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Gentle Giant: Three Friends

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Vertigo Records
Released: 1972
Time:
 35:17
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Tony Visconti
Rating: *******... (7/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.blazemonger.com/GG
Appears with:
Purchase date: 2009.02.27
Price in €: 13,99





 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Prologue (K.Minnear/P.Shulman/D.Shulman/R.Shulman) - 6:12
[2] Schooldays (K.Minnear/P.Shulman/D.Shulman/R.Shulman) - 7:33
[3] Working All Day (K.Minnear/P.Shulman/D.Shulman/R.Shulman) - 5:07
[4] Peel The Paint (K.Minnear/P.Shulman/D.Shulman/R.Shulman) - 7:25
[5] Mister Class And Quality? (K.Minnear/P.Shulman/D.Shulman/R.Shulman) - 5:51
[6] Three Friends (K.Minnear/P.Shulman/D.Shulman/R.Shulman) - 3:00

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


Gary Green - guitars, percussion, producer
Kerry Minnear - keyboards, vibraphone, percussion, Moog, vocals, producer
Malcolm Mortimore - drums, producer
Derek Shulman - vocals, producer
Phil Schulman - sax, vocals, producer
Ray Shulman - bass, violin, 12 string guitar, vocals, producer

Calvin Shulman - Ray's son (boy's voice on Schooldays)

Martin Rushkent - Engineer
Rick Breach - Sleeve design
Chris Welsh - Liner Notes

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1972 LP Vertogo 6360070
1994 CD Columbia CK-31649
2006 CD Universal Japan 9689
2007 CD Universal 
2008 CD Sbme Special MKTS. 723975
2008 Repertoire REPUK 5114


Gentle Giant's third album was their first concept album, as stated in the liner notes: "The idea of this album came about simply from normal conversations within the group. You know how people often reminisce about old school friends and wonder whatever became of them; or the people who surprise us with their successes or failures. Anyway, the theme in this album is based on three people - friends at school but inevitably separated by chance, skill and fate."
The three school friends grow up to become a road digger (Working All Day), an artist (Peel The Paint), and a white-collar worker (Mister Class and Quality) who can no longer understand each other's lifestyles. But regardless of the storyline, the music is astounding, ranging from raucous rock to exquisite choral work, and ending with the stunningly beautiful title song.



Gentle Giant's third album (and their first self-produced effort, Tony Visconti having run the sessions on the two previous records) was another advance, this time in the direction of a harder rock sound -- everything sounds turned up here, especially the guitars, the bass, and the electronic keyboards. Three Friends hardly sacrificed any of the group's progressive intentions, however, and there are some softer moments here, such as the playful, sprightly first half of "Schooldays"; the harmonies and arrangements still had a distinctly medieval feel, and the melodies, though a little harder to discern here (which made them even more appealing when they did become obvious), were quite engaging. This is supposed to be a concept album, about the relationship between three friends across a lifetime, and the original notes and lyrics have been reprinted, but none of that is necessary in order to enjoy the songs here.

Bruce Eder - All Music Guide
 

 L y r i c s


Prologue

Three friends are made, three lives are laughs and tears
Through years of school and play they share
As time stands still the days change into years
And future comes without a care.
But fate and skill and chances play their part
The wind of change leaves no good-bye
Three boys are men their ways have drawn apart
They tell their tales to justify.


Schooldays

The bell rings
And all things
Are calling
The days past
The play's cast
Remember
September
When we were
Together
Together
Together
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change.
Did kites fly
And I spy
And you cry
To run fast
Or come last
You know how
We made vows
They're gone now
We made friends
We broke friends
No more friends
Remember,
Remember when we
Together
Went to the sea
Was it real or did we dream. The days of children gone.
Seagull's scream and pink ice cream and the deep blue sky
And the waves seem high and golden sand and the town
brass band play on.
Wait for me
Wait for us always
Wait for me
Wait for us to come
Homework's dull. It's worth the pain to go out when I want
Mister Watson wants to see you in the master's room. It's
about the work you should have done and I think you
must go now.


Working All Day

Working all day, I'm digging up the roads, just working all day
Dig for my pay and spend it where I like. I've nothing to say
Drown in my sweat but money buys escape. I've got no regrets
Working all day
Working all day
When I was young I used to have illusions - Dreams ain't enough.
Papa was rough. He didn't care for learning. Hell life is tough.
Easy to say that everybody's equal then look around and
see it ain't true.
Working all day
I eat the dust. The boss gets all the money. Life ain't just.
I'm still the same as all the other people - who can I trust
Working all day and never getting nowhere, what can I
say working all day
Working all day.


Peel The Paint

Free from the start -
Left to depart -
Finding the pleasure and the pain in his art.
Lost in the hush -
No need to rush -
Time waits for him, him who creates with the
brush.
Colour the brush.
High in the air -
His dreams are there -
Searching for answers he will look everywhere.
Thinks he has won -
A place in the sun
Free from the worries and the ways of everyone.
Peel the paint
Look underneath
You'll see the same, the same old savage beast.
Strip the coats
The coats of time
And find mad eyes and see those sharpened
teeth.
Nothing's been learned -
No nothing at all.
Don't be fooled, get up before you fall.
Carnal grave
Crawling smooth
Open flesh and you must let him in.
Glass reflects
What you are
It shows the face, the evil face of sin.


Mister Class And Quality?

Look around my rooms and see the prizes I have showing
Working hard to build my life and plan the way I'm going
House and car and pretty wife - they've all been won by knowing
                                    All been won by knowing
                                    All been won by knowing.
Paperwork, white collared shirts - where would we be without
them
Man of class and quality - I never shout about them
Choose my friends for my own ends.
                             You can't succeed without them
                                 Can't succeed without them
                                 Can't succeed without them.
Middleman sees straight ahead and never crosses borders
Never understood the artist or the lazy workers
The world needs steady men like me to give and take the orders
                                  Give and take the orders
                                  Give and take the orders.


Three Friends

Once three friends
Sweet in sadness
Now part of their past.
In the end
Full of gladness
Went from class to class.

 

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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