Interview (album)
Encyclopedia
Interview is a concept album
by British
progressive rock
band Gentle Giant
which was released in 1976. This is a unique concept in the canon of Gentle Giant work in that it is conceived as a radio interview. Three of the tracks integrate brief "interview" sections which were staged in the studio. The title song has lyrics derived from the type of question and answer dialogue they had encountered while talking to the music press. This album was less successful with critics and in the charts than their previous albums.
, Derek Shulman
and Ray Shulman
. (Copyright
Clipchoice Ltd. & Moth Music, Inc.)
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
by British
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...
which was released in 1976. This is a unique concept in the canon of Gentle Giant work in that it is conceived as a radio interview. Three of the tracks integrate brief "interview" sections which were staged in the studio. The title song has lyrics derived from the type of question and answer dialogue they had encountered while talking to the music press. This album was less successful with critics and in the charts than their previous albums.
Track listing
All songs composed by Kerry MinnearKerry Minnear
Kerry Minnear is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist who played in the innovative progressive rock band Gentle Giant during the 1970s....
, Derek Shulman
Derek Shulman
Derek Shulman is a British musician and singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record executive...
and 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...
. (Copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
Clipchoice Ltd. & Moth Music, Inc.)
Bonus track - 35th Anniversary reissue
- "Interview" – 6:31 (recorded July 3, 1976 at Calderone Theater, Hempstead, NY)
Personnel
- 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...
– electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, 12 string guitar, recorder, backing vocals. - Kerry MinnearKerry MinnearKerry Minnear is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist who played in the innovative progressive rock band Gentle Giant during the 1970s....
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, lead vocals, backing vocals. - Derek ShulmanDerek ShulmanDerek Shulman is a British musician and singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record executive...
– vocals, alto sax. - 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...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, 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:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion - Phil Sutcliffe – interviewer
Charts
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
137 |
Release details
- 1976, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR-1115, Release Date 30 April 1976, LP
- 1976, U.S., Capitol Records ST-11532, Release Date 4 May 1976, LP
- 1976, U.S., Capitol Records ST-11532, Release Date ? April 1976, Cassette
- ?, U.S., Capitol Records SN-16047, Release Date ? ? ?, LP (reissue without picture sleeve)
- ?, U.S., Capitol Records CD 18732, Release Date ? ? ?, CD
- 1994, UK, Terrapin Trucking TRUCKCD005, Release Date ? July 1994, CD (Re-Master)
- 1996, U.S., One Way CD 18467, Release Date ? ? 1996, CD
- 1999, UK, BGO BGOCD421, Release Date 1 October 1999, CD (2 x CD with Free HandFree HandFree Hand is an album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant that was released in 1975. It also marked their first album under their new label, Chrysalis Records in the U.K. This album is noted for its high production values, and a less harsh and dissonant, more musical feel than their...
) (This version is missing a few seconds of dialogue at the end of the "Interview" album.) - 2005, UK, DRT Entertainment RTÉ 00357, Release Date 13 September 2005, CD (35th Anniversary Enhanced Re-Master)