Playing the Fool - The Official Live | ||||
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Live album by | ||||
Released | 18 January 1977 | |||
Recorded | 23 September – 7 October 1976 in Düsseldorf, Paris, Brussels and Munich | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 78:09 | |||
Label | Chrysalis (UK) Capitol (US) | |||
Producer | Gentle Giant | |||
Gentle Giant chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | link |
Babyblaue Seiten | 14.33/15 link |
Sea of Tranquility | link |
Playing the Fool - The Official Live is a live album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant which was released in 1977. The album contains versions of songs from all of the band's studio albums to that point except for Acquiring the Taste (although a section from the title track of that album is featured in "Excerpts from Octopus"). The original UK LP came with a 12-page booklet that has not been reproduced in any of the CD editions.
All tracks are written by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman except where noted. The songwriting credits are taken from the studio albums the songs originally appeared on, which are noted for each track; the credits on Playing the Fool itself excised all songwriting credits for Phil Shulman, who had left Gentle Giant on bad terms in 1972.
No. | Title | Notes | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Just the Same/Proclamation" (from Free Hand / The Power and the Glory ) | Düsseldorf, 1976-09-23 | 11:13 |
2. | "On Reflection" (from Free Hand ) | Düsseldorf, 1976-09-23 | 6:20 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Notes | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
3. | "Excerpts from Octopus (The Boys in the Band/Raconteur Troubadour/Acquiring the Taste/Knots/Organ Bridge/The Advent of Panurge)" (from Octopus / Acquiring the Taste ) | Minnear, Shulman, Shulman, Phil Shulman | Paris, 1976-10-05 | 15:35 |
4. | "Funny Ways" (from Gentle Giant ) | Minnear, Shulman, Shulman, Shulman | Munich, 1976-09-25 | 8:35 |
No. | Title | Notes | Length |
---|---|---|---|
5. | "The Runaway/Experience" (from In a Glass House ) | Paris, 1976-10-05 | 9:31 |
6. | "So Sincere" (from The Power and the Glory ) | Paris, 1976-10-05 | 10:22 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Notes | Length |
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7. | "Free Hand" (from Free Hand ) | Brussels, 1976-10-07 | 7:40 | |
8. | "Sweet Georgia Brown" | Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard | Brussels, 1976-10-07 | 1:15 |
9. | "Peel the Paint/I Lost My Head" (from Three Friends / Interview ) | Minnear, Shulman, Shulman, Shulman ("Peel the Paint") | Paris, 1976-10-05 | 7:35 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Just the Same" | 5:57 |
2. | "Proclamation/Valedictory" | 5:18 |
3. | "On Reflection" | 6:20 |
4. | "Excerpts from Octopus" | 15:39 |
5. | "Funny Ways" | 8:30 |
Total length: | 41:44 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
6. | "The Runaway" | 3:56 |
7. | "Experience" | 5:36 |
8. | "So Sincere" | 10:20 |
9. | "Free Hand" | 7:40 |
10. | "Sweet Georgia Brown (Breakdown in Brussels)" | 1:21 |
11. | "Peel the Paint/I Lost My Head" | 7:32 |
Total length: | 36:25 |
The track listing and times differ depending on the specific release.
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1977 | US Billboard 200 | 89 |
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. They were known for the complexity and sophistication of their music and for the varied musical skills of the members. All of the band members were multi-instrumentalists. Although not commercially successful, the band did achieve a cult following.
Octopus is the fourth studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1972. It was the band's last album which all the Shulman brothers involved together in the band, as the founding member Phil Shulman left the band after the release, and the first with new drummer John Weathers, who would remain with the band until their dissolution in 1980. Octopus remains a highly regarded example of the progressive rock genre and is generally considered to represent the start of the band's peak period.
The Power and the Glory is the sixth studio album by the British progressive rock group Gentle Giant, released in 1974. Contrary to popular belief, the title of the album and its many lyrical themes were not inspired by author Graham Greene's novel of the same name, although Derek Shulman was aware of Greene's novel. Guitarist Gary Green has cited this album as his favourite by the band.
Three Friends is the third studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1972. It was the band's first release to chart in America, peaking at #197 on the Billboard 200. It is the only album by Gentle Giant to feature drummer Malcolm Mortimore following the departure of Martin Smith.
Acquiring the Taste is the second studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1971 on the Vertigo label. It was the final album by the band to feature original drummer Martin Smith.
Gentle Giant is the first studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1970.
In a Glass House is the fifth album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released on 21 September 1973. The album is a loosely-realized concept project based on the aphorism "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". The record begins and ends with the sound of breaking glass. It is the first album released by the band following the departure of Phil Shulman.
Free Hand is the seventh studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1975. It was Gentle Giant's first album with their new label Chrysalis Records in the UK. It is noted for its high production values, and for a less dissonant, more accessible feel than their previous album The Power and the Glory. It was their highest-charting album in the US and the only one to reach the Top 50 on the Billboard 200.
Boys in the Trees is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records in April 1978.
Interview is the eighth studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1976.
The Missing Piece is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1977. After the Interview tour this return to the studio marked a change of direction for the band with the first side of the album exploring different musical directions than the band was previously known for, including pop music and punk rock, while the second side was more in the vein of their signature progressive rock style. This was the last Gentle Giant album to chart in the United States.
Giant for a Day! is the tenth album by the British band Gentle Giant, released in 1978. The band's previous use of counterpoint and medieval-themed arrangements was not present on this recording. This album features a pop rock sensibility, instead of their usual progressive rock sound. Unlike the previous albums, the band did not make any tour or concerts to support this album. From the album only the title track was ever played live by the band during its final tour supporting the Civilian album.
Civilian is the eleventh and final studio album by the British band Gentle Giant, released in 1980. It was recorded at Sound City Studios in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles with former Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. Consisting mostly of short rock songs, it is closer to a traditional rock sound than the progressive style for which the band is best known. The album also marked a return to Columbia Records in the U.S. and Canada after an eight-year hiatus; the band's last album released with Columbia had been 1972's Octopus.
Raymond Shulman was a British musician, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. With his brothers Derek and Phil, he co-founded the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. Shulman also worked as record producer in the late 1980s and early 1990s for alternative rock artists such as The Sundays and The Sugarcubes.
Kerry Churchill Minnear is a multi-instrumentalist musician and composer. He is known primarily for his work with the progressive rock band Gentle Giant from 1970 to 1980.
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