on-reflection-digest   Thursday, September 2 1999   Volume 01 : Number 1846



Re: gg: This should get your attention.
gg: tull/yes
Re: gg: "AtT"
gg: Re: Yes Close to the Edge
gg: on-reflection-digest V1 #1845 -Reply
Re: gg: REG on the radio(CJAM 91.5 FM) / Renaissance
gg: SOLARIS - "Martian Chronicles"
gg: Renaissance, first LPs, Banned From Utopia, new Tull
gg: Dif Juz
gg: CJAM 91.5 FM broadcast on-line w/Julian Belanger, Sat. Sept. 4th
Re: gg: Re: Mammienun Poll.
gg: NOGG: New Tull
gg: Poll II
gg: Renaissance; crying; credenza; first record; intolerance; abbrs; Zappa trib; composers; etc.
gg: no GG:  first album?
Re: gg: Safri Duo
gg: Tull; Sven; AtT early or late?; we need Biffy; Midnight Lightning
gg: Tull, AtT,Stray Dog
gg: SV: This should get your attention.
Re: gg: This should get your attention.
no gg: Baby Grand & Buddha
gg: New Tull
gg: GG Who's Who
Re: gg: SV: This should get your attention.
gg: This should get your attention!
gg: re: GG; first album; gigs; Crimson; OR; in my absence and BTW
gg: the Boys in the Bits
Re: gg: re: GG; first album
gg: Tull in Concert
gg: new Santana Supernatural
gg: Re: no GG:  first album?
Re: gg: new Santana Supernatural

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 09:14:00 EDT
From: WhytePunk@aol.com
Subject: Re: gg: This should get your attention.

In a message dated 09/02/1999 7:41:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
SPBrader@aol.com writes:

<< << Please answer the following 2-part question. 1st part) Is Gentle Giant
  your favorite band? >> >>

No, it's The Tubes of course, although there are time when I listen to 
exclusively Gentle Giant. If I had to rank them, it would probably be The 
Tubes, BÖC, and then GG along with SAHB, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, 
Primus, Ministry and Skinny Puppy.

I'm on this list because I was hoping to find some GG on video (which I've 
found but not purchased yet) and hear more about the unreleased or 
out-of-print stuff and it's availability.
I've met some really cool people here which I suppose outweighs the few bad 
experiences I've had on the list.

Neil

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 09:26:08 -0400
From: Marty Mermelstein 
Subject: gg: tull/yes

From Marty Mermelstein
Marty@Global.Dataart.com

I am going to miss the tull show tonight on Long Island as I had nobody
to go with .
Anyway, I reiterate that the new album is pretty good and has some high
points especially
wicked windows, Hunt by Numbers Black Mamba, Bends Like a Willow. Spiral
reminds of another tull song but I have yet to figure out which one.
I think that sometimes less is more and could have done without some of
the tracks. Hot Mango Flush should have been instrumental. I hate spoken
word vocals and this one is silly.El Nino just is not Tull and is way to
long.   The album does get better with a few listens but I find that I
am skipping some tracks ans as a die hard tull fan this is not good .
Ian has had a pattern lately of alternate great and so-so albums and
this continues here although this one is better than Catfish Rising on a
whole. If you are a fan than buy this one otherwise start elsewhere.
RTB was much better.

I saw someone was listening to The Ladder. How about a review.

Regards,
Marty

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 15:28:50 +0200
From: Sven Eriksen 
Subject: Re: gg: "AtT"

Bob Angilly wrote:
> 
> And what exactly were you boys listening to in 1973?
> 
Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, GG (IAGH), Peter Hammill, Procol Harum,
Greenslade, the usual stuff.
Had just discovered jazzrock through Mahavishnu Orchestra, Hatfield And
The North (!?) and Return To Forever, and Capability Brown ("Voice"),
PFM ("Photos of Ghosts"), Niemen (Ode to Venus") and Esperanto
("Esperanto Rock Orchestra") were recent acquaintances.

Sven

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 09:57:33 EDT
From: JAskelly@aol.com
Subject: gg: Re: Yes Close to the Edge

Hi there -

Mick said:

<>

Yeah, it's a great book, but is heavily weighted towards the early days (of 
course, that's fine with me, but maybe not for some others).  After spending 
a few chapters on the Banks era, he covers the entire Moraz years in about 
seven pages!  Just a bit lopsided.  Still, it's got some cool info, so I'd 
recommend it.

Jan Dubbe then responded:

<> 

Billy has stated in interviews that he's a big GG fan.  At the Yes convention 
in 97, he even suggested they reform (to which I and many others applauded 
insanely).  Their new keyboard guy, Igor Khoroshev, also has stated he grew 
up listening to GG and counts them as one of his favorite bands.

See ya.

Jack Skelly

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 15:00:22 +0100
From: Bill OReilly 
Subject: gg: on-reflection-digest V1 #1845 -Reply

Bill O'Reilly is on Leave from the 1st to 17th September.  If you have any problems please either contact Adeolu Olusanya Ext 5243 or Nick Nicalou Ext 5196.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 10:19:59 EDT
From: "Reginald Dunlop" 
Subject: Re: gg: REG on the radio(CJAM 91.5 FM) / Renaissance

Hello!

Claudio666 wrote:

"Turn of the
>Cards" came out after "Ashes" and is a fine recording, their last good one
>IMNSHO

See...I didn't care much for "Ashes Are Burning"(the title track was 
great!). I thought there were a lot of ideas floating around on that 
one(some cool ones and some bad). My favourite from the early period is 
"Illusion" in which I dig the tune "Mr. Pine" big time. I though "Prologue" 
was kind cool and bad too. I think I'll just stick with the ones I have. 
Thanks for the info. folks!

Ciao,

REGINALD DUNLOP

np: Cabaret Voltaire - "2x45"

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 10:23:21 EDT
From: "Reginald Dunlop" 
Subject: gg: SOLARIS - "Martian Chronicles"

Hello Giants!

Should I buy that SOLARIS cd for my Prog. Show or what? Overrated or well 
worth the ears? Let me know please.

Ciao,

REGGIE

np: Cabaret Voltaire - "2x45"

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 10:30:41 EDT
From: Biffyshrew@aol.com
Subject: gg: Renaissance, first LPs, Banned From Utopia, new Tull

>I agree w/Julius that Azure d'Or (79) has some worthwhile things (though
>the closing track, The Flood At Lyons, is the only one that really had a
>pronounced proggy feel to me)

"Jekyll And Hyde" always reminded me vaguely of Gentle Giant.

>and that the two 1980s  "new image"
>attempts Camera Camera (81) and Time-Line (83) were rather abysmal
>affairs overall, best left undiscovered.

I disagree with this.  I think that Renaissance succeeded where the GFAD-era 
Giant failed: when they turned away from overt prog stylings in favor of pop 
music, at least they made *good* pop music.  At the time it came out I had a 
much-listened-to Walkman tape with _Camera Camera_ on one side and the 
Go-Go's' _Beauty And The Beat_ on the other.

***

Scott Steele wrote:

>np:  The sounds of silence

That sounds like my cue to enter the "first LPs" thread, because that was 
mine.  My first few albums, in order:

Simon & Garfunkel: Sounds Of Silence
Lemon Pipers: Green Tambourine
Manfred Mann: Pretty Flamingo
Sounds Of The '60s [rip-off instrumental album]
Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Beatles: Magical Mystery Tour
Cream: Best Of Cream
Arthur Brown: Crazy World Of Arthur Brown...okay, I'll quit now

...and somewhere about there I bought my first single, which was "Hey Jude."

***

mammienun wrote:

>This was a recent tribute performance by ex-Zappa players. It
>happened in Berkley, CA on Aug. 27, 1999 (Oops, I abbr.) and was called
>Banned From Utopia.

Berkeley?  I wish!  It was way on down in Los Angeles.  I've seen Banned From 
Utopia three times around 1995-96, the first time in Portland with the 
"Portland Symphony Orchstra" (actually only a ten-piece chamber group on this 
occasion) conducted by Joel Thome, who also did the honors at Zappa's 
Universe.  The shows I saw all featured Ike Willis; the recent show without 
Ike, I understand, naturally focused more on instrumentals.

***

Rik Beck wrote (re. _J-Tull Dot Com_)

>First impression is that it's very disappointing. It's mechanical and
>fairly soulless, and the songs are almost indistinguishable from one
>another.

Nonsense.  Do you really think "Spiral" sounds like "Wicked Windows" sounds 
like "Hot Mango Flush" sounds like "The Dog-Ear Years"?

>Big lack of dynamic range.

Not to my ears.  See above.

>I would compare it to Catfish Rising.

Augh!!!  No!  No!

Your pal,
Biffy the Elephant Shrew

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 10:42:30 EDT
From: "Reginald Dunlop" 
Subject: gg: Dif Juz

Hello!

I, Reggie, wrote:

> >Anyway, Bark Psychosis'
> >"Hex" turned me on to other bands such as Dif Juz,

Nick Polak replied with:

>
>I can't believe you know this band! "Old" 4AD fan, I'm betting --

...and I say:

DIF JUZ kick ass! They have a new compilation out on 4AD called DIF JUZ - 
"Soundpool". Sounds something like an instrumental-Gang Of Four with some 
Fripp/Michael Brook soundscapes. Cool! "Extractions" is Dif Juz's true 
classic(available on CD in the U.K. only, which I own a copy).

Ciao,

REG

np: Hoyry-Kone - "Hyonteisia Voi Rakaasta"

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 11:02:34 EDT
From: "Reginald Dunlop" 
Subject: gg: CJAM 91.5 FM broadcast on-line w/Julian Belanger, Sat. Sept. 4th

Hello Giants!

I, Reg(Julian B.) will be on-air from 6am-9am(Eastern Standard) on Saturday, 
Sept. 4th, 1999 on CJAM 91.5 FM. This may be my regular broadcasting hours 
once a week(details are currently being worked out). Yes, yes indeed...3 
full hours of experimental rock(Prog., Kraut., Space, R.I.O., Progressive 
Pop, Post Rock, Progressive Industrial, Ambient, Progressive Metal, 
Canterbury, etc.) This broadcast can be listened to on-line. Here's the URL:

http://www.uwindsor.ca/cjam/contents.htm

Click on the "HEAR CJAM LIVE!" feature in the top right hand corner of the 
CJAM 91.5 FM web page. Details are posted on how to get connected to the 
broadcast. I hope you can tune in for a listen! Suggestions are welcome...I 
give out the phone number on-air.

Have fun boys and girls!!!

REGINALD DUNLOP(The Rantmaster General/Julian)

Welcome to the CJAM bunker...this is the "Air Raid Shelter", and I'm your 
General...The Rantmaster. :)

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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 08:09:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: "David J. Loftus" 
Subject: Re: gg: Re: Mammienun Poll.

On Wed, 1 Sep 1999, drj_saro wrote:

> saw the band twice, once on the tour promoting PtF (on a bill with Mr. Big
> (!?!) and Renaissance, it was sooo cool when everybody hated Mr. Big but
> instead of booooing them, the crowd was _completely_ silent - they 
> slunk off the stage in embarrassment after only about 20-30 minutes!)


That IS cool.  I wish the fans had had the class to adopt that approach 
when I saw Dr. Feelgood open for GG, instead of yelling, spitting, 
cursing, etc.


David Loftus

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 17:10:23 +0200
From: "Robert Eksteen, Leiden" 
Subject: gg: NOGG: New Tull

Hi John Eric, 

I sort of agree with Rick about dot com. It's not overly exciting.
I thoroughly disagree, however, with him about Catfish Rising, which is one
of the more dynamic and interesting Tull-albums of the last 25 years (did I
really write that down: "the last 25 years"? Jeez!)
Catfish Rising is fast, down to earth, clever, sharp and impish, not unlike
the late 60s Jethro Tull. 
I don't think you need "dot.com", but I do think you need Catfish Rising
(and if possible try and get a Greek copy, with "Wilderness Of You" as a
bonus track, one of the best Tull-songs ever, but strangely absent on the
regular CD.)

Best,


Robert Eksteen, Leiden, The Netherlands

rke@xs4all.nl

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 16:43:56 +0100 (BST)
From: Rik Beck 
Subject: gg: Poll II

> > Is Gentle Giant your favorite band?

Absolute favourite - no, particularly as I've heard nothing new for
ages. Gotta move on.

> > Why are you on this list?

I joined several when I first got internet access. I'm still on this,
Krimson, Porcupine Tree and Yes - the others fell by the wayside as too
argumentative (e.g. Marillion) or too tedious (e.g. Floyd). This list
is suprisingly active for a band that haven't done anything for nigh on
two decades - if anything I love it for the peripheral discussions.

Can I go now?

rb

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 10:11:15 -0700
From: "Scott Steele" 
Subject: gg: Renaissance; crying; credenza; first record; intolerance; abbrs; Zappa trib; composers; etc.

>(Of course, having seen the band 10 times live in person, I'd go with my opinion on this. :-)  < . . . > Serving your Renaissance needs,  - --Jerry

I love it here - if I have a question, I get great opinions by people who really know their shit.

>Anyone who feels like making fun of you because of what you were so brave to tell us readers, does not really have the right to be on this list.  I cried every time I saw our Boys (4 times, no way wishing to brag, please!) and regularly still do, because their music touches me. Surely this can't be unfamiliar to anybody reading OR?

I cried real tears when I watched Mr. Blouin's video.  OK, so I'm not a sensitive young man anymore - I'm a sensitive old man.

>My name is BillT and I come from Rohnert Park 

Hiiiiii Biiiiiilllllllll

>Many's the time that a beautiful solo or cadenza (or is that credenza? ;) has brought a tear to my eye.

It wasn't the credenza, it was the tack someone left on it.

>I dang near became a pool of tears.  Just a pool of tears.

Sqonk Sqeele says, I know how you feel; you sqeele like I do.

>EGBDF, along with 'The Age of Atlantic' was the first album I ever bought.  Still have it.

Ooh - that's a good thread.  My first LP I ever bought with my own money was Wheels of Fire.  I don't still have it.

>Fortunately, my Dad had bought Sgt. Pepper and Vanilla Fudge's 
"Renaissance" so I listened to those, too.

Fortunately I had an older brother who had an extensive collection of 45s, and some really good LPs.  He also bought me (and little bro) several Beach Boys and Beatle LPs.

>I guess this fits in with the current thread that shows a fair amount of intolerance that is filtering through at the moment.

I will not tolerate this intolerance any longer.

>L.S.M.F.T.

Lucky Strike means fine tobacco.

>I will now assume that noone on list has any knowledge of the CA show.

I saw a Zappa tribute band once, in about 1996 or so.  I don't think it was called Banned from Utopia though.  Back before I met Babs.  I took this girl out for an expensive dinner, then we sat in expensive seats and watched this gig.  Some of the members of the Oregon Symphony were there, reading their little asses off.  I am pretty sure Mike Miller was on this gig, along with several Fowlers, McGettrick, Wackerman, and Ike Willis was singing.  Then the cute girl went home, and I was alone *and* broke.

>I liked the Romantic composers the best, Peter I. T., Schubert, Grieg, and Rachmaninoff.

I preferred Getitonmann, Rightonmann, and Ibetyou'reboredwiththisski.

>First rock single was I Get Around by The Beach Boys, backed with Don't Worry Baby.  I ended up liking the B side better.  It was only around 34 years ago....... uch..... -David Eric

The first single I bought was I Live For The Sun by The Sunrays.  Real surf toons.  I was sure it was by the Four Seasons so I was quite frustrated in the record shop when the old fellow behind the counter didn't know what I was talking about.  I was probably about eight years old.  We also had the Fun, Fun, Fun/Why Do Fools Fall in Love single, and we liked the B side best.  The Beach Boys taught us to sing, and we're still singing, although we are old.

>Hot Rats, WakaJawaka, and Grand Wazoo (the latter of which i have _never_ heard before) , as well as a "music by FZ" disc by a classical wind ensemble (who's name i can't remeber right now.).

You will enjoy GW quite a bit, especially if you like Hot Rats.

>I don't even remember who asked this, so I apologize, whoever you are.  My first LP was Rubber Soul.  That may explain a lot.

Ooh, good choice.  This is one of the ones my big brother made sure we had.

>Please answer the following 2-part question. 1st part) Is Gentle Giant your favorite band? If your answer is yes that's it! You're done!

One of the top three, but whenever anyone asks, I always say it's King Crimson.  From moment to moment that's not always true.

>2nd part) For those 'others', please answer the multiple
choice/fill-in-the-blank question. Why are you on this list?

I love GG.

>A) The people are ______ (friendlier, smarter, cooler, etc.) than the people on the ______ (Yes, Genesis, Nirvana, other) list.

That's also true.

>B) My favorite band doesn't have a list so this is better than nothing!

Not true for me.

>C) I have my reasons and I don't have to explain or justify them to a ______ ( compliment, expletive, etc.) nun!

Well . . .

>D) I'm an ______ (escaped, deranged, recently released, etc.) mental patient.

I can talk to all my funny friends in here, I was told to rest, why I am not quite clear.

>E) Other. (Please explain) Thank you for your timely response and attention to detail. Ez

Thanks for your MIME and defecation.

>What's the verdict on the new Tull?  I've held off buying only because of the price ($18 at Borders).  I'll wait for a sale ... yet I'd still enjoy your reviews.

Much cheaper at Millenium.  CDNow made me wait, so I haven't heard it yet.  - S.

np:  Little Feat, Live from Neon Park

scottst@ohsu.edu

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 11:12:01 -0600
From: Jeff Smith 
Subject: gg: no GG:  first album?

Well I bought some Beatles (Hey Jude, Abbey Road and Let It Be), Guess Who
(Share The Land), Steppenwolf (Live) and some Herb Albert and the Tijuana
Brass in the late 60's/early 70's but I never took care of those and played
them on a decrepit record player - I have no idea what ever happened to
those albums.  I didn't start serious album buying until the spring/summer
of 1972 when I was in the 7th grade and bought You Don't Mess Around With
Jim (Jim Croce) and Yes Fragile.  I still have those albums in my vinyl
collection.  Hey at least one was prog!

New Purchases: Happy The Man - 3rd/Better Late... (used $10.75), Alain
Caron - Le Band (used $6), Gentle Giant - Last Steps (used $8)

np: Happy The Man - 3rd/Better Late...

Jeff Smith

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 13:13:50 -0400
From: Tatsurou Ueda 
Subject: Re: gg: Safri Duo

SSell71096@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 9/2/99 9:01:38 AM,
> owner-on-reflection-digest@lists.uoregon.edu writes:
> << Ever heard of a percussion duo called "Safri Duo"?
> These guys remind me of GG in their percussion sequences.
> They have 3 or four CDs out.
> ------------------------------ >>
> nope - never heard of them
> Any good? how'd u rank them?

I happened to see their video clip entitled "The Audition" on PBS
"Classi Art Showcase"
where the two guys play a symphony piece (name escapes me) on the
concert marimbas.
That was so excellent that I went on to look for their CDs in CDNOW
where I found
several albums are listed. Some of the audio clips sounded like the drum
bashing section of
the live version of either "Funny Ways" or "Underground", while others
are beautifully
rearranged classical pieces.
I rate them very high.
BTW, the aforementioned video clip is video-taped for future
reference.;-)

Tatsurou

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 10:27:57 -0700
From: "Scott Steele" 
Subject: gg: Tull; Sven; AtT early or late?; we need Biffy; Midnight Lightning

>Shit...I'm going to see Tull next Tuesday! Should I get the new disc to familiarize myself with the material, or should I hear it live for the first time? AHHHHHH. Vote yes or no by Saturday evening and I will abide by the collective OR decision. Ez

He loves these polls.  I bet they play 2 songs max off the new CD.

Hi Sven, I hope you are coming to GorGG.

>> >I've never been so blown away by any album as when hearing AtT for the first time. It was utterly different from any rock music that had been made up to that time.
 
>> Can we conclude that AtT hits with a harder impact if it is the first GG record one hears?  or at least early in the canon?
 
>I think perhaps we can clonclude that it hit so hard because back then when it was released there was no other rock music like it.  It is not so much whether or not it is the first GG album you hear (for me it wasn't, I had heard their first).

Right; but it wasn't so different if you didn't hear it when it first came out (like me).  By the time I had heard AtT, I had already digested Octopus and IaGH pretty well; also Tarkus, Fragile, Close to the Edge, etc.  So it wasn't so different for me, it didn't hit me as hard, and it took me a while to really enjoy it fully.

>>as well as a "music by FZ" disc by a classical wind ensemble (who's name i can't remeber right now.).

>I would appreciate a report on this one, as soon as you've checked it out.

We need Biffy please.

>First 2 albums I spent my hard earned allowance on were Fragile and Hendrix - Midnight Lightning.I knew Roundabout from the radio and my brother always raved about Hendrix. Must have been around late '74 or early '75

I hope Midnight Lightning didn't keep you from buying other Hendrix albums.  - S.

np:  Firesign Theatre, Dwarf (Hubba hubba, George, what a suit!)

scottst@ohsu.edu

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 13:30:54 EDT
From: Dokwebb@aol.com
Subject: gg: Tull, AtT,Stray Dog

I got the new Tull the day it came out and would have to agree with Rik's 
assessment initially.  I think Ian's voice is in a little better form (which 
isn't saying a whole lot) but the song formulation is tired and worn and 
where have I heard this phrasing before?  Let's trade off guitar and flute 
breaks and the occasional keyboard, etc...  He wouldn't agree I'm sure, but I 
believe an outside producer could breathe some new life into them and make it 
more dynamic.  Having said all that though... I have been repeatedly 
listening and find I'm easing up on my critical 'expectations'...  It's good 
to have a new Tull in the house.  Favorite guitar riff - El Nino!  I liked 
their last effort RTB but don't feel this is quite as good.  They got bashed 
when they tried experimenting and created UW in the middle 80's... so let's 
make sure this sounds like what the Tull fans expect.  I actually liked alot 
of UW.  It's difficult I'd imagine to create something new and powerful 
within certain parameters time after time.... 

On the Taste topic... does everyone remember what Ray Shulman said in the  
Talk Talk article from Goldmine some months back?  If he had to choose, AtT 
would be his favorite GG album!

np: the brand new Stray Dog reissue from The Wild Places.... Does anybody 
remember this band?? Originally released on the Manticore label with Greg 
Lake producing a few tracks.  This is a 2cd set with one disc being entirely 
live.  Next up - Thunderpussy!

thank you for your rhyme and retribution

dok-o

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 21:06:25 +0200
From: "Frode Ringstad" 
Subject: gg: SV: This should get your attention.

Hail, Mammie and all!

- -----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: mammienun@webtv.net 
Til: on-reflection@lists.uoregon.edu 
Dato: 2. september 1999 05:25
Emne: gg: This should get your attention.


> Please answer the following 2-part question. 
> 1st part) Is Gentle Giant your favorite band? 

For me the answer is 'mu'.  
According to Robert M. Pirsig (Mister Quality?), 'mu' is a japanese expression meaning
'wrong question' or 'impossible question'.

If you ask 'Are there any other bands you like BETTER than GG however, the answer 
is NO. But there are bands I enjoy JUST AS MUCH as GG! 

I guess I'll better be done now...


Frode

np (now playing): Beach Boys, Pet Sounds 
     

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 20:38:24 +0100
From: Bob Taylor 
Subject: Re: gg: This should get your attention.

In message <2910-37CDEBD5-1445@postoffice-263.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
mammienun@webtv.net writes
>Please answer the following 2-part question. 1st part) Is Gentle Giant
>your favorite band? If your answer is yes that's it! You're done! 2nd
>part) For those 'others', please answer the multiple
>choice/fill-in-the-blank question. Why are you on this list? A) The
>people are ______ (friendlier, smarter, cooler, etc.) than the people on
>the ______ (Yes, Genesis, Nirvana, other) list. B) My favorite band
>doesn't have a list so this is better than nothing! C) I have my reasons
>and I don't have to explain or justify them to a ______ ( compliment,
>expletive, etc.) nun! D) I'm an ______ (escaped, deranged, recently
>released, etc.) mental patient. E) Other. (Please explain) Thank you for
>your timely response and attention to detail. Ez  
>

F) I exist solely in order to help in feeding the limitless appetite of
the mind twisting OR-creature-thing. In time, I will turn into a
chrysalis and emerge as a Bwndevrappel, a beast which looks almost
nothing like a huge lobster.


Bob
- -- 
Bob Taylor

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 15:42:37 -0400
From: "Jerry McCarthy" 
Subject: no gg: Baby Grand & Buddha

> Bill O'Reilly is on Leave from the 1st to 17th September.

Great. Only 15 days more of these messages to go.  :-)


Bert Rubini:

> Potential new thread here?  What's the first album you ever bought?  (I don't
> think we've ever done this one before).

Well, yeah, we have done it before, but that's OK. It was fun, and
should be again.


Jan Dubbe:

> np. Baby Grand, Ancient Medicine (these guys could really rock before they
> co-wrote an played on C. Lauper's Time After Time and later became Hooters)

Way to go, Jan! So great to see this one mentioned on list. I was
starting to think I was the only person on the planet who remembered
them. They used to put on a *great* live show, touring NY several times
around 1977-78 at My Father's Place on Long Island and probably in NYC
as well. 

I've been watching patiently for 16 years now but still no Baby Grand CD
reissues as far as I have seen. Has anyone else ever seen one?


WhytePunk:

> Dang!....Cat Stevens.....I seem to remember 1974's "Buddha and the Chocolate 
> Box" being my first album (because prior to that I'd bought 8-track tapes) 
> and I could have sworn the copy I bought had "Another Saturday Night" on it. 
> Yet when I go to CDNow and search that title it only appears on his 1975 
> ''Greatest Hits"?  

Won't say there's no other version, but I bought the US release of
Buddha a day or two after the record originally came out and it did not
include ASN.


- --Jerry

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 13:02:02 -0700 
From: Frank Viviano 
Subject: gg: New Tull

Well I can give my opinion after a few weeks with the CD. It has some
wonderful, long-awaited tracks that recapture some of the 'spirit' of 70s
Tull, primarily due to better vocals by Ian Anderson. Not higher in ranger,
but less Knopfler-influenced and more lively. There is also more emphasis on
melody in songs like A Gift of Roses and The Dog-ear Years, which are folk
influenced and could fit nicely on Heavy Horses or Songs from the Wood. 

There are some very lively rockers that work in some tasty prog influences.
Whatever the hell that means! Use of Hammond organ, accordion, great bass
work, etc. give it a more "traditional" Tull sound, unlike Roots to Branches
(which I liked a lot). My favorite in that bunch is Far Alaska, which sounds
like an "A" outtake and features some great instrumental work in the bridge
section. Martin Barre gets downright nasty on El Nino, a Tull-does-Zeppelin
scorcher.

Clearly one of the more introspective tracks is Wicked Windows, which IA
examines his life through his spectacles. Very nice. And the lovely Bends
Like a Willow has a U2-like rhythm and really grows on you.

The coolest track is somewhat GG-like, Hot Mango Flush. Very quirky, with
spoken lyrics that make no sense. A lot of fun. I know, I know. Kerry didn't
compose it so it doesn't even compare...

A definite BUY. 

Franco


>------------------------------
>
>Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 20:33:46 -0700 (PDT)
>From: JohnEric 
>Subject: gg: New Tull
>
>What's the verdict on the new Tull?  I've held off buying only 
>because of
>the price ($18 at Borders).  I'll wait for a sale ... yet I'd 
>still enjoy
>your reviews.
>
>JEE
>

>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 14:22:54 -0600
From: Jeff Smith 
Subject: gg: GG Who's Who

Does anybody know what happened to the Gentle Giant Who's Who web page?  I
have it bookmarked at
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/3136/gg_whoswho.html but it no
longer exists at that URL.

np: Alain Caron - Le Band

Jeff Smith

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 14:22:55 PDT
From: "Dan Weese" 
Subject: Re: gg: SV: This should get your attention.

>For me the answer is 'mu'.
>According to Robert M. Pirsig (Mister Quality?), 'mu' is a japanese 
>expression meaning 'wrong question' or 'impossible question'.

Actually, the character MU means "The Void", it's rather like the concept of 
null.  I've never heard "mu" used as an answer, I've only heard it used in 
Zen theology.

...

What," asked Ken of Ho Chi Zen, "is faith?"

Ho handed Ken a bottle of sake and told him to drink the whole quart.

Later on, when Ken had passed out on a row of meditation cushions,
Rabbi Koan asked and was told by Zen what had happened.

"That is not just a Zen trick, you old fox! That is universal priestcraft!"

"What do you mean?" Ho asked innocently.

"When they ask us a question we can't answer, we get them drunk and
send them home."

"I learned it from a Confucian in Hong Kong," Ho Chi Zen replied.
"Whenever he was called upon to make an ancestral sacrifice on
another's behalf - if the healing or miracle requested seemed impossible 
even for Heaven, he brought out his largest libation cup and served them 
communion, besides, explaining: `This is magic Christian missionaries 
practice. Maybe it will work, and maybe not - just to cover my own ass if it 
doesn't.' Which of corse returns us to our original point."

"How?"

"Faith and what it is: That which if, if you trust priests, will cause you 
lots of problems."

............

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 16:36:21 -0500
From: Jim Klocek 
Subject: gg: This should get your attention!

<>

Long live Jambe...or Robt. Plant, for that matter.

Jm

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 22:42:46 +0100
From: "Mark L. Potts" 
Subject: gg: re: GG; first album; gigs; Crimson; OR; in my absence and BTW

Howdy Guys and Gals!

Ol' ThunderBoy here just checking in seein' how y'all doin.

I don't know, I try my hardest NOT to do anything and I just end up
getting more work than will fit into a normal working, day, week, month,
year...
Besides, I figured that my darling firstborn will bridge the gap in my
absence and
BTW, this is me not HER!

Now, I have been paying attention, but haven't had chance to reply so, a la
Snot Snail,
I'm just gonna throw everything in one mail.

OK. Are GG my number 1 fave band? Er, I have to say no. If you're gonna
squeeze me (and please feel free to do so)
I would have to say that that hallowed NO 1 spot is shared by Ian Gillan and
Man. They are the only two
bands/artists that I have ever done daft things to go to see live. Maybe if
GG were (still) around I would
do silly things to get to see them but, that's a bit academic, really.

GG then share the third equal with ELP, Crimson, Yes and so many others that
I love but couldn't say which I
love more. But that's only today's answer. Ask me again tomorrow, or in
thirty seconds when I change the CD!!

First album purchased by yours truly? John Miles - Rebel. I love this
still - in fact I got it on CD t'other week and it still sounds great. Some
stunning guitar work by Miles and Alan Parsons' production hits you like a
piece of velvet, wrapped around a brick.

King Crimson - Mexico 95. Excellent. I downloaded it on Saturday and
listened to it for the first time in the car today.
This is a wonderful thing for His Frippness to be doing - free quality
music. WOW!

OR has been mentioned quite a bit in mails of late. Yeah, I'm on/have been
on a few lists and really, this is the one that I have stuck with because I
like the extra curricular discussions/scraps/advice/comments. It is a
friendly list - some I've been on are positively hostile/ argumentative/
even threatening. I would never have dreamed of wanting to meet some of
those people - mind you having met Si...Seriously, I would never have let my
daughter mail some of the other lists either. There's some real weirdoes out
there...

Bill T wrote something like "my name is Bill T and I'm from Rohnert Park"

Hi, Bill. Everyday one beer at a time, every beer one sip at a time?

Alright, gigs - an update:

Steve Gibbons - Stoke 24/9
Deep Purple - Royal Albert Hall, London 26/9

Pat Travers - Birmingham 6/10
Van Morrison - Manchester 7/10
Colosseum - London 8/10
Jeff Beck - London 9/10
Glenn Hughes/Michael Schenker - Wolverhampton 12/10
Glenn Hughes/Michael Schenker - Manchester 13/10

Jethro Tull - Manchester 19/11

Thunder - Liverpool 3/12
Chris Farlowe - Birmingham 4/12
Black Sabbath - Birmingham 22/12

...and anything else that may come along which sounds like fun...and I'm
sure there must be a Man tour somewhere before the end of the year too!

Well, I'm about done, for now.

Book 'em Danno, mammie-one,

Mark L. Potts
The God of Thunder

np: Joe Satriani - Surfing with the Alien

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 18:29:37 -0700
From: "Frank Lauria" 
Subject: gg: the Boys in the Bits

Nice to see the BitB moving into the digital age...look what $8.99 will get
you at http://www.emusic.com/albums/1699:

Gentle Giant: King Biscuit Flower Hour

This is the entire CD in a downloadable format (the MP3 samples sound pretty
darn good).

Here's how they describe it:

"Gentle Giant, one of the most innovative progressive rock groups from the
70s, taped this King Biscuit recording in 1975 at the peak of their career.
The song lineup includes "Proclamation," "Funny Ways," and "So Sincere" from
their Top 50 album The Power And The Glory; "The Runaway" and "Experience"
from In a Glass House, and "Knots" from Octopus."

"...one of the most innovative progressive rock groups".  I like that.  Give
da Boyz dey props.

I imagine this is only there because of the efforts of King Biscuit records.
What are the chances we could get ALL the GG catalog posted at eMusic?
(Wouldn't that be nice?)

P-Frank
np: Michel Camilo

------------------------------

Date: 2 Sep 1999 17:57:52 -0500
From: "Lindsey Spratt" 
Subject: Re: gg: re: GG; first album

Favorite band: GG. I have more albums of theirs (CD and vinyl) than any
other artist/group. There are a lot of close seconds though: Dixie Dregs,
Steps Ahead, Shadowfax. I'm learning to like Spyro Gyra (I went to sleep at
one of their concerts once...). And of course, anything by Scriabin.

I'm on this list because the other folks are so peculiar.

I have no idea what my first album was. After all, that was probably 30 to
35 years ago.

First GG album: A friend played PatG for me. I didn't particularly like it.
I was really intrigued by Free Hand when it came out, particularly the
list's eponymous tune. After that, I bought everything of GG's I could
find. It took me years to finally acquire IaGH. Eventually, PatG became my
favorite album.

Scriabin forever!
- -lindsey

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 02 Sep 1999 19:49:11 -0400
From: Jim 
Subject: gg: Tull in Concert

Had the pleasure of seeing Tull in concert last Thursday night at the
BankBoston Pavillion in Boston.  First time I've seen them in many
years.  (My first exposure to Gentle Giant was seeing them open for Tull

way back in the early 70's on Long Island)  I was fortunate to have 8th
row center seats.
Basically, Ian's voice is not what it used to be.  He can still hit the
notes, but the strength is gone.  However, his flute magic just gets
better and better.  In addition, he's still an athlete.  The band is
great.  I was expecting to hear all of their new album (which, by the
way, is well worth getting) and a few old tunes.  Instead, they played
mostly old tunes including My God, Bouree, For a Thousand Mothers,
Nothing is Easy, Locomotive Breath, Jeffery goes to Leicester(sp?)
Square, Fat Man, and many more.  They played 3 songs off the new album:
Spiral, Dot Com, and the third I don't remember.

The encore was a medley of Aqualung and Living in the Past which is
still circling through my head.  Really well done.

All in all, I really enjoyed the show.  It also made me wonder if Ian
Anderson should add a new member to the band to do the lead singing.
The band is great, the songs are great, his flute work has never been
better, it would be a shame to be forced to shut down such a legendary
act because of ageing.  He still sounds strong enough to do harmonies,
but he doesn't quite cut it as the 'Lead Vocalist' anymore.

If you have a chance to catch them on this tour, I strongly recommend
it.

Jim

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 20:24:02 +0400
From: Earl Rapp 
Subject: gg: new Santana Supernatural

Hello All:

I purchased the new Santana cd the other day.
It's a fun cd to listen to. special guests seem
to be the theme of this album.

Dave Matthews, Rob Thomas, Everlast, all sing
on the cd. Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 shines on his track called
"Smooth" .... you may have seen the video.

I used to love Carlos Santana is his hey-day. this is a nice album.
good to see Carlos working well and smoking on his guitar with the kids.

OH yeah the final track is a gtr. duet feature with band of 12+ minutes
with Clapton and it is actually pretty cool....

Best Wishes:
Earl Rapp
http://www.vramp.net/~donnamx/

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 20:40:56 -0400
From: "drj_saro" 
Subject: gg: Re: no GG:  first album?

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Bert Rubini 
>>Potential new thread here?  What's the first album you ever bought...

as a child, i bought every 45 that i could find of cartoon-theme-music,
but....
the first albums i bought (in 1968 or 69) were the soundtrack to 2001 and
"Switched-On Bach".
the first _rock_ album i bought was David Bowie "The Man Who Sold the World"
(this was when Ziggy hit it big on Cleveland Radio (summer of 72)).
the first _real_ Prog album i bought was ELP "Pictures at an Exhibition".

thank you for your time and attention.

Julius J. SAROKA
drj_saro@neo.rr.com
Cuyahoga Falls OHIO

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 22:46:24 -0400 (EDT)
From: mammienun@webtv.net
Subject: Re: gg: new Santana Supernatural

Santana is a master. I saw him tour just before the album came out...got
a primer cassette with the t-shirt. Smooooth. Later, Ez

------------------------------

End of on-reflection-digest V1 #1846
************************************

    Source: geocities.com/sunsetstrip/underground/4537