Gentle Giant – Two Weeks in Spain
This could easily be one of my picks. By 1977, when the Missing Piece was released, progrock was slipping out of fashion. Gentle Giant was not as successful as acts like Genesis and Yes were in creating popular records, but much more successful in creating quality music than Emerson, Lake & Palmer (see Love Beach). This song proves that GG could make a taught track while still maintaining their quirkiness and musicality. Two Weeks in Spain trims the prog excesses and bounces along energetically. Couldn’t have chosen more wisely myself.
Hall & Oates – Did It In A Minute
Another one that certainly could have been on my list (their kiss?) Nice guitar wail in the intro. Rocks a little better than I remember (maybe it’s the version). It is certainly of a time, but, man, is it catchy. Top of the pops.
“Two Weeks in Spain”/Gentle Giant. Has a jazz fusion flavor, and I suppose the Ren/Baroque-ish instrumental makes it even more multi-hyphenatedly fusionistic. Very lively, with a hastened feel that echoes the message “two weeks in Spain is not enough.” (Certainly it would not be for Spaniards.) With all the riffing, it should feel catchier than it does; is it just me, or does the singer sound a little hectored or grouchy?
“Did it In a MInute”/Hall & Oates. This is more rock-oriented than I remember from these blue-eyed soulsters, if in its heavily-synthed ’80s fashion. Fun, though, with familiar Hall & Oates-marks, especially in the harmonies. Love the “I know I know I know I knows.”
Gentle Giant- i would have bet my left nostril that this was the pick of the right and honorable E.A.B. himself. Kudos to whomever it was. What is a great track. Trimmed of the filigree of some of prog’s excesses, this song makes a compelling case for a gateway drug for harder and more complicated stuff. Tight, rhythmic playing with a sprinkling of creative time shifting.
“Did It In A Minute” by Daryl Hall & John Oates: not familiar with this one. Some bright synths and what I would call a classic Hall and Oates vibe to my ear. As I listen longer perhaps hints of memory of it are coming back. A minor hit? I can get behind this and it deserves more listens than one. Especially the way they sing that pre chorus kind of picks my ears up for some reason.
GG – I like the music, got some funk to it. Never was into this ProgRock, but it has grown on me over the years.
HO – These were some of the first Vinyl albums that I bought. I think the first was H2O (the one with Maneater on it), then Voices. I didn’t think I knew this song but the chorus has something familiar. Very Cheesy 80’s rock perfect for a cheesy 80’s movie soundtrack.
Gentle Giant – Two Weeks in Spain
This could easily be one of my picks. By 1977, when the Missing Piece was released, progrock was slipping out of fashion. Gentle Giant was not as successful as acts like Genesis and Yes were in creating popular records, but much more successful in creating quality music than Emerson, Lake & Palmer (see Love Beach). This song proves that GG could make a taught track while still maintaining their quirkiness and musicality. Two Weeks in Spain trims the prog excesses and bounces along energetically. Couldn’t have chosen more wisely myself.
Hall & Oates – Did It In A Minute
Another one that certainly could have been on my list (their kiss?) Nice guitar wail in the intro. Rocks a little better than I remember (maybe it’s the version). It is certainly of a time, but, man, is it catchy. Top of the pops.
“Two Weeks in Spain”/Gentle Giant. Has a jazz fusion flavor, and I suppose the Ren/Baroque-ish instrumental makes it even more multi-hyphenatedly fusionistic. Very lively, with a hastened feel that echoes the message “two weeks in Spain is not enough.” (Certainly it would not be for Spaniards.) With all the riffing, it should feel catchier than it does; is it just me, or does the singer sound a little hectored or grouchy?
“Did it In a MInute”/Hall & Oates. This is more rock-oriented than I remember from these blue-eyed soulsters, if in its heavily-synthed ’80s fashion. Fun, though, with familiar Hall & Oates-marks, especially in the harmonies. Love the “I know I know I know I knows.”
Gentle Giant- i would have bet my left nostril that this was the pick of the right and honorable E.A.B. himself. Kudos to whomever it was. What is a great track. Trimmed of the filigree of some of prog’s excesses, this song makes a compelling case for a gateway drug for harder and more complicated stuff. Tight, rhythmic playing with a sprinkling of creative time shifting.
“Did It In A Minute” by Daryl Hall & John Oates: not familiar with this one. Some bright synths and what I would call a classic Hall and Oates vibe to my ear. As I listen longer perhaps hints of memory of it are coming back. A minor hit? I can get behind this and it deserves more listens than one. Especially the way they sing that pre chorus kind of picks my ears up for some reason.
GG – I like the music, got some funk to it. Never was into this ProgRock, but it has grown on me over the years.
HO – These were some of the first Vinyl albums that I bought. I think the first was H2O (the one with Maneater on it), then Voices. I didn’t think I knew this song but the chorus has something familiar. Very Cheesy 80’s rock perfect for a cheesy 80’s movie soundtrack.