Gentle Giant/Acquiring the Taste [Remastered]

Personnel: Gary Green (vocals, guitar, 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar); Ray Shulman (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, Spanish guitar, violin, electric violin, viola, tambourine, percussion, background vocals); Kerry Minnear (vocals, cello, piano, celesta, electric piano, harpsichord, clavichord, organ, Mellotron, keyboards, vibraphone, maracas, percussion, background vocals); Phil Shulman (vocals, recorder, clarinet, saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, piano, claves, maracas, background vocals); Derek Shulman (vocals, alto saxophone, clavichord, cowbells, background vocals); Martin Smith (drums, tambourine, percussion, gong).
Audio Remasterer: Andrew Thompson .
Liner Note Authors: David Wells ; Gentle Giant; Tony Visconti.
Arranger: Gentle Giant.
This two-fer from the venerable British progressive rock band Gentle Giant features the group's 1970 eponymous debut and 1971 sophomore outing Acquiring the Taste, both of which, along with their classic third release, Octopus, represented career highs. Of the two, Acquiring the Taste carries the most weight, boasting three of their best cuts in "Edge of Twilight," "The House," "The Street, The Room," and "The Moon Is Down," but their inaugural offering is notable for effectively establishing the band's eclectic sound. ~ James Christopher Monger