The Power and the Glory (Gentle Giant) | Extended Play Lounge Ep. 69
Added 2024-06-06 22:49:29 +0000 UTCOK, y'all! You're in for an incredible musical journey with this album. It's hard to describe it, really. In one breath, I could equally describe a melodic passage as either inspired by Bach or by the funk music of the 1970's. There's loads of color and rhythm and melody and dissonance and groove. I brought in some musical scores to help us follow along. I hope you enjoy!
Comments
I'd suggest going back to the beginning. their debut album is a cracker. follow the flow through time and I can't say you'll like it, but you'll dig on some level.
ax o'lotl
2024-06-15 07:45:17 +0000 UTCthanks for the extra effort on the scores for this one... really good to see. the Italian single-liners are a bit puzzling... there's a lot left unsaid, assumed. but it's a nice reminder... I always meant to go back and figure out the gnarly chords from the climax of proclamation / valedictory. I have no excuse now. just downloading the scores... oh dear, seems gentlegiant.com is a moving company. the good stuff is at gentlegiantmusic.com
ax o'lotl
2024-06-15 07:40:52 +0000 UTCOkay, I cannot imagine the opening phrase of "Cogs in Cogs" as 3 bars of 4/4. It feels much more like 4 bars of 3/4...or even 4 bars of 12/8!
Jeff Norman
2024-06-10 03:57:27 +0000 UTCThey actually called the opening instrument from "Playing the Game" a Schulberry. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/243335186093371089/
David Granger
2024-06-08 19:39:24 +0000 UTCSo delighted this album made it to EPL. Totally idiosyncratic, spiky and challenging. However, beyond that surface the music is pure, clever and emotionally grounded. Once you get into the groove it's a great ride! As per Peter T and runciblemoon, the track 'The Power and The Glory' was the commercial single the record company wanted, and it wasn't never included in the original album. I don't think it's at the same level as the album. It was included in the 'greatest hits' compilation 'Giant Steps' not long after, and then added as a bonus track on later CD releases. For me, this album is as congruent as GG ever got, and repeated listening is worth the effort. I also think there is no other album like it and it is something of a rare jewel. I am thankful that Doug did this EPL and I enjoyed every moment 😀 PS I may be the only person to hear echoes of the Jon Anderson vocals in the break section in "South Side of the Sky" (on Yes' Fragile album), in the vocals in Cogs in Cogs!
Adie
2024-06-07 23:46:05 +0000 UTCIn a Glass House next, please???
Dennis Rees
2024-06-07 20:06:46 +0000 UTCMaybe I will grow to like Gentle Giant, listening to this album? 😎
Karl Stubsjoen
2024-06-07 18:57:27 +0000 UTCFor context, here's a quote from Ray in an interview back in 1976: "WWA said, 'Now boys, you've got to be commercial, you've gotta make singles. Now you run away and write us a single.' So we did three atrocious numbers. This song's the worst--'You've got it lads!'--and we went into the studio and handed over the tapes when we came out. They put it out, we yelled at them, and they gave it back--took it off the market." FWIW I actually quite like it.
runciblemoon
2024-06-07 13:21:44 +0000 UTCHere's the title track, recorded in the same album sessions, but released subsequently as a single: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V00HVK330xg
Peter Tutak
2024-06-07 02:33:12 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed this one. It's a very musically interesting album and I liked that you had the scores available. I think it's worth noting that Kerry Livgren of Kansas was a big fan of Gentle Giant, and I can see some possible influence on Kansas in places like "Cogs in Cogs." By the way, I have no idea what a "Cong" is, but a "Kong" is a hard rubber dog toy, and my black lab loves it when I fill them with kibble and peanut butter. 😂
Ross Pollack
2024-06-07 01:22:07 +0000 UTCWhat an extraordinary album , it's a kind of "funky prog" for all the very intricate rhytm patterns they're using and counterpoints all over the place. The "xylorimba" was actually an instrument that the boys in the band themselves crafted and they named it "Shulberry" , a string instrument that can only play in fourths. That's how dedicated this band was to its craft , creating a whole new instrument and use it in just one song. Funny thing is that as complex as the music is the drum beats make it much more accessible and it just ends up making complete sense to your ears. GG are one of the absolute best and you've done yourself (and us) a big favor , thanks as always for the amazing content Doug ;) .
Hetfield Ninno Davide
2024-06-07 01:09:10 +0000 UTCRegarding the title, there was a novel published by Graham Greene with that same title (1940s I believe). I'm sure there's some connection there (along with the reference to the Christian doxology)? It seems like they're doing a take on the "Guaranteed Eternal Sanctury Man" motif (how people sanctify political leaders, allowing them to be duped at the same time).
Allen
2024-06-07 01:04:17 +0000 UTCGreat that the Giant guys have scores on their website. Interesting on Aspirations, which I don't think they played live, the vocal melody snuck-in a 4-3 in major over minor harmony. That usually doesn't work, but it does here somehow. I think Kerry is singing on this as well as So Sincere. Live versions of the latter always have Derek singing, if I recall. I assume Kerry doesn't like singing while playing cello, which also means the sax part has to move since Derek couldn't sing and play sax simultaneously, obviously. I believe they moved it to Gary, on acoustic guitar. (The Cogs and Cogs chart was done by a music stenographer?)
Guitar Channel
2024-06-06 23:34:23 +0000 UTC
