Gentle Giant: "Three Friends" (Vinyl Reissue)

€ 26

$ 30

€ 26 Sold For

Aug 29, 2016 Sold Date

Dec 8, 2015 Start Date

1 Number Of Bids

Germany Country Of Seller

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Description

Studio Album, released in 1972
Vinyl reissue 2012 Tapestry

sealed !

Gentle Giant biography
Formed on the late 60's by the Shulmman brothers, GENTLE GIANT is known as the paradigmatic progressive rock band. With an uncomparable musicianship, they went as far as no one ever did into unexplored grounds in the progressive music, navigating over dissonant 20th-century classical chamber music, medieval vocal music, jazz and rock. The multi-instrumentation capabilities of the musicians gave such dynamic to their music, which set parameters to a whole coming generation up to these very days. They explored Moogs, Mellotrons and Fender Rhodes usage with such majesty! Not to mention other instruments like oboes, violins, cellos and horns among others.

The band was able to come across the 70's maintaining an outstanding level on their music, altering their style over the years and keeping the quality as only a few bands were able to do. Among their magnificent discography, all the albums from "Acquiring the Taste" through "Playing the Fool" are essential progressive rock releases (with the possible exception of "Interview"). This portion of the band's career would see a fittingly grand conclusion on the live "Playing the Fool" album. What more is there to say about these masters of progressive music?

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Prologue (6:12)
2. Schooldays (7:33)
3. Working All Day (5:07)
4. Peel The Paint (7:25)
5. Mister Class And Quality? (5:51)
6. Three Friends (3:00)

Total Time: 35:08

Line-up / Musicians

- Gary Green / guitars, percussion
- Kerry Minnear / keyboards, vibraphone, percussion, Moog, vocals
- Malcolm Mortimore / drums
- Derek Shulman / vocals
- Phil Schulman / sax, vocals
- Ray Shulman / bass, violin, 12 string guitar, vocals
- Assisted by: Calvin Shulman, Ray's son (boy's voice on Schooldays)

Review by hdfisch
PROG REVIEWER

This album was apart of their debut my favourite one already at a time when I wasn't a big fan of GENTLE GIANT's unique style yet. Meanwhile I just love all their earlier albums starting from the first one until "Freehand". Maybe I liked it immediately since it's containing like the first one still quite a few more rocking parts. Already the opener "Prologue" is very captivating and though dominated by keyboards there is still a rather obvious electric guitar which doesn't happen that often especially on their following albums. "Schooldays" is certainly the most intricate track on here and it needed a couple of spins until I liked it. But their typical multi-layered vocals are just fantastic on this one and they're fitting nicely to the staccato rhythms used. Highlight of this song is of course the marimba solo! "Working All Day" is a bit like the "little brother" of "Wreck" on "Acquiring The Taste". Although not that intricate it works in a similar way somehow. Great Hammond and sax parts! "Peel The Paint" is together with the title track for me the highlight of the album. Very nice string arrangement followed by an aggressive part reminiscent of VDGG. Great blues rocking guitar & drums part in the second part, very rare to be heard by them. "Mister Class And Quality" has great organ and violin play and is actually a quite catchy song despite its complexity. Again lots of great guitar playing in this one. The closing title track is probably the most lush one they've done ever. Really wonderful the combination of guitar, pastoral organ and choral singing. Absolute highlight!

Though admittedly 5 stars seams over-rated for this album since it's less complex than its predecessor and the following ones, I still like to insist to give it the full score and IMO all their albums from "Taste" to "Power" deserve this rating!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED as a starting point for this great band!