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Giant for a Day!

The pop-rock record that dropped the old progressive style, and the band did not perform live to support it.
Gentle Giant, 1978

Released
29 September 1978
Label
Chrysalis (UK), Capitol (US)

Giant for a Day! has a pop rock sensibility in place of the usual progressive sound, and the band did not perform live to support it. Derek Shulman handled all the lead vocals and the group gave up its strings, winds and tuned percussion for a straightforward guitar, bass, keyboards and drums line-up. Derek later remembered it as real contrived. Kerry Minnear was unsure he had anything to contribute, though he did try to write a commercial single, It's Only Goodbye. The Philadelphia Daily News noted that each piece works well as a distinct pop song.

Track listing

  1. Words from the Wise4:10
  2. Thank You4:45
  3. Giant for a Day3:45
  4. Spooky Boogie3:31
  5. Take Me2:45
  6. Little Brown Bag3:32
  7. Friends1:58
  8. No Stranger2:27
  9. It's Only Goodbye4:16
  10. Rock Climber3:50

More from Gentle Giant

Gentle Giant (1970), Acquiring the Taste (1971), Octopus (1972), Three Friends (1972), In a Glass House (1973), The Power and the Glory (1974), Free Hand (1975), Interview (1976), The Missing Piece (1977), Civilian (1980)

Sources

  1. Giant for a Day!, Wikipedia
  2. Gentle Giant, Wikipedia