The Missing Piece (Gentle Giant album)
| The Missing Piece | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 26 August 1977 | |||
| Recorded | May 1977 | |||
| Studio | Relight Studios, Hilvarenbeek, The Netherlands | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 36:28 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis (UK) Capitol (US) | |||
| Producer | Gentle Giant | |||
| Gentle Giant chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Missing Piece | ||||
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The Missing Piece is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1977. After the Interview tour this return to the studio marked a change of direction for the band with the first side of the album exploring different musical directions than the band was previously known for, including pop music and punk rock, while the second side was more in the vein of their signature progressive rock style. This was the last Gentle Giant album to chart in the United States.
Packaging
[edit]The front cover of the album shows a puzzle piece that fits to an uncompleted puzzle shown on the back cover of the album. The puzzle, when completed, shows a picture of the front cover of their debut album. The Unburied Treasure box set includes a replica of the uncompleted puzzle from the back cover of the album.
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
The Globe and Mail wrote that "Gentle Giant has become more listenable by becoming more commercial... With The Missing Piece, the band devours mainstream and burps up a polished bit of formula recording."[3]
Track listing
[edit]All lead vocals by Derek Shulman, except "As Old as You're Young", sung by Kerry Minnear and Derek Shulman.
All tracks are written by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Two Weeks in Spain" | 3:07 |
| 2. | "I'm Turning Around" | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Betcha Thought We Couldn't Do It" | 2:25 |
| 4. | "Who Do You Think You Are?" | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Mountain Time" | 3:20 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 6. | "As Old as You're Young" | 4:21 |
| 7. | "Memories of Old Days" | 7:18 |
| 8. | "Winning" | 4:18 |
| 9. | "For Nobody" | 4:05 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "For Nobody" (Live, exclusively on the 35th anniversary release) | 4:31 |
Personnel
[edit]- Gentle Giant
- Derek Shulman – lead vocals on all tracks
- Gary Green – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (track 7)
- Ray Shulman – bass, 12-string guitar (track 7), percussion (track 8)
- Kerry Minnear – Hammond organ (tracks 1, 2, 5–9), electric piano (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7), piano (tracks 4–6, 8), synthesizer (tracks 1, 4, 7), Minimoog (tracks 3, 6, 8), Clavinet (track 6), percussion (track 8), vocals (track 6)
- John Weathers – drums (track 1–6, 8, 9), tambourine (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 9), cymbal crash (track 7), percussion (track 8), drum machine (track 8)
There are no official instrument credits listed on the album.
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1977) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[4] | 81 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[5] | 50 |
| US Billboard 200[6] | 81 |
Release history
[edit]- 1977, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR-1152, release date August 26, 1977, LP
- 1977, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR-1152, release date ? ? 1977, Cassette
- 1977, US, Capitol Records ST-11696, release date September 12, 1977, LP
- 1977, US, Capitol Records ST-11696, release date ? ? 1977, Cassette
- 1977, Brazil, Chrysalis Records 6307 604, release date ? ? 1977, LP
- 1981?, US, Capitol Records SN-16046, release date ? ? ?, LP (re-release)
- ?, US, Capitol Records 18742, release date ? ? ?, CD
- 1994, UK, Terrapin Trucking TRUCKCD006, release date 15 July 1994, CD (re-master)
- 1996, US, One Way CD 18469, release date 16 March 1996, CD
- 1999, UK, Beat Goes On BGOCD435, release date 16 April 1999, CD (2× CD with Giant for a Day!)
- 2005, UK, DRT Entertainment/Pinnacle RTE356, release date 5 September 2005, CD (35th anniversary enhanced re-master)
References
[edit]- ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 34.
- ^ AllMusic review
- ^ McGrath, Paul (16 November 1977). "Gentle Giant". The Globe and Mail. p. P2.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5446b". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Gentle Giant – The Missing Piece". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "Gentle Giant Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
