Gentle Giant- Think of Me With Kindness (First Listen)

[@chrisogburn8240]

I've always had a soft spot for this one. It's a nice contrast from the density of the rest of the album.

[@DropAnchor1978]

I love the precise pitch control Kerry has. A really gentle timbre and delivery. It is a stately voice that contrasts Derek's rougher vocal character.

[@steveobrien9937]

One of my faves on this album along with Advent and Knots...beautful writing from Kerry Minnear….

[@JustJP]

LOVE Advent

[@benoitrenaud519]

It shows they can write music in a romantic style if they want, but also that they can't help throwing us off balance with the odd rithms of the bridge. "Memories are sorrow, when there is no tomorrow" is one of my favorite lines ever. Bittersweet.

[@michelcolmant1714]

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra did a cover of this song in 2015 with Patrick Moraz on piano

[@IcouldBNE1]

Kerry Minnear sang the song. It sounds like a song he probably wrote most of.

[@ithaliem]

Minnear singing also in the beginning of The Advent of Panurge. Shame that he didn't sing so much in their live gigs.

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

​@@ithaliemhe didn't liks being in the spotlights all that much, also, his voice didn't project well on a stage. If someone has a soft voice, that can be compensated for in a studio by increasing the recording levels, on a stage that wouldn't work so well with everything else going on.

[@gelsol]

Kerry Minnear is the best thing about GG. Though I love how his voice works with Derek Shulman's.

[@runciblemoon1194]

Ropetackle Arts Centre, 16th April 2009. I'm watching the first official performance of Three Friends, a band featuring three original members of Gentle Giant playing music that I thought I'd never hear live. GG had broken up 6 years before I was even born, and their music is so unique, so complex and so uncommercial that no one in their right mind would ever try to recreate it. But there they were, a full band including Gary Green, Malcolm Mortimore and the incomparable Kerry Minnear. It was already shaping up to be an extraordinary night, but all of a sudden the energy quietens down and Kerry performs Think of Me With Kindness for the first time in decades, with a flawless, fragile beauty in both his playing and singing. And when it was over, there was this moment, maybe just a second, before the rapturous applause began, when you just knew this was a room full of people struggling to hold it together. We all knew this song inside out, had been carrying it in our hearts for years (decades in most cases, I was one of the youngest there), and all of a sudden there it was in front of us, almost tangible. People use the word "unforgettable" rather too glibly at times, but there really is no other way to describe that moment. Suffice it to say, this is a special song.

[@JustJP]

THAT is awesome David, ty for sharing the moment

[@peterjames1827]

That little piano bit that sounds familiar, was the same as the "Marlboro" ad theme music from the 60's and maybe 70's, which was probably clipped from a classical piece.

[@terrifictomtom]

Yes, that one part is reminiscent of the title theme of the Magnificent Seven. The lyrics were also influenced by the poem When We Two Parted by Lord Byron. The recurring line in the poem is "When we two parted in silence and tears." At the end of the song: When we two parted in tears and silence.

[@DavidImiri]

Yeah, The Magnificent Seven. They're Brits, they never heard it, no way it's an intended reference. But I can't hear anything else when I listen to that part of the song. 😄 All of a sudden I'm seeing gunslingers on horseback in the middle of this very touching sentimental love ballad. Just part of the wonderful weirdness of GG.

[@ericarmstrong6540]

I love the gentle lilting voice of Kerry Minnear. A great change of pace against the full belting sound from Derek Shulman. I cannot think of a single song Kerry Minnear sang on with Gentle Giant that I do not like.

[@happilyeggs4627]

It's one of the few Gentle Giant songs that is anthemic. You are probably thinking of the theme from the movie The Big Country.

[@jimhardiman3836]

Really nice song. The keyboardist also sang a lot of the lead vocals. Kerry Minnear received a degree in composition from the Royal Academy of Music. He had a softer, choir/classical quality to his voice. Derek Shulman had the rock power. In fact, Derek ended up singing many of Kerry's parts live because they had to turn up the gain on his mic which caused feedback. This is a really nice cover of Think of Me With Kindness: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn3OYpJmgsSohqs

[@JustJP]

Ty Jim, that was really nice

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

Phil Shulman also sang lead, until he left the group after this album, of course (that's him singing "Dog's Life").

[@berniedenk3001]

I'm a HUGE fan of GG. Freehand, In a Glass House and Power and the Glory rock the best! Their best ballad for me is Empty city :)

[@Cr8Tron]

Those are pretty much my favorite three GG albums. As for Interview, it's *way* underrated. Not my favorite album, BUT... "I Lost My Head" is definitely my favorite GG song ever.

[@tonycushen9372]

Interview Great stuff too!

[@benjaminseelig8675]

@@Cr8Tron Agreed. I think Another Show is the most underrated GG song. It's such a full sounding song, but in a good way.

[@jfergs.3302]

As much as i love this band, the lineup always made me chuckle, sounds like a firm of lawyers... Shulman, Shulman, Shulman, and Minnear.

[@ramoncardinali]

One of favorite GG songs. So beautiful. Kerry Minnear is such an underrated composer...

[@AugustoJTull]

I'll help you out with this one. On the liner notes in the original album this is said upon the lyrics of this song: "A personal song. It has been kept simple to retain the essentially intimate mood of the piece." This was singed and composed by the keyboardist Kerry Minnear. Actually, he is the main vocalist on The Advent of Panurge (Phil Shulman is the backing vocalist and the singer on the "Look at my friend, look around my friend" part, by the way). This rather simple structure, calm arrangements and Kerry as main vocalist is repeated in the next two albums (A Reunion and Aspirations). You can check them out later. Derek Shulman sings A Cry for Everyone and most part of River, and Phil Shulman is the singer on Dog's Life. I believe that now you can figure out who sings what on the rest of their discography. And depending on your reaction to River, I will try to give you insights on the next album you should listen to (I think you have in mind Acquiring the Taste and Free Hand, but I'll comment about them in your final reaction of Octopus).

[@JustJP]

Ah excellent, thank you for the notes Augusto.

[@masterofparsnips5327]

Reminds me a little bit of Peter Hamill ... although not as dark. Just while I'm thinking ... might be worth checking out the album "Hour of Bewilderbeast" by Badly Drawn Boy ... a great (in my mind) album from the year 2000.

[@gelsol]

Great observation! Love me some PH.

[@kookoothebirdgirl1]

One of my all time favorite GG songs. So much beauty in its simplicity. I also love Free Hand and Proclamation. They’re a totally different vibe, but still amazing!

[@mikeloomis687]

Thanks JP....I am really impressed how you are giving GG an honest listen. This song just shows you their depth. I hope you are finding another world of music out there....though much of it is over 40 years old....it's much better in every way than what is produced now. With very few exceptions of course. IMHO.

[@JustJP]

Thank you Michael :)

[@adam872]

This is a beautiful song and my favourite on the album. Kerry sings it well.

[@isidorogarat2166]

The next albums you need to hear are In a Glass House and Acquiring the Taste. Love your channel!! Greetings from Argentina!

[@JustJP]

Ty Isidoro! Appreciate you watching :)

[@BayouMaccabee]

I agree. "Acquiring the Taste" is my favorite Gentle Giant record.

[@wendellwiggins3776]

Dog LIfe is amazing bc like many of their songs, the songs are very visceral and capture the subject they're singing about. The emotion is this song is so sentimental and melancholic. The music captures every moment of the lyrics. Giant are in the top 5 of Prog.

[@roddmcleodable]

Boy, I have not been enjoying this band, but this song got me. Their style of singing is still a bit jarring to my ear, especially on the bridge. The chorus however was glorious. The song takes flight, and all the singing and piano lines and the drums converge gorgeously. Thanks for sharing.

[@JustJP]

Glad you liked it RC!

[@buhovadis3454]

The chords you refer to sound to me like the marlboro theme from the tv comercials. By the way, schooldays from the three friends album is a very interesting song to listen. Greetings and i thank you for the excelent music and insights you share.

[@arhar359]

The pop song you're thinking about is probably Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles... the piano part borrows heavily from this GG song, to say the least

[@christinerobinson548]

Boo. I loved a dog's life. It took me forever to figure out he was singing about a dog, a good laugh when I figured it out. OMG he wrote a song about his dog! Disney????!!!!!! God you are spoiling the song for me!

[@JustJP]

😅

[@godbluffvdgg]

This album, like Dark side of the moon, and indeed many other albums from the era are carefully laid out...They meander up to an intense middle then work their way to the final outro...When this came out, you'd NEVER just play one song...It was this whole album or another one...I hope you stay healthy and spend a decade listening to this and the others and then deliver a review...:)...To appreciate prog; it requires obsession...Casually listening to it dilutes it.

[@godbluffvdgg]

@@HippoYnYGlaw Girls were also a major distraction..:)....I used to love Jersey girls back in the day; They'd have a good grasp of Crimso or Zep and Yes so; it was fun to jam with them...:)...Now a days; they're rap loving morons...Not all, mind you, but; too many to count.

[@JustJP]

Ty Ron :D

[@BaldJean]

The passage you are looking for in that song is from the score of the movie "The Magnificent Seven". Take a listen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZDOnYKerpKYopI That score was also used for the ads of Marlboro cigarettes. It was composed by Henry Mancini who also composed the famous "Pink Panther" music and the song "Moon River" from the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with Audrey Hepburn. He also composed the score for a lot of other famous movies, among them two others with Audrey Hepburn ("Charade" and "Wait Until Dark") as well as "Hatari!", "Touch of Evil" or "Victor/Victoria", to name but a few.

[@JustJP]

That was the winner! Man, you guys are good :D

[@BaldJean]

@@JustJP "The Magnificent Seven" is actually a Western remake of the movie "The Seven Samurai" by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. He also directed Jeanine's favorite movie "Rashomon" which won the Oscar for "most outstanding movie in a foreign language" in 1952.

[@JustJP]

@@BaldJean Yup, SS is a classic! Never got to Rashomon though

[@BaldJean]

@@JustJP A great movie that tells a tale of death and (perhaps) rape from four different points of view: The bandit claims he killed the samurai in an heroic duel, the samurai's wife says she killed him because he rejected her after the bandit raped her, and the samurai's summoned ghost claims he committed suicide. And a woodcutter who was a witness tells a completely different tale, but his tale can't be completely true either.

[@BaldJean]

@@JustJP The woodcutter also tells about a sword fight, but it is anything but heroic. In his version two inept cowards fight each other only because they are urged on by the woman. This is perhaps the most hilarious sword fight ever; have a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/haOzc6V4ndyNb9U

[@gregoryweakland3481]

I agree, Think of Me With Kindness is a good palate cleanser to set up The River which is not only my favorite song on this record it it's my all time favorite GG song. Really looking forward to your thoughts on that one.

[@richardw4336]

Well that was quite different to the others from them so far. Liked this. The bit you were saying sounded like something reminded me of a part of the theme to The Magnificent Seven.

[@JustJP]

Yup! That was it :D

[@Lightmane]

I felt like I was watching a play and the lead was singing one of his main songs in the play. It was very nice. Another band from the 70's that I don't believe you've ever reacted to, and I just recently discovered, is called Gypsy. I think you'll enjoy their first album. I loved it.

[@B_C1]

a western motif I think from 60s 70s movies.

[@craxanshards3139]

I hope your next albums are Animals or Lamb Lies Down...

[@spatial7225]

thank you for listening to this, they are criminally ignored

[@souldreamer9056]

I’ve never heard a version of this song that wasn’t great. Check out a version with MAP, it’s similar to the studio version and beautifully sung and performed. For a lighter minimalist touch, try the acoustic version by Ray Livnat and Ori Ben Zhvi. For a heavier touch try the version from Band X. And if you want to hear a recent version by the original singer, try the Three Friends version.

[@JustJP]

Thank you SD!

[@wowwhywow]

If you listen to this album alot , you will end up loving a dogs life. And your looking for an Alicia Keys song ...her first hit... they both copied it from THEME TO THE MAGNIFICENT 7. Now you can sleep.

[@ontherun9510]

Very good song. Always love this one" You're getting close to the end. I wonder what the next album will be. JP, if you publish Gentle Giant ''River'' next, you will have 2 consecutives songs with ''River'' as a title (GG and Joni).

[@JustJP]

Thanks Run! When is that River video coming...hmm..

[@souldreamer9056]

The song you were thinking of may be “Sweet Soul Music” by Arthur Conley.

[@gannonb4u]

I'm 68years old and have followed GG since 1970's. GG is in the Top 5 of heavy prog rock bands and this songs show the diversity of musicianship, lyrics and music. The softer side of GG. Also "A Reunion" on the Album "In A Glass House" has a feel similar to Kindness kzbin.info/www/bejne/laTJeaOhp7edfNE

[@JeromeDukes]

I liked the song vocally and instrumentally. I thought the song had a nice melody and was pleasant to the ears. I also thought it was a trumpet that came in briefly. I also picked up the Magnificent 7 theme song with the riff you mentioned.

[@JustJP]

You've got it! TY

[@olabergvall3154]

The part where you ask Where is this from? I think of early Billy Joel

[@JackTheladd]

One of the more accessible Giant tracks.

[@johnnelson3665]

Gotta be open minded. But this almost felt like an 80’s ballad.

[@christinerobinson548]

Where is Dog's life? I need to hear that again. When I was listening to the album I didn't look at lyrics or titles, I just listen, and it took me a while to realize, This dude is singing about a dog! Rolling!!!!!

[@johnnelson3665]

I always want people to think of me with kindness.

[@ronjm945]

Thanks for being upbeat, a little kindness it goes a long way! This song is not my favorite but I don’t dislike them. That is kind right?

[@JustJP]

Thanks Ron! Absolutely :)

[@bmikelg48]

Check the album "In A Glass House" any song on it. That's the best produced REAL Giant Album.

[@bjwnashe5589]

Theme from Charlie Brown may be the piano chords you are thinking of.

[@MaokiDLuffy]

How had you never heard that song b4?! Lol

[@manhattenman6075]

Camel - Mirage Do that for the next album. Only 5 songs but 5 songs with loads of progressive. Also you’ve already done Lady Fantasy off the album but in my opinion the other songs are brilliant

[@sidecardog5244]

Am I the only one that thinks this sounds a bit like a slower version of ‘Linus and Lucy’. At least the beginning piano riff. Linus was one cool cat on the keys. SEE BELOW! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmfdqqOZlLGbpK8 🦉🔥REQUEST 🤨🤪: Kansas’ Magnum Opus/Father Padilla Meets the Perfect Gnat/ Howling at the Moon/ Man Overboard/ Industry on Parade/ Release the Beavers/ Gnat Attack. I know, a tad pretentious song title, however, about 90 percent instrumental. Kansas was influenced by GG...as was Spock’s Beard, Haken, Steven Wilson, Kevin Gilbert, etc, etc. Ps, I know this flies in the face of the accepted laws of magnetics, but...Too positives Do Not repel :)

[@bertos146]

I dont know if you are familair with hiphop but MF DOOM samples a gentle giant song Name of the song is funny ways great song

[@JustJP]

Not familiar with that song, but MF DOOM is my favorite rapper

[@bertos146]

JustJP MF DOOM - strange ways, its a gentle giant sample its from gentle giant first album name of the song is funny ways. I would like too see your reaction on that album especially that song

[@JustJP]

@@bertos146 huh, interesting. I definitely know Strange Ways, that's funny about the GG sample. Ty NB

[@PK1971PK]

Great ear picking out that segment that sounded familiar. I hadn't caught it myself before but when you pointed it out it sounded familiar to me, too, but, like you, I couldn't place it exactly. Just had an association in my mind with a western, maybe TV. With some investigation of a previous comment I've found it--the theme from the western movie The Magnificent Seven. Edit to give a link to it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bomnc2p9gtOVi7M

[@JustJP]

OMG Your right! TY TY

[@hansvandermeulen5515]

This is one of the more conventional sounding songs of theirs in their prog-era.

[@therealtwiggyleaf]

I liked it a lot. Very reminiscent of Van Der Graaf Generator. Thanks for the review! P.S: That familiar bit you are thinking of may be the tune from "The High Chaparral" by David Rose - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pajCc4JrbKdsr9E

[@Lwize]

Just a thought: for your next album review, try two songs at a time, or one side at a time (preferred). Reviewing an album one song at a time is dragging the process out, and context is getting lost. Albums are often better overall than just the sum of its parts. Just a thought.

[@BayouMaccabee]

I agree that doing whole sides would be the best way to do album reviews. This way, you can knock out an entire album in only 2 videos while still keeping them respectable in length.

[@thomassicard3733]

mm-hmmm. yeah. SUBLIME. Mellophone - usually played by French hornists.

[@arielquarante]

Gentle ? For sure, and may be too much. Giant ? Surely not. (My opinion only, sorry for those who think differently). I got the song you are searching for : It's from the movie The Magnificent Sevent. I spotted it immediately and it made me laugh so much ! Prog rock meeting western music ? Why not ? After all, Genesis with The Lamb had fun doing a pastiche of George Benson in the opening song to end by closing the album with a loan from the Rolling Stones and their It's only rock and roll ... I find the voice really too weak ... And this too thin way of singing annoys me a lot, as well as the melody of the vocals which sticks practically systematically to the piano melodic line ... The whole sprinkled with a little weird stuff to justify to be an avant-garde music ... Again, sorry for being so categorical and hurtful, but I may not be in the right vibration. Thank you Justin for being so positive when I am so negative... Shame on me ! Edit : After checking, it appears I am the first one who gave the right answer to the musical question. Did I win something? Maybe the right to be the next "Viewer choice"? It's a shame, I never made any request! 212/5000

[@JustJP]

You win a comment! LOL!

[@sidecardog5244]

You win a free copy of ‘Good Vibrations’ by The Beach Boys! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIKQhnmBramka9E

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

The Drifters originally sang "On Broadway," BTW.

[@daneng3641]

When I saw the title I thought this was going to be "Think of Me" from Phantom. That maybe Andrew Lloyd Webber lifted another prog classic. This one might also grow on me, but I just can't get past the goofy singing.

[@JustJP]

Lol! Not my favorite PoTO song tbh

[@peppernagre3126]

Nothing special with this one. Hey don't forget to remove Material Girl from your playlist.

[@JustJP]

Lol, that song is staying on!

[@peppernagre3126]

The only song by her I can stand is Papa Don't Preach.