Gentle Giant: The Most Underrated Band Ever?

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  • Опубліковано 19 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 119

  • @richardbaker5223
    @richardbaker5223 Рік тому +4

    A music professor introduced me to Gentle Giant in college (1977). He taught a course called "Art Rock" which covered the evolution of rock from early blues/jazz covers to what today we call Prog. We would hang out and have tea after class and one fateful day he pulled out 'Free Hand'. I love creative percussion and the title song blew me away. The band never got the deserved recognition but I am so glad they became part of my life

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +2

      Ha! I played On Reflection for my music theory professor back in 1980. He was impressed!!!

  • @kieronkelly959
    @kieronkelly959 Рік тому +6

    My favourite PROG band. Love everything they did.

  • @seanschmidt8408
    @seanschmidt8408 Рік тому +5

    I saw the North American Civilian tour. 5 or 6 new songs with Playing the Fool to complete the setlist. It was freaking amazing! A top 5 concert for me, and I've seen some great ones.

  • @jelk1188
    @jelk1188 Рік тому +6

    Nice work, guys. Can't think of anyone who loves and protects the honour of GG more than I do and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised by the reaction of the younger members or the panel who have accepted to carry the torch into the future. Gentle Giant is and always has been a genuine British Treasure. It's an honourable thing to keep on spreading the word about these true giants. Among my younger friends, Playing the Fool has managed to make 3 lifetime converts. That lead to Free Hand, Three Friends, and eventually Octopus and the others. I like to leave In a Glass House for last, just when they don't think it can get any better!
    Cheers! ❤

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому

      Indeed!!! What an amazing band!!!

    • @rudeboyread
      @rudeboyread 11 місяців тому

      I found them about 4 years ago, first song/video I saw/heard on here was free hand live, the BBC 1978 gig, when Kerry started the song with that riff I knew something was coming, I had just smoked a joint & was grinning from ear to ear in disbelief rocking out absorbing what was flooding into my ears, from then I dove deep into their music & now I have a feeling of completion, they were the band I was looking for, the peak of composition, performance, no rules, no boundaries. The best band of all time for me no doubt.

  • @jdmresearch
    @jdmresearch 8 місяців тому +2

    The debut album is my favorite album. It's underrated among GG fans. So, an underrated album from an underrated band. Let that sink in for a minute.

  • @billdubilier
    @billdubilier Рік тому +2

    My favorite prog band. One of the greatest unheard bands ever. Thankfully they are finally getting their due.

  • @PJprog
    @PJprog Рік тому +3

    Listening and reading to everyone's comments there's an obvious admiration for Gentle Giant as a whole , and as you said Scot, individually the band members are at the top of the tree when it comes to talent and skill. A great great TOTALLY UNIQUE band of merry gentlemen. Awesome era of Prog good buddy! Loved the input from your guests and everyone in the chat too ! 😍

  • @JohnFiocchi
    @JohnFiocchi Рік тому +3

    Gentle Giant's usage of counterpoint really impressed me. Counterpoint was often utilized in their composition as a band. Sometimes a few different instruments would play counterpoint..for example..bass guitar, xylophone, and piano would play a short counterpoint section in a particular song.
    This particular style was occasionally played by different Prog bands in the 70s but clearly Gentle Giant were masterful in that area.
    They were very creative with that vocally too. It sometimes seemed like they tried an idea that had been used in Classical music and formed their own sound with it. From that point on everytime I'd hear a different Prog band doing it...people present would remark that they sounded like Gentle Giant. No doubt it became cemented into Gentle Giant's signature sound.

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +3

      Counterpoint!!! I love it. The music theory guy inside of me is happy.

    • @Mister_Jahn
      @Mister_Jahn Рік тому +2

      Agreed on the importance of counterpoint, I love the right left action while listening on studio monitors for Octopus in particular. Well recorded album.

    • @JohnFiocchi
      @JohnFiocchi Рік тому +1

      @fedgegern5670 That is incredible stuff!! I agree...Octopus is really interesting.

    • @coltonbeatty6117
      @coltonbeatty6117 4 місяці тому

      Gentle Giant became stuck in that. Once they made Octopus, they just remade that album 3 or 4 times. Over rated, immature music.

  • @geoffdennis8382
    @geoffdennis8382 Рік тому +3

    GG fans can say what they want about Giant For A Day. That song got a then 13-year-old into them back when it came out. After seeing it on one of TVs music programs of the day. Might have been In Concert or Don Kirchners Rock Concert ?Anyways, it made me a fan and wanting to delve deeper into their back catalogue.Definitley underrated!

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +1

      There you go!!!! 👍👍❤️

    • @DeadnWoon
      @DeadnWoon Рік тому

      Btw, have you ever noticed its similarity to Queen's "Slightly Mad"?..

  • @scottmcrae3355
    @scottmcrae3355 11 місяців тому

    Great show guys! Watching this caused me to drive to Cody’s store and grab a couple GG albums that I was missing in my collection. God save the King!!

  • @MrBenMcLean
    @MrBenMcLean Рік тому +1

    The Prog Corner guy I think of is being like a hippie teenager from the 1970s who just never changed anything that was good about himself as he grew older. He grew older as all of us do, but he never grew up -- in a good way.

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +1

      I think you nailed it. Maybe never having children of my own had something to do with it…👍👍👍

  • @andreichivu7653
    @andreichivu7653 Рік тому +1

    Long live the Shulmans & co !..RIP Ray...one of the top 10 prog bands ever..

  • @zephead64
    @zephead64 Рік тому +1

    Fantastic discussion on this amazing band. I do have to comment on the pronunciation of Panurge. The final vowel is pronounced as an I sound .. If you listen to the chorus in the song "My name is Panurge and I have come from Hell"...

  • @mehcol
    @mehcol Рік тому

    Saw G.G. twice in '75 Newcastle City Hall. Outrageous and brilliant band

  • @artboy57
    @artboy57 11 місяців тому

    Octopus was my first GG purchase when it first came out, I heard a few cuts on WOWI-FM (in Norfolk ,Va. of all places) and my life changed forever! The song structures just hit me like a ton of bricks (In a good way!)The year before and after were just a hurricane of amazing music, the best albums by Genesis ,Crimson, Mahavishnu, ELP, Yes, it was like a dream. I'll remember '72-'75 as the greatest music era ever.

  • @Ed-Topo-108
    @Ed-Topo-108 Рік тому

    A one off band! Wish I’d seen them live. They started locally to me in Portsmouth.. I think Ray was born there but the family moved down from Glasgow. The original drummer Martin Smith was from Southampton (where I live) and had a drum store.. died too soon sadly. The song “Kites” by Simon Dupree is still on every decent pub jukebox here!

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +1

      I never got to see them either…

    • @Ed-Topo-108
      @Ed-Topo-108 Рік тому

      @@TheProgCorner this has inspired me to watch some “Three Friends” band on UA-cam… great version of Pantagruel’s Nativity with Gary Green & Malcolm Mortimore.. I think their vocalist was from 10cc… Apparently the Shulman Brothers wanted nothing to do with it .. a shame.

  • @ilabelle1
    @ilabelle1 Рік тому +1

    Another great stream Scot.
    We apparently love Gentle Giant!
    As always the peanut gallery was alive and kicking.
    Looking forward to those upcoming streams.
    🤘😳🤘

  • @wendellwiggins3776
    @wendellwiggins3776 9 місяців тому

    First off! Naming themselves GENTLE GIANT was absolutely genius because it FIT their two headed extremely opposite personalities perfectly. I saw them twice > 74, in a small popular live Jazz venue right near the floor stage / 76, Headlining with RENAISSANCE at a half empty performance arts Deco Theater. The FUNKY CLASSICAL unpredictable diversity of instruments & styles was overwhelming! So, the DEBUT is cool, though rough around the edge, there are still some great moments of unique magic. ACQUIRING is uniquely BRILLIANTLY beautiful, a 10. Pantagruel is early Prog crescendo heaven! THREE FRIENDS is just an incredible 10, From P&tG here on we have 10 straight through to INTERVIEW until THE MISSING PIECE which is leaner and cleaner but brighter and lighter, is a 9. Never liked or owned G FOR A DAY but surprisingly GG transformed their sound excellently into Rock & Pop with CIVILIAN, a 8. I was nervously yanked into each song. And there is no doubt that INSIDE OUT should, could & would have been their great big HIT if promoted on commercial radio! I have no doubt with that success they could have merged smoothly into the 80's sound for a few more years.

  • @gorancabrajic3240
    @gorancabrajic3240 Рік тому

    Fantastic show, long live GG. Cheers and prog on.

  • @vmacart
    @vmacart Рік тому

    in my humble opinion, the only band i ever saw that compared to gg live was fz. saw them at philly venues for their 1976-1980 tours. great time for live music. i bought missing piece, giant for day, and civilian on vinyl when they were released. i loved civilian on first listen. and still do.

  • @joeyfinn5844
    @joeyfinn5844 Рік тому

    My favorite band, first listened to them in 73 In a glass house found in Penquin feather headshop we used to have in the DC area. My favorite is Three friends❤
    Scott, yeah that Collage album is addictive!

  • @theasphaltworld849
    @theasphaltworld849 9 місяців тому

    Both In a Glass House and The Power and the Glory were never released on Vertigo in the UK. In the UK both were released on WWA, but they did come out on Vertigo in other places in Europe. The WWA's are the UK originals, though.

  • @jeffschielka7845
    @jeffschielka7845 Рік тому +2

    Hey Scot! Great numbers today. Record number in chat for #19. You hit 80 at the 60 minute mark. You basically averaged 65 throughout the livestream! L33 had 52 for his Steely Dan Sunday with The Royal Scam. You both have similar subs, see who hits 10K first. Lee also did a reaction to Endless Dream on Saturday. It was a great chat with nothing but positive comments. ProgRadio was awesome on Friday!! Loved that you broke your own rule with AWAKEN. Lol!! Ok, have to get to my chat. Aly hit 325K yesterday. Talk later my brother.👍☮️👑😎

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +1

      Oh, L33 will definitely beat me to 10k. He’s on fire!!!

    • @jeffschielka7845
      @jeffschielka7845 Рік тому

      @@TheProgCorner Not so sure about that.😎

  • @SpitfireCallum
    @SpitfireCallum Рік тому

    Lots for me to listen to. Thank you all!

  • @NelsonMontana1234
    @NelsonMontana1234 Місяць тому +1

    Not by those who knew them and appreciated them. They were truly extraordinary. But they weren't for everyone.

  • @deadfdr
    @deadfdr Рік тому

    Perfect. No Kyle. No crappy audio signal!

  • @kenl2091
    @kenl2091 Рік тому +1

    Yes, GG were the most underrated band ever but I'm delighted to see them featuring often on all the best UA-cam channels getting their due respect finally. Octopus is in my top 20 ever but Power and the Glory is not far behind and ALL the albums have some great spots but...I think VdGG are even better!

  • @danburnes722
    @danburnes722 Рік тому +1

    Yes

  • @danielfuentes3226
    @danielfuentes3226 Рік тому +2

    Gentle Giant is a great band Scot.They have influence to other new bands today.

  • @CloseToTheEdge-Prog
    @CloseToTheEdge-Prog 5 місяців тому

    They were an unbelievable band. Probably the best prog band.

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  5 місяців тому +1

      Amazing band!!!!!

    • @CloseToTheEdge-Prog
      @CloseToTheEdge-Prog 5 місяців тому

      @@TheProgCorner Incredible, I still can't understand why they were not bigger sales-wise.

    • @coltonbeatty6117
      @coltonbeatty6117 4 місяці тому

      ​@@CloseToTheEdge-Prog Because they were crap. It's that simple.

    • @CloseToTheEdge-Prog
      @CloseToTheEdge-Prog 4 місяці тому

      @@coltonbeatty6117 and please do tell me why you think that?

    • @1359401
      @1359401 3 місяці тому

      @@CloseToTheEdge-Prog That idiot smartass moron has been making a complete jackass of himself by making juvenile bufoonery comments all over you tube about how he thinks GG sucks and of course the truth is that GG was/is the greatest band ever.

  • @brianparker663
    @brianparker663 9 місяців тому

    I'm not musically articulate enough to analyse it - but I pretty much love everything GG did. To me it is playful prog by brilliant musicians who never took themselves too seriously.

  • @coltonbeatty6117
    @coltonbeatty6117 4 місяці тому

    So it's a good idea to have someone on a panel about Van Der Graaf Generator who despises them, but no room for a detractor of Gentle Giant in a panel discussion about them? Hmm...

  • @aleksandarfrick2656
    @aleksandarfrick2656 Місяць тому

    Not in Hall of Fame ? No household name . Without radio hit . Band is where need to be .
    Left field - like Residents , Tuxedomoon , Zappa , many fusion bands , Dead Can Dance and many more .
    Quality band - no doubt specially for prog public , madrigal , Jazz rock lovers .
    They had great peers ELP , Yes , King Crimson , Genesis ,Pink Floyd , Jethro Tull etc .

  • @shinriko4334
    @shinriko4334 3 місяці тому

    I'm nine minutes in and they haven't mentioned Gentle Giant, when does it actually start getting on topic?

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  3 місяці тому

      You can fast forward.

    • @shinriko4334
      @shinriko4334 3 місяці тому

      @@TheProgCorner Right, that would be why I asked when it actually started getting on topic, so I would know what to FF it to. But hey, thanks for the helpful answer! You are obviously working hard on your community outreach to try and grow your channel!

  • @coltonbeatty6117
    @coltonbeatty6117 4 місяці тому

    You'll never hear any officially released demos from Gentle Giant. It would completely destroy their image.

    • @1359401
      @1359401 3 місяці тому

      Not true you misguided dickhead they already did officially release demos you pathetic smartass clueless punk.

  • @scottgillham2000
    @scottgillham2000 Рік тому +1

    The only reason your wife didn't complain that it was too long is because she knew it was Gentle Giant!

  • @scottgillham2000
    @scottgillham2000 Рік тому

    Actually, A Dog's Life is an ode to their roadie's!

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому

      I did not know that!!!!

    • @scottgillham2000
      @scottgillham2000 Рік тому

      @@TheProgCorner They said: "A backhanded tribute to our roadies; our musical parody could only be drawn to a wily old dog. Surely two more unmatched sounds as the Regal (a medieval reed organ) and string section could not be found, but they seem to successfully convey the whine of both dog and roadie."

  • @daicullinane7746
    @daicullinane7746 Рік тому

    Only properly got into GG in the last 18 months. Brilliant band. I think it's because they are multi instrumentalists they aren't mentioned in specific best categories.
    Giant for a Day is not a bad album, just not a great Gentle Giant album.

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому

      Such a great band!!!!

    • @coltonbeatty6117
      @coltonbeatty6117 4 місяці тому

      Maybe you'll grow out of it. I did. They were in fact pretentious. Obnoxious deliberately. Being 'weird' to be 'weird'. Ray Schulman was not a very good violinist. Derek Schulman couldn't sing for sh*t. There's a reason Phil left. 20th century 'classical'/orchestral innovations from the likes of Schoenberg, was all just cultural sabotage. Garbage. Trash to be forgotten. Dissonance didn't need to be experimented with.. it was already known about.. we even had a word for it.

  • @ErwinvanMaanen
    @ErwinvanMaanen Рік тому

    Personally I think New Radiant Storm King is the most underrated band ever. Enigmatic really. Gentle Giant has been exposed on many prog rock channels or reviews. If not their music, then their peach album cover.

  • @TigerMtnKing
    @TigerMtnKing Рік тому +1

    🤩

  • @pauloles2475
    @pauloles2475 Рік тому +1

    This band makes my ears bleed. I loathe everything about them. And I'm a huge Prog fan. Just hate the disjointed sounds coming from the vocals and music. Count me as a NO, overrated if anything

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +3

      You are not alone. Many struggle with this band!!!

    • @1359401
      @1359401 Рік тому

      So wrong and totally misguided i feel sorry for you they are/were the greatest most epic legendary genius band ever.

    • @pauloles2475
      @pauloles2475 Рік тому

      Your opinion. Not mine and alot of other prog fans I know?

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому +1

      Music is funny like that!!!

    • @1359401
      @1359401 Рік тому +1

      @@pauloles2475 Fact check- they are more popular now more than ever and having a big resurgence compared to back when they were together as a band,On the contrary to the people you know most fans of prog music love them and rank them as either in the best band category or very close to it.

  • @martinspencer1618
    @martinspencer1618 Рік тому

    They couldn't afford to keep up with the developments in synths.
    Example: Sight And Sound In Concert from Feb 78.
    GG: Minimoog and a cheap Yamaha preset monosynth.
    Be Bop Deluxe: Minimoog, Polymoog, Yamaha CS80.

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому

      It could put a keyboard player in the poor house!!!

  • @coltonbeatty6117
    @coltonbeatty6117 6 місяців тому

    Since the years when they were releasing new music, their reputation has grown. Too much. They are now over rated if anything. Very over rated band

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  6 місяців тому

      Wow. I don’t know about that…

    • @coltonbeatty6117
      @coltonbeatty6117 6 місяців тому

      @@TheProgCorner It might be good for views if you get someone like me to debate the merits of different 'Prog' bands like Gentle Giant, for example.

  • @stukevideo
    @stukevideo Рік тому

    I admit this is strange, but all the other hard core Giant fans I know just LOVE "Power and the Glory". I, on the other hand, can take it or leave it. It's not a bad album, but it's in the bottom 3 or 4 Giant albums as far as I'm concerned.
    "Proclamation" could have been a great song except that the band, in the middle of the song, decided to stop making music and create a cacophony instead.
    "Hail to the power and to glory's way! Haaaaaail . . . "
    This bit of screaming almost prompts me to throw things at my own stereo. I mean, what's the point?
    "So Sincere" sucks. "Cogs in Cogs" is a pretty mediocre song. "Playing the Game" is good, but "Aspirations" makes this album. Still, it's no rival to "Octopus" or "Free Hand".

    • @DeadnWoon
      @DeadnWoon Рік тому

      To me their debut is one of the best albums ever. Then probably Octopus. Then, to me, goes Three Friends. Then The Power, I think. So, yes, the listeners are different.

    • @stukevideo
      @stukevideo Рік тому

      Your GG tastes are fairly typical , but your premise is correct. While there is only one reason to dislike Gentle Giant, there are dozens of reasons to lo love them. I guess tastes vary widely , even within the same genre. Thank You, Robert
      BTW, I love their debut album, too!

    • @artboy57
      @artboy57 11 місяців тому

      A few good points there mate, but I part ways with you on Cogs In Cogs! One of my fave GG tunes (if you can call it a tune!) Maybe it's just the way I take in music, but it fires on all cylinders for me, gets my blood pumping and makes me crank it up! On the other hand, the overall tone of Power and the Glory has a sort of morose, downbeat flavor, I guess it reflects the theme of the album- how government is cynical and self serving in a continuing cycle.

    • @stukevideo
      @stukevideo 11 місяців тому

      Yes, "Cogs in Cogs" is a good tune. It's apparent what comments P&G is making here about gov't, but for me, it just doesn't work. Like I said, I am not proud to be in the minority. Thanks!@@artboy57

  • @exegesis67
    @exegesis67 3 місяці тому

    I’m still discovering them and currently have Acquiring the taste and Power and the glory on constant rotation. Just incredible!

  • @rolfjamne8922
    @rolfjamne8922 Рік тому +2

    Frank Zappa ones said one of the few bands worth listening to at the moment is Gentle Giant 🤏😊

    • @TheProgCorner
      @TheProgCorner  Рік тому

      He said it!!!

    • @rolfjamne8922
      @rolfjamne8922 Рік тому +1

      @@TheProgCorner something like that
      He have mentioned GG in several interviews.
      There is a cut from one of those interviews on youtube.🤏😊

    • @rolfjamne8922
      @rolfjamne8922 Рік тому +2

      @@TheProgCorner I Just fond it.
      Frank Zappa praises Gentle Giant 🤏😊