King Crimson ~
Showing posts with label Robert Fripp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Robert Fripp. Show all posts
September 13, 2021
August 20, 2017
20,000 Vinyl LPs 102: King Crimson & "Boz" Burrell ~ Earthbound
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
King Crimson articles/mentions
Discipline
In the Court of the Crimson King
King Crimson & "Boz" Burrell ~ Earthbound
King Crimson ~ Discipline
vinyl LP cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
mentions:
Alice Cooper ~ Killer
Captain Beyond ~ Sufficiently Breathless
Peter Gabriel ~ Deutsches Album
February 26, 2016
20,000 Vinyl LPs 52: King Crimson ~ Discipline
vinyl LP cover detail
detail photo by Styrous®
~ ~ ~
I
started the Vinyl LP series because I have a collection of over 20,000 vinyl record albums I am
selling; each blog entry is about an album from my collection. Inquire
for information here.
~ ~ ~
My first discovery of the English rock band, King Crimson, was with the 1969 album, In the Court of the Crimson King (link below). It was the group that began an awakening for me of the wonders to be found in the progressive rock genre; I wasn't to discover Pink Floyd (link below) until 1971 with their album, Meddle, which sent me on an entirely different trajectory.
vinyl LP cover
photo by Styrous®
Discipline, released in 1981, featured a transformed group that had elements of the new wave sound being produced at that time. It is the eighth studio album by the band. The image shown on the cover is a Celtic knot design by George Bain and is embossed. Only founder Robert Fripp and later addition Bill Bruford remained from previous incarnations. The rest of the band was Adrian Belew (guitar, lead vocals) and Tony Levin (bass guitar, Chapman Stick, backing vocals). I saw them perform at the Hearst Greek Theater in Berkeley, one of many concerts I have seen there (link below).
vinyl LP cover back
photo by Styrous®
As usual, I have a favorite from the album; Matte Kudasai is it. It is totally unlike the prog-rock King Crimson is known for producing. It starts out slow, dreamy and VERY quietly with the guitar work only Robert Fripp
could manage. It has a mellow, gently loping beat that gives a country-western feeling to it with a vocal by Adrian Belew that sounds a little like David Byrne. The vocal is softly syncopated and disjointed but it is
introspective, beautiful and reminiscent of the country-western style of the
40's-50's. It would not surprise me if this song was inspiration for the wonderful 1985 ballad by Chris Isaak, Western Stars, from his Silvertone album (link below). If you'd like to listen to Matte while reading
the rest of this, click here.
Matte Kudasai (Japanese: 待って下さい) literally means "please wait". The original release of Discipline featured only one version of Matte Kudasai, with a guitar part by Robert Fripp
that was removed from the track on a subsequent release of the album.
The latest versions of the album to be released contains both versions
of the song – track 3, Matte Kudasai, without Robert Fripp's original
guitar part; and track 8, Matte Kudasai (alternative version), with
the guitar part included.
vinyl LP in plastic sleeve
photo by Styrous®
MATTE KUDASAI Lyrics
Still, by the window pane,
Pain, like the rain that's falling.
She waits in the air,
Matte Kudasai.
She sleeps in a chair
In her sad America.
When, when was the night so long,
Long, like the notes I'm sending.
She waits in the air,
Matte Kudasai.
She sleeps in a chair
In her sad America.
She waits in the air,
Matte Kudasai.
She sleeps in a chair
In her sad America.
Songwriters:
Adrian Belew, Bill Bruford, Robert Fripp & Tony Levin
photo by Styrous®
Sheltering Sky is a blend of the gentle, trippy Matte with the progressive rock sound the group was so well-known for. There is a video of the song from The Sheltering Sky, 1982 Tour, on YouTube (link below).
vinyl LP label detail, side 1
detail photo by Styrous®
Elephant Talk returns to their original prog-rock sound with it's
fast bouncey and jittery tempo that moves with the speed of a runaway
train. There is a video of them playing the song on the television show,
Fridays (link below). The ABC weekly late-night live comedy show showcased the most amazing range of music talent in the world. The program was ABC's attempt to duplicate the success of NBC's Saturday Night Live, which, at the time, was in its fifth and final season featuring the original "Not Ready for Primetime" cast.
vinyl LP label detail, side 2
detail photo by Styrous®
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 - Elephant Talk - 4:40
A2 - Frame By Frame - 5:05
A3 - Matte Kudasai - 3:46
A4 - Indiscipline - 4:30
Side 2:
B1 - Thela Hun Ginjeet - 6:23
B2 - The Sheltering Sky - 8:19
B3 - Discipline - 5:00
Side 1:
A1 - Elephant Talk - 4:40
A2 - Frame By Frame - 5:05
A3 - Matte Kudasai - 3:46
A4 - Indiscipline - 4:30
Side 2:
B1 - Thela Hun Ginjeet - 6:23
B2 - The Sheltering Sky - 8:19
B3 - Discipline - 5:00
Companies, etc.
- Phonographic Copyright (p) – E.G. Records Ltd.
- Copyright (c) – E.G. Records Ltd.
- Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Winchester
- Published By – E.G. Music, Inc.
- Published By – Editions EG
- Mastered At – Europadisk
Credits:
- Chapman Stick, Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals – Tony Levin
- Drums – Bill Bruford
- Guitar, Electronics [Devices] – Robert Fripp
- Guitar, Lead Vocals – Adrian Belew
- Engineer [Assistant] – Nigel Mills
- Music By – King Crimson
- Producer – King Crimson, Rhett Davies
- Words By [Elephantosity] – Belew*
Label: Warner Bros. Records – BSK 3629,
EG – BSK 3629
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1981
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
Net links:
King Crimson ~ In the Court of the Crimson King
The Hearst Greek Theater performances
Paul Simon at the Greek Theater
Chris Isaak ~ Silvertone
Chris Isaak website
King Crimson on YouTube:
Matte Kudasai
Elephant Talk (live on Fridays)
The Sheltering Sky
The Hearst Greek Theater performances
Paul Simon at the Greek Theater
Chris Isaak ~ Silvertone
Chris Isaak website
King Crimson on YouTube:
Matte Kudasai
Elephant Talk (live on Fridays)
The Sheltering Sky
Styrous® ~ Friday, February 26, 2016
~
July 20, 2015
20,000 Vinyl LPs 47: King Crimson ~ In the Court of the Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) & Barry Godber
photos by Styrous®
Most of the great vinyl LP purchases I've made has been because of the art/design on the album cover. Such was the case with this album, In the Court of the Crimson King (An Observation By King Crimson) by King Crimson.
I had never heard of the group before but the cover grabbed me by the eyeballs and never let go. Anyway, how could you pass up a title like that?
Barry Godber (1946–1970), a computer programmer, painted the album cover. Godber died in February 1970 of a heart attack, shortly after the album's release. It was his only album cover, and is now owned by Robert Fripp. Fripp had said about Godber:
Peter brought this painting in and the band loved it. I recently recovered the original from [managing label E.G. Records's] offices because they kept it exposed to bright light, at the risk of ruining it, so I ended up removing it. The face on the outside is the Schizoid Man, and on the inside it's the Crimson King. If you cover the smiling face, the eyes reveal an incredible sadness. What can one add? It reflects the music.
back cover painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP cover
cover painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP gatefold cover
interior painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP gatefold interior
interior painting by Barry Godber
vinyl LP gatefold interior detail
Godber's art snagged me but the music kept me coming back. I went on to collect almost all of the Crimson works which I will write about, eventually.
King Crimson was labeled, "The Band that will Live Forever"!
Links to more info & music below
Tracklist:
Side 1:
1 - 21st Century Schizoid Man including Mirrors
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 7:21
Side 1:
1 - 21st Century Schizoid Man including Mirrors
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 7:21
2 - I Talk To The Wind
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 6:08
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 6:08
3 - Epitaph including March For No Reason and Tomorrow And Tomorrow
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 8:52
Side 2:
1 - Moonchild including The Dream and The Illusion
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 12:15
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 8:52
Side 2:
1 - Moonchild including The Dream and The Illusion
- written by Lake*, McDonald*, Giles*, Sinfield*, Fripp* - 12:15
2 - The Court Of The Crimson King including The Return Of The Fire Witch and The Dance Of The Puppets
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 9:25
- written by McDonald*, Sinfield* - 9:25
Companies etc.
- Recorded At – Wessex Sound Studios
- Pressed By – Columbia Records Pressing Plant, Terre Haute
- Mastered At – Atlantic Studios
- Manufactured By – Atlantic Recording Corporation
- Published By – TRO-Total Music, Inc.
- Copyright (c) – E.G. Music Ltd.
- Copyright (c) – Atlantic Recording Corporation
Credits:
- Bass, Lead Vocals – Greg Lake
- Cover – Barry Godber
- Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Michael Giles
- Engineer – Robin Thompson
- Engineer [Assistant] – Tony Page
- Guitar – Robert Fripp
- Keyboards, Mellotron, Woodwind, Vibraphone, Reeds, Vocals – Ian McDonald
- Producer – King Crimson
- Words By, Other [Illumination] – Peter Sinfield
Notes:
Terre Haute pressing with CTH suffix in matrix.
Textured gatefold sleeve.
Textured gatefold sleeve.
King Crimson – In The Court Of The Crimson King An Observation By King Crimson
Label: Atlantic – SD 8245
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
Label: Atlantic – SD 8245
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
Links on the Net:
Pure and Easy Ode to Barry Godver
The Dork Report
Artists UK Great album art and strange stories
Songs on YouTube:
21st Century Schizoid Man
I Talk To The Wind
Epitaph
Moonchild
The Court Of The Crimson King
Styrous® ~ Monday, July 20, 2015
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)