Gentle Giant was one of the most unique and multi-talented progressive rock bands in the 1970's. Over a 10-year period they created a dozen albums of complex progressive music that has been the inspiration for bands such as- The `Smashing Pumpkins' and `Spock's Beard.' They captured almost everything that was great about the 1970s progressive rock movement and ignored most of the pretensions. They became famous for amazing complex vocal arrangements, the ability to play over three dozen instruments well and their complex compositions combining rock, jazz, classical, medieval, funk and later on- punk influences.
Brothers Derek (lead vocals, saxophone and dozens of more instruments), Ray (bass, violin and another dozen or so instruments) and Phil (reeds, brass lead vocals) Shulman, were the best known of the group. Self-taught musicians: Kerry Minnear (keyboards & vocals) & Gary Green (guitars & vocals) and drummer- John Weathers completed the classic GG lineup (although Martin Smith drummed on albums- `Gentle Giant' and `Acquiring The Taste' and Malcolm Mortimore on `Three Friends').
Ray Shulman's musical background came from his father- who was a jazz trumpeter. " I was born in Portsmouth," said Ray, "... we were raised in a terraces house in Eastney Road, Southsea. Working class-father out every night doing gigs and working during the day as a sales rep. He gave music lessons as well so the house was always full of musicians and middle-aged drop-outs... I started learning trumpet when I was five just because it was there and then took up violin when I was seven. We were made to practice for an hour a day at least, when we really wanted to go out and play. I suppose it was a good thing we were really , and eventually I wanted to do it anyway... I wasn't formally taught at all. I liked music and singing and dad bought me an electric guitar when I was ten..."
Formed in Portsmouth, England, 1969, they released their debut LP- `Gentle Giant,' in 1970. This album set the tone for their signature eclectic and complex music, boasting eccentric time signatures and a wide range of instrumentation (strings, recorders, saxophones).
Their next album, `Acquiring The Taste,' (1971), was a more experimental album. Drummer, Martin Smith and Phil Shulman weren't seeing eye to eye, so Martin left and was replaced by Malcolm Mortimore (sadly, Martin passed away on March 2, 1997).
In 1972, `Three Friends album, based on three people - friends at school but inevitably separated by chance, skill and fate, was released to good sales in Italy, Germany and Switzerland. GG followed that up immediately with tours to those countries. Though English, the band's sales in the UK were oddly small. While Mortimore was injured in an accident, the band picked up drummer John (Pugwash), Weathers who filled in with ease.
After touring the US (where Gentle Giant was gaining a small but strong following), they came returned to the UK to record `Octopus' (which sold well in the US). Phil Shulman quit the band shortly, and though missing his contributions, the group stayed busy touring, then immediately recorded 'In A Glass House.' Capitol Records considered it too offbeat for US release, (it still became one of America's top import albums).
Gentle Giant tried to get a more spontaneous feel with the next album- `Power And The Glory,' by limiting the overdubs and recording to one or two takes. It was well received in the US and climbed into the Top 50.
`Interview,' released in 1976 was followed by a world tour, captured on the double live album,- `Playing the Fool,' a year later.
With punk starting to invade the `dinosaur-bands' of the 70's, the band fought back with the energetic `The Missing Piece' (1977), with a more straightforward (less overdubbed), progressive side and a concise and harder edged second side (one song- "Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It" is downright punk (supposedly the band recorded it rather `sloshed')). The album sold well, going gold.
The follow-up album `Giant for a Day,' (1978), though sporting two singles (even music videos), suggested that the band was leaving their famous complex compositions far behind.
Their last album: `Civilian' (1980), attempted to capitalize on their harder, darker and simpler sound was a major disappointment and sold poorly. Shortly after, the group broke up.
Giant is not an easy listen, and definitely takes time getting used to. Some critics have called them: (ala Allan Holdsworth) `out in left field,' too difficult to comprehend, needing a PhD in music to figure them out.
Sometimes I feel that the band went too far to show their skills or applied too many layers and overdubs to already solid compositions. My favorite album is- Octopus, but all their mid-70's albums are very good and are heartily recommended.
Commercially, Gentle Giant was almost totally ignored in their home country (England), while having a cult following in the United States, until `Missing Piece' (1977) and `Giant for a Day' (1978), came out which gave them some commercial success including a gold album and a television concert in 1978.
Regardless, GG remains one of the most under-appreciated, most influential bands in music today. PolyGram's anticipated 2001 release of a 3-CD boxed set has been cancelled.
But there is a lot of positive in Gentle Giant land as of late....
In 2004, the band released- a DVD called- Giant On The Box which concentrates on footage from the 1974-5 era. I was hoping for some of the 1978 BBC gig, but I assume they couldn't get the rights. The quality varies from this archival footage, but it still is a treasure and shows the talents these progger possessed.
Late in 2004, the band released a 4-CD set called- Scraping The Barrel, which includes: 12 hours of material as well as- three new compositions that reunite four members of the band, demos, edits and outtakes, solo material by Kerry Minnear, Gary Green, Ray Shulman and John P. Weathers, and a previously unreleased single from Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, r 200 mp3 files covering 8 hours rehearsals, concerts, etc. sample archive with 100 original Gentle Giant studio sounds, overr 200 photos
over assorts cool things ans a 32 page booklet! Maybe a reunion or a partial reunion isn't too far off.....
Recently, Kerry Minnear, Gary Green, and drummer Malcolm Mortimore and a few friend s have begun gigging and recreating the music of Gentle Giant to excellent reviews. On a sad note Kerry Minnear, resign in Oct. 2009, from Three Friends for personal reasons. Kerry say’s that he has no issues or problems, musical or personal with any members of the Three Friends team.
Discography
Gentle Giant (1970)
Acquiring The Taste (1971)
Three Friends (1972)
Octopus (1973)
In A Glass House (1973)
The Power And The Glory (1974)
Free Hand (1975)
Interview (1976)
Playing The Fool - The Official Live (1976)
The Missing Piece (1977)
Giant For A Day (1978)
Civilian (1980)
Scraping The Barrel (4-CD set)
Releases after the band broke up. A lot of these were once-bootlegs, given `official' poor quality (due to equipment at the time) releases.
In Concert (BBC Radio 1) (1994)
Out Of The Woods (1996)
The Last Steps (1996)
Under Construction (1997)
King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents (1998)
Out Of The Fire (1998)
Totally Out Of The Woods (2000)
Live In Rome 1974 (2000)
Scraping the Barrel (2001)
Interview In Concert (2001)
In A Palesport House (2001)
Experience (Live) (2002)
Artistically Cryme (2002)
The Missing Face (2002)
Endless Life 2/2003 2 CD Live album (another poorish quality used to be a bootleg recording from the 70s)
DVD- Giant in a Box
Scraping The Barrel (4-CD set)
