Acquiring the Taste

Acquiring the Taste was the second album of English progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1971. __NOTOC__ This was a departure from the blues and soul styles found on their self titled debut. It was more experimental, more discordant, and with more various instrumentation.

The recording was made at the following studios

Advision Studios - (Engineers Martin Rushent, Big A & Garybaldi)
A.I.R. Studios, London - (Engineer Bill Price)

Track listing

Disk - Total Time (39:16)

Pantagruel's Nativity (06:50)
Edge of Twilight (03:47)
The House, The Street, The Room (06:01)
Acquiring the Taste (01:36)
Wreck (04:36)
The Moon Is Down (04:45)
Black Cat (03:51)
Plain Truth (07:36)

All songs written by Shulman, Shulman, Shulman and Minnear and arranged by Gentle Giant.

Personnel

Gary Green - 6 string guitar, 12 string guitar, 12 string wah-wah guitar, donkey's jawbone, cat calls, voice
Kerry Minnear - electric piano, organ, mellotron, vibraphone, Moog, piano, celeste, clavichord, harpsichord, tympani, maracas, lead vocals
Derek Shulman - alto sax, clavichord, cowbell, lead vocals
Phil Shulman - alto & tenor sax, clarinet, trumpet, piano, claves, maracas, lead vocals
Ray Shulman - bass, violin, viola, electric violin, Spanish guitar, tambourine, 12 string guitar, organ bass pedals, skulls, vocals
Martin Smith - drums, tambourine, gongs, side drum

Guest musicians

Paul Cosh - trumpet, organ
Tony Visconti - recorder, bass drum, triangle
Chris Thomas - moog programmer

Trivia

The song "Pantagruel's Nativity" is inspired by the books of Gargantua and Pantagruel by Francois Rabelais.

Release details

1971, UK, Vertigo VE 1005, Release Date ? ? 1971, CD
1971, UK, Vertigo VE 1005, Release Date ? ? 1971, Cassette
1971, USA, Vertigo VEL 1005, Release Date ? ? 1971, CD (with gatefold cover)
1971, USA, Vertigo VEL 1005, Release Date ? ? 1971, Cassette
1997, UK, Vertigo 842 917-2, Release Date ? February 1997, CD
1997, USA, Polidor 8429172, Release Date ? February 1997, CD
2005, UK, Repertoire REPUK1072, Release Date 28 November 2005, CD (Limited Edition reissue)