GENTLE GIANT – FRONT ROW CENTRE U.S. DATES 1975-1980
AN ESSENTIAL 8CD COLLECTION CELEBRATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIVE LEGACY OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK VISIONARIES GENTLE GIANT
FEATURING EIGHT HOURS OF RARE US CONCERT RECORDINGS FROM 1975-1980, INCLUDING THE COMPLETE LIVE AT THE BICENTENNIAL SHOW, THE CAPITOL STUDIOS SESSIONS, FOUR PREVIOUSLY UNCOLLECTED PERFORMANCES AND A 60-PAGE HARDBACK BOOK WITH NEW ESSAY AND BAND INTERVIEWS
SET FOR RELEASE ON MADFISH ON 27th NOVEMBER
WATCH THE TRAILER HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyH4efI4aIQ
Few bands in progressive rock history earned a live reputation quite like Gentle Giant. Renowned for translating their astonishingly intricate studio recordings to the stage with remarkable precision, imagination and musicianship, they delivered performances that remain among the most celebrated of the era.
Front Row Center (US Dates 19751980) presents an extensive document of that legacy, bringing together eight CDs of rare American performances spanning the band’s classic years. From the celebrated Live At The Bicentennial concert recorded at New York’s Calderone Concert Hall in July 1976, through the acclaimed Playing The Fool touring period of 1977, to a powerful 1980 performance from Atlanta and the superb Capitol Studios recordings from 1975, this collection captures Gentle Giant at every stage of their evolution as a live band.
Across these recordings, the group’s extraordinary interplay, multi-instrumental virtuosity and fearless arrangements are showcased in full, featuring definitive performances of classics including Free Hand, Proclamation, On Reflection, The Advent Of Panurge, Just The Same, Playing The Game, The Face, Funny Ways, Knots, Memories Of Old Days, extensive Octopus excerpts and many more.
Front Row Center also includes a 60-page hardback book featuring a substantial new essay by Alan Kinsman, drawing on extensive interviews with the band to explore Gentle Giant’s unique approach to live performance, touring, musicianship and stagecraft, alongside rare photographs and memorabilia.
Expertly mastered by Peter J. Reynolds from the best available sources, Front Row Center is the most comprehensive collection yet of Gentle Giant’s remarkable US live recordings – an essential archive celebrating one of progressive rock’s most original, adventurous and accomplished live bands.
DISC 1
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
Live At The Bicentennial – 3 July 1976
Intro/Just The Same 07:40
Proclamation/Valedictory 05:16
On Reflection 06:53
Interview 06:51
The Runaway/Experience 10:37
So Sincere 10:49
DISC 2
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
Live At The Bicentennial – 3 July 1976
Excerpts From Octopus 17:11
Give It Back 05:26
Timing 13:14
Free Hand 07:55
DISC 3
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
16 November 1977
Two Weeks In Spain 02:58
Free Hand 06:46
On Reflection 07:12
I’m Turning Around 04:10
Just The Same/Playing The Game 10:11
Memories Of Old Days 07:27
DISC 4
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
16 November 1977
Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It 06:27
Funny Ways 07:59
The Face 16:13
For Nobody 04:31
Excerpts From Octopus 16:02
DISC 5
Chester, PA Widener College
18 November 1977
Two Weeks In Spain 03:00
Free Hand 07:49
On Reflection 06:09
I’m Turning Around 04:08
Just The Same/Playing The Game 09:51
Memories Of Old Days 07:29
Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It 04:20
The Face 13:31
For Nobody 05:25
Excerpts From Octopus – Part 1 06:05
Excerpts From Octopus – Part 2 09:45
DISC 6
Atlanta, GA – The Agora Ballroom
29 May 1980
Convenience (Clean And Easy) 04:13
All Through The Night 04:13
Free Hand 08:22
Knots 03:54
Playing The Game 04:57
Memories Of Old Days 08:12
Giant For A Day 05:11
Inside Out 06:35
It’s Not Imagination 05:05
Underground 11:22
For Nobody 04:58
The Advent Of Panurge 06:34
Number One 07:35
DISC 7
Los Angeles, CA – The Capitol Tapes
February 1975
Cogs In Cogs 02:59
Proclamation/Funny Ways 12:54
Experience 05:27
So Sincere 09:52
The Advent Of Panurge 05:46
Mister Class And Quality?/Peel The Paint/Valedictory 08:45
DISC 8
New Paltz, NY – NY State University
6 November 1977
Two Weeks In Spain 03:15
Free Hand 07:39
On Reflection 06:15
I’m Turning Around 04:11
Just The Same 05:07
Playing The Game 04:51
Memories Of Old Days 05:19
Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It 02:38
Plain Truth (Part) 06:32
For Nobody 04:27
Excerpts From Octopus 14:52
PRE-ORDER GENTLE GIANT –
FRONT ROW CENTRE U.S. DATES 1975-1980
