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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).
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).
Top Albums
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Free Hand
Gentle Giant
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New
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The Power And The Glory
Gentle Giant Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
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- Amazon $150.00
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New
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Octopus
Gentle GiantBuy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $7.99
- iTunes $7.92
- Buy Album
- Amazon $64.99
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Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $6.93
- 7digital $4.00
- iTunes $6.93
- Buy Album
- Amazon $51.98
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Top Tracks
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The Advent of Panurge
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| 2 |
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The Boys in the Band
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| 3 |
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A Cry for Everyone
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Knots
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| 5 |
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Think of Me With Kindness
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| 6 |
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Funny Ways
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| 7 |
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Free Hand
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| 8 |
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River
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| 9 |
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Dog's Life
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| 10 |
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Black Cat
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| 11 |
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Just The Same
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| 12 |
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Nothing At All
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| 13 |
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Wreck
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| 14 |
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On Reflection
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Proclamation
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Shoutbox
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OlavOrganist wrote:
One of the best prog groups, somewhat better than Yes and Genesis in my opinion.
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Idelxau wrote:
the Best of the bEst of the beSt of the besT ololo
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Eywin wrote:
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:
Anybody know some good prog rock bands similar to Gentle Giant ?
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MaidenSlayer wrote:
One of the greatest Prog Rock bands.
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grumfossil wrote:
mazza79: Start with Octopus, and then Free Hand. Enjoy :)
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Klaezman wrote:
Never start with the masterpiece (Octopus?) dude. A good start would be their first (Gentle Giant).
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mazza79 wrote:
Guys, I'm new to GG. Where do I start? What's their masterpiece?
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Waes-GOD wrote:
http://www.last.fm/group/Fans+of+the+old+music
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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
Shawn Perry interviews Derek and Ray at http://www.vintagerock.com
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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
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:
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:
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:
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:
SO SIN CERE
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FjordSweetFjord wrote:
Brilliant, nobody writes like them
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progrocktv1000 wrote:
New GG Micro-site promoting the digital releases and digital bonus tracks http://TedsGentleGiantDigitalReleasesAnnouncement.info
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gentleGIANTplay wrote:
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:
@pedrozappa: definitely!
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pedrozappa wrote:
Probably the most underrated band EVER!
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Gentle Giant Complete MP3's
10 Nov 2009 | from www.blazemonger.com/GG/Special:RecentChanges
better cover received ← Older revision Revision as of 12:43, 10 November 2009 Line 6: Line 6: | image=mp3-all-russian.jpg | image=mp3-all-russian. …
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10 Nov 2009 | from www.blazemonger.com/GG/Special:RecentChanges -
10 Nov 2009 | from www.blazemonger.com/GG/Special:RecentChanges -
7 Nov 2009 | from www.blazemonger.com/GG/Special:RecentChanges
Listeners
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Recent Activity
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maybe_somebody, marcocolonnelli, markgish and 9 other people added Gentle Giant to their libraries. 50 minutes ago
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dtr0q tagged Gentle Giant with classic rock, rock, art rock and one other tag. yesterday morning
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geezryoungsambo, merlishu, Orchidbyte and 2 other people added Gentle Giant to their libraries. yesterday morning
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NiklasMB tagged Gentle Giant with 70s, art rock and progressive rock. Friday afternoon
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RoomNumber104 tagged Gentle Giant with ‘progressive rock’. Friday morning
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borririno tagged Gentle Giant with ‘classic rock’. Thursday evening
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