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Gentle Giant - Octopus (1973)
Cover Front Album
Artist Gentle Giant
Length 34:24
Format CD
Genre Rock
Label Line Records
Collection Status In Collection
Track List
01 The Advent Of Panurge There coming over Charaton Bridge Look do you see the man who is poor but rich. What do you wish; and where do you go; who are you; where are you from: Will you tell me your name? Rest awhile; call me your friend. Please stay with me I'd like to help. Then he said, How can I speak when I'm dry and my throat is burning. So bring me aid and I'll answer your doubts. Friend in need I'd like your help Please take me home I'll stay with you. Then he said fair Pantagruel My name is Panurge and I have come from Hell. Look at my friend Look all around you Look at my friend Take all round you. Hey, Friend (Improvised foreign words in middle section) So brotherhood was made as their bond Carried him home and provide for his needs and his shelter; this day was done as no other the like. Faithfully their vow was made and from that daythey were as one. Note: The fabulous Rabelaisian giant, Pantagruel,discovers a lifelong friend and companion, Panurge. 04:44
02 Raconteur Troubadour Gather round the village square Come good people both wretched and fair. See the troubadour play on the drum Hear my songs on the lute that I strum. I will make you laugh, Revel, Merry-dance. Throw your pennies, then you'll hear more of the story-telling half. There's no other chance, Always move on Raconteur, troubadour. Take the face that you see for the man, Clown and minstrel, I am what I am. All my family,not of my kin. Home, wherever, the place that I'm in. Humors give me wage, Favors for my art. Rising, falling Everyone struggle on. All the world's a stage All can play their part. I have chosen Raconteur, troubadour. Dusk is drawing my story is spun, Dawn is falling my day'swork is done. Morning, rested I set on my way. Find new faces to offer my play. I will make you laugh, Revel, Merry-dance. Throw your pennies, then you'll hear more of The story-telling half. There's no other chance. Always move on Raconteur-Troubadour. Note: Here we have tried to capture something of the medieval English troubadour, by the instrumentation, arrangement and lyrics. 04:05
03 A Cry For Everyone Run, why should I run away When at the end the only truth certain - One day everyone dies - If only to justify life. Live, I've lived a thousand lives; And anyone is the right, the just life. If I could cry, I'd cry for everyone. Doubts, no doubt, is all I know. There is no fate, there's no luck, what does that show. Showing is proof, but provingis nothing but fear. If I could cry, I'd cry then for everyone. Hope,I've hoped two thousand years, but no one hears, so I've cried, crying vain tears. Always too late, too late to cry, cry for everyone. Note: The lyric gives away something of the lyric thoughts of one or two members of the band, and is inspired by the literature and philosophy of Albert Camus. 04:08
04 Knots All in all each man in all men All men in each man. He can see she can't, she can see she can see whatever, whatever. You may know what I don't know, but not that I don't know it and I can't tell you so you will. To tell me all man in all men All men in each man. He can see she can't, she can see she can see whatever, whatever. You may know what I don't know, but not that I don't know it and I can't tell you soyou will have to tell me all. It hurts him to think that she is hurting her by him being hurt to think that she thinks he is hurt by making her feel guilty at hurting him by her thinking she wants him to want her. Her wants her to want him to get him to want him to get him to want her she pretends. He tries to make her afraid by not being afraid. (permutations) You may know what I don't know, but not that I don't know it and I can't tell you so you will have to tell me all. I get whatI deserve. I deserve what I get. I have it so I deserve it. I deserve it for I have it. I get what I deserve. What I deserve - what I deservewhat I get. I have it so I deserve. He tries to make her afraid bynot being afraid. Note: R.D. Laing, an eminent psychologist, has stimulated us by his intriguing, logical, poetic riddles into composingthis latter-day madrigal - and something of a musical jigsaw. 04:13
05 The Boys In The Band (Instrumental) Not to be confused with the play of the same name -at least not the characters, we hope. This piece is for Gentle Giant as a whole - out engineer, Martin Rushant, included. 04:36
06 Dog's Life Shuffling down the street with his sideways feet, Stopping now and then and he'll stop again, No doubt in his mind where he's going. He doesn't care for his hair or his teeth And if the truth were known he's abit of a thief, Innocently lies, and it's showing. Who'd imagine he'sman's best friend. Knowing he's your friend in the end. Won't be around when you shout or swear Not very sorry, he doesn't care; God knowswhy we call him old faithful. Pat him on the head, give the dog a bone; Use a friendly tone, he won't leave you alone. No one understandslike old faithful. Early rise. Is it wise? Wonders happen now and then. Eats his fill, time to kill, Then goes back to sleep again. Trustyslave, bold and brave, And he roars like a lion But in fact, it's an act, And the truth is that he isn't No one understands it's a dog's life. Chases dreams, so it seems He shines in his master's light. Looking good, so he should For the choice is very narrow No one understandsit's a dog's life. Repeat: Shuffling down the street, etc. Note: Abackhanded tribute to our roadies; our musical parody could only be drawn toa wily old dog. Surely two more unmatched sounds as the Regal (a medieval reed organ) and string section could not be found, but they seem to successfully convey the whine of both dog and roadie. 03:13
07 Think Of Me With Kindness Why am I using words, no more to say without you Close the door, put out the lights and go. Late in the night, in the night your shadow falls between us. Nevermore, never know. There, memories are sorrow, When there's no tomorrow. Sleep while the sweet sorrow wakes my daydream; Sleep while you think of me with kindness, please remember former days. Sweet the song that once we sang, the silent parting ways. And you know, and you know, And you know, long ago when first we made our promise - Empty words, I wonder did you know - The laugh that love could not forgive, Is gone and tells no more to live, And we who look in beauty's love; Must now, through all, look back on before - The tearsthat I first cried, no more; Your love has come and gone, no more. Andwe who look in beauty's love Must now through all think back on before. Sleep while the sweet sorrow wakes my daydream Sleep while you think of me with kindness, please remember former days. And you know, andyou know. And you know, when we two parted in tears and silence pastthe days, the parting ways. Fare thee well, fare thee well, you thatwas once dear to me. Think of me with kindness Think of me. Note: Apersonal song. It has been kept simple to retain the essentially intimate mood of the piece. 03:33
08 River Touching the last of what is past Moving silent water fell the first that comes. Slow and winding, flowing free Peaceful music in its soundof distant drums. Trust the shallow virgin stream Danger wild, bewarethe deeper it becomes. Moving highway, twisting byway Can't turn back. Sining in the summer rain Rain that's caught in its flow. Spreading, shining, silver lining Gold on black. Echoes moods of the moon andsun Sun that shines from below. Makes a soft and easy way Left to choose its path will always be a friend. Touch the last of what has past. Never idle river drifting to the end. Note: We have tried to createseveral atmospheres within the boundaries of one songs by using thevarious electronic devices at our disposal in the recording studio. --------------------------------------------------- Kerry Minnear:Allkeyboards, vibraphone, percussion, cello, Moog, lead and backing vocals Raymond Shulman: Bass violin, guitar, percussion, vocals Gary Green: Guitars, percussion Derek Shulman: Lead vocals, alto saxophone Philip Shulman: Saxophones, trumpet, mellophone, lead and backing vocals JohnWeathers: Drums, percussion, xylophone. Many thanks to MartinRushantfor laugh coinspin and variable speed oscillator, and Mike Viccars, Moog operator. All titles composed by Minnear, Shulman, Shulman &Shulman All titles published 1972 by Alucard Music (ASCAP) Produced by Gentle Giant Engineer: Martin Rushant Mastering Engineer: CliffMorris Tape Operator: Geoff Young Over-all American Supervision: Murray Krugman Recorded at Advision Studios, London Cover Concept & Designby John Berg Art by Fluid Drive Illustration: Charles White III Design: Kenny Kneitel Lettering: Michael Doret 05:52
Personal Details
Price
Store ANS
Rating 10
Details
Spars DDD
Rare No
Sound Stereo
Notes
Kerry Minnear: All keyboards, vibraphone,
percussion, cello, Moog, lead & backing vocals.
Raymond Shulman: Bass violin, guitar, percussion,
vocals. Gary Green: Guitars, percussion. Derek
Shulman: Lead vocals, alto saxophone. Philip
Shulman: Saxophones, trumpet, mellophone, lead
& backing vocals. John Weathers: drums,
percussion, xylophone.

Many thanks to Martin Rushant for laugh coinspin
and variable speed oscillator, and Mike Viccars,
Moog Operator.

All titles, (C) by Alucard Music (ASCAP), 1972 -
written by Minnear, Shulman, Shulman, and
Shulman. Produced by Gentle Giant.
Engineer: Martin Rushant.
Recorded at Advision Studios, London.
Art by Fluid Drive. Cover Concept and Design by
John Berg. Illustration: Charles White III
Design: Kenny Kneitel. Lettering: Michael Doret.