Gentle Giant was a
British progressive rock band with strong
classical influences that emerged from
Simon Dupree and the Big Sound[?] in
1970 and existed continuously until
1980.
Their music is described by one critic as
"an unlikely mix of dissonant 20th-century classical chamber music[?], medieval vocal music[?], jazz and rock."
Gentle Giant stands as a very representative example of the 1970s progressive rock movement, as it embodied all of the aspects that defined the movement in a text-book fashion:
- Rapid, frequently changing tempo
- Complex melodies, frequently constrasting harmonies with disharmonies
- Grand arrangements, featuring unusual instruments
- Unconcentional use of classical instruemnts
- Multi-part vocal harmonies
- Concept albums, long songs (often limited only by the 22 minute capacity of an LP side)
- Complex lyrics
- Derek Shulman
- Phil Shulman (1970-1972)
- Ray Shulman
- Gary Green
- Kerry Minnear
- Martin Smith (drums 1970-1971)
- Malcolm Mortimore(drums 1971-1972)
- John Weathers (drums 1972-1980)
- Gentle Giant (1970)
- Acquiring The Taste (1971)
- Three Friends (1972)
- Octopus (1972)
- In A Glass House (1973)
- The Power And The Glory (1974)
- Free Hand (1975)
- Interview (1976)
- Playing The Fool (1977, live)
- The Missing Piece (1977)
- Giant For A Day (1978)
- Civilian (1980)
The album The Power And The Glory received the highest critical acclaim; however, according to fans, Playing The Fool provides the best introduction to the works of Gentle Giant..
One Gentle Giant album listed a total of 46 instruments in the musician credits.
This Stub needs lots more work.