What Made Gentle Giant "Prog"?

Рет қаралды 16,256

5 жыл бұрын

Featuring Gentle Giant, welcome to the first episode of "Is it Prog?", where we break down what makes bands progressive, or not.
We're starting with a band that is obviously a progressive rock band to establish the format of the show, so bear with me. Gentle Giant is known for their progressive prowess; lush harmonies, varied time signatures, conceptual albums, far-reaching instrumental ability, multifaceted genre incorporation, and the kitchen sink.
If you like the video, give it a like and subscribe to the channel, we'll be getting into more controversial and varied bands and albums in the near future.
We just launched a Patreon! Making music content on KZfaq is hard, the monetization system is harsh on music clips and we put a lot of effort into our videos for little payoff. Help support the channel on Patreon so that we can dedicate more of our time to it, and you'll find all kinds of perks and bonus content!
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You can also support the channel by checking out our shirts on TeeSpring! teespring.com/is-it-prog-tark...
Please support Gentle Giant by purchasing their albums: www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle...
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Video Sources:
• Gentle Giant - Sight a...
• Gentle Giant - On Refl...
• Gentle Giant - The Pow...
• Gentle Giant - Octopus...
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Other Resources:
www.allmusic.com/artist/gentl...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentle_...
www.seaoftranquility.org/arti...
www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle...
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All music in this video by Gentle Giant.

Пікірлер: 115

@amarok5048 3 жыл бұрын

"The most criminally underrated band in the history of music."

@Edduno128 3 жыл бұрын

this, and Cardiacs :)

@steventhompson4220 2 жыл бұрын

@@Edduno128 AS soon as I saw that commentary of most underrated I said to myself The cardiacs .Hit your comment and u took the words right out of my mouth

@Edduno128 2 жыл бұрын

@@steventhompson4220 glad to hear it :) early split enz is another great, underrated band

@hazardousjazzgasm129 2 жыл бұрын

Wobbler or The Watch

@freddiesoverbite6162 11 ай бұрын

The Giant is hands down my favorite band. I am absolutely obsessed with Ray Shulman’s bass playing.

@gurgisjones1120 3 жыл бұрын

I've been a GG fan since the mid 80's, and love all the attention the band's finally getting, including here on YT.

@felinefanII 4 жыл бұрын

Acquiring the Taste and Octopus, two classic albums with prog at its finest.

@andrejz8954 3 ай бұрын

And yet, my favourite is Three friends.

@oriomenoni7651 3 жыл бұрын

Are you joking? Gentle Giant is the epitome of Prog !!!

@jakobsprogworld 4 жыл бұрын

Super! Derek Shulman should watch this because he once said he thought GG wasn't a real prog band.

@alexno.335 4 жыл бұрын

Most prog bands deny that they are prog

@jakobsprogworld 4 жыл бұрын

@@alexno.335 Gentle Giant sounds different, the bombast is missing and they have shorter tracks but these aren't the central elements of prog.

@seanbeadles7421 3 жыл бұрын

@@jakobsprogworld no bombast? Have you seen them live lol

@KlausSgroi Жыл бұрын

It's actually a common "phenomenon" for Prog musicians to dislike or avoid this classification. Jon Anderson said every kind of music is "progressive", Genesis members were uncomfortable with the label of "prog kings", so were Pink Floyd...

@seanbeadles7421 3 жыл бұрын

Gentle Giant, like much of Prog, was classical influenced, however they took it a step beyond the romantic/classical/baroque eras and was influenced more by renaissance and medieval musics. That’s most evident when they sing the madrigals (the vocal polyphony).

@bargainbassist 5 ай бұрын

Don’t forget their blues, vintage R&B, country, folk, avant garde, jazz, and even reggae (predating the love affair that punk bands would have with reggae) influences.

@e-zammelectronicmusic7333 3 жыл бұрын

Giant is my favorite band since I discover them! 1976!!! On the interview album!!! Yep!!

@drbassface Жыл бұрын

I saw GG open for Jethro Tull at the Baltimore Civic Center! Mind still blown! Thank God for such adventurous Music!

@iananderson7883 3 жыл бұрын

Who cares what they are they were amazing in every way.

@YamesuTankosi 4 жыл бұрын

That man played the Shulberry like he'd be doing everyone a disservice by not playing the HELL out of it.

@gurgisjones1120 3 жыл бұрын

Bruce Dickinson approves!

@coal_powered 4 жыл бұрын

this was a really good video man, i hope you keep uploading, prog is one of my favorite types of music and i'd love to hear more analysis of the genre

@progrock 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you man! I am planning on making more, I just got done with a pretty big move, so I should be getting back to it soon! I appreciate the support.

@danielguimaraes8705 Жыл бұрын

They are fantastic! Unforgettable!

@projektor4 4 жыл бұрын

Bravo. A very good summery of their music but you have overlooked a couple of aspects of what made Gentle Giant one of the original progressive rock groups and that is how they had progressed from the early 60´s beat era as the Howlin' Wolves and Roadrunners, through the late 60´s pop rock and psychedelic flower power scene as Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, also as (incognito) The Moles. Then there was a kinda chrysalis stage when they moved to a country cottage before emerging as a fully fledged Progressive rock band. Secondly, they were amongst the first to be signed to Philips Records "progressive music" subsidiary label, Vertigo. I have all four of the UK original "Swirl" albums plus 5 of the next 6 studio albums (missing Interview) and got to see them live twice in the early 70´s. Was asked to design and produce the poster for their appearance at the Tech Collage Rag Dance. So as you can tell, Gentle Giant have loomed large in my listening Life :)

@progrock 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for filling in some missing pieces! Always like to learn more, and I really appreciate the comment.

@seanbeadles7421 3 жыл бұрын

The Moles is one of my favorite obscure records. Some even thought The Moles had members of the Beatles (like the later Klaatu) until Syd Barrett told a magazine who the members of the Moles were

@DavidB.Rockin 3 жыл бұрын

Greatest Prog Rock band ever!

@malekmo64 2 жыл бұрын

I was asked by a fellow school student if I liked this album would I buy it from him. The year was 1977. The group was Gentle Giant. The album Free Hand. I bought everything they did before and since!!! Amazing band!!! 🙂🇦🇺

@blackmoon1603 3 жыл бұрын

They are my all time favorite band!

@NicolasCatalani 4 жыл бұрын

Great video! Hope to see more of your content.

@Wramor 4 жыл бұрын

Cool videos man, thanks for making!

@progrock 4 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you like them! Appreciate you!

@thiagobrandaoaraujo 4 жыл бұрын

Great job, man!

@fuckundo4825 4 жыл бұрын

Hey man, I just discovered your channel and it's really cool, im definitely subscribing!

@progrock 4 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate it! Thanks man.

@bukeksiansu2112 3 жыл бұрын

The best acapella prog band ever, in studio or live perform.

@uubuuh Жыл бұрын

Good analysis. Good choice to feature clips from Sight & Sound. Anyone wanting to know more about the band, just check out that concert (see "The BBC Sight & Sound concert Golders Green Hippodrome, London, January 5th, 1978" it's on YT). One thing you'll notice is that GG owns the pocket, as distinct from other prog bands that are precise but just don't seem to get that phat safe place in time. Yes the recorders, mallets, baroque all that, but listen for the rocking time, even as it is arranged out in sections; when it hits you it's real. Ray Shulman's got a big brain for music, and his bass concept is excellent. Don't miss it.

@heliodecastro9926 4 жыл бұрын

The my favourite álbuns are Octopus ,Power and Glory and In a glass house .

@YiannisIliakis 4 жыл бұрын

Everything!

@ismaeljaramillo-cajica5152 2 жыл бұрын

I can definitely hear their influence in bands like Spocks Beard and Haken.

@Leery_Bard 3 жыл бұрын

This was really cool! Personally, I love Gentle Giant to bits. Could you do one on Gryphon?

@josephgroot3119 2 жыл бұрын

Nice rhetorical question!

@ericmckayrq 2 жыл бұрын

The modern band that reminds me of them most is Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. I recommend the song “Donkey headed something of the apocalypse” for similar rhythmic sophistication and hocketing for sure

@christhompson1393 3 жыл бұрын

Awesome dude thank you

@mccarthyd6603 3 жыл бұрын

Just discovered your channel.... Great video! Anyway you could do a video on the most underrated prog band of all-time.... Nektar? Thanks

@progrock 3 жыл бұрын

Oooh, great suggestion! I haven't listened to nearly enough from them, so that would be a good time to get into them. Appreciate it!

@henrymach 4 жыл бұрын

Can you make a video about Yezda Urfa?

@atomicrelic136extra3 5 жыл бұрын

Can you do one on the Austrian band Kyrie Eleison, love the videos

@progrock 5 жыл бұрын

I will check them out! Thanks for the recommendation, I'm excited to get through the next couple that I have planned, and then I'd love to do more based on recommendations.

@atomicrelic136extra3 5 жыл бұрын

Is it Prog? Thanks man, can’t wait!

@TheJazzweed 4 жыл бұрын

Would love for you to feature some of the RPI bands such as Banco and PFM .

@progrock 4 жыл бұрын

PFM has been brought up a couple times now, I'll definitely have to check them out.

@dajecm 4 жыл бұрын

@@progrock Check out Area and Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso too, Italian Progressive Rock is amazing

@mikereiss4216 3 жыл бұрын

Italian prog. RPI is such a pretentious term. It's bad enough people still say "krautrock." Plus there's plenty of Italian bands who aren't considered RPI.

@denonhd8 2 жыл бұрын

@thejazzweed Wot, no love for Cherry Five/Goblin!?! 😜 Now, THERE is a band that I would love to see @Is it Prog? cover. Also, Triumvirat. 😺

@KlausSgroi Жыл бұрын

Even though GG is technically a Prog band, I thoroughly understand why its members were a bit reluctant to accept this classification (as were other Prog musicians in relation to their respective groups). Yes, Genesis, ELP and other Prog masters had several points in common, although they all had a unique style that could not be copied. GG, on the other hand, had very little in common with the examples I mentioned. Their weird blend of Rock, Jazz, Blues, Folk and Classical music was equally disturbing and intriguing. Gentle Giant is like an "outsider" forced to fit into the Prog club.

@RandomButtonPusher 3 жыл бұрын

I think they were only the second band that I shot in concert for my college newspaper in late '72 or early '73 (hazy times, lol). The first was J. Geils. There was a lot of gear on the GG stage and some other photographer knocked over a cello so we all got banned from the wings.

@greatbin0 2 жыл бұрын

This video is bold and based. Just like gentle giant

@malekmo64 2 жыл бұрын

It's an acquired taste 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍❤

@joeybenoit6269 3 жыл бұрын

I saw them in San Diego they were playing a song they stopped they all swapped instruments and kept going! Unbelievable!

@2wayplebney 4 жыл бұрын

They certainly were, and for me their only peers were Crim.

@greenblackswerl 4 жыл бұрын

Crim, Floyd, and Zappa. To me were the only musicians that had QUITE that level of genius.

@2wayplebney 4 жыл бұрын

@@greenblackswerl yes.

@jonnykhatru 4 жыл бұрын

I would put Magma and Henry Cow up there too

@alexfahlin6426 3 жыл бұрын

GG, Crim, VdGG, Henry Cow

@joeybenoit6269 3 жыл бұрын

An absolutely astounding biography of one of the greatest p r o g bands of the planet!

@AnalogTrust Жыл бұрын

Gentle Giant are one of those bands who "invented", in broader sense, the progressive music, apart of those proto-phenomena that preceeded the 1970 (these were not sufficient to define the genre and then, probably comprising Beatles, King Crimson, Blind Faith, Yes, Jethro Tull etc). Here in Italy, Gentle Giant had found their first chronological "fanbase", earlier than in UK. At the same time, when Phil Shulman decided to leave, GG had accomplished the fourth album release and in the same time, here in Italy we're starting to see the early glances of progressive music intended as "complete reasoned opus in the progressive sense". In other words, at the end of the 1972 the world was starting to drive the progressive music era (with no mention to its label name!) only after GG had yet closed the first halfway point, leading to, and starting to experiment a new scheme without Phil Shulman as leading element in the band.

@benrai123 3 жыл бұрын

Pink Floyd and DT introduce me to prog, now I love Genesis, King Crimson, Tool, ELP and Steven Wilson. I tried to listen to Gentle Giant and it was just meh. I´ll listen to their music again. Any place you recommend to start?

@mshelton5036 3 жыл бұрын

Three Friends and then Free Hand, The Power and Glory, Octopus and In a glass house are my favorite but a little more hard core GG.

@tripmeister2427 3 жыл бұрын

Try the song Nothing At All from their first album

@benrai123 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for all your answers, since this post, I have become a die hard Gentle Giant fan!

@joluijten6313 2 жыл бұрын

There s no better band in the world . A few bands that are just as good.

@h_enrix_92 2 жыл бұрын

more like technical rock 🤘🏻

@simonjones8111 10 ай бұрын

I first heard them on John Peel’s radio show in 1970, and have remained a devoted fan ever since. But please also remember that the term “progressive rock” did not exist at the time, it is a retrospective term for the explosion of talent, especially in the UK. The only term used at the time was Pomp Rock, which was used to cover Genesis, Yes and ELP.

@Hellyeahray21 2 ай бұрын

Wasn't art rock a term too? Starting from the beatles' latest albums and all those bands that blended jazz, rock and unusual influences.

@gavinbowie452 Жыл бұрын

The Real Deal!

@aleksandarfrick2656 2 жыл бұрын

Where are the Residence ?

@Chicago_Podcast_Authority Жыл бұрын

What’s your favorite GG album?

@mikeloomis687 Жыл бұрын

Good question.....hard to answer. Which day is it? I do like the feelings I get from Three Friends. Tomorrow it will be their debut.

@DimashCastellucci 2 жыл бұрын

❤️❤️❤️❤️ Gentle Giant Jethro Tull Yes King Crimson Pink Floyd Camel ELP

@pandstar 4 жыл бұрын

Of course they were prog. Not sure why the question in the title is even there. Good video overall. But 'irregardless'... Really? Not a word.

@progrock 4 жыл бұрын

The titles are just a play on the 'is __ prog?" Comments that go around. The channel is mostly just making videos looking into the innovative things that prog bands bring to music.

@progrock 4 жыл бұрын

And thank you for watching! Hope ya enjoyed it.

@jamespurcer3730 3 жыл бұрын

I thing that Yes blew them away. Ironically, I have half of the Gentle Giant albums and only a couple of Yes albums, and both Yes albums were stolen from me. [sigh]

@MrBenMcLean 5 ай бұрын

"irregardless" isn't a word. The correct word is just "regardless" without the unnecessary "ir-" prefix. The word "regardless" already has a prefix ("re-") and doesn't need another one.

@revolutionairerebel9511 4 жыл бұрын

Area is the italian gentle giant!

@massimomarchesin8708 3 жыл бұрын

Ma naturalmente i Gentle Giant sono da considerarsi prog rock !!!!! Già dalla band precedente i Simon Dupree And the big sound si avvertiva la voglia di abbandonare i suoni beat in favore di composizioni più complesse seppur sempre in un contesto psichedelico come Kites Kindness Stained Glass Window e secondo me fino ad arrivare al brano che mostra già la faccia del Gigante Gentile cioè Like The Sun Like The Fire !!!!!!!! Abbandonato alla fine dei 60 il progetto Simon Dupree i fratelli Shulman incontrano il tastierista polistrumentista Kerry Minnear ed il Valente chitarrista ed anche lui polistrumentista Gary Gren oltre al batterista Martin Smith e tutti insieme si avviano verso i percorsi avventurosi del Gigante Gentile con il suo mix di rock hard rock folk jazz classica medievale ed anche con qualcosa di black music oltre a qualcosa di elettronica Con tutto questo bagaglio di sonorità ed esperienze non si possono secondo voi considerarli innovativi di avanguardia e di conseguenza progressive rock ? Secondo me indubbiamente la mia risposta è SI !!!!!!!!

@CanAlternateLostTape 3 жыл бұрын

Not sure who the band at 0:22 is, but it’s definitely not Gentle Giant

@alwayscasesensitive 3 ай бұрын

You're absolutely right, it isn't GG. Looking at each member, my first guess was Lindisfarne but can't find that pic anywhere in Google Images so maybe that's wrong.

@macsnafu 2 жыл бұрын

I only have The Power and the Glory, which was okay, but not all that impressive. I guess I should check out their other albums.

@nederlanditism1154 2 ай бұрын

The way many phrase it is rather correct, and the only way it's expressed properly. There were (and are, very lamentably) bands of that era (golden age of) art-rock/ progressive rock, a n d there was Gentle Giant, very much in a league of their own. They were able to keep that uniqueness most likely but not alone by ceasing to be after ten years (having already run out of steam in the later period of their brief stint). [Lament with regard to mostly embarrassing continuations of the likes of Yes and Hackett (re-heating Genesis over and over).]

@massimomarchesin8708 2 жыл бұрын

La musica dei GENTLE GIANT vi Sembra all' ascolto ordinaria ??? Scontata ??? Troppo orecchiabile ??? Banale ??? La MIA risposta è NO assolutamente !!!! Quindi di conseguenza è fuori dai canoni ordinari del pop e rock e quindi innovativa sperimentale d' AVANGUARDIA e ovviamente progressive rock !!!!!!!

@mshelton5036 3 жыл бұрын

Prog okay, I would go even further and say they were the most progressive for all the reasons you stated. I think Derek felt they were being pigeonholed into to a group of music that in general tended to be long and a bit bombastic. GG for the most part tighter richer compositions that rocked. Most Prog sit back and easer to listen to. where GG demands attention because time changes utter complexity not good back ground in the bar. it's as much progressive Jazz so I think they stand alone as the most progressive rock band ever.

@PBGreen-pn8yt 3 жыл бұрын

Nice work! For me, superior to, say, ELP, but too weird for American FM. More consistent than Tull. A bit of a falloff after side 2 of Missing Piece, but no outright dud LPs---the same shift-to-mainstream prob Yes and others ran into. Long live the Giant.

@IcouldBNE1 2 жыл бұрын

What exactly defines progressive rock anyway or is it just "you know it when you hear it". I think the term "prog rock" didn't even exist when these bands were in their heyday.

@tixximmi 3 жыл бұрын

And Zappa did all of this and more, and he did it first. I do like GG. And Zappa did mention GG in an interview about being outside of the box and pushing music to uncharted waters. But you go up to people and ask them to list 5 prog groups and very few ever mention Zappa. The one that started it first. Everything used to define GG works on Zappa too.

@remonholubek8123 3 жыл бұрын

Agreed. Especially the album uncle meat has a lot in common with the music of gentle giant

@tixximmi 3 жыл бұрын

@@remonholubek8123 Except Uncle Meat was written 3 years before GG even got together.

@stukevideo 11 ай бұрын

What makes Gentle Giant prog? What makes the pope Catholic? What makes the bear sh*t in the woods? What makes the blue whale large?

@lucianobalbi3028 9 ай бұрын

Simplesmente espetacular , pra mim um dos melhores grupos de rock P. Que já ouvi, tenho tudo deles , sou inclusive inscrito no canal deles .

@RedArrow73 2 жыл бұрын

KNOTS.

@keithchiv6166 3 жыл бұрын

you dont know how annoying it is to me. who was there at the start of the psychedelic artistic flowering of the 67-70 era,when the remnants of that era were reduced to a kind of formulaic 2 dimensional spinal tap entity, where dark side of the moon, and elp had replaced the original efforts of the early 'nice', and pink floyd. why not mention jade warrior,who ,despite the 70s,produced a truly mythic sound scape without gimmicks and silly twiddly bits by trying to be clever for its own sake