In a Glass House
Encyclopedia
In a Glass House is an album by British
progressive rock
band Gentle Giant
, released in 1973.
One of Gentle Giant's most popular albums, it was available in North America only as a rare import – both LP and CD – until 2004 when a digitally remastered CD was released. This was because their US label Columbia Records
rejected the album as uncommercial. As a result Columbia dropped the band from the label which contractually allowed the band to take ownership of the original master recording and all rights to it. This cleared the way for the first "official" release of the title in the United States on compact disc on the band's own Alucard label. It is the first Gentle Giant album after the departure of Phil Shulman
.
The 2004 release had two live recordings from the tour as bonus tracks. The album was reissued in 2005 and distributed by Derek Shulman
's DRT label with 1 bonus live track as part of the 35th Anniversary reissue series of the band's back catalogue. In 2009 "In a Glass House" became available for the first time as a digital download with bonus live recordings (these recordings differed from the original 2004 and 2005 release of the album) remastered by Fred Kervorkian under the supervision of Ray Shulman
. In a Glass House received a physical release on CD as part of a 40th Anniversary series of reissues this time without any bonus tracks with plans to release vinyl versions of all the band's albums from In a Glass House through Giant for a Day in late 2010.
The album is allegedly based around the concept that "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". The record begins and ends with the sound of breaking glass.
The final track of the album is hidden
. Following the song "In a Glass House", there is a delay then a brief recapitulation of every other track on the album.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
, released in 1973.
One of Gentle Giant's most popular albums, it was available in North America only as a rare import – both LP and CD – until 2004 when a digitally remastered CD was released. This was because their US label Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
rejected the album as uncommercial. As a result Columbia dropped the band from the label which contractually allowed the band to take ownership of the original master recording and all rights to it. This cleared the way for the first "official" release of the title in the United States on compact disc on the band's own Alucard label. It is the first Gentle Giant album after the departure of Phil Shulman
Phil Shulman
Phil Shulman , was a member of the progressive rock group Gentle Giant from 1970 to 1972 and performed on their albums Gentle Giant, Acquiring the Taste, Three Friends and Octopus....
.
The 2004 release had two live recordings from the tour as bonus tracks. The album was reissued in 2005 and distributed by Derek Shulman
Derek Shulman
Derek Shulman is a British musician and singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record executive...
's DRT label with 1 bonus live track as part of the 35th Anniversary reissue series of the band's back catalogue. In 2009 "In a Glass House" became available for the first time as a digital download with bonus live recordings (these recordings differed from the original 2004 and 2005 release of the album) remastered by Fred Kervorkian under the supervision of Ray Shulman
Ray Shulman
Raymond Shulman is a British musician, and the youngest of three brothers in progressive rock band, Gentle Giant.Born in Portsmouth, Shulman's father was a trumpet player in a jazz band, and that was the first instrument he learned to play...
. In a Glass House received a physical release on CD as part of a 40th Anniversary series of reissues this time without any bonus tracks with plans to release vinyl versions of all the band's albums from In a Glass House through Giant for a Day in late 2010.
The album is allegedly based around the concept that "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". The record begins and ends with the sound of breaking glass.
The final track of the album is hidden
Hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track is a piece of music that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, vinyl record or other recorded medium in such a way as to avoid detection by the casual listener...
. Following the song "In a Glass House", there is a delay then a brief recapitulation of every other track on the album.
Side One
- "The Runaway" – 7:16 (Kerry Minnear, Ray Shulman, Derek Shulman)
- "An Inmate's Lullaby" – 4:40 (Minnear, R. Shulman)
- "Way of Life" – 8:04 (Minnear, R. Shulman, D. Shulman)
Side Two
- "Experience" – 7:50 (Minnear, R. Shulman, D. Shulman)
- "A Reunion" – 2:12 (Minnear, R. Shulman)
- "In a Glass House" – 8:09 (Minnear, R. Shulman)
Bonus tracks on remastered CD
- "The Runaway/Experience" (Live 23 September 1976 at the Philipshalle in DüsseldorfDüsseldorfDüsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, West Germany) – 10:01 - "In a Glass House" (Live 5 April 1974, at the Munsterlandhalle, MunsterMunsterMunster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, West Germany)" – 9:49
- 35th anniversary disc only contains the "The Runaway/Experience" bonus track with a length of 9:43
Personnel
- Derek ShulmanDerek ShulmanDerek Shulman is a British musician and singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record executive...
- lead vocals, alto & soprano sax, recorder - Gary GreenGary GreenGary Green is a British musician. During the 1970s, he was the guitarist for the progressive rock band Gentle Giant. Green was with the band from the debut album Gentle Giant all the way to the last album Civilian. Green's style was different from most of his peers, being a more "blues" based...
- 6 & 12 string guitars, mandolin, percussion, alto recorder - Kerry MinnearKerry MinnearKerry Minnear is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist who played in the innovative progressive rock band Gentle Giant during the 1970s....
- keyboards, tuned percussion, recorder, vocals - Ray ShulmanRay ShulmanRaymond Shulman is a British musician, and the youngest of three brothers in progressive rock band, Gentle Giant.Born in Portsmouth, Shulman's father was a trumpet player in a jazz band, and that was the first instrument he learned to play...
- bass & acoustic guitars, violin, trumpet, percussion, backing vocals - John WeathersJohn WeathersJohn Patrick 'Pugwash' Weathers is a drummer, best known for playing with the innovative progressive rock band Gentle Giant.-Early life:...
- drums, percussion
Production
- Arranged By Gentle Giant
- Produced By Gentle Giant & Gary Martin
- Recorded & Engineered By Gary Martin
- Mixed By Dan Bornemark
CD releases
- Road Goes On Forever RGF CD 1001, 1992?, no bonus tracks