If the ranking of groups within the pantheon of progressive rock were based solely on musical inventiveness and chops, Gentle Giant would stand taller than Yes, Genesis, King Crimson and all of the rest. Case in point is the lead-off track from their 1972 magnum opus, “Octopus.” Its madrigal-inspired vocals and progressive jazz leanings typify in one track what made the Giant loom so large. By the time of this recording, Gentle Giant consisted of the brothers Schulman: Derek on vocals and alto sax, Phil on assorted horns, and Ray on bass, violin and guitar, plus Gary Green on lead guitar, Kerry Minnear on keyboards and brand new super outstanding drummer and xylophone player John Weathers. Much of the Giant’s material was inspired by the books they were reading and the inspiration for this one comes from the books of “Gargantua and Pantagruel” by François Rabelais. But one doesn’t have to read the writings (I sure didn’t) in order to appreciate the intricacies within. By 1980 and the advent of Punk and New Wave, the purveyors of prog walked the earth like dinosaurs on the verge of extinction, so Gentle Giant packed it in. Derek Schulman went on to become a top A&R guy for Mercury Records and was responsible for signing Bon Jovi to the label…but let’s not hold that against him…
