Gong- I Never Glid Before (First Listen)

Hey there, welcome to my channel! I hope you enjoy my clean content as I listen to music and bands I'm unfamiliar with, or digging deeper into. Stick around with me and maybe we can all discover some new music together. Let me know YOUR thoughts on the song and leave me your suggestions as well.

Join me in the comments down below to discuss the music, the latest Marvel movie, life or whatever...

If you enjoy the daily videos and would like to help me support and grow the channel:

Cash App: $sage216

[IanHillan]

OMG Gong. I love you for this! Back in 197? I used to go to Selectadisc Records in Nottingham every Saturday and spend a few hours flipping through the used bins until I found something that looked interesting, plonk my £1 or £2 down on the counter, get the bus home and see what I got.
I had no idea what to expect when I dropped the needle onto side 1 of Gong Live Etc, but I must have listened to that album literally 1000 times. Not sick of it yet.

[runciblemoon]

Congratulations! You have received your first transmission from Radio Gnome Invisible, direct from Planet Gong!

Brilliant band, brilliant album. Daevid was a true one of a kind.

Re: Canterbury or not, opinions vary. They are certainly not *exclusively* a Canterbury band (should such a thing exist), but there's enough overlap in terms of peoples and vibes for me to feel comfortable placing them in that context. Rather more crucially, they were pioneers along with the likes of Hawkwind of another slippery subgenre - SPACE ROCK.

It's all pointless nerdery in the end though. Just have a cup of tea and enjoy the ride!

[Spillage]

The drumming is amazing because it's the one and only PIERRE MOERLEN!

[blackcatcentralmusic]

Gong has two distinct periods of which the great Pierre Moerlen (drums) was a part. He lead the second incarnation of the band which became a unique jazz band.
The first incarnation lead by Daevid Allen is the best known and has jazz elements mixed with space rock and Allen's pot head pixie mythology.
Although the lyrics are fun and silly on the surface, Allen incorporates many aspects of Eastern thought and religion.
Yes, Canterbury, although as noted the lines of what is and is not Canterbury are blurred as it is more a style than a location.
For me, "You" is the best album of the Allen era. For the Moerlen era, "Gazeuse" which also has Allan Holdsworth on guitar.

[BaldJean]

Gong had some of the very best musicians in progressive rock. The rhythm section of Pierre Moerlen on drums and Mike Howlett on bass is generally considered to be on par with some of the other great rhythm sections, like Bruford/Squire of Yes, Bruford/Wetton of King Crimson or Liebezeit/Czukay of Can (a German band that was extremely influential; you should definitely listen to them too). And Steve Hillage on guitar and Didier Malherbe on saxes and flute are absolutely top too. Malherbe is actually my favorite sax and flute player; you should hear his phenomenal work on Mother Gong's album "Fairy Tales" (my favorite album of all times. As you probably guess Mother Gong are a spin-off band of Gong).

[slipstreammonkey]

Gong has to be the most underrated prog band considering their vast output and inventiveness, not to mention their sound changed from album to album. Everything won't hit you but you can't ignore them. Their first album just ooozes Canterbury mixed with Pink Floyd.

[madmanmoon]

THANK you for reacting to Gong! Been trying to get react channels to do that for a while now! Also: Gong (at least Daevid Allen Gong) is absolutely Canterbury, and absolutely psychedelic (I describe it as jazzy psychedelic space prog 😂). Please do more Gong reacts!

[RobtSc]

Check out Steve Hillage's Fish Rising LP (Salmon Song, etc.) Also, this requires a little research, but Sherman Helmsley (aka TV's George Jefferson) was an obsessive Gong fan.

[IanHillan]

Sorry. One more comment. The cup o' tea reference. If you listen to them more you'll realise the band and their songs inhabit a whole mythology, in which cups of tea (not to mention flying teapots) feature, amongst other things I won't spoil for you. Ok. Ian out.

[douglasgilbert]

I discovered this band in 1974 and I found the album you as a cut out and especially love the song, the master builder. Then I discovered electric cafe, and after that, the flying teapot and finally Angel egg, so you see I listen to that album last . You will the comparison between Angel egg and you, oh by the way, I haven't seen this band, but would like to. Welcome to planet gong.

[jimhardiman]

You know it's criminal that bands like Gong were not more popular. But like you said they are weird and the mainstream doesn't know how to handle that. A better rhythm section you'd be hard pressed to find or a more original band. It's the Anglo-French fusion that makes them unique. Lot's of amazing early ambient spacey textures. You are going to love the trilogy.

[stevebinning]

I recommend the track "Isle of Everywhere" from the "You" album (1974) it's quite a long track at around 13 minutes but contains some excellent instrumental passages (1 sax solo and 2 guitar solos) plus exceptional drumming throughout by the late great Pierre Moerlen. Gong are well worth getting into and were always a brilliant live act. Although as you pointed out they had roots in the Canterbury scene they also had French influences which made them a bit different from the rest.

[TahoeNevada]

DUUUUDEEE!
Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy of Gong went on to form electronica/techno/trance duo System 7! Big influence on the psychedelic trance scene!

[someguyontheinternet]

'Love Is How Y Make It' is an absolute gem from the same album. A must listen.

[De_Futura]

Have a cup of tea, have another one, have a cup of tea.

[Umbrella]

Love your channel, lots of my fave artists, Gong are fab.

[graxjpg]

Gongs music is so incredibly detailed and complex in every possible artistic aspect. I absolutely love it all!!!

[sammarsh]

Gong comes directly from Canterbury by way of France, and are usually included in that scene. Daevid was a major figure in starting Soft Machine. Kevin Ayers was in Gong for a while as well. Hillage is another connection. Daevid was denied re-entry into the UK in 67, so had to leave Soft Machine, and started Gong in Paris. John Lennon and Yoko Ono used to jam with them in Paris. Gong is my favorite band, and has been since I first found them in 1990. I've met Daevid, Didier, and Pierre from the classic band... spent an entire evening with Pierre back in 97. got him so baked he was air-drumming like a madman to Soft Machine Third. I also know the current band from the cruise... Kavus Torabi was like meeting an old friend. Unlike most of Canterbury, Gong is massively psychedelic to the core, and enormously fun to watch. Flying Teapot, Angel's Egg and You are pretty much flawless examples of what they did. The new band, since 2015, all new guys picked by their predecessors, has a heavier edge, but maintains the feel and attitude. i'd recommend Master Builder, A Sprinkling of Clouds, Oily Way/Outer Temple/Inner Temple, Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell, You Can't Kill Me, Magdalene, How to Stay Alive without killing the planet, and Flying Teapot as great places to get started. There are many offshoot bands worth checking out as well. gong is a monster of a rabbit hole. I've been finding new stuff to like for 30 years now, and there always seems to be more.

[padresteve]

Man, when I was 15 my friends and I listened to a lot of Gong, Zappa and Pink Floyd. Gin in the bong and sensimilla in the bowl.

[michaeljozwiak]

In 1978, when I was 21 years-old, “Gong Live Etc.” by Gong was playing in a record store. I was turned on, to the music. I inquired about it from one of the employees.