Gentle Giant — Playing the Game
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Angloray wrote:
Neither did you!!
eww, doesn't really hold up that well... 
Neither did you!!
GREAT TUNE!! I gave it a TEN! Thanx RP! 
surfrider4life wrote:
Replying to Comment: Gentle Giant - Playing the Game
A year after
Comes my comment, while listening to my favorites.
Most recent comment before that was 6 years prior.
And 17 plus years before the next previous.
Interesting ratings curve on this one.
Solid 7 for me.
Actual rating at this time 6.1 on a whopping 60 ratings.
Replying to Comment: Gentle Giant - Playing the Game
Hearing a little Peter Gabriel influence here
A year after
Comes my comment, while listening to my favorites.
Most recent comment before that was 6 years prior.
And 17 plus years before the next previous.
Interesting ratings curve on this one.
Solid 7 for me.
Actual rating at this time 6.1 on a whopping 60 ratings.
Hearing a little Peter Gabriel influence here
Haven't actually heard this yet on RP, but wish I had.
A friend turned me on to GG's "In a Glass House" when I was in college in the early 70s. Hated it at first, and then something in my head clicked and I suddenly got it. I've been a fan ever since. Only a few other bands have literally rewired my brain this way: XTC and Dire Straits come to mind. Their set in Rochester, NY, on Bicentennial weekend was outstanding (they were a last-minute addition sandwiched between Angel and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow). Original members of the band still tour as "Three Friends". 'Schooldays" is on my submission list, and I'm hopeful I'll hear something by Gentle Giant on RP in the future.
"Playing the Game" is a good GG tune, but better in the context of the album.
A friend turned me on to GG's "In a Glass House" when I was in college in the early 70s. Hated it at first, and then something in my head clicked and I suddenly got it. I've been a fan ever since. Only a few other bands have literally rewired my brain this way: XTC and Dire Straits come to mind. Their set in Rochester, NY, on Bicentennial weekend was outstanding (they were a last-minute addition sandwiched between Angel and Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow). Original members of the band still tour as "Three Friends". 'Schooldays" is on my submission list, and I'm hopeful I'll hear something by Gentle Giant on RP in the future.
"Playing the Game" is a good GG tune, but better in the context of the album.
eww, doesn't really hold up that well...
Back in the mid seventies I lived overseas and my room mate was heavily into Gentle Giant. He had a reel to reel and I had to listen to hours upon hours of their crazy music and wierd voices. Never aquired a taste for them. Greg died in an auto accident a few years back and when I hear this now it reminds me of him and looking past the Rock of Gibraltar into the heart of the Dark Continent. RIP Buddy.
BagelBoy wrote:
Reminds me of Yes crossed with Peter Gabriel...very cool
Funny, I was thinking that they sound like a folksy version (slightly softer) of YES, myself.
This reminds me of a cross between Steve Winwood and Frank Zappa... except I LIKE Steve Winwood and Frank Zappa...
So-So
Group sounds like a Yes-ELP-early Genesis wana be.
jberko wrote:
It requries introspective intellect... something sorely missing by the average person.
the beginning sounds like a public service announcement or a news update....cant say this is my cup of tea
Reminds me of Yes crossed with Peter Gabriel...very cool
This is my favorite "I'm a Prog Rock Nerd" band. So good! I'm stuck on Civilian right now...
You give this a 10 and So Central Rain a 1 and you dare to use the word clueless!
bluedot wrote:
you are CLUELESS for giving gentle giant a 3.
gentle giant ROCKS.
can't you hear how GREAT this music is?
it's just wonderfully delicious.
SHAME on you for lowering it to some kind of "steely dan" category.
sorry to be so harsh, but i just think that gentle giant is one of god's little gifts to the human species on planet earth.
listen, and give their whimsical melodical kewlness a chance.
a solid 10!
DownHomeGirl wrote:
Nice segue into Bela Fleck Gravity Wheel, Bill.
Not a big fan of the Progressive rock era. But this doesn't suck as bad as Steely Dan. It gets a 3. Maybe would have gotten even a 5 or 6 or if they had decided not to sing.
you are CLUELESS for giving gentle giant a 3.
gentle giant ROCKS.
can't you hear how GREAT this music is?
it's just wonderfully delicious.
SHAME on you for lowering it to some kind of "steely dan" category.
sorry to be so harsh, but i just think that gentle giant is one of god's little gifts to the human species on planet earth.
listen, and give their whimsical melodical kewlness a chance.
a solid 10!
Nice segue into Bela Fleck Gravity Wheel, Bill.
Not a big fan of the Progressive rock era. But this doesn't suck as bad as Steely Dan. It gets a 3. Maybe would have gotten even a 5 or 6 or if they had decided not to sing.
bill, you rock.
i can't blame anyone here for thinking that this band is pretentious, but hell, they were the greatest of all at what they did.
i actually saw them play at the whisky a go go (during the 70's, in my wild youth).
yikes. gentle giant!
very kewl blast from the past....
gotta give it a 10 for old times' sake...
More Gentle Giant, PLEASE!!!
jberko wrote:
I, too, love this band. But me thinks it is a bit too sophisticated for the man's normal taste. The tempo changes, interweaved vocals, and varied instrumentation leaves the untrained listener a bit confused.
Too bad... the world would be a better place if people could follow the logic in music such as this. It requries introspective intellect... something sorely missing by the average person.
ok wait.....u are from tennessee and u are telling us that your intellect is greater than ours? hahahahahaha.
just kidding.....but it did sound a bit pretentious, jerko
Is it me or is there an XTC sound in that song. Not familiar with the band but I like it.
Ahh, this is a breath of fresh air that I figured I'd never hear on the radio again (even on RP). More, please!
What a Treat ... WHAT A TREAT ! ! ! .. Merci RP
Jimbo2K1 wrote:
Love all of Gentle Giant material. Pinnacle of progressive rock.
Maybe you could have played different tune though. On-Reflection, Cogs-in-Cogs, Schooldays, River, never mind. I guess you should just play them ALL! 
Yes, more gentle giant would be great!
Whoa, flashback. How about some Gong too, please.
All hail the Rickenbacker bass!
I, too, love this band. But me thinks it is a bit too sophisticated for the man's normal taste. The tempo changes, interweaved vocals, and varied instrumentation leaves the untrained listener a bit confused.
Too bad... the world would be a better place if people could follow the logic in music such as this. It requries introspective intellect... something sorely missing by the average person.
Replying to Comment: Gentle Giant - Playing the Game
A year after
Comes my comment, while listening to my favorites.
Most recent comment before that was 6 years prior.
And 17 plus years before the next previous.
Interesting ratings curve on this one.
Solid 7 for me.
Actual rating at this time 6.1 on a whopping 60 ratings.
I gave it a TEN! GREAT TUNE!!