messina@ihuxt.UUCP (06/22/83)
Are there any Gentle Giant fans out there ? Any information on them ? It would be greatly appreciated. Also does anyone have any information on new records or tours from the following groups: Pink Floyd ( I know about the Final cuCut ) Genesis Jethro Tull Gentle Giant Mike Messina
knight@stolaf.UUCP (06/23/83)
Yes, there are Gentle Giant fans out here. The Giant, unfortunately, broke up a little over two years ago, so tours are probably out for the near future. (The radio broadcast which mentioned their breakup stuck in my mind because it was about the only time I ever heard the rock press even mention them.) As for albums, the last one that I have or know about is "Civilian," released in 1980. Does anyone out there have any idea, though, of what the brothers Shulman or Kerry Minnear have been doing recently? Since their breakup I've tried to keep my eyes peeled for solo albums and the like, but haven't noticed anything. Steve Knight ihnp4!stolaf!knight harpo!stolaf!knight
tom@rlgvax.UUCP (06/23/83)
I have not been a Genesis since their personnel changes several years
back ("Trick of the Tail" was the start of a headlong rush downhill).
No complexity or richness to the music, dull compositions, incredible
repetitiveness, insignificant lyrics, generally boring pop. For their
peak, try "Selling England By the Pound" (and listen for the puns in
the lyrics), "Foxtrot", Nursery Crymes", "Lamb Lies Down on Broadway",
"Trespass" (perhaps thats not the album title but a song on the album)
and earlier albums.
However, Peter Gabriel is another story. He was the leader of Genesis
before he left back in the 70's. His solo albums have been excellent --
very creative and interesting music, though perhaps a bit avant-guarde for
the masses. Its easy to see where the talent went when Genesis lost it.
He does concerts at various times (at least here in the East) and is
playing in DC in July, though I don't know if its part of a tour.
If you get a chance, check him out!
Albumwise is as follows. Note that I don't think he titles his albums.
"Peter Gabriel I" - with "Salisbury Hill" on it, is probably the most
accessible and closest to mainstream rock. It also contains "Here Comes
the Flood", a TERRIFIC song. This version of it is excellent but a bit
over-produced (as perhaps most of the album is); check out Gabriel
singing the same song under a different arrangement and production
on Robert Fripp's "Exposure" album (but beware of the rest of "Exposure"
if you are not familiar with Fripp!).
"II" - is much along the same vein, not as much of the "wall of sound" effect,
with "DYI" and "On the Air" being songs that occasionally get played
on truly progressive FM stations.
"III" - contains his most popular hit "Games Without Frontiers" (I even like
the foreign version). "Biko" is another excellent composition (Biko
was a South African black leader who died "escaping" out the window
of a 6th floor police station during interrogation). Rest of the album
also very good. I think that several of the songs join into a theme/story,
but I've never heard of anyone else noticing this. Has anyone out there?
"IV" - is known for "Shock the Monkey", but my favorite is "Rhythm of the
Heat". This album has quite a lot of experimentation with African
rhythms. Also interesting is the fact that this album was recorded
digitally, yet sells for standard LP prices. The sound quality is
superb. I hope others follow up on this trend.
I have heard reports of another ex-Genesis member doing excellent solo stuff,
but I don't remember who. Can anyone report on this?
- Tom Beres, RLG Corp.
{seismo, allegra, brl-bmd, we13, mcnc}!rlgvax!tomspaf@gatech.UUCP (06/24/83)
Where to begin? I guess I should say that I agree with your
comments about Peter Gabriel -- a great talent producing
very interesting albums, although a mite avante-garde for some.
I've worn out at least one copy of his first solo album.
Early Genesis: "From Genesis to Revelation," "Trespass," "Nursery Crime,"
"Foxtrot," "Selling England by the Pound," and "The Lamb Lies Down
on Broadway" are all pre-Gabriel-departure. Foxtrot is recommended
but Selling England by the Pound is probably the best of the
lot. The songs "Firth of Fifth" and "More Fool Me"
give one a hint of what the band will sound like after Gabriel
leaves; "Selling England by the Pound" is the last studio-type
album with Peter. "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" is the
last album done with Genesis and Gabriel together, but the
album was done with the road-show and concerts in mind.
It was intended as a sort of rock opera. It didn't play
well in some markets and was the additional friction needed to
cause Gabriel to leave and pursue his own version of the muse.
Point of disagreement with the article this is responding to:
Genesis since Gabriel left has not "gone downhill." They have
taken some other musical directions that might not be to
the liking of some listeners. In particular, some of the works
have become much more melancholy in tone, and they are more
often involved in tune rather than story. Included in this
set of albums are: "Wind and Wuthering," "Trick of the Tale,"
"Then There Were Three" (refers to the departure of Steve Hackett),
"Duke," and "Abacab." Wind and Wuthering is my favorite of these.
Trick of the Tale is really nice, and an audiophile version
has been released. Then There were Three was the most
"commercial" of the lot, but contains a number of interesting
songs -- my favorites being "Snowbound" and "The Lady Lies."
You may remember the song "Follow You, Follow Me" from the radio.
Genesis is currently composed of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford,
and Tony Banks. Both of Phil Collins' solo albums have been
absolute killers: "Face Value" and "Hello, I must be Going."
I'd recommend both very strongly. Phil has also contributed
to albums by a jazz group known as Brand X. Mike Rutherford
has done two albums (that I am aware of): Smallcreep's Day and
Acting Very Strange. Neither has been very successful nor very
interesting, although I like a few cuts on "Acting Very Strange" --
the best being "Halfway There." I'm not aware of any albums
done by Tony Banks.
Steve Hackett has done a few "arty" albums which have some
interesting ideas but which could use better production.
"Spectral Mornings" and "Please Don't Touch" are the two that
I am most familiar with, although I have seen at least 2 others.
I like Spectral Mornings, but it is not one I'd especially
recommend to everyone.
Anthony Phillips was also a member of Genesis very early on
in the history of the group. He left after the "Trespass"
album. I've seen a solo album (or two) by him, but I have
no idea what his music is like. Anybody else know?
Judging by solo works, the true talent in the band belong(s/ed)
to Gabriel and Phil Collins. Two very different styles and
different talents and that explains why the band has two
effectively different bodies of work.
Collins also does some nice session work (I believe he is doing
the drums for Robert Plant's upcoming tour) and he is a talented
producer of other people's work.
More details on any of this are available if anyone wants --
just let me know.
Now for some almost unrelated trivia: On the "Seconds Out"
live album and tour, Phil Collins was singing and couldn't
do all of the drum work as he could in the studio (overdubbed).
Therefore, Genesis took along a very talented drummer by
the name of Bill Bruford. Bill formed a group around that
time that included Eddie Jobson (who had worked with
Roxy Music) and Alan Holdsworth. Then Bruford left to
do more solo jazz work and he was replaced. Then the
bassist (and vocalist) left when his old band reformed, and
the group disbanded. For absolutely no prize whatsoever, name:
1) The group that Bruford, Jobson, et. al. formed
2) The name of the bassist in that group
3) The band the bassist went back to.
(hint: Bruford used to be in that group, too)
4) The name of the replacement drummer and the
group he and wife(?) Terry are now in.
5) Where else has Alan Holdsworth appeared?
A Genesis fan and music freak,
--
"The soapbox of Gene Spafford"
CSNet: Spaf @ GATech
Internet: Spaf.GATech @ UDel-Relay
uucp: ...!{sb1,allegra}!gatech!spaf
...!duke!mcnc!msdc!gatech!spafspaf@gatech.UUCP (06/24/83)
Ooops! I forgot to mention the recent Genesis live album
"Three Sides Live"
--
"The soapbox of Gene Spafford"
CSNet: Spaf @ GATech
Internet: Spaf.GATech @ UDel-Relay
uucp: ...!{sb1,allegra}!gatech!spaf
...!duke!mcnc!msdc!gatech!spafrael@inuxe.UUCP (06/24/83)
I just want to add a few comments and info to these previous articles. First of all, I own a copy of one of Anthony Phillips' albums (there are at least two of them). It is called "Wise After the Event" and it is a pretty nice album. The music is somewhat like the mellow songs of "Tresspass" (e.g.: "Stagnation", "Visions of Angels", etc.). My main complain about the album is a bit too mellow; it is fine for a relaxing afternoon, but if you listen to it at 11 PM, expect to be asleep by 11:10. Next, let's touch on Phil Collins for a while. Phil is a very good, hard- working musician. I particularly like his section on the "Secret Policeman's Other Ball"; very fine acoustic interpretations of "In the Air Tonight" and "The Roof is Leaking". But I have one thing to say about Collins: I WISH HE'D GET OVER HIS DIVORCE ONCE AND FOR ALL !!! . I'm getting sick and tired of hearing about it: "I don't care anymore ..." (well shut-up then) "I can feel it in the air tonight ... ", "I'm getting stronger by the minute ... ", "Please don't ask me how I feel, I feel fine. I cry a bit, don't sleep too well, bbut I'm fine ...", etc. Get Off It Collins!!! you've been crying for the last five years !!! (I just hope Sting doesn't start doing the same) Finally, I'd like to mention that Peter Gabriel has got a live album out. It is called "Plays Live", and it is essentially a vynil copy of Peter's last tour (which I'm sure most people who saw it will agree was excellent). FYI it contains the following songs: "The Rhythm of the Heat", "I have the Touch", "Not One of Us", "Family Snapshot", "D.I.Y.", "The Family and the Fishing Net", "Intruder", "I go Swimming", "San Jacinto", "Solsbury Hill", "No Self Control", "I Don't Remember", "Shock the Monkey", "Humdrum", "On the Air" and "Biko". You want to know what it sounds like ... ? Then G.I.Y. (the G stands for Get). Dan Vanevic inuxe!rael
jean@auvax.UUCP (06/27/83)
I am glad to hear that some people knows about the best rock that we had in the seventies. It is sad to see all these great bands turning to commercial or dying. Gentle Giant is, I am convince, the most progressive of all the; Tull, genesis, yes, uk, zappa, camel, banco,... The musical research is incredible. I had the chance to see them live in Montreal, with "civilian" the last album which was a try to reach the american commercial rock, but was alsoi a retrospective of some of the classics. The best album is probably "octopus" and "in the glass house" (import) very rare album. Also both "Three fiends", "aquaring the taste" and some others more or less interesting like "interview", "power and the glory", and "the missing piece", "Giant for a day". At the beginning the band as three brothers, the Shulman's, Rick Minnear who has a very high degree in orchestration. The split of the band is the result of a breakdown of Minnear cause by this new direction. Jean Goyette et Ti-moteur
craig@hp-kirk.UUCP (07/03/83)
#R:gatech:-25800:hp-kirk:11500002:000:746 hp-kirk!craig Jul 1 07:42:00 1983 some answers to trivia: 1) The band is UK. They put out 3 albums (that I know of): UK, Danger Money, and a live album. DM is very good. 2) John Wetton, bassist for everybody (King Crimson, Uriha Heep, Wishbone Ash, UK, Asia) at one time or another. 3) Well, that could be King Crimson or Asia (Asia grew out of YES (which Bill was in)). I don't have dates handy so I'm not sure of the answer. 4) When Bill left UK, he was replaced by Terry Bozzio. Terry has played with Frank Zappa among others. He and wife Dale are now in Missing Persons (and have an album out called Spring Session M. "Walkin in LA" is on it. A good album.) 5) Bunch of British bands: I know of National Health. hp-labs!hp-pcd!hp-cvd!hp-kirk!craig Craig
edward@utcsrgv.UUCP (Edward Hsing) (07/06/83)
I'm sure that the die hard Gabriel fans have heard and/or own his German recordings. I don't completely agree with people who say Genesis is garbage after Gabriel. "Trick of the Tail" and "Wind and Weathering" are two very good albums with good music and lyrics. But I've got to admit that everything after that is refuse. As to other ex-Genesis members, there are at least two who are making a name for themselves. Firstly there is Anthony Phillips who has put out some very interesting solo work but has only a small cult following. (Phillips left after "Trespass") Also there is Steve Hackett who replaced Phillips but later left after "Wind and ..". Back to Gabriel. He wrote a long epic rock story with a central character named "Mozo" (check "On the Air" PG II). Some of those songs appear on his solo albums. Thus its understandable if a common theme and story run through his albums. LONG LIVE PROGRESSIVE ROCK (although it hasn't been feeling too well lately)
gab@inmet.UUCP (07/08/83)
#R:auvax:-13900:inmet:6600006:000:495 inmet!gab Jul 5 18:16:00 1983 Although I have no answer to the question of whether Gentle Giant liked "In a Glass House", the inclusion of two songs off that album, "The Runaway" and "Experience", on the live album "Playing the Fool" suggests that they liked these songs. I suspect the culprit in the nonrelease of the album in the U.S. was that ever-servicable villain: the record company. I too think that record was one of their best, behind "Free Hand". Gary Bray Cambridge, MA !decvax!cca!ima!inmet!gab
rosen@ucbvax.ARPA (Rob Rosen) (07/25/85)
Does anyone know what's going on with these guys? The last album
was put out in 1980 -- I guess I can safely assume that the Giant is dead
(a sorrowful pause...). However, I've not seen any work from any of the
(former) members with the slight exception of Gary Green, who apparently
played on one cut of Eddie Jobson's 1983 lp THE GREEN ALBUM. While I'm on
the subject, any news of Eddie Jobson/ Zinc ? The next album was supposed
to be entitled PINK (???)
here's to hoping that the Giant will reincarnate -
--
"Yes, that is to say no understanding"
--Rob Rosen
...ucbvax!rosenknight@rlgvax.UUCP (Steve Knight) (07/26/85)
> Does anyone know what's going on with these guys? The last album > was put out in 1980 -- I guess I can safely assume that the Giant is dead > (a sorrowful pause...). Gentle Giant did, indeed, split up back in the first part of 1981. (I remember because it was one of the few times the music industry press payed them any attention.) I posted a request a few years back asking if anyone knew of what the members were doing (particularly Minnear and the brothers Shulman), but received no replies. -- Steve Knight {seismo,allegra,ihnp4,some other sites}!rlgvax!knight
hall@beta.DEC (Dan Hall) (08/01/85)
>> Rob Rosen > Steve Knight >> Does anyone know what's going on with these guys? The last album >> was put out in 1980 -- I guess I can safely assume that the Giant is dead >> (a sorrowful pause...). >Gentle Giant did, indeed, split up back in the first part of 1981. (I >remember because it was one of the few times the music industry press >payed them any attention.) I posted a request a few years back asking if >anyone knew of what the members were doing (particularly Minnear and the >brothers Shulman), but received no replies. Brothers Ray and Derek Shulman can be found credited on a 1983 Polydor release by a band called `Minor Detail'. They had a minor hit (pardon my pun) on MTV with a tune called "Canvas of Life". The band is comprised of singer/ songwriters John and Willie Hughes, Des Moore and Ray Shulman on guitar, Paul McAteer on drums and Paul Barrett plays the Fairlight CMI. Derek Shulman and Jerry Jaffe are thanked for "their personal contributions". The album sounds a bit like `Split Enz' and `Buggles' sometimes, but overall my opinion is that it is pretty lame. None of that Gentle Giant "oh-my-gosh-what-time- signature/s-could-this-little-ditty-possibly-be-in?" type of playing. Too bad. If you're interested anyway, the catalog number is Polydor 815 004-1 Y1. "Now that my life's my own, I leave you behind, leaving you behind." "What ever made you think I would change my mind, change my mind?" --Dan Hall decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-beta!hall
todd@SCIRTP.UUCP (Todd Jones) (08/03/85)
> > Does anyone know what's going on with these guys? The last album > > was put out in 1980 -- I guess I can safely assume that the Giant is dead > > (a sorrowful pause...). > > Gentle Giant did, indeed, split up back in the first part of 1981. (I > remember because it was one of the few times the music industry press > payed them any attention.) I posted a request a few years back asking if > anyone knew of what the members were doing (particularly Minnear and the > brothers Shulman), but received no replies. > -- > Steve Knight > {seismo,allegra,ihnp4,some other sites}!rlgvax!knight Gentle Giant made some of the best obscure music of the 70's. Unfortunately, their last two (three?) albums sounded like bad attempts at commercial crap. I loved the Giant, but I wish they had split up before "The Missing Piece." ||||||| || || [ O-O ] Todd Jones \ ^ / {decvax,akgua}!mcnc!rti-sel!scirtp!todd | ~ | |___| SCI Systems Inc. doesn't necessarily agree with Todd.