Giant for a Day! is the tenth album by the British band Gentle Giant, released in 1978.[3][4] 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.[5] From the album only the title track was ever played live by the band during its final tour supporting the Civilian album.[6]
| Giant for a Day! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 11 September 1978 | |||
| Recorded | April – May 1978 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Art rock,[1] pop[1] | |||
| Length | 35:33 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis (UK) Capitol (U.S.) | |||
| Producer | Gentle Giant | |||
| Gentle Giant chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Giant for a Day! | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [7] |
| Philadelphia Daily News | A[1] |
| Rolling Stone | unfavourable[8] |
The Philadelphia Daily News noted that "each piece works well as a distinct pop song."[1]
Track listing edit
All lead vocals by Derek Shulman, except "Friends", sung by John Weathers.
All tracks are written by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Words from the Wise" | 4:14 | |
| 2. | "Thank You" | 4:50 | |
| 3. | "Giant for a Day" | 3:49 | |
| 4. | "Spooky Boogie" (instrumental) | 2:55 | |
| 5. | "Take Me" | Derek Shulman, John Weathers | 3:39 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Little Brown Bag" | 3:26 |
| 2. | "Friends" | 2:00 |
| 3. | "No Stranger" | 2:29 |
| 4. | "It's Only Goodbye" | 4:19 |
| 5. | "Rock Climber" | 3:52 |
Personnel edit
- Gentle Giant
- Derek Shulman – lead vocals on all tracks except 4 and 7
- Gary Green – electric guitar (tracks 1-6, 8-10), slide guitar (track 2), acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 7), backing vocals
- Kerry Minnear – piano (tracks 4–6, 9, 10), electric piano (tracks 1, 4, 5, 8, 10), Minimoog (tracks 3–5), Hammond organ (track 2), Clavinet (track 1), synthesizer (track 4), xylophone (track 4), bass (tracks 2, 7), backing vocals
- Ray Shulman – bass (tracks 1, 3–6, 8–10), 12-string guitar (tracks 2, 7), backing vocals
- John Weathers – drums (tracks 1–6, 8–10), tambourine (tracks 1, 5), shaker (track 4), cowbell (track 10), backing vocals, lead vocals on track 7
Release details edit
- 1978, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR-1186, release date 29 September 1978, LP
- 1978, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR-1186, release date ? ? 1978, Cassette
- 1978, US, Capitol Records SW-11813, release date 11 September 1978, LP
- 1978, US, Capitol Records SW-11813, release date ? ? 1978, Cassette
- 1978, Brazil, Chrysalis Records 6307 636, release date ? ? 1978, LP
- ?, US, Capitol Records SN-16045, release date ? ? ?, LP (re-release)
- ?, US, Capitol Records 17892, release date ? ? ?, CD
- 1993, UK, Road Goes On Forever RGFCD 1007, release date ? ? 1993, CD (with lyric sleeve)
- 1994, UK, Terrapin Trucking TRUCKCD007, release date 18 July 1994, CD (re-master)
- 1996, US, One Way CD 18470, release date 16 March 1996, CD
- 1999, UK, Beat Goes On BGOCD431, release date 16 April 1999, CD (2× CD with The Missing Piece)
- 2005, UK, DRT Entertainment RTE355, release date 5 September 2005, CD (35th Anniversary Enhanced Re-Master)
References edit
- ^ a b c d Takiff, Jonathan (4 October 1978). "Words from the Wise Giant". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 30.
- ^ "The Great Rock Discography". p. 325.
- ^ Walters, Barry (11 January 2006). "Gentle Giant". The Village Voice. Vol. 51, no. 2. p. C82.
- ^ Gress, Jesse (August 2012). "10 Things You Gotta Do to Play Like". Guitar Player. Vol. 46, no. 8. pp. 88–96, 98, 100.
- ^ "*** Part Seven **". Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "*** Part Eight **". Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ Little, Patrick (2011). "Giant for a Day! – Gentle Giant | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ Bloom, Michael (2011). "Gentle Giant: Giant For A Day : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 26 June 2011.