Customer Reviews

McDonald and Giles

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

AFTER TOURING AMERICA WITH KING CRIMSON IN 1969 FOR THE CLASSIC IN THE COURT OF THE CRIMSON KING, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST IAN MCDONALD AND DRUMMER MICHAEL GILES LEFT THE GROUP TO PURSUE THEIR OWN VISION. TWO YEARS LATER, AFTER OVERSEEING PAINSTAKINGLY EVERY DETAIL, THIS LP ARRIVED. IT MIRRORS CLOSELY CRIMSON'S SOPHOMORE EFFORT IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON, WITH THE EXTENDED COMPOSITION "BIRDMAN"'S LYRICS WRITEN BY CRIMSON'S PETE SINFIELD IN 1968, AND "FLIGHT OF THE IBIS", NEW LYRICS PLACED TO POSIEDON'S "CADENCE AND CASCADE". FURTHERMORE "TOMMOROW'S PEOPLE" IS A REVAMPED VERION OF A SONG OF CRIMSON EMBRYO GILES, GILES AND FRIPP. MICHAEL GILES AND IAN MCDONALD PLAY ALL THE INSTUMENTS ON THIS DISC WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BASS GUITAR BY FELLOW CRIMSON AND G,G, AND F ALUM PETER GILES AND A GUEST APEARANCE BY STEVE WINWOOD ON "TURNHAM GREEN". WHILE THE CONNECTIONS WITH CRIMSON ARE MANY THE CD IS MUCH LESS FORBODING, AND IN MANY WAYS MORE WHIMSICAL. TOGETHER POSEIDON AND MCDONALD AND GILES ARE TWO HAVES OF A CLASSIC ALBUM AND ANY FAN OF CRIMSON MUST OWN THIS HARD TO FIND GEM. MCDONALD AND GILES NEVER TOURED TO PROMOTE THIS LP AND THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE FOLLOW-UP. MCDONALD WAS TO RETURN TO CRIMSON FOR THE RED ALBUM AND BECAME A FOUNDING MEMBER OF FOREIGNER. INTERESTING MCDONALD AND GILES HAVE REFORMED 30 YEARS LATER ALONG WITH PETER GILES AND CRIMSON ALUM MEL COLLINS AS 21ST CENTURY SCHIZIOD BAND AND ARE TORING AND WRITING NEW COMPOSITIONS.

originally bought this on vinyl, being a fan of king crimson, and couldnt resist the cd purchase. Eclectic album offering many different sounds and moods. Certainly anyone who likes early Crimson, i see no reason why they wouldnt love this as well. Track 1: Suite C and track 5: Birdman, are great and long melodic pieces, with different parts to the songs changing the mood throughout. Track 2 Flight of the Ibis almost has a bit of a beatles white album feel about it, and that mood continues through trakc 3 Is she waiting, a predominantly gentle acoustic guitar and vocal piece,with lingering piano. track 4: tomorrows people gets back to more crimson rythyms..very Michael Giles on drums with saxes and flutes infiltrating...ithink a little like LIZARD..crimsons third album..upbeat and cheery song. The highlights for me though is track 5: Birdman..{ie with many including pieces}.thiS track is 21.40mins long and is worth the purchase of this album alone. strikes me as sort of a floyd/crimson blend this one and i love it. a blend of many sections that flow easily the highlight being a gorgeous melodic theme that really sets it apart and is listenable over and over and over again....THOROUGHLY AND UTTERLY RECOMMENDED

I first heard this album in 1971 - I can't even remember its appeal at the time. However, no regrets, an album that I pick up and play regularly. The Birdman Suite was a terrific conception in terms of its musical portrayal and contrasts nicely with "Tomorrow's Children" and "flight of the Ibis", shorter songs but no less poignant. The latter was used by King Crimson equally effectively as the root for "Cadence and cascade", a sure sign of a robust song. A personal classic album.

This album became part of my musical life over thirty years ago and still has the same magical effect but with even more appreciation. Truly, once the heart and sole of early King Crimson, MacDonald and Giles reflect the eptiome of an era gone by with as close to perfection that can possibly exist. Recently (4-24-04), I had the great pleasure of attending a concert of 21st century schizoid band and witnessed the likes of the creative genius -Ian MacDonald, superb bassist Peter Giles, the Greatest Sax Man EVER - Mel Collins, drummer - Ian Wallace and the extremely talented Jackko (voice & guitar). Blew me away! The only disapointment was that Michael Giles was not behind the drums. Not that Ian Wallace did not do an outstanding job, but I went away with the feeling that Michael Giles would have put them onto a level even surpassing the once great K.C. of 1969-72. I got a chance to exchange a few words with Mel Collins and Jackko after their tremedous performance, and their modesty was only 2nd to their kindness. Great artists exist forever, MacDonald and Giles, Bach, Beethoven, the Beatles, all come to my mind. If you are TRULY a King Crimson fan, this album is not just important, but as the very air you breathe! Tomorrow's People are Mac and Giles.

McDonald & Giles is THE great lost early 70's Prog Rock Album that somehow was ignored at the time. One of my all time favorite albums. Highly melodic. Very inventive. Great airy singing. A must have if you like early Genesis, King Crimson, or the Moody Blues. Reminds me of some of Paul McCartney's most creative melodic work too!

I recommend this CD for "Flight of the Ibis". If you like the style of vocals found on "I Talk to the Wind" from In The Court of the Crimson King and "Cadence and Cascade" from the Wake of Poseiden, you'll probably enjoy this. Multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald steps aside on "Turnham Green" and features Steve Winwood on keyboards. Peter Giles plays bass and his brother Michael plays drums in his unique style.

This is one of those albums that I would have never been able to own, had it not been thanks to digital technology and CDs. McDonald & Giles basically came out of King Crimson. Ian McDonald played reeds, woodwind and vibes in KC's debut album "In the Court of the Crimson King," and then left the band. Michael Giles played drums and percussion on the first two albums. And Peter Giles played bass in the second album, "In the wake of Poseidon" once Greg Lake had left the band.

If you know King Crimson's material from their first two albums (a very symphonic-type of prog rock, more like art rock) you will be able to know what to expect in this self-titled 1970 album by trio McDonald & Giles.

One thing to note about this album is the particularly strong influence of Ian McDonald's music (Flute/reeds). A few years later he'd begin performing, writing and producing material for Foreigner's first three albums. The best track in the album, in my opinion: "Tomorrows People..."