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Gentle Giant

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Gentle Giant formed out of the blues based (and later psychedelic) group Simon Dupree & The Big Sound in 1970, which featured the multi-instrumental Shulman brothers Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, and Phil Shulman. They joined with guitarist Gary Green, keyboard player Kerry Minnear, and a series of drummers (John Weathers most consistently, also Martin Smith and Malcom Mortimore) to play music beyond the scope of ordinary rock, though with still a hint of blues in Green’s guitar. Minnear’s elaborate arrangements featured elements of both medieval polyphony and twentieth century composition.

In particular, the complex four-part vocal arrangements give the band its unusual character, with each part functioning independently rather than forming simple harmonies. The instrumental parts were just as complex, often featuring interlocking parts often in odd meters, all backed by a solid drum pattern.
Cello, violin, recorder, saxophone, and vibraphone (all handled by band members) figure prominently in the arrangements in addition to Minnear’s keyboards.

The band took their name in tribute to the giant Pantagruel from the satirical Renaissance fiction of Rabelais. The band disbanded in 1980.

Ray Shulman went on to become quite a renowned producer at the alternative scene from the late Eighties and onwards, working with oddball likeminded, but musically extremely competent indie acts such as Icelandic The Sugarcubes and Danish art-pop group The Poets (originally Poets Of The Signature, in the US and Canada known as The Sealand Poets).

Tagged as:

progressive rock, art rock, progressive, rock, classic rock
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Free Hand
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The Power And The Glory
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Octopus
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Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
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Top Tracks

1	The Advent of Panurge full track	363
2	Knots full track	305
3	Think of Me With Kindness full track	298
4	A Cry for Everyone full track	297
5	The Boys in the Band full track	285
6	Funny Ways full track	284
7	River full track	255
8	Dog's Life full track	243
9	Free Hand full track	240
10	Just The Same full track	191
11	Wreck full track	165
12	On Reflection full track	159
13	Nothing At All full track	153
14	Alucard full track	149
15	Giant full track	147

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Idelxau wrote:
Tuesday evening

the Best of the bEst of the beSt of the besT ololo

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Eywin wrote:
7 days ago

If you want similar to GG: http://www.last.fm/music/Et+Cetera They sound exactly like GG, but with a female singer and they sing in French.

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MaidenSlayer wrote:
8 days ago

Anybody know some good prog rock bands similar to Gentle Giant ?

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MaidenSlayer wrote:
8 days ago

One of the greatest Prog Rock bands.

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grumfossil wrote:
8 days ago

mazza79: Start with Octopus, and then Free Hand. Enjoy :)

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Klaezman wrote:
10 days ago

Never start with the masterpiece (Octopus?) dude. A good start would be their first (Gentle Giant).

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mazza79 wrote:
11 days ago

Guys, I'm new to GG. Where do I start? What's their masterpiece?

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Waes-GOD wrote:
12 days ago

http://www.last.fm/group/Fans+of+the+old+music

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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
18 days ago

Shawn Perry interviews Derek and Ray at http://www.vintagerock.com

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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
18 days ago

Part two of Sterling Whitaker's interview w/ Derek Shulman at http://www.wewillrockyoublog.com/2009/10/29/interview-with-derek-shulman-of-gentle-giant-part-two/

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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
18 days ago

great interview w/ Derek at TOO MUCH HAPPINESS http://toomuchhappiness.com/obsessed_with/gentle-giant-finally-does-reissues-and-i-finally-interview-the-singer-i-love-my-life

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gogitosbanditos wrote:
last month

http://www.last.fm/group/Pink+Floyd+is+not+prog!+It+is+primitive! everyone who's angry with tagginig this band progressive, join in :)

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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
last month

Frontman Gentle Giant on we will rock you internet radio blog. http://www.wewillrockyoublog.com/2009/10/27/interview-with-derek-shulman-of-gentle-giant-part-one/

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nm8732 wrote:
last month

SO SIN CERE

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FjordSweetFjord wrote:
last month

Brilliant, nobody writes like them

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progrocktv1000 wrote:
last month

New GG Micro-site promoting the digital releases and digital bonus tracks http://TedsGentleGiantDigitalReleasesAnnouncement.info

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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
last month

Kerry Minnear will be Walt Mister G's guest on Green Arrow Radio on WSUM, Saturday at 11 am central time. http://www.wsum.org

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ToadstoolMoon wrote:
last month

@pedrozappa: definitely!

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pedrozappa wrote:
last month

Probably the most underrated band EVER!

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torbenschwarz wrote:
last month

Knots <3

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