GENTLE GIANT ANNOUNCE FRONT ROW CENTRE

AN ESSENTIAL 8CD COLLECTION 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 AND A 60-PAGE HARDBACK BOOK WITH NEW ESSAY AND BAND INTERVIEWS

SET FOR RELEASE ON MADFISH ON 27th NOVEMBER

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE

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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and many more.

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 and stagecraft, alongside rare photographs and 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 and accomplished live bands.

PRE-ORDER GENTLE GIANT – FRONT ROW CENTRE U.S. DATES 1975-1980

DISC 1
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
Live At The Bicentennial – 3 July 1976

Intro/Just The Same – 07:40

Proclamation/Valedictory – 05:16

On Reflection – 06:53

Interview – 06:51

The Runaway/Experience – 10:37

So Sincere – 10:49

DISC 2
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
Live At The Bicentennial – 3 July 1976

Excerpts From Octopus – 17:11

Give It Back – 05:26

Timing – 13:14

Free Hand – 07:55

DISC 3
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
16 November 1977

Two Weeks In Spain – 02:58

Free Hand – 06:46

On Reflection – 07:12

I’m Turning Around – 04:10

Just The Same/Playing The Game – 10:11

Memories Of Old Days – 07:27

DISC 4
Hempstead, NY – Calderone Concert Hall
16 November 1977

Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It – 06:27

Funny Ways – 07:59

The Face – 16:13

For Nobody – 04:31

Excerpts From Octopus – 16:02

DISC 5
Chester, PA – Widener College
18 November 1977

Two Weeks In Spain – 03:00

Free Hand – 07:49

On Reflection – 06:09

I’m Turning Around – 04:08

Just The Same/Playing The Game – 09:51

Memories Of Old Days – 07:29

Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It – 04:20

The Face – 13:31

For Nobody – 05:25

Excerpts From Octopus – Part 1 – 06:05

Excerpts From Octopus – Part 2 – 09:45

DISC 6
Atlanta, GA – The Agora Ballroom
29 May 1980

Convenience (Clean And Easy) – 04:13

All Through The Night – 04:13

Free Hand – 08:22

Knots – 03:54

Playing The Game – 04:57

Memories Of Old Days – 08:12

Giant For A Day – 05:11

Inside Out – 06:35

It’s Not Imagination – 05:05

Underground – 11:22

For Nobody – 04:58

The Advent Of Panurge – 06:34

Number One – 07:35

DISC 7
Los Angeles, CA – The Capitol Tapes
February 1975

Cogs In Cogs – 02:59

Proclamation/Funny Ways – 12:54

Experience – 05:27

So Sincere – 09:52

The Advent Of Panurge – 05:46

Mister Class And Quality?/Peel The Paint/Valedictory – 08:45

DISC 8
New Paltz, NY – NY State University
6 November 1977

Two Weeks In Spain – 03:15

Free Hand – 07:39

On Reflection – 06:15

I’m Turning Around – 04:11

Just The Same – 05:07

Playing The Game – 04:51

Memories Of Old Days – 05:19

Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It – 02:38

Plain Truth (Part) – 06:32

For Nobody – 04:27

Excerpts From Octopus – 14:52

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