Civilian (Gentle Giant album)
Civilian | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by Gentle Giant | ||||
Released | February, 1980 | |||
Recorded | August – November 1979 | |||
Studio | Sound City in Van Nuys, California | |||
Genre | AOR, synthpop, new wave | |||
Length | 32:41 | |||
Label |
Chrysalis (UK) Columbia (U.S.) | |||
Producer | Gentle Giant | |||
Gentle Giant chronology | ||||
|
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Civilian is the eleventh and final studio album by British band Gentle Giant, released in 1980. It was recorded at Sound City Studios in the Van Nuys neighborhood of Los Angeles with former Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. Consisting mostly of short rock songs, it is closer to an AOR sound than the progressive style for which the band is best known. Soon after Civilian's release, the band played a final tour and then split up.
The album also marked a return to Columbia Records in the U.S. and Canada after an eight-year hiatus. Gentle Giant's last Columbia album had been Octopus (1972).
A previously unreleased track, "Heroes No More", has been included on some CD reissues of Civilian. Another track from the period, "You Haven't a Chance", appeared on Under Construction 17 years later.
Track listing
All tracks written by Kerry Minnear and Derek Shulman, except where noted.
Side one | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
1. | "Convenience (Clean and Easy)" (G. Green, D. Shulman) | 3:13 |
2. | "All Through the Night" | 4:20 |
3. | "Shadows on the Street" | 3:18 |
4. | "Number One" | 4:38 |
All tracks written by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, and Ray Shulman.
Side two | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
1. | "Underground" | 3:47 |
2. | "I Am a Camera" | 3:32 |
3. | "Inside Out" | 5:51 |
4. | "It's Not Imagination" | 4:03 |
Bonus track | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
9. | "Heroes No More" (available on later CD re-release from One Way) | 4:38 |
Personnel
- Gary Green – Electric guitars on all tracks except track 3
- Kerry Minnear – synthesizers (tracks 1-7, 9), electric piano (tracks 1, 3-9), Hammond organ (tracks 2, 3, 9), Clavinet (track 7), piano (track 3), lead vocals on track 3
- Derek Shulman – lead vocals on all tracks except track 3
- Ray Shulman – bass, acoustic guitar (tracks 5, 6), backing vocals
- John Weathers – drums, tambourine (tracks 4-6, 8, 9), varispeed cymbals (track 1), percussion (track 7), backing vocals[2]
Release Details
- 1980, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR 1285, Release Date ? February 1980, LP
- 1980, USA, Columbia Records JC 36341, Release Date ? February or March 1980, LP
- 1980, Canada, Columbia Records JC 36341, Release Date ? ? 1980, LP
- 1994, UK, Terrapin Trucking TRUCKCD008, Release Date ? July 1994, CD (Re-Master)
- 1997, USA, One Way CD 28591, Release Date 28 October 1997, CD
- 1999, UK, Beat Goes On BGOCD435, Release Date 10 March 1999, CD (2 x CD with Playing the Fool – The Official Live)
References
- ↑ Little, Patrick (2011). "Civilian – Gentle Giant | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ↑ Gentle Giant's website (www.blazemonger.com/GG/)