Playing the Fool

The Official Live - Playing the Fool
Live album by Gentle Giant
Released	January 18, 1977
Recorded	September 23 – October 7, 1976 in Düsseldorf, Paris, Brussels and Munich
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	78:09
Label	Chrysalis (UK) Capitol (U.S.)
Producer	Gentle Giant
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Gentle Giant chronology
Interview (1976) The Official Live - Playing the Fool (1977) The Missing Piece (1977)

The Official Live - Playing the Fool is a live album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant which was released in 1977. It demonstrates the band's complex musicianship and talent as well as showcasing versions of songs which are often greatly modified from the original album versions.

Contents 1 Track listing 1.1 LP 1, Side One 1.2 LP 1, Side Two 1.3 LP 2, Side One 1.4 LP 2, Side Two 1.5 35th anniversary re-release edition 1.5.1 Disc 1 1.5.2 Disc 2 2 Personnel 3 Charts 4 Release details

Track listing

All songs composed by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman and Ray Shulman.

LP 1, Side One

1. "Just the Same/Proclamation" – 11:13 (Düsseldorf, 1976-09-23)
2. "On Reflection" – 6:20 (Düsseldorf, 1976-09-23)

LP 1, Side Two

3. "(Octopus) Boys In The Band" – 15:35 (Paris, 1976-10-05)
4. "Funny Ways" – 8:35 (Munich, 1976-09-25)

LP 2, Side One

5. "In A Glass House" – 9:31 (Paris, 1976-10-05)
6. "So Sincere" – 10:22 (Paris, 1976-10-05)

LP 2, Side Two

7. "Free Hand" – 7:40 (Brussels, 1976-10-07)
8. "Sweet Georgia Brown" – 1:15 (Brussels, 1976-10-07)
9. "Peel the Paint/I Lost My Head" – 7:35 (Paris, 1976-10-05)

35th anniversary re-release edition

Disc 1

Total time 41:44

1. "Just the Same" – 5:57
2. "Proclamation" – 5:18
3. "On Reflection" – 6:20
4. "Excerpts From Octopus" – 15:39
5. "Funny Ways" – 8:30

• Proclamation [CD-ROM Track]

Disc 2

Total time 36:25

6. "The Runaway" – 3:56
7. "Experience" – 5:36
8. "So Sincere" – 10:20
9. "Free Hand" – 7:40
10. "Sweet Georgia Brown (Breakdown In Brussels)" – 1:21
11. "Peel the Paint/I Lost My Head" – 7:32

Note: The track listing and times have changed throughout the years and the different releases that this album has seen.

Personnel

• Gary Green – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12 string guitar, alto recorder, descant recorder, vocals, percussion
• Kerry Minnear – keyboards, cello, vibes, tenor recorder, vocals, percussion
• Derek Shulman – vocals, alto sax, descant recorder, bass, percussion
• Ray Shulman – bass, violin, acoustic guitar, descant recorder, trumpet, vocals, percussion
• John Weathers – drums, vibes, tambourine, vocals, percussion

There are no official instrument credits listed on the album.

Charts

Year	Chart	Position
1977	US Billboard 200	89

Release details

• 1977, UK, Chrysalis Records CTY 1133, Release Date 28 January 1977, LP
• 1977, US, Capitol Records SKBB-11592, Release date 18 January 1977, LP
• 1994, UK, Terrapin Trucking RGOF Cat# RGF CD 1009, Release Date ? ? 1994, CD (Re-Master)
• 2004, UK, BGO BGOCD435, Release Date 12 July 2004, CD (2 x CD with Civilian)
• 2005, UK, DRT Entertainment/Pinnacle RTE354, Release Date 10 October 2005, CD (35th Anniversary Enhanced Re-Master)

Gentle Giant Derek Shulman · Ray Shulman · Gary Green · Kerry Minnear · John Weathers Phil Shulman · Martin Smith · Malcolm Mortimore Discography Studio albums Gentle Giant · Acquiring the Taste · Three Friends · Octopus · In a Glass House · The Power and the Glory · Free Hand · Interview · The Missing Piece · Giant for a Day · Civilian Other releases Playing the Fool · In Concert-BBC Radio 1 · Out of the Woods · Under Construction · Scraping the Barrel · Giant on the Box · GG at the GG