On March 30, 2023, Raymond Shulman died aged 73. He was musician (guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, trumpet, violin), singer, song-writer and record producer, member of the band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound, but was best known as founding member of Gentle Giant. As producer he worked with The Sundays, Trash Can Sinatras, Ian McCulloch and the Defects, and The Sugarcubes.
Tag Archives: Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant: The Missing Piece
On August 26, 1977, “Chrysalis” label released “The Missing Piece”, the ninth Gentle Giant studio album. It was recorded in May 1977, at “Relight Studios” in Hilvarenbeek, Netherlands, and was produced by Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, Gary Green, Kerry Minnear and John Weathers.
Personnel:
- Derek Shulman – lead vocals
- Gary Green – acoustic and electric guitars
- Kerry Minnear– vocals, Hammond organ, electric piano, piano, synthesizer, Minimoog, clavinet, percussion
- Ray Shulman– bass, 12-string guitars, percussion
- John Weathers– drums, tambourine, cymbal crash, percussion, rhythm machine
Track listing:
All tracks by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman.
- Two Weeks in Spain
- I’m Turning Around
- Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It
- Who Do You Think You Are?
- Mountain Time
- As Old as You’re Young
- Memories of Old Days
- Winning
- For Nobody
Geoffrey Emerick
On October 2, 2018, Geoffrey Emerick died aged 72. He was recording studio audio engineer and producer, worked with America, Elvis Costello, Badfinger, Art Garfunkel, Jeff Beck, Gino Vannelli, Supertramp, Cheap Trick, Nazareth, Chris Bell, Split Enz, Trevor Rabin, Nick Heyward, Big Country, Gentle Giant, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Ultravox, Matthew Fisher, Kate Bush, Nellie McKay and Robin Trower, but he was best known for his work with The Beatles, on their albums Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles and Abbey Road. For his work in the music recording field, Emerick won “European Edison Award” and four “Grammy Awards”.
Donald Ray Williams
On September 8, 2017, Donald Ray Williams died aged 78. He was musician (guitar, piano), singer and songwriter, known by the nick name “Gentle Giant” of the country music. He had 17 number one country hits, and his songs has been covered by many artists including Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Waylon Jennings, Pete Townshend, Claude Russell Bridges, Lefty Frizzell, Josh Turner, Sonny James, Alison Krauss, Billy Dean, Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Lambchop, Alan Jackson, Tomeu Penya, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. In 2010, he was inducted in the “Country Music Hall of Fame”.
Gentle Giant: Octopus
On December 1, 1972, “Vertigo” label released “Octopus”, the fourth Gentle Giant album. It was recorded July – August 1972, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Gary Green, Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, Phil Shulman, Ray Shulman and John Weathers. In the Q & Mojo “Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock”, “Octopus” was ranked at number 16 in its list of “40 Cosmic Rock Albums”. “Prog Magazine” ranked the album at number 65 in its list of “The 100 Greatest Prog Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Gary Green- electric guitars, percussion
- Kerry Minnear- lead and backing vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Minimoog, electric piano, Mellotron, Clavinet, harpsichord, regal, vibraphone, cello, percussion
- Derek Shulman- lead vocals, alto saxophone
- Phil Shulman – lead and backing vocals, trumpet, tenor saxophone, mellophone
- Ray Shulman- bass, violin, viola , electric violin, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals
- John Weathers- drums, bongos, varispeed cymbal, xylophone
- Martin Rushent – engineer
- Cliff Morris – mastering
- Geoff Young – tape operator
- John Berg – cover concept, design
- Fluid Drive – art
- Charles White III – illustration
- Kenny Kneitel – design
- Michael Doret – lettering
Track listing:
All lyrics by Derek Shulman and Phil Shulman, all music by Kerry Minnear and Ray Shulman.
- The Advent of Panurge
- Raconteur Troubadour
- Knots
- A Cry for Everyone
- The Boys in the Band
- Dog’s Life
- Think of Me with Kindness
- River
Gentle Giant: In a Glass House
On September 21, 1973, “WWA” label label released “In a Glass House”, the fifth Gentle Giant album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Advison Studios” in London, and was produced by Gentle Giant and Gary Martin.
Personnel:
- Derek Shulman- lead vocals, alto and soprano saxophones, descant recorder, arrangements
- Gary Green- 12 string acoustic guitar, 6 string electric guitars , steel guitar, mandolin, tambourine, treble recorder, arrangements
- Kerry Minnear- lead and co-lead vocals, Moog, Hammond organ, piano, clavinet, electric piano, Thomas organ, clavichord, Mellotron, RMI 368 electra-piano, harpsichord, celesta, glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone, tympani , cello, descant recorder, arrangements
- Ray Shulman- bass, acoustic guitar , violin, violins, electric violin, tambourine, backing vocals, arrangements
- John Weathers- drums, bass drum, cowbell, arrangements
- Gary Martin – recording, engineer
Track listing:
All tracks by Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman and Kerry Minnear, except where noted.
- The Runaway
- An Inmate’s Lullaby – Kennu Minnear, Ray Shuman
- Way of Love
- Experience
- A Reunion – Kerry Minnear, Ray Shulman
- In a Glass House – Kerry Minnear, Ray Shulman
Gentle Giant: The Power And The Glory
On September 20, 1974, “Vertigo” label released “The Power and the Glory”, the sixth Gentle Giant album. It was recorded December 1973 – January 1974, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Derek Shulman, Kerry Minnear, Ray Shilman, Gary Greena and John Weathers.
Personnel:
- Gary Green – vocal, acoustic and electric guitar
- Kerry Minnear– lead vocals, Hammond organ, piano, Minimoog, Clavinet, electric piano, Mellotron, marimba, vibraphone, cello
- Derek Shulman– lead vocals tenor saxophone
- Ray Shulman – vocals, bass, violin, electric violin, acoustic guitar
- John Weathers– drums, tambourine, , sleigh bells, cymbals
Track listing:
All tracks by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman, except where noted.
- Proclamation
- So Sincere
- Aspirations – Ray Shulman, Kerry Minnear
- Playing the Game
- Cogs in Cogs
- No God’s Man
- The Face
- Valedictory
Gentle Giant: Free Hand
On July 28, 1975, “Chrysalis” label released “Free Hand”, the Gentle Giant seventh album. It was recorded in April 1975, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman, Gary Green, Kerry Minnear and John Weathers.
Personnel:
- Gary Green – co-lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, descant recorder
- Kerry Minnear– lead vocals, piano, Hammond organ, Clavinet, Minimoog, synthesizer, electric piano, harpsichord, Wurlitzer electric piano, honky-tonk piano, celesta, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba, tympani, harp, cello, tenor recorder
- Derek Shulman– lead vocals, treble recorder, alto saxophones
- Ray Shulman– co-lead vocals, bass, electric violin, violin , viola
- John Weathers – drums, tambourine, bass drum, tom-tom, snare drum, triangle, cymbal, woodblock, cowbell, frame drums, percussion
- Gary Martin – engineer
- Paul Northfield – engineer assistant
- Richard Evans – artwork
Track listing:
All tracks by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman.
- Just the Same
- On Reflection
- Free Hand
- Time to Kill
- His Last Voyage
- Talybont
- Mobile
Gentle Giant: Acquiring The Taste
On July 16, 1971, “Vertigo” label released “Acquiring the Taste”, the second Gentle Giant studio album. It was recorded January–April 1971, at “Advision Studios” and “A.I.R. Studios” in London, and was produced by Tony Visconti.
Personnel:
- Gary Green – vocal, 6-string electric guitar, electric guitars, 12 string electric guitar, 12 string electric wah-wah guitar, mandolin , bass , donkey’s jawbone , cat calls
- Kerry Minnear – lead and backing vocals, Minimoog , piano , Hammond organ , Mellotron, harpsichord, electric piano, celeste , clavichord , xylophone, vibraphone, tympani, cello, maracas, tambourine
- Derek Shulman – lead vocal, alto and tenor saxophone, clavichord, cowbell
- Phil Shulman – clarinet, trumpet, alto and tenor saxophone, piano, claves, maracas
- Ray Shulman – vocal, bass, violin, violins, viola, electric violin, Spanish guitar, 12 string guitars , tambourine, skulls, organ bass pedals
- Martin Smith – drums, tambourine, gong, side drum
- Paul Cosh – trumpet, organ
Track listing:
All tracks by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, Phil Shulman, and Ray Shulman.
- Pantagruel’s Nativity
- Edge of Twilight
- The House, the Street, the Room
- Acquiring the Taste
- Wreck
- The moon is Down
- Black Cat
- Plain Truth
Gentle Giant: Interview
On April 23, 1976, “Chrysalis” label released “Interview”, the eighth Gentle Giant album. It was recorded February – March 1976, at “Advision Studios” in London, and was produced by Gary Green, Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, Ray Shulman and John Weathers..
Personnel:
- Gary Green– electric guitar, electric guitars, acoustic guitar, alto recorder, backing vocals
- Kerry Minnear– lead and backing vocals, Minimoog, piano, Hammond organ, Clavinet, electric piano, synthesizer, RMI Electra Piano, clavichord, marimba, percussion
- Derek Shulman– lead vocals, alto saxophone, percussion
- Ray Shulman– bass, electric violin, violin, 12 string guitar, percussion, backing vocals
- John Weathers – co-lead and backing vocals, drums, tambourine, percussion, finger cymbal, cowbell, cabasa, güiro, gong
- Phil Sutcliffe– interviewer
Track listing:
All tracks by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman.
- Interview
- Give it Back
- Design
- Another Show
- Empty City
- Timing
- I Lost My Head
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