August 1975 (50 Years Ago): Gentle Giant – Free Hand Release
- Sep 1
- 1 min read
August 1975 – Progressive rock pioneers Gentle Giant released their landmark album Free Hand, the band’s highest-charting record, peaking at #30 in the UK and #48 on the Billboard 200.
Highlights:
Considered Gentle Giant’s most realized effort, showcasing their mix of classical, medieval, and progressive rock influences.
Features the groundbreaking “On Reflection”, a four-part fugue with Renaissance-style vocals, hailed as one of prog rock’s defining moments.
Includes standout tracks Just The Same, Free Hand, Time to Kill, and His Last Voyage.
Marked the pinnacle of the band’s commercial success, headlining major concerts in 1975.
Legacy:Blending complex arrangements with accessible melodies, Free Hand remains a must-hear prog-rock classic, praised for its virtuosic instrumentation, creative compositions, and unique fusion of genres.
AllMusic Review (Robert Taylor):
“Free Hand is perhaps Gentle Giant's most realized effort… one of the most creative and complex recordings in progressive rock history.”
Comments