Gentle Giant to release expanded "Playing the Fool" (5.1 / Atmos Blu-Ray 05/05/2025)

[5.1 4 Life]

It's possible this could be the final statement in the GG surround remix series. Let's hope this chap lives up to the remixes of all the other albums performed by S Wilson.

Yes, it does look like Playing The Fool will be the last album from Gentle Giant to get the Deluxe Treatment. However, I still think their Debut (which was remixed in 5.1 and released on their Unburied Treasure Box Set) should get a stand-alone release. Maybe SDE could release it as part of their Blu-Ray Audio series.

 

[JediJoker]

Yes, it does look like Playing The Fool will be the last album from Gentle Giant to get the Deluxe Treatment. However, I still think their Debut (which was remixed in 5.1 and released on their Unburied Treasure Box Set) should get a stand-alone release. Maybe SDE could release it as part of their Blu-Ray Audio series.

Or, maybe Steven could revisit it in Atmos for a standalone CD/Blu-ray release...

 

[user 12135]

Or, maybe Steven could revisit it in Atmos for a standalone CD/Blu-ray release...

And redo in Atmos the Power and the Glory for a standalone CD/Blu Ray release.

 

[5.1 4 Life]

And redo in Atmos the Power and the Glory for a standalone CD/Blu Ray release.

Or, maybe Steven could revisit it in Atmos for a standalone CD/Blu-ray release...

Both of those ideas would be great. It's too bad that Gentle Giant's other albums fron the '70s (Acquring The Taste, Three Friends, Octopus & In A Glass House) can't get the full treatment in 5.1/Atmos due to each of these albums having multi-track tapes missing from certain songs (not to mention that all the multis for In A Glass House are missing).

 

[lovecraft]

Just listened to the 5.1 for Octopus for the first time last night weirdly enough. It's a tremendous mix, whatever might be missing....

 

[5.1 4 Life]

Just listened to the 5.1 for Octopus for the first time last night weirdly enough. It's a tremendous mix, whatever might be missing....

On 5.1 Blu-ray edition of GG's Octopus, the multi track tapes for 'The Advent Of Panurge', 'Raconteur Trubadour' & 'The Boys In The Band' couldn't be found so Steven Wilson did upmixes for those songs using Penteo. He did a fine job and indeed, it sounds like nothing is missing when listening to the 5.1 mix of Octopus.

 

[lovecraft]

Wow!

If those are the results that can be achieved, then why the hell have they not set him loose on ATT and 3F's?

 

[ssully]

I don't know how Dan came to be affiliated with the band, but he has been extremely close to them. In fact I think they found master tapes for their first album in his storage.

hmmm...I wonder how that came to be?

 

[SomethingAnything]

Just listened to the 5.1 for Octopus for the first time last night weirdly enough. It's a tremendous mix, whatever might be missing....

Some posts I've read praise the disc authoring of these releases (by one of the band members, now deceased), and deservedly so for most, except for this title. That live octopus crammed into a jar looks to me to be in total distress, and we are made sit through it while playing the album (or turn off our screens, but the memory is still there). What were they thinking? Surely this ought to be a reportable illegal act?

 

[5.1 4 Life]

Wow!

If those are the results that can be achieved, then why the hell have they not set him loose on ATT and 3F's?

Don't know why SW hasn't used Penteo to upmix the other songs on Gentle Giant's albums where the multi tracks are missing. Anyway, the excellent Three Piece Suite Blu-Ray from 2017 did give us 5.1 remixes of the songs that had their master reels available (not to mention including flat transfers from the stereo masters for Gentle Giant, Acquring The Taste & Three Friends).

 

[5.1 4 Life]

GG's Playing The Fool-The Complete Live Experience now scheduled for May 2nd, 2025.


Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXW2RBTK/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon Canada
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DXW2RBTK/?tag=imwanca-20

Amazon UK
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DXW2RBTK/?tag=imwan-21

 

[slmccaul]

GG's Playing The Fool-The Complete Live Experience now scheduled for May 2nd, 2025.


Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXW2RBTK/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon Canada
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DXW2RBTK/?tag=imwanca-20

Amazon UK
Available for pre-order soon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DXW2RBTK/?tag=imwan-21

View attachment 113878

So, I can assume since the Amazon (US link) says 2 discs that one will be the CD and the other the Blue-ray? I can't understand why Amazon doesn't take the time to be more descriptive when it would take a matter of minutes to do.....

 

[srbjab]

Bezos is too busy picking through candidates for the next Bond...

 

[5.1 4 Life]

Import CDs are now taking pre orders for the CD/Blu-Ray set of Playing The Fool.

https://www.importcds.com/playing-the-fool-the-complete-live-experience/804471000985

 

[5.1 4 Life]

Playing The Fool-The Complete Live Experience is also available as a standalone CD set.

Amazon:
CD Standalone
US - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXW69LT9/?tag=imwan-20
CA - Available for pre-order soon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DXW69LT9/?tag=imwanca-20
UK - Available for pre-order soon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DXW69LT9/?tag=imwan-21

Import CDs:
https://www.importcds.com/playing-the-fool-the-complete-live-experience/804471000978

 

[rtbluray]

 

[JediJoker]

I wonder if this will follow the same packaging variation as the previous sets: mini-LP sleeve/Digisleeve for Europe and Digipak for North America?

 

[5.1 4 Life]

Here's the tracklist & description for GG's Playing The Fool- The Complete Live Experience.

A 2025 reimagining - re-mixed and remastered - of 1977's Playing The Fool, an album that captured Gentle Giant at the peak of its live performance prowess.

Produced by Dan Bornemark, The Complete Live Experience captures the full scope of the band's artistry as it was meant to be heard, including restored in-between-song commentary and authentic venue ambience. The release features the full original setlist, plus three unreleased tracks (Interview, Timing and Ray Shulman's solo violin feature).

A 2CD/Blu-ray edition with 96/24 Stereo, 5.1, over 90 minutes of newly created visuals, and Dolby Atmos, this release gives fans the ultimate Gentle Giant experience as never before.

Includes double sided poster and exclusive booklet with photos and band interviews.

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. Intro (1:24)
2. Just The Same / Proclamation (10:40)
3. On Reflection (7:31)
4. Interview (7:06)
5. The Runaway / Experience (9:54)
6. Sweet Georgia Brown (Breakdown In Brussels) (1:54)
7. So Sincere (10:42)

[CD2]
1. Excerpts From Octopus (15:58)
2. Band Introduction (1:23)
3. Funny Ways (8:58)
4. Timing / Violin Solo (11:40)
5. Free Hand (8:20)
6. Peel The Paint / I Lost My Head (8:01)

[Blu-ray]
Full Album:
96/24 Stereo (2025 Mix)
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround Sound Mix
Dolby Atmos Mix

 

[ProgRules]

Mods: Shouldn't the thread title be changed to reflect the Atmos mix?

 

[timbre4]

Mods: Shouldn't the thread title be changed to reflect the Atmos mix?

Done