--- Sez John McCann to David Marheine ---
 JM> Hi There
Hullo!
 JM> I saw GG many years ago supporting T-REX at Trentham Gardens (honestly
 JM> went to see GG).
Just bought the live _Playing The Fool_ CD.  Recorded on European tour
September - October 1976.  78 minutes for $8.99, not bad!
 JM> One question - is it correct that GG went out previously as Simon
 JM> Dupree and the Big Sound with the record Kites?
From the booklet of _The Psychedelic Years 1966-1969_, a 3 disc set on
Sequel Records out of London:
Track 7: Simon Dupree & The Big Sound: Kites (Pockriss/Hackaday - 3:48) 
"With a line-up led by the three (sic) Shulman brothers from Portsmouth,
Simon Dupree & The Big Sound's background was essentially rhythm and blues.
After a number of unsuccessful singles, they made the top 10 at the end
of 1967 with "Kites".  This haunting song with its oriental atmosphere,
exotic instrumentation and mysterious spoken passage, was to be the group's
only hit.  The Shulman brothers eventually reappeared as Gentle Giant in
the early 70's."
It's a nice little pastoral pop song that did NOT make the charts
on this side of the Atlantic...  Gong, wind sound effects and a female
Japanese or Chinese spoken passage plus a touch of koto provide
distinct "oriental atmosphere".  The keyboard/vibes ostinato
sounds vaguely Eastern as well, and there's some nice mellotronish
string sounds that pop in now and again.  Not Gentle Giantish at all
really, in fact it reminds me most of certain album tracks from
the Moody Blues, minus all the harmony vocals.  The slower ballads,
like "And The Tide Rushes In", or maybe "Don't You Feel Small",
not the guitar riff driven hits...  Maybe it's just the "love you/
above you" rhyme in the lyrics, I dunno...
"I will fly a yellow paper sun in your sky,
 When the wind is high, when the wind is high..."
 JM> Also any other info on GG please?
Michael Doyle posted some website addresses if you have Internet access.
Otherwise, Kenneth sees all and knows all, and there's several lurkers
about who can quickly answer any specific questions, I'm sure.  Several
people replied when I asked for recommendations on GG albums beyond
the first four I was already familiar with...  So I've bought _Playing
The Fool_ and am considering _Free Hand_...
So who is Simon Dupree?
DM
... I hate to advocate drugs or alcohol but they've always worked for me!
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