspiration
The Power and the Glory
Two Weeks In Spain
Dog's Life
A Cry For Everyone
Think Of Me With Kindness
Advent Of Panurge
Raconteur Troubadour
The Boys in the Band and the title track of In A Glass House are great too.
My Top Ten
10. Free Hand
9. The Advent of Panurge
8. Playing the Game
7. The House, The Street, The Room
6. Pantagruel’s Nativity
5. In a Glass House
4. Proclamations
3. Prologue
2. School Days
1. The Runaway
i love love love time to kill. those backing vocals are majestic!
the greatest backing vocals ever
Hi Pete, loving your top tens. I’ve tried to get into Gentle Giant.... god knows I’ve tried but it’s so hard to get into them. I’m totally with you on Genesis and Black Sabbath they are (in order) my top Prog and top hard rock/metal bands. I know you prefer deep purple to Sabbath but that’s moot 😃. Purely because I value your opinion I’m going to try with Gentle Giant again. I’ve downloaded a few of their albums and I’m going to wade through them. One of your honourable mentions was “Two Weeks in Spain”. I know for a fact I will NEVER, EVER like that song. It drives me crazy 😱
As a side note, I’ve always been impressed with the unusual voices of the early prog era. Like Peter Gabriel, Roger Chapman, the Gentle Giant Singer, (sorry I don’t know which Shulman it was) and the singer with Rare Bird, sorry again I don’t know his name either. Unusual voices but awesome, particularly Gabriel. I never understood why he said Phil Collins was a better singer. I always thought he sounded whiney. 😁
Honourable mentions,
Cressida
Audience
May Blitz
Gracious
Bakerloo
Quatermass
Nektar
Jackson Heights
Lindisfarne.
I would recommend their live album Playing The Fool. In a live setting I think that their music is more accessible. I would even suggest checking into their live performances available on RUclips. For me at least, sometimes seeing a band perform live has given me a greater introduction and eventually an appreciation of some bands that at first were somewhat demanding on my ears.
My list ...
Memories of old days
Old as you’re young
Underground
In a glass house
On reflections
Boys in the band
Empty city
Prologue
Three friends
Inside out
No curtain order......
Time to reevaluate Giant For A Day, the best post-Interview album. Surprisingly strong popcraft throughout.
Part 2: I had always known of this band, but never checked them out, but I recently got into the utterly magnificent Cardiacs .. and a lot of people were comparing them to GG. Check out "On Land and In the Sea" . They opened for Marillion in the mid 80s and got booed off every night - much to the disgust of their big fan, Fish
The last song on Octopus, River, is an amazing tune. Should have gotten at least an honorable mention.
How about a ranking of all Foghat albums?
My top 10 GG list would have all songs sung by Kerry Minnear on the first spots.
Here would be my top 10:
In A Glass House
Prologue
Advent of Panurge
Cogs In Cogs
Just The Same
Pentagruel’s Nativity
School Days
The Runaway
Free Hand
Time To Kill
Can you review the band Clutch?
Ranking albums next?
1.pantagruel's nativity
2.on reflection
3.free hand
4.giant
5.the advent of panurge
6.just the same
7.proclamation
8.funny ways
9.prologue
10.way of life
#11, "Inside Out" ('Civilian'). "Playing the Game", ('The Power and the Glory') would have made my top 10.
In my opinion the best period of Gentle Giants is 1973-77. More universal music.
Top ten for me
Interview
Proclamation
In A Glass House
The Runaway / Experience Live
Free Hand
The Face
Playing The Game
Give It Back
I Lost My Head
Memories Of Old Days
1. Pantagruel's Nativity
2. The Advent Of Panurge
3. Aspirations
4. The Boys In The Band
5. His Last Voyage
6. The Moon Is Down
7. Edge Of Twilight
8. Cogs In Cogs
9. In A Glass House
10. Experience
honorable mentions:
The Runaway
Proclamation
Way of Life
Plain Truth
On Reflection
Playing The Game
Free Hand
Wreck
Peel The Paint
Black Cat
Giant
So Sincere
Dog's Life
Just the Same
No God's a Man
Freedom's Child
Mr. Class and Quality
I Lost My Head
inside out, for when i need lifting.
1. Peel the paint
2.proclamation
3.the advent of panurge
4.the river
5.free hand
6. Just the same
7.plain truth
8.pantagruels nativity
9.raconteur troubadour
10.prologue
I like how you always wear the shirt of the band you're presenting. Is this on purpose, or just a coincidence?
By the way, I'm writing all these songs down and I plan on listening to them when I've finished,
You're wearing an IAGH t-shirt and not mentioning any tracks from it?? My fav tracks from the 8 worthwhile albums would be Nothing at all/Pantagruel's Nativity/Mr Class-3 friends/Boys/Runaway/Proclamation/On Reflection/I Lost my Head/For Nobody as well as Glass House & Last Voyage for 10 current favs
To introduce yourself to GG try Octopus first!
Yes i my personal favorite but seems like gentle giants a close second now
first like ☝🎸😎👊
Can anyone tell me the name of the song that features nothing but classical piano over raging drums!
That would be the middle part of "Nothing at all" if I remember correctly
I don't get it. You don't like Captain Beefheart, but you like the most Beefheart like songs of Gentle Giant.
How can you di a Show about Gentl GIANT and not mention Rabelais?
VAGUELY RECALL HEARING " TURNING AROUND " ON THE LOCAL AM RADIO IN THE MID / LATE 70s . COULD BE WRONG. GREAT TASTY YET POWERFULL BALLAD.
10. Knots
9. Raconteur Troubadour
8. Wreck
7. Schooldays
6. River
5. Peel The Paint
4. Aspirations
3. Proclamation
2.The Advent of Panurge
1. The Runaway