Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Phil Shulman's role in Gentle Giant
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedPhil Shulman's role in Gentle Giant
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
Mascodagama View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: December 30 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 5111 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 27 2016 at 18:21
Originally posted by Magnum Vaeltaja Magnum Vaeltaja wrote:

Originally posted by zravkapt zravkapt wrote:

They lost a warmth and atmosphere when Phil left; their music became more mechanical and cold...still good just not great like before.


Preach brotha. The first 4 GG albums had soul, man. 


I'm pretty much with you guys. The only post-Phil album I unconditionally love is TPATG.
Back to Top
Magnum Vaeltaja View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 01 2015
Location: Out East
Status: Offline
Points: 6777 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 27 2016 at 17:54
Originally posted by zravkapt zravkapt wrote:

They lost a warmth and atmosphere when Phil left; their music became more mechanical and cold...still good just not great like before.

Preach brotha. The first 4 GG albums had soul, man. 
when i was a kid a doller was worth ten dollers - now a doller couldnt even buy you fifty cents
Back to Top
rogerthat View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer


Joined: September 03 2006
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 9869 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 27 2016 at 07:12
My favourite GG albums are either of Acquiring The Taste, Octopus or Free Hand.  So I like both versions of the band and don't really see this steep slide in quality post-Phil.  I don't think emotional resonance was ever their forte and said as much in an earlier thread.  The music moved closer to funk from a rock/folk blend post-Phil and maybe this is what a lot of the fans of the Phil era didn't like.  Since I like funk anyway, I don't find that to be a problem and imo GG's goofiness works a little better when they lean more towards funk a la Just The Same/Time to Kill.
Back to Top
zravkapt View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: October 12 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 27 2016 at 06:27
^And your opinion of Phil is?.....
Magma America Great Make Again
Back to Top
Slartibartfast View Drop Down
Collaborator
Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam

Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 27 2016 at 04:51
I got into GG with The Power And The Glory.  It remains a timeless statement about politics.  I was forunate to see them in Atlanta when they had about five tours before they called it quits.  They had made a stab at pop with Giant For A Day which I used to hate, but have come to terms with.  Inside Out from Civilian still gives me the creeps.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
Back to Top
Borris View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: February 13 2009
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 44 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2016 at 22:52
His departure must have changed their live concerts quite a bit too as I understand Kerry Minnear didn't sing lead in concerts so Derek would become their sole live lead vocalist.
Back to Top
zravkapt View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: October 12 2010
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 6451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2016 at 16:07
They lost a warmth and atmosphere when Phil left; their music became more mechanical and cold...still good just not great like before.
Magma America Great Make Again
Back to Top
Borris View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: February 13 2009
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 44 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 26 2016 at 16:00
Hi There,

I'm interested to know how people regard the contribution of Phil to Gentle Giant. The did 3 great albums after he left with Glass House, Free Hand and Power and The Glory so I guess to many fans it didn't seem like a great loss and might not think about it too much. But I'm intrigued by him, he has got a great singing voice and I understand he may have been the main lyricist for the first 4 albums. I'm assuming he had the appreciation of Rabelais' Giants which could have been the origin of the name. There are 3 good interviews with his son below and they suggest that lyrically he liked the story telling element which is strong in those early albums. There are also a lot of literary allusions on the albums with Phil, that disappeared after he went. I don't get the impression he was vitally important instrumentally. 

So please give me your thoughts on Phil's contribution to Gentle Giant.

Phil Shulman interviews:
Part1:
https://youtu.be/jZ8puqroIas
Part 2:
https://youtu.be/9qp3to1KDIw
Part 3 This one deals with Gentle Giant:
https://youtu.be/yf3T-x4sfnY
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <12

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.336 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.