Gentle Giant - Three Friends - 1972 - 24/96 & 16/44.1 UK Vertigo Swirl LP - 6360 070

Gentle Giant's third album was their first concept album, as stated in the liner notes:
"The idea of this album came about simply from normal conversations within the group. You know how people often reminisce about old school friends and wonder whatever became of them; or the people who surprise us with their successes or failures. Anyway, the theme in this album is based on three people - friends at school but inevitably separated by chance, skill and fate."
The three school friends grow up to become a road digger (Working All Day), an artist (Peel The Paint), and a white-collar worker (Mister Class and Quality) who can no longer understand each other's lifestyles. But regardless of the storyline, the music is astounding, ranging from raucous rock to exquisite choral work, and ending with the stunningly beautiful title song.

Track List

1 - Prologue
2 - Schooldays
3 - Working All Day
4 - Peel The Paint
5 - Mister Class And Quality?
6 - Three Friends

Musicians

Gary Green - guitars, percussion
Kerry Minnear - keyboards, vibraphone, percussion, Moog, vocals
Malcolm Mortimore - drums
Derek Shulman - vocals
Phil Schulman - sax, vocals
Ray Shulman - bass, violin, 12 string guitar, vocals
Assisted by Calvin Shulman, Ray's son (boy's voice on Schooldays).
Engineer - Martin Rushent
Produced by "Gentle Giant"
Sleeve design - Rick Breach

All titles written by GENTLE GIANT
(Shulman, Shulman, Shulman, Minnear)
All selections © 1972 Excellency Music (ASCAP)



Here's a rip I made a few years ago, I posted it to a few torrent sites but not here, so here it is :)
N.B This vinyl is almost 40 years old, and for the first few years of it's life was played on less then ideal equipment, (remember Dansette? ;)) so there is some groove wear, but overall it's not too bad.