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Rating: There is already a very competent review of this magnificent album. It's dated 2006, and in the digital world, this could correspond to a geological era. I apologize to the previous reviewer, but I am doing this only to make the invitation to listen to the album "Three Friends" contemporary.
Even Gentle Giant comes from a past era, or perhaps from another dimension. Listening to them is an all-encompassing experience, an almost titanic effort. There are no solutions at hand, no easy listening. Like an ancient deity, the Music of Gentle Giant ultimately demands a "mystical" surrender, and only after numerous listens can one penetrate the complexity of the sound textures and grasp the melody.
"Three Friends" is a concept album and tells the unfolding of the life of three friends. After school (Schooldays), the three separate and embark on opposite paths. One becomes the typical representative of the working class (Working All Day), another a painter (Peel the Paint), and the last a businessman (Mister Class and Quality?). But the friendship born on school benches cannot be corrupted, and the three are eventually reunited in the majestic finale (Three Friends).
The conceptual intent, miraculously, captures for a moment the usual kaleidoscope of sounds in a homogeneous mood, and for the writer, "Three Friends" is the most accessible long-playing of the early Gentle Giant. The musicians are, as usual, extraordinary and never celebrated enough.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Prologue (06:13)
Three friends are made, three lives are laughs and tears
Through years of school and play they share
As time stands still the days change into years
And future comes without a care.
But fate and skill and chances play their part
The wind of change leaves no good-bye
Three boys are men their ways have drawn apart
They tell their tales to justify.
02 Schooldays (07:37)
The bell rings
And all things
Are calling
The days past
The play's cast
Remember
September
When we were
Together
Together
Together
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
How long is ever isn't it strange
Did kites fly
And I spy
And you cry
To run fast
Or come last
You know how
We made vows
They're gone now
We made friends
We broke friends
No more friends
Schooldays the happy days when we were going nowhere
Schooldays the happy time when we were feeling no care
Schooldays when three said that we'd better be friends forever
How long is ever isn't it strange
Schooldays together why do they change
Remember,
Remember when we
Together
Went to the sea
Was it real or did we dream. The days of children gone.
Seagull's scream and pink ice cream and the deep blue sky
And the waves seem high and golden sand and the town
brass band play on
Wait for me
Wait for us always
Wait for me
Wait for us to come
Homework's dull. It's worth the pain to go out when I want
Mister Watson wants to see you in the master's room
It's about the work you should have done and I think you
must go now
Schooldays are gone
05 Mister Class and Quality? (03:22)
Look around my rooms and see the prizes I have showing
Working hard to build my life and plan the way I'm going
House and car and pretty wife - they've all been won by knowing
All been won by knowing
All been won by knowing.
Paperwork, white collared shirts - where would we be without them
Man of class and quality - I never shout about them
Choose my friends for my own ends.
You can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them
Can't succeed without them.
Middleman sees straight ahead and never crosses borders
Never understood the artist or the lazy workers
The world needs steady men like me to give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
Give and take the orders
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Other reviews
By Larrok
The superb keyboard provides the backdrop, offering in the central part a solo at the limits of jazz truly delightful.
A true gem: a jam that moves from blues to the most experimental prog.
