Scraping the Barrel cover

Scraping the Barrel

Gentle Giant · 2004

743 min · 314 tracks · progressive rock

A sprawling collection of demos and outtakes, intertwining intricate melodies with experimental improvisations that exemplify the band's progressive rock ethos.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Peel the Paint (different solo) — This track highlights an alternate guitar solo that enriches the original composition, showcasing the band's intricate layering and improvisational style.
  • →
    Proclamation (demo) — As a demo version of one of their most recognizable songs, this track reveals the raw energy and initial ideas before final production solidified its iconic status.
  • →
    Empty City (studio outtake) — This outtake captures the essence of Gentle Giant's lyrical storytelling combined with their signature orchestration, giving listeners a glimpse into their songwriting process.
  • →
    His Last Voyage (demo) — The demo offers a hauntingly beautiful arrangement that illustrates Gentle Giant's capacity for emotional depth within their progressive rock framework.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • expansive journey of eclectic sounds
  • experimental snippets for deep focus
  • varied intensity for attentive listening
  • intricate musicianship in short bursts

Maybe skip if you

  • seeking immediate gratification
  • prefer concise standalone tracks

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2004, Scraping the Barrel serves as a posthumous anthology for Gentle Giant, gathering unreleased material from their extensive career. At this point, the band had been disbanded for over two decades, making this collection a crucial look back at their creative process and unpolished works. It highlights the band's innovative spirit and serves as an archival treasure for long-time fans.
Stylistic neighbors
King Crimson· Yes· Jethro Tull
New to Gentle Giant? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Giant (vocal mix) 1:14
  • 2 Alucard (Derek, Master of Ceremonies) 1:27
  • 3 Pantagruels Nativity (vocal mix) 0:47
  • 4 Schooldays (piano, studio) 0:43
  • 5 Schooldays (grand piano, studio) 0:54
  • 6 Working All Day (demo) 0:56
  • 7 Peel the Paint (different solo) 3:42
  • 8 Mr. Class & Quality (intro bits + complete solos) 5:10
  • 9 Three Friends (piano experiment) 0:57
  • 10 Three Friends (vocal mix) 1:02
  • 11 Kerry’s Kindness 0:37
  • 12 Think of Me With Kindness (studio outtake) 4:02
  • 13 Keyboard Concerto (Plymouth 1973) 3:57
  • 14 In a Glass House (intro) 1:04
  • 15 Runaway / Experience (segue) 1:15
  • 16 Way of Life (without vox) 2:46
  • 17 Proclamation (rehearsal before take) 2:22
  • 18 Proclamation (demo) 5:44
  • 19 Playing the Game (experiment) 1:00
  • 20 Playing the Game (Pick’n’mix) 6:06
  • 21 Playing the Game (alternative part) 1:28
  • 22 The Boogie and the Woogie (cogs) 2:01
  • 23 No God’s a Man (demo) 3:26
  • 24 No God’s a Man (vocal mix) 2:03
  • 25 The Face (demo) 4:12
  • 26 Valedictory (starts) 4:48
  • 27 The Power and the Glory (inbetweenies) 2:37
  • 28 The Power and the Glory (demo / band / studio Pick’n’mix) 3:16
  • 29 The Power and the Glory (second song) 1:54
  • 30 With Gentle Giant on KMET (jingle, Oct. 10 1974 L.A. Whisky A‐Go‐Go) 0:31
  • 31 On Reflection (rehearsal chaos) 1:50
  • 32 Free Hand (riff) 0:39
  • 33 His Last Voyage (vocal mix) 1:49

Disc 2

  • 1 His Last Voyage (demo) 6:54
  • 2 Talybont (special mix) 1:04
  • 3 Talybont (demos) 4:01
  • 4 Mobile (demos) 1:43
  • 5 Mobile (studio outtake) 5:00
  • 6 Give it Back (guitar) 2:41
  • 7 Give it Back (funny voices) 1:27
  • 8 Another Show (M8) 1:55
  • 9 Empty City (studio outtake) 4:33
  • 10 Empty City (guitar and Rhodes mix) 1:33
  • 11 Empty City (vocal mix) 0:34
  • 12 Timing (demo) 3:15
  • 13 Intro ’77 1:25
  • 14 Two Weeks in Spain (rehearsal) 1:34
  • 15 Two Weeks in Spain (studio) 0:28
  • 16 12 Bar Warmup / Who Do You Think You Are? (outake / rehearsal) 4:36
  • 17 Rock Me Baby 1:32
  • 19 Winning (band rehearsal – odd M8) 3:37
  • 20 Winning (lights rehearsal – Pinewood) 6:58
  • 21 For Nobody 4:44
  • 22 For Nobody (vocal mix) 0:38
  • 23 Friends (demo) 2:48
  • 24 Rock Climber (band rehearsal) 3:42
  • 25 Shadows on the Street 3:03

Disc 3

  • 1 Home Again 3:57
  • 2 Moog Fugue 3:44
  • 3 Move Over 4:18
  • 4 Really Don’t Know 4:10
  • 5 Heaven’s Tears 3:55
  • 6 Flower Arranging 3:14
  • 7 Living in a Restaurant 3:44
  • 8 You Make Me Very Happy 3:49
  • 9 Get Out of My Way 4:30
  • 10 Wisdom Was Calling 3:46
  • 11 Good Christian Men Rejoice 3:23
  • 12 Hava Nagila 2:26
  • 13 Homeland 2:02
  • 14 Burn My Working Clothes 2:30
  • 15 On Safari 1:30
  • 16 Starting Line (demo) 3:44
  • 17 Running Away (demo) 4:35
  • 18 Our World 4:22
  • 19 Back to the Front 4:27
  • 20 Prehistoric Boss Level 3:47
  • 21 Volcano 3:55

Disc 4

  • 1 Nothing at All (piano solo) 2:07
  • 2 Loop Idea Going Into Inmates 7:14
  • 3 Piano and Vox Improvisation 9:01
  • 4 Octopus (Plymouth 1973) 15:38
  • 5 The Runaway 5:28
  • 6 Way of Life 6:32
  • 7 Funny Ways 9:04
  • 8 Excerpts From Octopus 12:38
  • 9 Nothing at All 15:42
  • 10 Plain Truth 7:05
  • 11 Recording So Sincere (complete) 24:34
  • 12 So Sincere (clavinet riff & glockenspiel) 3:44
  • 13 FBI File #1 1:51
  • 14 FBI File #2 2:17
  • 15 Just the Same (backing track) 5:45
  • 16 On Reflection (clavinet composing / Improvising) 3:13
  • 17 On Reflection (celesta) 1:04
  • 18 Free Hand (piano composing / improvising) 2:39
  • 19 Free Hand (backing track) 6:12
  • 20 Time to Kill (backing track) 4:38
  • 21 His Last Voyage (vocal demo) 0:56
  • 22 Octopus in Rehearsal 1975 11:03
  • 23 Interview (counter melody) 0:45
  • 24 Interview (trying rhythms) 2:24
  • 25 Interview (rehearsal) 5:28
  • 26 Give It Back (guitar) 2:38
  • 27 Empty City (acoustic guitar) 3:31
  • 28 Empty City (electric guitar) 1:51
  • 29 Timing (guitar part check) 2:15
  • 30 Timing (rehearsal) 3:09
  • 31 I Lost My Head (composing 1) 12:25
  • 32 I Lost My Head (composing 2) 17:24
  • 33 I Lost My Head (clavinet guide) 3:32
  • 34 I Lost My Head (rehearsal) 1:07
  • 35 The Runaway / Experience 8:35
  • 36 As Old as You’re Young 4:55
  • 37 On Reflection (interrupted but continues) 7:08
  • 38 Just the Same / Playing the Game 10:38
  • 39 Memories of Old Days 6:45
  • 40 Winning 6:48
  • 41 For Nobody (not complete) 3:50
  • 42 Funny Ways 7:27
  • 43 The Face / Plain Truth 3:53
  • 44 So Sincere 9:59
  • 45 Free Hand (interrupted) 2:38
  • 46 I’m Turning Around (rehearsal) 2:31
  • 47 Mountain Time (piano) 1:30
  • 48 Mountain Time (girls) 2:33
  • 49 Memories (guitar rehearsal) 2:05
  • 50 Memories (guitar studio) 2:02
  • 51 Memories (harmonica + hammond organ) 0:28
  • 52 Winning (rehearsal) 2:46
  • 53 Words From the Wise (band demo) 4:03
  • 54 Thank You (band demo) 3:41
  • 55 Spooky Boogie (band demo) 3:06
  • 56 Little Brown Bag (band demo) 3:40
  • 57 It’s Only Goodbye (band demo) 4:09
  • 58 Freedom’s Child (band demo) 4:34
  • 59 Unknown Giant for a Day (demo) 1:52
  • 60 All Through the Night (rehearsal) 5:00
  • 61 It’s Not Imagination (rehearsal) 3:52
  • 62 Fine Friends You Turned Out to Be 1:48
  • 63 Guitar Duet (rehearsal) 5:47
  • 64 Groove (Kerry) 1:52
  • 65 Guitar Thing 0:31
  • 66 Derek (Possible Robin Hood thing 1) 0:38
  • 67 Derek (Possible Robin Hood thing 2) 0:58
  • 68 Derek (Possible Robin Hood thing 3) 1:41
  • 69 Glockenspiel 1:29
  • 70 Every Day (1964) 2:35
  • 71 Phantom Brothers 1:09
  • 72 Kerry’s Old Grey Whistle Test 0:37
  • 73 Jazzy Me 3:13
  • 74 Make it Work (Pain) 2:21
  • 75 That’s One Idea! 0:56
  • 76 One More Chance 1:14
  • 77 Some Other Time 2:09
  • 78 Turn Out the Sun 2:04
  • 79 An Echo of Today 3:08
  • 80 He Started to Dance 4:14
  • 81 I Watch You 5:03
  • 82 The Baby is Crying 2:42
  • 83 We’ve Taken All the Flags 3:53
  • 84 Writing for Sturminster Newton’s Choir 1:40
  • 85 Fairground (Kerry’s demo / band demo) 4:04
  • 86 Et Resuexit 0:43
  • 87 Shepherd’s Be (Madrigal) 0:29
  • 88 Fathers Touch 4:47
  • 89 Piano Riff 0:30
  • 90 Home Again (demo) 4:32
  • 91 Are You Making Money? (demo) 4:20
  • 92 Flower Arranging (demo) 3:36
  • 93 I Wanna Live 4:02
  • 94 Beautiful Vocal Line 0:10
  • 95 I’m Gonna Change 2:20
  • 96 Really Don’t Know (1983) 3:56
  • 97 Heaven’s Tears (1983) 3:57
  • 98 Flower Arranging (1983) 3:14
  • 99 Living in a Restaurant (1983) 3:41
  • 100 You Make Me Very Happy (1983) 3:45
  • 101 Pick‐Me‐Up 1:31
  • 102 Sorry 1:01
  • 103 Headline 1:01
  • 104 Theme for Life 1:04
  • 105 Olympics ’92 0:31
  • 106 Rain Again 1:01
  • 107 This Country 1:04
  • 108 This Country (2004 mix) 1:04
  • 109 Starting Line (vinyl) 4:32
  • 110 Running Away 2 4:47
  • 111 Is This a Tunnel? 4:06
  • 112 Dance 3:09
  • 113 Friday Night Suit 3:29
  • 114 1977 Groove 0:46
  • 115 1979 Noodle 1 1:27
  • 116 1979 Noodle 2 1:11
  • 117 1982 Mikal (electric guitar) 1:03
  • 118 1982 Mikal (acoustic guitar) 0:15
  • 119 1993 Waltz Through the Night 2:24
  • 120 1982 Ray Demo 5:19
  • 121 Showmix 8:27
  • 122 Giant – Hammond Bass 0:27
  • 123 Giant – Tenor Horns 0:19
  • 124 Giant – Bass 0:34
  • 125 Nothing at All – Foggy M 0:46
  • 126 Pantagruels – Guitars 0:20
  • 127 Pantagruels – Mellotron Note 0:02
  • 128 Pantagruels – Moog Flute 0:07
  • 129 Pantagruels – Moog Melody 0:32
  • 130 Pantagruels – Tambourine 0:10
  • 131 Pantagruels – Trumpets 0:23
  • 132 The House – Derek Count‐In 0:06
  • 133 The House – Drums 0:21
  • 134 The House – Moog 1 0:02
  • 135 The House – Moog 2 0:14
  • 136 The House – Muted Piano 0:32
  • 137 The House – Orchestra #1 0:09
  • 138 The House – Orchestra #2 0:11
  • 139 The House – Orchestra #3 0:09
  • 140 The House – Orchestra #4 0:10
  • 141 Schooldays – Mandolin 0:12
  • 142 Schooldays – Percussion + Snare 0:34
  • 143 Schooldays – Slow Drums (Gary) 0:20
  • 144 Schooldays – Soft Drum Hits 0:09
  • 145 Schooldays – Spinet + Guitar 0:16
  • 146 Peel the Paint – MoogModular 0:41
  • 147 Mr. Class – Pizzicato 0:27
  • 148 Mr. Class – Tambourine 0:22
  • 149 A Cry – Moog 0:10
  • 150 Knots – Wah Rhodes 0:14
  • 151 Kindness – Never Used Mellotron 0:55
  • 152 River – Cello 0:23
  • 153 River – Varispeed Cymbals 0:24
  • 154 River – JPW Groove 0:22
  • 155 River – Moog 0:35
  • 156 River – Wah Guitar + Violin 0:31
  • 157 Proclamation – Ride 32nds 0:24
  • 158 Proclamation – Run 0:02
  • 159 Proclamation – Rhodes Bass 0:03
  • 160 Playing the Game – Hammond Solo 1:17
  • 161 No God’s a Man – Hammond 0:21
  • 162 The Face – JPW Groove Outtake 0:35
  • 163 Power and the Glory – Guitar Solo 0:10
  • 164 Power and the Glory – Moog 1 0:18
  • 165 Power and the Glory – Moog 2 0:16
  • 166 Just the Same – 2 Minimoog 0:17
  • 167 Just the Same – FX Vibes 0:34
  • 168 Just the Same – Hand Claps 0:05
  • 169 Just the Same – Saxes 0:14
  • 170 Just the Same – Snare 0:11
  • 171 Just the Same – Tambourine 0:19
  • 172 On Reflection – Moog Harp 0:23
  • 173 On Reflection – Timpani 0:15
  • 174 Time to Kill – Piano Stabs 0:16
  • 175 Mobile – Violins 0:48
  • 176 Mobile – Violin Solo 0:54
  • 177 Mobile – Percussion 0:25
  • 178 Mobile – Guitar 0:15
  • 179 Interview – Guitar + Hammond 1:01
  • 180 Interview – Honky Tonk Solo 0:40
  • 181 Interview – Clavinet + Vox 0:28
  • 182 Interview – Rhodes 0:44
  • 183 Give It Back – Bass 0:51
  • 184 Give It Back – Clavichord 0:32
  • 185 Give It Back – Clavinet 0:05
  • 186 Give It Back – JPW Count‐In 0:06
  • 187 Give It Back – JPW 0:16
  • 188 Give It Back – Marimba I & II 0:42
  • 189 Give It Back – Percussion 0:12
  • 190 Give It Back – RMI Electric Piano 0:19
  • 191 Design – Orchestral Percussion Boogie 0:16
  • 192 Design – Big Drums 1:24
  • 193 Design – Conga and Guiro Groove 0:17
  • 194 Design – Finger Cymbals 0:13
  • 195 Design – Percussion Combo 0:14
  • 196 Design – Triangle Mutes + Roll 0:09
  • 197 Design – Triangle 0:11
  • 198 Another Show – Prepared Piano 0:30
  • 199 Another Show – Hammond Hi Notes 0:21
  • 200 Empty City – String Machine 0:46
  • 201 Empty City – Violin 0:12
  • 202 Interview – JPW Groove 1 Outtake 0:36
  • 203 Interview – JPW Groove 2 Outtake 0:36
  • 204 Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It – Guitar 0:15
  • 205 Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It – Moog Solo 1 0:11
  • 206 Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It – Moog Solo 2 0:11
  • 207 As Old – Tambourines 0:18
  • 208 Winning – Bass 0:18
  • 209 Winning – Moog 0:22
  • 210 Winning – Rhythm Machine 0:11
  • 211 Winning – Shaker + Cowbell 0:15
  • 212 Living In A Restaurant – Kitchen Percussion 1 0:12
  • 213 Living In A Restaurant – Kitchen Percussion 2 1:01
  • 214 Gong & Cymbals in Bath 1:33
  • 215 2 Inch Tape Wave Noise 0:10
  • 216 Gentle Giant Mask
  • 217 Gentle Giant Model Village
  • 218 Hip Hop Wreck
  • 219 His Last Voyage
  • 220 Kerry OhhArr
  • 221 Way of Life
  • 222 The Weathers Report 01
  • 223 The Weathers Report 02
  • 224 The Weathers Report 03
  • 225 The Weathers Report 04
  • 226 The Weathers Report 05
  • 227 The Weathers Report 06
  • 228 The Weathers Report 07
  • 229 The Weathers Report 08
  • 230 The Weathers Report 09
  • 231 The Weathers Report 10
  • 232 The Weathers Report 11
  • 233 The Weathers Report 12
  • 234 The Weathers Report 13
  • 235 The Weathers Report 14
  • 236 The Weathers Report 15

What to play next

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Totally Out of the Woods: The BBC Sessions
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Totally Out of the Woods: The BBC Sessions

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