Ed Arnold Heads to Gentle Giant in-store in Philadelphia, October 1

Phoenixville, PA's Ed Arnold once met Gentle Giant guitarist Gary Green ("he's great, laid back"). Now Ed wants to meet the group's leadsinger Derek Shulman, "he was an interesting vocalist; I'm gonna encourage him to play live again. He always seemed so intense... it might be intimidating."

Back in the late 1970s, Ed discovered the music of Gentle Giant, a progressive rock band whose Octopus and Three Friends are available as special digipacks on the band's label Alucard and distributed through EMI Records. These re-masters are from the original 1/4 inch tapes of these Seminal British Progressive Rock Recordings. As he did for Gentle Giant's earlier re-releases, Fred Kevorkian re-mastered these two additions to the available Gentle Giant catalog. Ecstatic music fans of many generations, most notably contemporaries of the UK-based group who recorded and toured from 1970 till 1980, have been excited about the new releases.

In the case of Ed Arnold, it was in homeroom, 1978, "I had a cool teacher who had a record player, and he always brought in interesting music for us."

This Saturday, October 1, at 2 PM, Ed will have taken the bus, train or maybe have driven in to "Philly." He hasn't quite decided how he's getting to the City of Brotherly Love, but he will be at F.Y.E. Music, 100 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, for Gentle Giant's first in-store in 30 years. Gary and Derek will be on hand to autograph THREE FRIENDS and OCTOPUS. The phone number for F,Y.E. is 215-496-8338.

The albums are available on at
http://www.amazon.com/Octopus-Gentle-Giant/dp/B005G0YP3M/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1312829910&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Friends-Gentle-Giant/dp/B005G0YP3C/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1312828329&sr=1-1

One of the most renowned bands that came out of the British Progressive Rock Movement, Gentle Giant spent their decade together pushing musical boundaries and continually taking chances. Their music, while rooted in rock, had overtones of classical European composition, American jazz, British soul, medieval and even blues. They seamlessly integrated these disparate styles into the melting pot that epitomized the essence that was Gentle Giant.

Gentle Giant fans range from Ozzy Osbourne, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, Trey Anastasio of Phish, Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold, Kerry Livgren of American progressive rockers Kansas to guitarist Peter Banks of Yes, and--of course--Ed Arnold!

EMI TO RELEASE GENTLE GIANT's ALBUMS IN CD FORMAT

NOTE: THIS MEDIA RELEASE HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF JAN. 27, 2010.


(IN A GLASS HOUSE, THE POWER & THE GLORY, FREE HAND out January 26, More discs, DVDs and gift packs to follow in 2010)

On January 26, 2010 Gentle Giant will be re-releasing three CDs: In A Glass House (originally released 1973), Free Hand (1975) and The Power & The Glory (1974) via their own Alucard label through EMI Music's Label Services unit and Caroline Distribution.

On February 9: Interview, Playing the Fool: the Official Live will be released.   On February 23, look for The Missing Piece and Giant for a Day in CD formats.   Later this year there will be vinyl releases of the catalog.   Look for a new DVD, GG at Winchester College, which is the first show that Gentle Giant ever performed; it includes songs never released on any commercial release.   Box sets and live recordings are also being planned.    

All seven of the albums are remastered from the original 1/4 inch tapes through Hi-Resolution (24bit 96k) transfer that the band recorded at UK's Abbey Road Studios in the 1970s.   Band member Ray Shulman was in charge of the new remasters.

This progressive rock band, which was active from 1970 through 1980, was made up of multi-instrumentalists, and lived to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular.   The group's dozen albums combine a range of musical styles-jazz, pop, classical, British soul, rock, blues, medieval, pop, blues, Gentle Giant's legacy has become influential to a range of artists from the arena rock, jam band, virtuoso players, chamber pop, jazz, and-of course-progressive rock genres.   

FOR JUST THE DIGITAL RELEASES, the band chose favorite live versions of songs from each album and some obscure radio sessions. Two of the bonus tracks “Intro 74” and “Intro 76” were partially re-recorded, embellished and remixed by Kerry Minnear of the group.    

Minnear, plus Gentle Giant bandmates Ray Shulman, Gary Green, John Weathers, and Derek Shulman are available for interviews.   Other promotion includes radio, print, Internet, and mobile phone outreach.    
 
http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant_Home_Page

EMI TO RELEASE SEVEN GENTLE GIANT IN DIGITAL FORMAT ON NOVEMBER 10

http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant_Home_Page
Private Page for Media, Journalists includes downloads and other bio and press materials.
http://www.gentlegiantmediakit.com


On November 10th 2009 Gentle Giant will be digitally releasing seven of their best-known albums and tracks in digital form for the very first time via their own Alucard label through EMI Music's Label Services unit.

This progressive rock band, which was active from 1970 through 1980, was made up of multi-instrumentalists, and lived to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of becoming very unpopular." The group's dozen albums combine a range of musical styles-jazz, pop, classical, British soul, rock, blues, medieval, pop, blues, Gentle Giant's legacy has become influential to a range of artists from the arena rock, jam band, virtuoso players, and chamber pop genres.

In a Glass House, The Power & The Glory, Freehand, Interview, Playing The Fool-The Official Live, The Missing Piece and Giant For a Day will become available through all digital channels.

The digital releases will also include previously unheard bonus tracks and artwork.

The band has chosen favorite live versions of songs from each album and some obscure radio sessions. Two of the bonus tracks “Intro 74” and “Intro 76” have been partially re-recorded, embellished and remixed by Kerry Minnear of the group.

Minnear, plus Gentle Giant bandmates Ray Shulman, Gary Green, John Weathers, and Derek Shulman are available for interviews. Other promotion includes radio, print, Internet, and mobile phone outreach. Digital listening parties are being set up on line, and will include competitions to win special Gentle Giant gift sets.

More Gentle Giant music will be available in a variety of formats in 2010, starting with the January release of the seven CDs Re-Mastered from the original 1⁄4 inch tapes through Hi-Resolution (24bit 96k) transfer. First quarter of 2010 will also find box sets and Limited Edition Vinyl LPs.

GENTLE GIANT DIGITAL RELEASES

TRACK LISTINGS

IN A GLASS HOUSE - 1973
1.The Runaway
2. An Inmates Lullaby
3. Way Of Life
4. Experience
5. A Reunion
6. In A Glass House

Digital Bonus Tracks:
The Runaway/Experience Live 1975
Way Of Life - Radio Session 1973

THE POWER AND THE GLORY - 1974
1. Proclamation
2. So Sincere
3. Aspirations
4. Playing the Game
5. Cogs in Cogs
6. No God's A Man
7. Valedictory
8. (The Power And The Glory)

Digital Bonus Tracks:
Intro '74
Proclamation - Live 1975
Aspirations - Radio Session 1974
Cogs In Cogs - Live 1975

FREE HAND - 1975
1. Just The Same
2. On Reflection
3. Free Hand
4. Time To Kill
5. His Last Voyage
6. Talybont
7. Mobile

Digital Bonus Tracks:
Just The Same - Live 1975
On Reflection - Radio Session 1975
Free Hand - Live 1975



INTERVIEW - 1976
1. Interview
2. Give it Back
3. Design
4. Another Show
5. Empty City
6. Timing
7. I Lost My Head

Digital Bonus Tracks:
Intro '76
Interview - Live 1976
Give It Back - Live 1976

PLAYING THE FOOL - THE OFFICIAL LIVE - 1977
1. Just the Same
2. Proclamation
3. On Reflection
4. Excerpts from Octopus
5. Funny Ways
6. The Runaway
7. Experience
8. So Sincere
9. Free Hand
10. Sweet Georgia Brown (Breakdown in Brussels)
11. Peel the Paint / I Lost My Head

Digital Bonus Tracks:
Just The Same - Radio Session 1975
Excerpts From Octopus - Radio Session 1973

THE MISSING PIECE - 1977
1. Two Weeks In Spain
2. I'm Turning Around
3. Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It
4. Who Do You Think You Are?
5. Mountain Time
6. As Old As You're Young
7. Memories of Old Days
8. Winning
9. For Nobody

Digital Bonus Tracks:
Two Weeks In Spain - Live 1978
I'm Turning Around - Live 1978
For Nobody - Live 1978

GIANT FOR A DAY - 1978
1. Words from the Wise
2. Thank You
3. Giant For A Day
4. Spooky Boogie
5. Take Me
6. Little Brown Bag
7. Friends
8. No Stranger
9. It's Only Goodbye
10. Rock Climber

Digital Bonus Track:
Giant For A Day - Live 1980