The Missing Piece (Gentle Giant album)

The Missing Piece is the ninth studio album by British progressive rock band Gentle Giant, released in 1977. After the Interview tour this return to the studio marked a change of direction for the band with the first side of the album exploring different musical directions than the band was previously known for, including pop music and punk rock, while the second side was more in the vein of their signature progressive rock style. This was the last Gentle Giant album to chart in the United States.

Critical reception
The Globe and Mail wrote that "Gentle Giant has become more listenable by becoming more commercial... With The Missing Piece, the band devours mainstream and burps up a polished bit of formula recording."

Track listing
All lead vocals by Derek Shulman, except "As Old as You're Young", sung by Kerry Minnear and Derek Shulman.

Personnel

 * Gentle Giant
 * Derek Shulman – lead vocals on all tracks
 * Gary Green – electric guitar, acoustic guitar (track 7)
 * Ray Shulman – bass, 12-string guitar (track 7), percussion (track 8)
 * Kerry Minnear – Hammond organ (tracks 1, 2, 5-9), electric piano (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7), piano (tracks 4-6, 8), synthesizer (tracks 1, 4, 7), Minimoog (tracks 3, 6, 8), Clavinet (track 6), percussion (track 8), vocals (track 6)
 * John Weathers – drums (track 1-6, 8, 9), tambourine (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 9), cymbal crash (track 7), percussion (track 8), drum machine (track 8)

There are no official instrument credits listed on the album.

Release history

 * 1977, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR-1152, release date August 26, 1977, LP
 * 1977, UK, Chrysalis Records CHR-1152, release date ? ? 1977, Cassette
 * 1977, US, Capitol Records ST-11696, release date September 12, 1977, LP
 * 1977, US, Capitol Records ST-11696, release date ? ? 1977, Cassette
 * 1977, Brazil, Chrysalis Records 6307 604, release date ? ? 1977, LP
 * 1981?, US, Capitol Records SN-16046, release date ? ? ?, LP (re-release)
 * ?, US, Capitol Records 18742, release date ? ? ?, CD
 * 1994, UK, Terrapin Trucking TRUCKCD006, release date 15 July 1994, CD (re-master)
 * 1996, US, One Way CD 18469, release date 16 March 1996, CD
 * 1999, UK, Beat Goes On BGOCD435, release date 16 April 1999, CD (2× CD with Giant for a Day!)
 * 2005, UK, DRT Entertainment/Pinnacle RTE356, release date 5 September 2005, CD (35th anniversary enhanced re-master)