Acquiring the Taste
1971 studio album by Gentle Giant
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Acquiring the Taste is the second album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1971 on the Vertigo label. It was the final album by the band to feature original drummer Martin Smith.
Released16 July 1971[1]
RecordedJanuary–April 1971
| Acquiring the Taste | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 16 July 1971[1] | |||
| Recorded | January–April 1971 | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | Progressive rock | |||
| Length | 39:26 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Tony Visconti | |||
| Gentle Giant chronology | ||||
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Background
The album was recorded at Advision Studios in London, with engineers Martin Rushent, Big A and Garybaldi, and at AIR Studios in London, with engineer Bill Price.
Artwork
Track listing
All tracks are written by Kerry Minnear, Derek Shulman, Phil Shulman, and Ray Shulman; arranged by Gentle Giant, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Wreck" |
| 4:39 |
| 6. | "The Moon Is Down" | D. Shulman, P. Shulman & Minnear | 4:49 |
| 7. | "Black Cat" | P. Shulman | 3:54 |
| 8. | "Plain Truth" |
| 7:36 |
Personnel
Gentle Giant
- Gary Green – 6-string electric guitar (tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 8), 12-string electric guitar (track 1), 12 string electric wah-wah guitar (track 7), mandolin (track 3), bass guitar (track 3), donkey's jawbone (track 7), cat calls (track 7), voice on track 8
- Kerry Minnear – Minimoog (tracks 1–5), piano (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8), Hammond organ (tracks 1–3), Mellotron (tracks 1, 5, 6), harpsichord (tracks 2, 5, 6), electric piano (tracks 2, 6), celeste (track 3), clavichord (track 3), xylophone (tracks 2, 3), vibraphone (tracks 1, 7), tympani (track 2), cello (tracks 2, 3, 7), maracas (track 7), tambourine (track 7), lead vocals (tracks 1, 2), vocals (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8)
- Derek Shulman – alto saxophone (tracks 1, 6), clavichord (track 3), cowbell (track 3), lead vocals (tracks 3, 5, 6), vocals (tracks 1, 2, 7, 8)
- Phil Shulman – clarinet (track 2), trumpet (tracks 1, 3), alto (track 6) and tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 6), piano (track 3), claves (track 7), maracas (track 8), lead vocals (track 7), vocals (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8)
- Ray Shulman – bass (tracks 1–3, 5–8), violin (tracks 2, 3, 5, 7), viola (track 7), electric violin (track 8), Spanish guitar (tracks 2, 3), 12 string guitars (track 6), tambourine (track 5), skulls (track 7), organ bass pedals (track 6), vocals (tracks 1–3, 6)
- Martin Smith – drums (tracks 1–3, 5–8), tambourine (track 1), gong (track 2), side drum (track 2)
Guest musicians
- Paul Cosh – trumpet (track 3), organ (track 3)
- Tony Visconti – descant recorders (track 5), treble recorder (tracks 3, 5), tenor recorder (track 5), bass drum (track 7), triangle (track 7)
- Chris Thomas – Moog programmer (tracks 1–5)
Release details
- 1971, UK, Vertigo 6360 041, release date July 16, 1971, LP
- 1971, UK, Vertigo 6360 041, release date ? ? 1971, Cassette
- 1971, US, Vertigo VEL 1005, release date August 1971, LP (with gatefold cover)
- 1971, US, Vertigo VEL 1005, release date ? ? 1971, Cassette
- 1997, UK, Vertigo 842 917-2, release date ? February 1997, CD
- 1997, US, Polydor 8429172, release date ? February 1997, CD
- 2004, Russia, Somewax 189-2, release date ? ? 2004, CD
- 2005, UK, Repertoire REPUK1072, release date 28 November 2005, CD (limited edition reissue)
- 2005, UK, Repertoire REPUK1111, release date ? ? 2005, CD (digital remaster)
- 2012, UK, BGO Records BGOCD1095, release date ? ? 2012, CD (digital remaster 2CD with self-titled)
Charts
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[3] | 46 |