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''McDonald and Giles'' is an album released by British musicians Ian McDonald and Michael Giles in 1970. The album was first issued on Island Records (ILPS 9126) in the UK and
Cotillion Records Cotillion Records was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records (from 1971 part of WEA) and was active from 1968 through 1985. The label was formed as an outlet for pop, R&B, and jazz. Its first single, Otis Clay's version of "She's About a Mover", re ...
(SD 9042), a division of Atlantic Records, in the US. (The album was released on Atlantic itself in several countries.) The album was recorded at
Island Studios An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
between May and July 1970. Although ''McDonald and Giles'' remains popular among
King Crimson King Crimson are a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experime ...
fans, its commercial success was limited. The duo did not record a second album, but Giles did contribute drums and vocals to "Demimonde" on McDonald's solo album ''
Drivers Eyes Drivers Eyes is the first and only solo album by former King Crimson and Foreigner member Ian McDonald. It features contributions from Peter Frampton, Ian Lloyd, Gary Brooker, Steve Hackett and Hugh McCracken and King Crimson alumni, Michael Gi ...
''.


Background and recording

Ian McDonald and Michael Giles were members of the original
King Crimson King Crimson are a progressive rock band formed in 1968 in London, England. The band draws inspiration from a wide variety of music, incorporating elements of classical, jazz, folk, heavy metal, gamelan, industrial, electronic, experime ...
line-up, and were featured performers on the band's debut album, ''
In the Court of the Crimson King ''In the Court of the Crimson King'' (subtitled ''An Observation by King Crimson'') is the debut studio album by English rock band King Crimson, released on 10 October 1969 by Island Records. The album is one of the earliest and most influentia ...
'' (1969). Both left the group at the end of its first United States tour in 1969, although Giles appeared on the second King Crimson album, ''
In the Wake of Poseidon ''In the Wake of Poseidon'' is the second studio album by English progressive rock group King Crimson, released in May 1970 by Island Records in Europe, Atlantic Records in the United States, Philips Records in Australia, and Vertigo Records in ...
'' (1970), as a session musician. Two other King Crimson members also worked on ''McDonald and Giles'': Peter Giles and
Peter Sinfield Peter John Sinfield (born 27 December 1943) is an English poet and songwriter. He is best known as the co-founder and former lyricist of King Crimson, whose debut album '' In the Court of the Crimson King'' is considered one of the first and mo ...
. The music on ''McDonald and Giles'' emulates many of the pastoral and musically complex elements of King Crimson, while generally avoiding that band's darker tendencies. The song "Flight of the Ibis" has a melody and rhythm similar to King Crimson's "Cadence and Cascade," with different lyrics. The album contains a guest appearance by Steve Winwood, playing organ and piano on "Turnham Green". Winwood's group
Traffic Traffic comprises pedestrians, vehicles, ridden or herded animals, trains, and other conveyances that use public ways (roads) for travel and transportation. Traffic laws govern and regulate traffic, while rules of the road include traffi ...
were working on '' John Barleycorn Must Die'' at
Island Studios An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...
at the same time. Michael Giles' drum solo in "Tomorrow's People – The Children of Today" has been sampled by a number of
rap Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
and hip-hop artists, most notably the Beastie Boys, on the track " Body Movin'", from the album ''
Hello Nasty ''Hello Nasty'' is the fifth studio album by American rap rock group Beastie Boys, released by Capitol Records and Grand Royal Records on July 14, 1998. It sold 681,000 copies in its first week, debuting at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200 album ...
''. The first CD edition was released in Japan in the early 1990s. It came in both jewel box and paper sleeve versions. This version was the same as the original vinyl but was mastered from a tape copy several generations removed from the original master. In 2002 the group members authorised a revised version of the CD with improved sound. The revised version can be recognised by the use of green lettering on the cover instead of pink. A phrase near the beginning of "Suite in C" has slightly different lyrics. Some of the tracks of the 2002 edition have very minor editing. There are a few slightly different segues in the song "Birdman" and the sections of this song are marked as separate tracks on the CD.


Reception

Fred Dellard gave the record a perfect score of "50 : A" in '' Hi-Fi News & Record Review'', indicating a "top class recording" "of special merit". He wrote that Giles and McDonald "take the best of King Crimson and turn it into a highly personal series of sketches that stun with their pure majesty. If
Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...
had been working within the confines of modern pop music perhaps he would have produced something like this." A reviewer in '' Cash Box'' called the two sides of the record "gentle complex music that moves from one important statement to another with free-wheeling grace", comparing it to the albums of
Mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually highe ...
, Elton John and
Emerson, Lake & Palmer Emerson, Lake & Palmer (informally known as ELP) were an English progressive rock supergroup formed in London in 1970. The band consisted of Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (vocals, bass, guitar, producer) and Carl Palmer (drums, percus ...
in that Giles and McDonald "create their own musical world that is the mark of rock in its highest and purest form". '' Record World'' was less enthusiastic, writing that the duo "specialize in a kind of pretty-rock that, at its best, is reminiscent of BeatlesBee Gees ballads, and, at its worst, is reminiscent of
Muzak Muzak is an American brand of background music played in retail stores and other public establishments. The name has been in use since 1934, and has been owned by a division or subsidiary of one or another company ever since. In 1981, Westingho ...
". A review in '' The Guardian Journal'' opined that "one can't help wishing iles and McDonaldwould employ a little more discipline and a little less self-indulgence in their work" despite the duo's "undeniable musical accomplishments". In particular the reviewer thought that, with "Birdman", "moods are created and then snatched away just as they begin to develop, and the effect is often patchy". The reviewer singled out "Turnham Green" and "Flight of the Ibis" as the album's best tracks. Writing retrospectively in ''
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
'', Steven McDonald wrote that the main draw of the record "is really the performances turned in by McDonald and the Giles brothers—they all sound fabulous, even when waffling musically, while Michael Giles has a unique drum tone that never has been duplicated".


Track listing

From the liner notes: * "Suite in C" was written by Ian McDonald in Detroit, Los Angeles and
Earls Court Earl's Court is a district of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London, bordering the rail tracks of the West London line and District line that separate it from the ancient borough of Fulham to the west, the ...
between December 1969 and February 1970. * "Is She Waiting?" was written in Earls Court in the summer of 1969, between King Crimson gigs. * "Birdman" was mostly written in the spring of 1968, apart from the Flying bit which was done in 1970. Original idea by Peter Sinfield. "Wishbone Ascension" was performed live by King Crimson in 1969 as a part of the once performed live prog epic "Trees", which also included Fripp's penned "Pictures of a City." The transition to the bridge part appear in both "Wishbone Ascension" and "Pictures of a City" * "Tomorrow's People" was written by Michael Giles in 1967, and expanded and arranged in 1970. The song was dedicated to Tina and Mandy, his children. * The lyrics for "Birdman" begin "Long ago / In Walthamstow". Walthamstow Marshes was the location of
Alliott Verdon Roe Sir Edwin Alliott Verdon Roe OBE, Hon. FRAeS, FIAS (26 April 1877 – 4 January 1958) was a pioneer English pilot and aircraft manufacturer, and founder in 1910 of the Avro company. After experimenting with model aeroplanes, he made flight tr ...
's attempts to build and fly his early aeroplanes. (A. V. Roe was the first British aviator and founder of Avro Aircraft Company). * The parenthetical acronym in the title of "The Inventor's Dream (O.U.A.T.)" stands for "
Once Upon a Time "Once upon a time" is a stock phrase used to introduce a narrative of past events, typically in fairy tales and folk tales. It has been used in some form since at least 1380 (according to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'') in storytelling in t ...
". * "Flight of the Ibis" shares similarities to "Cadence & Cascade" on "In The Wake of Poseidon" in melody and, indeed, "Ibis" had the "Cadence & Cascade" lyric at one point. When McDonald left the band he took his music with him, while Sinfield retained the lyric. Fripp composed a song that used the lyric and had some similarities to "Ibis" in terms of structure, melody and chord progression to provide enough material for the second King Crimson album.


Personnel


Musicians

* Ian McDonald – guitar, piano, organ, saxes, flute, clarinet, zither, vocals and sundries * Michael Giles – drums, percussion (including milk bottle, handsaw, lip whistle and nutbox), vocals * Peter Giles – bass guitar * Steve Winwood – organ, and piano solo on "Turnham Green" * Michael Blakesley – trombone on "Tomorrow's People"


Technical

* Ian McDonald and Michael Giles – producers & arrangers * Brian Humphries – engineer * Richard Digby Smith – assistant engineer * Mike Gray – strings and brass arrangements on "Birdman" and "Suite in C" * Richard DiLello – photography * Charlotte Bates – painting


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcdonald And Giles 1970 debut albums Michael Giles albums King Crimson Island Records albums Cotillion Records albums Atlantic Records albums Polydor Records albums Virgin Records albums