Gentle Giant - Front Row Center (US Dates 1976 - 1980) - 8 CD BOX + BOOK

AN ESSENTIAL 8CD EARBOOK 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 & A 60-PAGE HARDBACK BOOK WITH NEW ESSAY & BAND INTERVIEWS

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 & musicianship, they delivered performances that remain among the most celebrated of the era.

‘Front Row Center (US Dates 1975–1980)’ 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 & 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 & 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 & many more.

Housed in a deluxe 8CD Earbook edition, ‘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 & stagecraft, alongside rare photographs & 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 & accomplished live bands.

Tracklist:
DISC 1 – Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall ‘Live At The Bicentennial’ 13/07/1976
1. Intro/Just The Same (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (07:40)
2. Proclamation/Valedictory (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (05:16)
3. On Reflection (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (06:53)
4. Interview (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (06:51)
5. The Runaway/Experience (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (10:37)
6. So Sincere (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (10:49)

DISC 2 – Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall ‘Live At The Bicentennial’ 13/07/1976
1. Excerpts From Octopus (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (17:11)
2. Give It Back (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (05:26)
3. Timing (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (13:14)
4. Free Hand (The Bicentennial, NY, July 13, 1976) (07:55)

DISC 3 – Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall ‘Live At The Bicentennial’ 16/11/1977
1. Two Weeks In Spain (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (02:58)
2. Free Hand (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (06:46)
3. On Reflection (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (07:12)
4. I’m Turning Around (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (04:10)
5. Just The Same/Playing The Game (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (10:11)
6. Memories Of Old Days (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (07:27)

DISC 4 – Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall ‘Live At The Bicentennial’ 16/11/1977
1. Betcha Thought We Couldn`t Do It (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (06:27)
2. Funny Ways (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (07:59)
3. The Face (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (16:13)
4. For Nobody (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (04:31)
5. Excerpts From Octopus (Calderone Concert Hall, NY, 16 Nov 1977) (16:02)

DISC 5 – Chester, PA – Widener College 18/11/1977
1. Two Weeks In Spain (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (03:00)
2. Free Hand (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (07:49)
3. On Reflection (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (06:09)
4. I’m Turning Around (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (04:08)
5. Just The Same/Playing The Game (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (09:51)
6. Memories Of Old Days (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (07:29)
7. Betcha Thought We Couldn`t Do It (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (04:20)
8. The Face (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (13:31)
9. For Nobody (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (05:25)
10. Excerpts From Octopus - Part 1 (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (06:05)
11. Excerpts From Octopus - Part 2 (Widener Collage, PA, 18 Nov 1977) (09:45)

DISC 6 – Atlanta, GA – The Agora Ballroom 29/05/1980
1. Convenience (Clean & Easy) (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (04:13)
2. All Through The Night (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (04:13)
3. Free Hand (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (08:22)
4. Knots (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (03:54)
5. Playing The Game (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (04:57)
6. Memories Of Old Days (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (08:12)
7. Giant For A Day (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (05:11)
8. Inside Out (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (06:35)
9. It’s Not Imagination (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (05:05)
10. Underground (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (11:22)
11. For Nobody (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (04:58)
12. The Advent Of Panurge (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (06:34)
13. Number One (The Agora, GA, 29 May, 1980) (07:35)

DISC 7 – Los Angeles, CA – The Capitol Tapes February 1975
1. Cogs In Cogs (Capitol Studios, CA, 13 Feb 1975) (02:59)
2. Proclamation/Funny Ways (Capitol Studios, CA, 13 Feb 1975) (12:54)
3. Experience (Capitol Studios, CA, 13 Feb 1975) (05:27)
4. So Sincere (Capitol Studios, CA, 13 Feb 1975) (09:52)
5. The Advent Of Panurge (Capitol Studios, CA, 13 Feb 1975) (05:46)
6. Mister Class & Quality?/Peel The Paint/Valedictory (Capitol Studios, CA, 13 Feb 1975) (08:45)

DISC 8 – New Paltz, NY – NY State University 06/11/1977
1. Two Weeks In Spain (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (03:15)
2. Free Hand (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (07:39)
3. On Reflection (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (06:15)
4. I’m Turning Around (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (04:11)
5. Just The Same (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (05:07)
6. Playing The Game (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (04:51)
7. Memories Of Old Days (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (05:19)
8. Betcha Thought We Couldn`t Do It (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (02:38)
9. Plain Truth (Part) (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (06:32)
10. For Nobody (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (04:27)
11. Excerpts from Octopus (NY State University, NY, 6 Nov 1977) (14:52)