Kevin Gilbert

Underrated. Two reasons why I made this thread: Two many Over rated threads, and the fact that he is one of my favorite artist which everyone seems to neglect. I've tried showing his stuff to people but people are just like "Oh, I haven't heard of him he must Suck." Which as we all know isn't true. But anyway, Kevin Gilbert is amazing, with Toy Matinee', Giraffe, and his solo stuff he is simply great. My favoite of his stuff is The Shaming of the True, a great concept album, which he covers a song from one of his Giraffe albums. Too bad the guy died just before auditioning for new Genesis lead singer. It would have been great! So what ydo you guys think about this guy?

The only album I have by him is The Shaming of the True and it's really great.  I'd love to get some other stuff by him one of these days.

Tiresias wrote: Kevin Gilbert did so much for progressive rock, its shameful that he is still relatively unknown.  He managed Spock's Beard, Worked with proggers and regular musicians, nailed sheryl crow, and released the single greatest blow to the music industry: The Shaming of the True.  He was a musical genius and should be regaled.  Unfortunately, he probably wouldn't have luck with Genesis.  While a genius, he wasn't particularly lucky.  I don't think he could've brought them back from the pits.  But KG is sick, man.  A musical monster.  He was taken far too early.  Did you learn how he died?

Yeah, I learned how he died. It's uhh... rather sick. I think Genesis would have been his big break! As far as Sheryl crow goes, thats the reason I don't like her, did you look into it? Gilbert was in a band called Tuesday Night Club and they wrote all the songs for Sheryl Crow, who was KG BF at the time, and after the album became a success, she dumped him saying he only used him for the album. I didn't know he managed Spocks Beard, well, that explains something. Ever listen to his Stuff with Giraffe and Toy Matinee?

I love Kevin Gilbert and was listening to him before his death.Finding his work is frustrating sometimes.Especially his Giraffe albums.I think The Shaming of the True is one of the greatest concept albums ever.

About Crow....Kevin and some friends had informal jam sessions every Tuesday night.They called themselves the Tuesday Night Music Club.Kevin met Sheryl,who had just lost a record deal.He brought her in and she started singing at these informal jam sessions.Kevin and his friends started writing music,most of which would appear on Crowe's debut album.They also performed all the music on her album,and Kevin got Crowe another record deal.Kevin didn't really worry about having writing credits for the album because he didn't know it would become the smash hit it became.The album came out and was a huge success.Then Crowe(who was also dating KG),dismissed the whole band and blew KG off.She wouldn't acknowledge his credits to her success,but eventually caved and he was given some writing credit,particularly for the song "All I Wanna Do(Is Have Some Fun)",which he detested,and Kevin did win a Grammy for songwriting.He thought that would get the attention of record companies,but they pretty much shunned him,because like most geniuses,he had a reputation for being difficult to work with.A lot of his frustrations in dealing with record companies and record company executives are reflected in The Shaming of the True.

Tireasis,don't know where you got your info but KG did not manage Spock's Beard.He was involved in the production of their first few albums and most of their albums were recorded at his studio,Lawn Mower & Garden Supply(if you watch the dvd The Making of V most of that is shot in that studio).

His list of credits for someone who was only 28 when he passed away(from auto-erotic asphyxiation) is staggering.Not just performing but also production,songwriting,etc.He wrote songs for Madonna,Michael Jackson(also produced his Dangerous album),Tina Turner.He performed and wrote songs on Keith Emerson's "Changing States" album

I urge you guys to snatch up everything by him you can,his solo albums The Shaming of the True and Thud,Thud Live at the Troubadour,his Giraffe albums,the brilliant Toy Matinee albums.The album he was recording when he died is very different,The Kaviar Sessions.It's dark and shocking and most of the lyrics are spoken rather than sung.Also,if you can find the recorded version of KG and Giraffe performing the entire Lamb Lies Down on Broadway(complete with costume changes)at Nearfest 94 BUY it.It is really rare and the best performance of that album I have heard(other than Genesis,of course).

The site maintained by his estate is really nice,check it out:

http://www.kevingilbert.com/

Tiresias wrote: He managed Spock's Beard, Worked with proggers and regular musicians, nailed sheryl crow, and released the single greatest blow to the music industry: The Shaming of the True.

  Great synopsis, even it it's not 100% accurate.

Sorry, the Progtologist is right.  He wrote "The Water" (hence F-U) and produced, not managed

 

some very interesting info here on Kevin Gilbert (and Sheryl Crow), must check out The Shaming of The True  if i can find it!

Edited by mystic fred - December 15 2006 at 12:40

Yeah, another member of The Kevin Gilbert Thursday Night Music Club here...

The Shaming Of The True is one of the greatest albums of all time, regardless of genre.

How exactly DID he die, it says "accidental asphyxiation" but that's a euphemism used quite often with Rock Star deaths....?

mystic fred wrote: some very interesting info here on Kevin Gilbert [IMG]height=17 alt=Clap src="smileys/smiley32.gif" width=18 align=absMiddle>(and Sheryl Crow[IMG]height=17 alt="Stern Smile" src="http://www.progarchives.com/forum/smileys/smiley22.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>), must check out The Shaming of The True  if i can find it![IMG]height=17 alt=Smile src="smileys/smiley1.gif" width=17 align=absMiddle>

Order it from his official site,which is maintained by his estate.That is where I got mine from.
    

Kevin Gilbert is (was ) one of the BEST voices coming out of the USA since the last 20 years. He proved to be be a very talented vocalist, as well as a skillful keyboardist (there is an unreleased instrumental track from the NRG sessions that has a strong ELP influence). he is not very known outside of the boundaries of America, but he could have been brought to the ears of a wider audience if he hadn't died of an absurd death just before replacing Phil Collins on vocals in Genesis. It's a pity his earlier works are not featured in PA's database. In fact, NRG IS a prog band (if you doubt about it check out the free mp3s available on KG's official website). Giraffe was a more pop affair, but they had nevertheless some good songs ("the world just gets smaller", "because of you", "last plane out"...). KG turned to something more aggressive after his toy matinee sessions, and I must admit I prefer the tone of his voice in the earlier days of his musical career, even if some mannerism emanates from them, than the more forced voice/spoken words he uses in his latest releases (however, "song for a dead friend" brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it). Most of the people here seem to praise 'the shaming of the true' as the culminating point of his career, and overlook his earlier works. However, I find some true gems among the first phase of his musical activity : the whole NRG sessions, Giraffe was not that bad, some of the songs on the toy matinee project are really amazing (especially the title track) and some unreleased tracks are loaded with a high dose of emotion : "dana rae", "another day", "simpler times", "when strangers part" (the version with KG on vocals). I think his live rendition of CSNY's "suite judy blue eyes" is better than the original. A truly gifted man, who left the world too soon...