McDonald and Giles [Original recording remastered, Import]

McDonald & Giles, ???????????????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 30, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: Warner Bros./Atlantic/MMG/eastwest
• ASIN: B00000721T
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #562,694 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Suite in C

2. Flight of the Ibis

3. Is She Waiting?

4. Tomorrow's People - The Children of Today

5. Birdman: The Inventor's Dream (O.U.A.T.)

6. Birdman: The Workshop

7. Birdman: Wishbone Ascension

8. Birdman: Birdman Flies!

9. Birdman: Wings in the Sunset

10. Birdman: Birdman - The Reflection

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect 70's art rock album, August 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: McDonald and Giles (Audio CD)

One of the greatest albums I own. This music is truly 70s groovy without being "hokey." I concur with the other reviewer; anyone who enjoys the art-rock of the 70s will love this album. The fun thing about recommending this album is that many people who are really into this type of music have not heard of this album. It is a gem I would insist on having if stranded on an island.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and melodic music, October 13, 2001

By 

"freeguy54" (Worthington, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: McDonald and Giles (Audio CD)

In the "wake" of King Crimson's popularity and reputation in the early 70s,we;my friends and I,would search out and devour any music spun from King Crimson;Fripp,ELP(Greg Lake's departure from Crimson was initially seen as a dissapointment),so when McDonald and Giles was released,it was highly anticipated.

It's magic wasn't apparent on first listen,but repeated listening revealed it's subtlety.

The music is very listenable;melodic,and full of keyboard,woodwind and percussion flourishes,both from these ex-Crimsons,and the help of Steve Winwood;playing both organ and piano on "Turnham Green",a piece within "Suite in C".

If I remember correctly,the final piece,"Birdman",is about a man who designs wings so he can "fly like a bird".The tune has several segments, each developing the "gents" attempts to become one with our winged friends,finally achieving success.It encompassed the whoe second side of the LP.

The song"Is She Waiting" has to be one of the most beautiful love ballads of the early 70s,and "Tomorrow's Children" inspired by, if my memory serves me, Michael Giles children, is a delight.

A recent listen confirms the music's strength.It has weathered time well.Music like this is neither made nor encouraged today.

IF there are any flaws,they have to do with the music's obscure references,and an aural flatness which characterized many of Cotillion's releases from the early 70s.Since I'm listening to an LP to cassette transfer,this may have been corrected through remastering.

The multiple overdubs create a slight lack of spontanaity,but is more than compensated by M&G's melodic and rhythmic creativity.

I highly recommend this album.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very much overlooked masterpiece, June 10, 2003

By 

Robert Cossaboon "devil doll" (The happy land of Walworth, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: McDonald and Giles (Audio CD)

You really have to dig deep in record stores and look far and wide on internet sites to find this album by ex-King Crimson members Ian McDonald and Michael Giles. It's totally worth the hunt. Far from being a half-baked Crimson rip-off, this album is, to use a much overused monicker, EAR CANDY!! Right from the getgo with the Turnham Green Suite, you get ushered through so many tempo changes your head will spin; by that song's end, you are left happy, and Fantasia-like. Then the mood quiets a bit with Flight of the Ibis, M&G's version of Cadence and Cascade. Is She Waiting is a quiet, piece of comtemplative love. Your attention gets jerked back with Tomorrow's Children, a hippy-like piece that chugs along like a cheerful, broken clock. Things close down with the side-long Birdman Suite, easily one of the best pieces of progressive rock ever recorded. Here, the duo pull out all the stops and just take you away with them into the sunset. After listening, you will appreciate just how much McDonald and Giles really contributed to the first inception of King Crimson--and you will wonder at why they never made anymore music this good together.