KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR PRESENTS

As many of we know, Gentle Giant was formed in 1970 by the three multi-instrumentalists the Shulman brothers, Phil, Derek and Ray. They were joined by the guitarist Gary Green, the keyboardist Kerry Minnear and the drummer Martin Smith and formed Gentle Giant. During their short live, Gentle Giant only lasted ten years from 1970 to 1980, the line up of the band was very stable. It had only the departure of one of the Shulman brothers, Phil, in 1972, after the live tour to promote their fourth studio album 'Octopus' of 1972, and two changes of their drummers. Malcolm Mortimore replaced Martin Smith, in 1971, after the release of their second studio album 'Acquiring The Taste' in 1971 and John Weathers that replaced Malcolm Mortimore, in 1972, after the release of their third studio album 'Three Friends' in 1972.

'King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents' is one of the many Gentle Giant's live albums that was released in 1998. This live show was recorded at the Academy of Music in New York City, in 18 January 1975. It was performed one year after the release of their sixth studio album 'The Power And The Glory'. This concert captures Gentle Giant at the top of their form and at the peak of their fame. This is a short live album with about 45 minutes. The tracks are the same of their other live album called 'Experience', released in 2002. In reality, it features the same tracks but in a different order.

'King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents' has only seven tracks. The first track 'Proclamation' is a live version of a song released on their sixth studio album 'The Power And The Glory'. The second track 'Funny Ways' is a live version of a song released on their eponymous debut studio album 'Gentle Giant'. The third track 'The Runaway' is a live version of a song released on their fifth studio album 'In A Glass House'. The fourth track 'Experience' is also a live version of a song released on their fifth studio album 'In A Glass House'. The fifth track 'So Sincere' is also a live version of a song released on their sixth studio album 'The Power And The Glory'. The sixth track 'Knots' is a live version of a song released on their fourth studio album 'Octopus'. The seventh and last track 'The Advent Of Panurge' is also a live version of a song released on their fourth studio album 'Octopus'.

King Biscuit Flower Hour was an USA radio show that regularly presented especially organized concerts for over two decades. This release shows Gentle Giant at their best and in the peak of their fame. At the time there were signs that hard work, ambition and musical wilfulness would finally bring the band relatively wide recognition. Gentle Giant came to New York with the successful and musically successful album 'The Power And The Glory' in the band's luggage. Incidentally, the previous album 'In A Glass House' was only available as an import in the USA, since the record bosses considered it quite unsalable. Despite this commercially farsighted behaviour, 'In A Glass House' sold 150,000 copies over there at the time. The great highlights of this live concert would include the vibraphone solo on their track 'Funny Ways', the keyboard transition between the tracks 'The Runaway' and 'Experience', the drums/chime parts of the track 'So Sincere', and the acoustic guitar duo on the track 'Knots'. So, we can say that 'King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents' contains concert highlights that are very well known to all Gentle Giant's fans, were here again they are of the first class performed with the addition of some instrumental passages made for their live performances. Added to this, we need also to highlight the virtuoso mastery of the all instruments played by all band's members, the contagious and unique joy of playing of all performers of Gentle Giant and finally, the excellent compositional talent of the all band.

Conclusion: As I mentioned before, 'King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents' is a live album with the same live tracks of 'Experience', but with a new different musical alignment. The 'King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents' is, without any doubt, a great live album with a beautiful live atmosphere. For me, is totally irrelevant the different musical alignment, because I sincerely like of the alignments on both live albums. However, despite the quality of this live show, I still prefer the live show on 'Playing The Fool'. In relation to the selection of the tracks, I can only say that it's absolutely irreproachable. However, not all of their first six studio albums were represented on it. It hasn't songs of their second studio album 'Acquiring The Taste' and hasn't songs of their third studio album 'Three Friends'. So, it has one song from their eponymous debut studio album 'Gentle Giant', 'Funny Ways', two songs from their fourth studio album 'Octopus', 'Knots' and 'The Advent Of Panurge', also two songs from their fifth studio album 'In A Glass House', 'Experience' and 'The Runway' and it has also two songs from their sixth studio album 'The Power And The Glory', 'Proclamation' and 'So Sincere'. So, as a conclusion, despite I prefer 'Playing The Fool', 'King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents' and 'Experience' are two excellent live albums of Gentle Giant. So, to buy one of them is, without any doubt, a great option because we are in presence of some different and but also excellent live material from a great live band.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

Share this GENTLE GIANT review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to VianaProghead
• Report this review (#3112902)
• Buy GENTLE GIANT music online with PA partners
• Show all GENTLE GIANT MP3/Stream
• Go to GENTLE GIANT page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for GENTLE GIANT related discussions