vinyl LP album cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
Raymond "Boz" Burrell was born on the 1st of August in 1946. He was an
English musician who was originally a vocalist and guitarist but is best
known for his bass playing and work with the bands King Crimson and Bad Company.
Earthbound is a live album by the band King Crimson
which contains two improvised tracks with scat vocals from Burrell. Earthbound was released in 1972 as a budget record shortly after the line-up that
recorded it had broken up. It contains the band's first official live
release of their signature song "21st Century Schizoid Man," and an extended live version of their 1970 non-LP B-side Groon.
The album's sound quality is very poor, because of its being recorded
onto cassette tape (a low-fidelity recording medium by 1972 standards)
by live sound engineer Hunter MacDonald. The liner notes to the original
LP cover and recent CD reissues of the album state that it was
"captured live on an Ampex stereo cassette fed from a Kelsey Morris custom built mixer ... in the rain from the back of a Volkswagen truck." Atlantic Records, King Crimson's original North American distributor, declined release of Earthbound
because of its poor sound engineering. Because of its cassette origins,
the sound could not be significantly improved on later CD reissues of
the album.
King Crimson is an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The band has undergone numerous formations throughout its history of which 21 musicians have been members; since January 2017 it has consisted of Robert Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk, Tony Levin, Mel Collins, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, Bill Rieflin and Jeremy Stacey.
Fripp is the only consistent member of the group, and is considered the
band's leader and driving force. The band has earned a large cult following. They were ranked No. 87 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
vinyl LP album back cover
photo by Styrous®
Developed from the unsuccessful trio Giles, Giles and Fripp, the band were seminal in the progressive rock genre in its first five years with its standard of instrumentation and complex song structures. King Crimson's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) (link below), remains its most successful and influential, with its elements of jazz, classical, and experimental music. Their success increased following an opening act performance for the Rolling Stones at Hyde Park, London, in 1969. Following the less successful In the Wake of Poseidon (1970), Lizard (1970), and Islands (1971), the group reached a new creative peak with Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), and Red (1974). Fripp disbanded the group in 1974.
vinyl LP album back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
In 1981, King Crimson reformed with a change in musical direction which lasted for three years, resulting in the trio of albums Discipline (1981) (link below), Beat (1982), and Three of a Perfect Pair (1984). Following a decade-long hiatus, Fripp revived the group in 1994 and released Thrak
(1995). Since 1997, several musicians have pursued aspects of the
band's work and approaches through a series of related bands
collectively referred to as ProjeKCts. In 2000, the band reunited once
more and released The Construkction of Light (2000). The band's most recent album is The Power to Believe
(2003). In 2009 the band undertook a tour to celebrate their 40th
Anniversary and continue to perform live in various capacities.
vinyl LP album back cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
The first incarnation of King Crimson
formed in London on 30 November 1968 and first rehearsed on 13 January
1969. The band's name was coined by lyricist, roadie, and art strategist
Peter Sinfield, though it is not meant to be a synonym for Beelzebub, prince of demons. (According to Fripp, Beelzebub would be an anglicised form of the Arabic phrase "B'il Sabab", meaning "the man with an aim".)
Historically and etymologically, a "crimson king" was any monarch
during whose reign there was civil unrest and copious bloodshed; the
album debuted at the height of worldwide opposition to the military involvement of the United States in Southeast Asia.
vinyl LP, side 1
photo by Styrous®
McDonald was the group's main composer, albeit with contributions from
Lake and Fripp, while Sinfield wrote the lyrics, designed and operated
the band's stage lighting, being credited with "sounds and visions".
McDonald suggested the band purchase a Mellotron, and they began using it to create an orchestral rock sound, inspired by the Moody Blues.
Sinfield described Crimson thus: "If it sounded at all popular, it was
out. So it had to be complicated, it had to be more expansive chords, it
had to have strange influences. If it sounded, like, too simple, we'd
make it more complicated, we'd play it in 7/8 or 5/8, just to show off".
vinyl LP label, side 1
photo by Styrous®
King Crimson made its live debut on 9 April 1969, and made a breakthrough by playing the Rolling Stones free concert at Hyde Park, London in July 1969 before an estimated 500,000 people. Its debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, was released in October 1969 on Island Records.
vinyl LP, side 2
photo by Styrous®
Fripp and Sinfield recorded the second King Crimson album, In the Wake of Poseidon, in 1970 with the Giles brothers hired back as the session rhythm section, and with jazz pianist Keith Tippett and Circus saxophonist Mel Collins as guest musicians.
After a search for new musicians, Fripp and Sinfield secured a returning Collins and Ian Wallace on drums. Auditions for a singer included those from Bryan Ferry, Elton John, and John Gaydon, the band's manager. The position went to Raymond "Boz" Burrell
leaving Fripp and Wallace teaching Burrell to play bass rather than
continue auditions. Though he had not played bass before, Burrell had
played enough rhythm guitar to assist him in learning the instrument.
With the line-up complete, King Crimson toured in 1971 for the first
time since 1969.
In the 1990s Burrell worked with such acts as Alvin Lee for his Best of British Blues tour of 1996 and Ruby Turner, but his main creative outlet was with his partnership with the Scottish blues singer, Tam White.
Their collaboration developed into a trio, The Shoe String Band and a
big band, the Celtic Groove Connection. White was present at Burrell's
apartment in Marbella, Spain, when Burrell suddenly died of a heart attack during rehearsals, on September 21, 2006. He was 60 years old.
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 - 21st Century Schizoid Man, written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 11:45
A2 - Peoria, written by Burrell*, Wallace*, Collins*, Fripp* - 7:30
A3 - The Sailor's Tale, written by Fripp* - 4:45
Side 2:
B1 - Earthbound, written by Burrell*, Wallace*, Collins*, Fripp* - 7:08
B2 - Groon, written by Fripp* - 15:30
Personnel:
King Crimson
Robert Fripp – electric guitar
Boz Burrell – bass guitar, vocals
Mel Collins – Alto, Tenor and Baritone saxophone, mellotron
Ian Wallace – drums
Additional personnel:
Hunter MacDonald – VCS3, engineering
Credits:
Engineer – Hunter Macdonald, John Robson (tracks: A1, B2)
Producer – Robert Fripp
Technician [VCS3 Operated By] – Hunter*
Companies, etc.
Published By – E.G. Music Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Island Records Ltd.
Printed By – MacNeill Press Ltd.
Produced For – E.G. Records Ltd.
Notes:
'Schizoid Man' and 'Groon' were recorded at Wilmington, Delaware on 11 February 1972; 'Peoria' at Peoria on 10 March 1972; 'The Sailors Tale' at Jacksonville, Florida 26 February 1972; 'Earthbound' at Orlando, Florida 27 February 1972.
The recordings were captured live on an ampex stereo cassette fed from a Kelsey Morris custom built mixer operated by John Robson and Hunter Macdonald on Schizoid Man and Groon and Hunter Macdonald on the other titles: at Jacksonville in the rain from the back of a Volkswagon truck.
VCS3 operated by Hunter.
On rear artwork:
All songs published by E.G. Music Ltd. 1971 ©
Produced for E.G. Records.
℗ 1971 Island Records Ltd.
On Labels:
E.G. Music Ltd. 1972 ©
Produced for E.G. Records.
℗ 1972 Island Records Ltd.
Sleeve printed and made by MacNeill Press Ltd.
The vinyl was originally housed in a faux crepe paper black inner sleeve.
Viewfinder links:
King Crimson ~
Discipline
In the Court of the Crimson King
King Crimson articles/mentions
Net links:
King Crimson ~ Earthbound is for sale on Discogs
King Crimson discography
YouTube links:
21st Century Schizoid Man
The Sailor's Tale
Earthbound
Groon
Styrous® ~ Sunday, August 20, 2016
Side 1:
A1 - 21st Century Schizoid Man, written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 11:45
A2 - Peoria, written by Burrell*, Wallace*, Collins*, Fripp* - 7:30
A3 - The Sailor's Tale, written by Fripp* - 4:45
Side 2:
B1 - Earthbound, written by Burrell*, Wallace*, Collins*, Fripp* - 7:08
B2 - Groon, written by Fripp* - 15:30
Personnel:
King Crimson
Robert Fripp – electric guitar
Boz Burrell – bass guitar, vocals
Mel Collins – Alto, Tenor and Baritone saxophone, mellotron
Ian Wallace – drums
Additional personnel:
Hunter MacDonald – VCS3, engineering
Credits:
Engineer – Hunter Macdonald, John Robson (tracks: A1, B2)
Producer – Robert Fripp
Technician [VCS3 Operated By] – Hunter*
Companies, etc.
Published By – E.G. Music Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Island Records Ltd.
Printed By – MacNeill Press Ltd.
Produced For – E.G. Records Ltd.
Notes:
'Schizoid Man' and 'Groon' were recorded at Wilmington, Delaware on 11 February 1972; 'Peoria' at Peoria on 10 March 1972; 'The Sailors Tale' at Jacksonville, Florida 26 February 1972; 'Earthbound' at Orlando, Florida 27 February 1972.
The recordings were captured live on an ampex stereo cassette fed from a Kelsey Morris custom built mixer operated by John Robson and Hunter Macdonald on Schizoid Man and Groon and Hunter Macdonald on the other titles: at Jacksonville in the rain from the back of a Volkswagon truck.
VCS3 operated by Hunter.
On rear artwork:
All songs published by E.G. Music Ltd. 1971 ©
Produced for E.G. Records.
℗ 1971 Island Records Ltd.
On Labels:
E.G. Music Ltd. 1972 ©
Produced for E.G. Records.
℗ 1972 Island Records Ltd.
Sleeve printed and made by MacNeill Press Ltd.
The vinyl was originally housed in a faux crepe paper black inner sleeve.
King Crimson ~ Earthbound
Label: Island Records – HELP 6
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1972
Genre: Rock
Style: Jazz-Rock, Prog Rock
Label: Island Records – HELP 6
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: UK
Released: 1972
Genre: Rock
Style: Jazz-Rock, Prog Rock
Viewfinder links:
King Crimson ~
Discipline
In the Court of the Crimson King
King Crimson articles/mentions
Net links:
King Crimson ~ Earthbound is for sale on Discogs
King Crimson discography
YouTube links:
21st Century Schizoid Man
The Sailor's Tale
Earthbound
Groon
Belated happy birthday, Boz!
Styrous® ~ Sunday, August 20, 2016
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