Playing the Fool
Playing the Fool – The Official Live is a live album by the British progressive rock band Gentle Giant which was released in 1977. Its release and title were prompted in part by the circulation of live bootlegs in the preceding year, most notably Playing the Foole – A Stake in the Heart. The original UK LP was issued with a 12-page booklet. The track "Sweet Georgia Brown" was an on-the-spot performance, played while Kerry Minnear's keyboards were being repaired during a concert.
In 2025, the band issued an expanded and remixed edition as a double CD, triple LP and Dolby Atmos Blu-ray mix. This version restored the songs to their original running order and included additional material from the band's most recent studio album at the time, Interview.
Track listing
35th Anniversary Edition
The track listing and times differ depending on the specific release.The Complete Live Experience (2025 LP)
track not included in the original releasedifferent live performances than the original release
Personnel
;Gentle Giant- Derek Shulman – vocals, alto saxophone, descant recorder, bass and percussion
- Ray Shulman – bass, violin, acoustic guitar, descant recorder, trumpet, vocals and percussion
- Kerry Minnear – all keyboards, cello, vibes, tenor recorder, vocals and percussion
- Gary Green – electric, acoustic and 12-string guitars, alto and descant recorders, vocals and percussion
- John Weathers – drums, vibes, tambourine, vocals and percussion
Charts