Acquiring the Taste

Acquiring the Taste is the second studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1971 on the Vertigo label. It was the final album by the band to feature original drummer Martin Smith.

Background
The album was a departure from the blues and soul styles found on their self-titled debut album. It was more experimental, more discordant, and with more varied instrumentation. In the sleeve text, the band made this famous declaration: "It is our goal to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of being very unpopular. We have recorded each composition with the one thought – that it should be unique, adventurous and fascinating. It has taken every shred of our combined musical and technical knowledge to achieve this. From the outset we have abandoned all preconceived thoughts of blatant commercialism. Instead we hope to give you something far more substantial and fulfilling. All you need to do is sit back, and acquire the taste."

The song "Pantagruel's Nativity" is inspired by the books of Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais.

At 39 minutes and 26 seconds, it is the longest studio album the group ever released. The album was recorded at Advision Studios in London, with engineers Martin Rushent, Big A and Garybaldi, and at AIR Studios in London, with engineer Bill Price)

Artwork
The album cover artwork shows a giant tongue licking what appear to be buttocks. When the album gatefold sleeve is opened completely, however, it actually shows the tongue licking a peach. In 2005 the cover was featured in Pitchfork's list of "The Worst Record Covers of All Time".

Gentle Giant

 * Gary Green – 6-string electric guitar (tracks 1, 3, 6), electric guitars (tracks 5, 8), 12-string electric guitar (track 1), 12 string electric wah-wah guitar (track 7), mandolin (track 3), bass guitar (track 3), donkey's jawbone (track 7), cat calls (track 7), voice on track 8
 * Kerry Minnear – Minimoog (tracks 1–5), piano (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8), Hammond organ (tracks 1–3), Mellotron (tracks 1, 5, 6), harpsichord (tracks 2, 5, 6), electric piano (tracks 2, 6), celeste (track 3), clavichord (track 3), xylophone (tracks 2, 3), vibraphone (tracks 1, 7), tympani (track 2), cello (tracks 2, 3, 7), maracas (track 7), tambourine (track 7), lead vocals (tracks 1, 2), vocals (tracks 3, 5, 6, 8)
 * Derek Shulman – alto saxophone (tracks 1, 6), clavichord (track 3), cowbell (track 3), lead vocals (tracks 3, 5, 6), vocals (tracks 1, 2, 7, 8)
 * Phil Shulman – clarinet (track 2), trumpet (tracks 1, 3), alto (track 6) and tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 6), piano (track 3), claves (track 7), maracas (track 8), lead vocals (track 7), vocals (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8)
 * Ray Shulman – bass (tracks 1–3, 5–8), violin (tracks 2, 3, 5), violins (track 7), viola (track 7), electric violin (track 8), Spanish guitar (tracks 2, 3), 12 string guitars (track 6), tambourine (track 5), skulls (track 7), organ bass pedals (track 6), vocals (tracks 1–3, 6)
 * Martin Smith – drums (tracks 1–3, 5–8), tambourine (track 1), gong (track 2), side drum (track 2)

Guest musicians

 * Paul Cosh – trumpet (track 3), organ (track 3)
 * Tony Visconti – descant recorders (track 5), treble recorder (tracks 3, 5), tenor recorder (track 5), bass drum (track 7), triangle (track 7)
 * Chris Thomas – Moog programmer (tracks 1–5)

Release details

 * 1971, UK, Vertigo 6360 041, release date July 16, 1971, LP
 * 1971, UK, Vertigo 6360 041, release date ? ? 1971, Cassette
 * 1971, US, Vertigo VEL 1005, release date August 1971, LP (with gatefold cover)
 * 1971, US, Vertigo VEL 1005, release date ? ? 1971, Cassette
 * 1997, UK, Vertigo 842 917-2, release date ? February 1997, CD
 * 1997, US, Polydor 8429172, release date ? February 1997, CD
 * 2005, UK, Repertoire REPUK1072, release date 28 November 2005, CD (limited edition reissue)

Literature

 * (Textual analysis of three songs of the album)