Posts tagged Ian Wallace

(Review from rollingstone.com, starling.rinet.ru)

Alvin Lee has taken on a stronger R&B feel and focused on his vocal abilities as much as his guitar in his solo work. “Pump Iron” follows the same pattern as its predecessor — a solid, upbeat-R & B-meets-Anglo-flash format. Alvin Lee is less keen on spontaneous guitar heroics. His well-known friends perform with restrained expertise as well.

The opener ‘One More Chance’, an angry, evil little shuffle with sarcastic synth tones and needle-sharp guitar solos that almost recall something Floydish at times. It harkens 1970-72 Ten Years After period.

Somewhere in the middle you’ll also meet ‘Have Mercy’. Alvin Lee is able to breathe as much sincerity and inspiration into this ballad. Hearing Alvin screaming ‘have mercy on a child of God’ is inspiring,

The album closer, ‘Let The Sea Burn Down’, is reminiscent the “epic” numbers on late-period Ten Years After albums with layers of synthesizers, phased guitars and screechy guitar solos symbolizing the end of the world and stuff like that.

There are other goodies too: ‘Julian Rice’, with its catchy refrain; the acoustic shuffle ‘Time And Space’, recorded live with the help of a wonderful trumpet (or was that oboe?) part; the classy funky jam ‘Burnt Fungus’ with a brilliant organ part; and yet another ballad, ‘The Darkest Night’ is simpy irresistable with its delicious bit of romantic piano.

The issue of the album adds two worthy bonus tracks – a short guitar-based instrumental called ‘Madness’ with funky chops and his funny rendition of ‘Midnight Special’, which probably won’t turn you away from the definitive version of Creedence Clearwater Revival but will be a nice addition to the song’s immense bunch of interpretations nevertheless.

Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
with
- Ian Wallace / Drums
- Mel Collins / Sax
- Boz Burrell / Bass
- Tim Hinkley / Keyboards
- Ron Berg / Drums
- Brother James / Congas
- Harold Burgon / Arp
- Colin Gibson / Bass
- Bryson Graham / Drums
- Jack Lancaster / Horn
- Ronnie Leahy / Organ
- Andy Pyle / Bass
- Steve Thompson / Bass

Track List:
01. One More Chance – 3:53
02. Try To Be Righteous – 4:03
03. You Told Me – 3:53
04. Have Mercy – 2:48
05. Julian Rice – 4:52
06. Time And Space – 2:43
07. Burnt Fungus – 3:16
08. The Darkest Night – 2:25
09. It’s All Right Now – 2:35
10. Truckin’ Down The Other Way – 2:31
11. Let The Sea Burn Down – 6:42
12. Madness (Bonus) – 1:50
13. Midnight Special (Bonus) – 4:49

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Alvin Lee, Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, Mel Collins

Alvin Lee – In Flight (Live 1974) (@256)

23 Feb 2010

(Review fro amazon)

‘In Flight’ is a two-disc live recording made by Alvin Lee in 1974 at the Rainbow Theatre in London. It was the follow-up to 1973′s ‘On the Road to Freedom’, Lee’s first album without his Ten Years After colleagues. He arrived with a cargo hold (‘In Flight’ analogy…) of new tunes and a supersized backing band, including horn man Mel Collins and a trio of backing singers.

It’s a lively, high-energy set, sure to please someone, but probably not the old Ten Years After crowd. Until the second half of the second disc, Alvin’s trademark lead guitar excursions are in short supply, instead being supplanted primarily by Collins’ up-front and center presence. The texture of the music has changed as well. While Ten Years After segued effortlessly from blues-rock to psychedelia to folk and country-rock, this new Alvin Lee is pounding out something perhaps best described as boogie-rock.

The compositions unquestionably announce Alvin Lee as a matured writing talent. There is a wealth of new, well-turned tunes that Lee pulls out of his back pocket here, beginning with the “chug-along blues” (as Lee describes it in his personally scripted liner notes) opener, ‘Got To Keep Moving’. Other highlights include the funky ‘You Need Love Love Love’ which possesses a great vocal hook, the sweet boogie of ‘Let’s Get Back’, and the most Ten Years After-sounding number, ‘Ride My Train’.

As you move deep into the second disc, Alvin moves his lead guitar heroics to the front burner, displaying his firy skills on tracks such as ‘Keep a Knocking’, and a Chuck Berry sound-alike ‘Johnny B. Goode’ rave-up on ‘I’ve Got Eyes For You Baby’.

There are several other covers that deserve mention here. Alvin’s version of ‘Slow Down’ may best represent how his solo work differ from Ten Years After. While you might expect him to go bonkers with his guitar and vocals on this potentially scintillating track, it comes across as a much more smooth and polished piece. The mid-70s did that to a lot of psychedelic and blues-rockers from the 60s, and Alvin seems infected. The same can be said for his covers of Elvis Presley’s ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and ‘Mystery Train’ as well as ‘Money Honey’. Each of these songs relies heavily on Mel Collins’ sax and backing vocals rather than Lee’s astounding guitar virtuosity.

There are also two bonus tracks: ‘Somebody Callin’ Me’ is live boogie-rock from an unidentified venue. The recording is of good quality, but Lee’s vocals, in particular, feel buried compared to the stunning vibrancy of the original album. The other, “Put it in a Box” is a studio recording. It launches into a sweet funk-groove from the first strains, and features a fat, fuzzy guitar foundation, setting up Lee’s exquisite leads. Back vocals strike a nice balance with the other key elements of the performance.

Given the right audience, ‘In Flight’ could certainly bring hours of listening pleasure.

Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / Guitar, Vocals
with
- Mel Collins / Flute, Saxophone
- Tim Hinkley / Keyboards
- Neil Hubbard / Guitar
- Alan Spenner / Bass
- Ian Wallace / Drums

Track List:
CD1
01. Got To Keep Moving – 5:02
02. Going Through The Door – 4:21
03. Don’t Be Cruel – 2:39
04. Money Money – 3:05
05. I’m Writing You A Letter – 4:52
06. You Need Love Love Love – 5:24
07. Freedom For The Stallion – 6:26
08. Every Blues You’ve Ever Heard – 5:24
09. All Life’s Trials – 2:59
CD2
01. Intro – 0:53
02. Let’s Get Back – 4:58
03. Ride My Train – 4:14
04. There’s A Feeling – 4:02
05. Running Round – 5:38
06. Mystery Train – 4:42
07. Slow Down – 3:38
08. Keep A Knocking – 2:14
09. How Many Times – 2:04
10. I’ve Got Eyes For You Baby – 3:36
11. I’m Writing You A Letter – 4:18
12. Somebody Callin’ Me (Bonus) – 6:26
13. Put It In A Box (Bonus) – 8:06

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Alvin Lee, Ian Wallace, Live, Mel Collins

Alvin Lee & Mylon LeFevre – On the Road to Freedom (1973) (@256)

22 Feb 2010

8 comments

(Review from amazon)

Alvin Lee known for his lightning fast licks on guitar, soulful bluesy tunes and amazing live performances throws us a curve ball with his first solo album. Much more mellow and melodic than his work with Ten Years After, but with great feeling and depth. He shares the vocalist duties with American gospel singer Mylon LeFevre and Mylon also belts out some very nice songs of his own.

Each song utilizes the various noteworthy musicians (including the entire Traffic cast), with Alvin Lee playing guitar on almost all of the tunes. It has a variety of music styles as well, with a very country tune “Funny”, to an almost gospel like tune “Lay me Back” to a very nice traditional rock and roll jam “Rockin’ Til The Sun Goes Down”. The title track is a deceptively simple prime cut with its searing guitar, solid drumming, tasteful piano, a rousing melody.

The combination of Alvin Lee’s fabulous talent and that unmistakable voice of Mylon LeFevre make an interesting album.

Line-up:
- Alvin Lee / guitar, bass, sitar, vocals
- Mylon LeFevre / 12-string guitar, bass, percussion, vocals
with
- George Harrison / guitar, slide guitar, bass, back vocals
- Ron Wood / 12-string guitar, bass, drums
- Steve Winwood / piano
- Tim Hinkley / piano, organ, background vocals
- Boz Burrell / bass, background vocals
- Bob Black / steel guitar
- Andy Stein / fiddle
- Jim Capaldi / drums
- Reebop Kwaku Baah / congas
- Mick Fleetwood / drums
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Mike Patto / percussion, back vocals

Track List:
01. On the Road to Freedom – 4:15
02. The World Is Changing (I Got a Woman Back in Georgia) – 2:47
03. So Sad (No Love of His Own) – 4:36
04. Fall Angel – 3:22
05. Funny – 2:50
06. We Will Shine – 2:39
07. Carry My Load – 3:00
08. Lay Me Back – 2:55
09. Let ‘Em Say What They Will – 2:54
10. I Can’t Take It – 2:53
11. Riffin – 3:33
12. Rockin’ Til the Sun Goes Down – 3:10
13. So Sad (No Love of His Own) (Bonus Single) – 3:00

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Alvin Lee, Boz Burrell, George Harrison, Ian Wallace, Jim Capaldi, Reebop Kwaku Baah, Steve Winwood

King Crimson – KCCC40 Live in Boston (1972) (@256)

28 Dec 2009

8 comments

(Review from collectorsmusicreviews.com)

This archival live recording once again revisits the “Islands” era line up who played together in 1971 and 1972. The March 27th Boston gig was at the end of their second visit to the US and were supporting Yes, who were touring for Fragile. Such a situation was precipitated, according to the liner notes, by the instability of the band in their formative years. Nearly two years later in 1971 that the band returned to the USA. Having lost the momentum that a speculative tour during 1970 might have gained them, King Crimson were once again forced to “pay their dues” supporting bands such as Procol Harum and Yes.

This date survives in progressive rock mythology as the day when Bill Bruford (Yes drummer at the time) approached Robert Fripp about joining Crimson with Fripp’s famous reply “I think you’re about ready now, Bill…”.

The show itself is the perfect illustration of the band going in two directions. It is well known that Robert Fripp disbanded this line up in January only to be coerced into this final tour. The joy of playing this material is evident in the band except for the guitarist who voices his protest through his instrument.

The scorching “Pictures Of A City” starts the set. Mellotron tuning precedes the gentle “Forementera Lady” and in the long improvisation Mel Collins takes the lead saxophone. Fripp responds by playing the nasty angular riff that would used later in the year in “Larks Tongues In Aspic Part I”. The improvisation leads directly into the jazzy “A Sailor’s Tale”.

“Cirkus” from Lizard is one of the constants during these tours. Although it began as the opener by this time it was played in the middle of the set as a respite from the endless jams. “Groon”, which on a good night could push fifteen minutes lasts about nine in Boston. “21st Century Schizoid Man”, the only song from the classic first album to survive in the set, is segued with the preceding number. A seven minute funky improvisation lead by Boz serves as an introduction to “Cadence And Cascade” featuring a gorgeous flute melody before the tape cuts out.

This is another fantastic document from the most intriguing King Crimson line up.

Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
- Mel Collins / saxes, flute, mellotron
- Boz Burrell / bass, lead vocals
- Ian Wallace / drums, vocals

Track List:
01. R.F. Announcement – 1:35
02. Pictures Of A City – 8:44
03. Formentera Lady – 8:33
04. The Sailor’s Tale – 7:26
05. Cirkus – 8:43
06. Groon – 10:18
07. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 10:03
08. Improv – 7:45
09. Cadence And Cascade – 4:16

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Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Robert Fripp

Crimson Jazz Trio – King Crimson Songbook Vol. 2 (2006) (@256)

26 Dec 2009

(Review from allaboutjazz.com)

The trio’s second album showcases yet more of their re-interpretations of classic King Crimson compositions.

Stripped of progressive rock production and Robert Fripp’s distinctive guitar sounds these tunes are remarkably fresh and pliable, standing on their own merits even for those unfamiliar with the originals. The Crimson Jazz Trio’s arrangements expand on the possibilities of the originals while adding new dimensions to their emotional impact. The one track that retains its lyrics, “Inner Garden”, features an exceptional vocal performance from Nardone, whose piano solo is also a highlight of the album.

Saxophonist Mel Collins, another member of early King Crimson line-ups, guests on “Frame by Frame” and “Formentera Lady.” On the former Collins takes on the vocal line from the original, while on the latter—part of the “Islands Suite”—he brings a much freer interpretation to the tune while Nardone and Landers take turns playing short phrases from the melody. Each trio member also contributes a short composition of his own: Landers’ “The Plank,” a solo on double-bass, is especially enjoyable, and all three tunes complement the album’s overall feel.

Wallace was a first-call rock session drummer for almost 40 years. His playing here shows that his jazz talents were equal to his rock aptitudes, particularly his bop-influenced work on “Pictures of a City” and the beautiful “One Time” and his lovely, understated, brush work on the closing “Lament”. Recorded in June 2006, only a few months before Wallace’s death in February 2007, his fans can take heart in this fitting memorial to his fine playing.

Line-up:
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Jody Nardone / vocals (5), piano
- Tim Landers / bass
with
- Mel Collins / saxophones (4, 9)

Track List:
01. The Court of the Crimson King – 6:16
02. Pictures of a City – 6:29
03. One Time – 9:16
04. Frame By Frame – 5:30
05. Inner Garden – 5:34
06. Heartbeat – 8:56
07. Press Gang – 2:32
08. Zero Dark Thirty – 2:18
09. Formentera Lady – 7:32
10. Sailor’s Tale – 3:45
11. The Plank – 2:14
12. Lament – 9:20

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Crimson Jazz Trio, Ian Wallace

Crimson Jazz Trio – King Crimson Songbook Vol. 1 (2005) (@256)

25 Dec 2009

(Review from amazon)

The Crimson Jazz Trio have respectfully and irreverently taken 8 Crimson classics, repositioned them in the musical spectrum and delivered their first songbook with superb musicianship in service to wit & invention. Ian Wallace provides personal hotline and Crimson-juice authority to the trio.

The equation is pretty simple: The Crimson Jazz Trio is to jazz somewhat less than King Crimson is to rock. But the real import here is a dramatic change of context, one that shifts the rhythmic and melodic components from an often clinical glare into a warm and generous new light. By allowing us to recognize these now familiar pieces in a completely new setting is a great way to demonstrate just how compelling, flexible and open-ended the music of King Crimson is. Even more interesting is the way in which the music of various generations of King Crimson, each with its own distinct stylistic signature and aesthetic preoccupations, adapt to the here “standardized” jazz form.

More than an exercise, the first volume songbook shows us that no matter what the form, interpretation is a critical aspect of making music. The interpretations here are uniformly worthwhile and exhibit the outcomes of what must have been some difficult decisions. Just consider untying the Gordian Knot that is “Starless”, absent of Alexander’s sword. Music such as this, with its strictly metered progressions built on razor-fine divisions and subtle, clockwork variations would seem impossible to adapt to the freer shadings of jazz. Yet, the Crimson Jazz trio accomplishes just that, to great effect.

Listening, however, proves to be equally demanding and rewarding, especially when compared to a spate of comparatively onanistic “mash-ups” of the original work.

Line-up:
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Tim Landers / bass
- Jody Nardone / piano

Track List:
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 6:53
02. Three Of A Perfect Pair – 6:11
03. Catfood – 6:19
04. Starless – 10:40
05. Ladies Of The Road – 6:44
06. I Talk To The Wind – 9:56
07. Red – 5:59
08. Matte Kudasai – 9:07

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Crimson Jazz Trio, Ian Wallace

King Crimson – KCCC35 Live in Denver (1972) (@256)

19 Dec 2009

(Review from planetmellotron.com)

Six months before the Mark 2 lineup dissolved, the band sound like they were having a whale of a time the night Live in Denver, March 13, 1972 was recorded.

“Ladies Of The Road” has Boz Burrell introducing “Fingers Fripp, playing his blues licks”, while various members are laughing too hard to sing their backing vocal parts. The rest of the set is at least played properly, but is a case-book study as to why Fripp eventually tired of their approach.

Apart from the evergreen Schizoid Man, the two tracks containing mellotron standout with a fine The Sailors Tale and a ripping Cirkus.

It’s a great shame Fripp threw the repertoire baby out with the bathwater for his next version of the band, as that line-up would’ve more than done the song justice.

Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
- Mel Collins / saxes, mellotron
- Boz Burrell / bass, vocals
- Ian Wallace / drums

Track List:
01. Formentera Lady – 9:27
02. The Sailor’s Tale – 6:41
03. Circus – 10:00
04. Ladies Of The Road – 6:33
05. The Letters – 6:35
06. Groon – 17:16
07. 21st Century Schizoid Band – 11:42
08. Cadence And Cascade – 4:56

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Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Robert Fripp

Jackson Heights – Bump 'n' Grind (1973) (@256)

16 Dec 2008

(Review from progarchives.com)

For their fourth and last album, the band aimed at a concept album about the lives of the ladies in a cabaret. Apparently the concept diverged into a complete extravaganza with tons of extra musicians once the label got excited about the project and over-did their part.

Starting on seagulls and piano into “I Could Be Your Orchestra” or its string-overloaded follow-up “Spaghetti Sunshine”, this album seems to be filled to the brim with the whole kettle of progressive clichés, but then again, this might be a proghead’s easiest way to get into Jackson Heights. Classically trained Brian Chatton, constantly pushed by his buddy Keith Emerson, he obviously explodes into this album, here seems to take on the lion’s share in terms of songwriting.

The band wouldn’t survive the album very long. Swiss keyboard wizard Patrick Moraz would then step in, forming the group Refugee with him.

Line-up:
- Lee Jackson / bass, guitar, vocals
- Brian Chatton / keyboards, vocals
- Michael Giles / drums
- John McBurnie / guitar, keyboards, vocals
with
- Johnny VanDerrick / violin
- Ian Paice / drums
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Chris Laurence / bass
- Bill Bell / banjo

Track List:
01. I Could Be Your Orchestra – 4:15
02. Spaghetti Sunshine – 3:32
03. Long Necked Lady – 3:46
04. Public Romance – 2:32
05. Bump and Grind – 3:26
06. Cumberland County – 3:39
07. It’s a Shame – 4:17
08. Ladies in the Chorus – 3:08
09. Whatever Happened to the Conversation – 3:45

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Ian Paice, Ian Wallace, Jackson Heights, Lee Jackson, Michael Giles

Ian Wallace – Happiness With Minimal Side Effects (2003) (@256)

19 Sep 2008

(Review from wikipedia, cdbaby.com, amazon)

Judge a man by the company he keeps, so the saying goes. By those standards, the company Ian Wallace keeps would rank him among the most accomplished and highly regarded drummers of his time. Sought out by acclaimed artists and successful record producers, and a favorite of fellow musicians, Ian Wallace has quietly amassed one of the most impressive musical resumes of the last three decades.

Yet he’s probably most known with his work as a member of King Crimson, in the 1971-72 period. He appeared on the album, “Islands” in 1971, and on the live album, “Earthbound” in 1972, as well as a number of later archival releases.

His sole solo album was released in 2003. The album has sweeping arrangements that groove in odd time signatures with layered melodic harmonies that tell a tale of modern existence.

The music is very crimsonish at times, partikcularly on ‘Too Much Dogma’ and ‘Castaway’. It’s a shame the intro didn’t last longer. There is mellotron aplenty and it could well fit into the ‘Islands’ album. There is some Beatle-ish chorus’s throughout. The latter tracks are like Steely Dan with the funky bass lines.

On August 10, 2006, Wallace was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He chronicled his illness in his online blog in the hope his story would encourage others with similar symptoms to pursue treatment. He died, aged 60, with his wife, Marjorie Pomeroy, at his side.

Line-up:
- Ian Wallace / Percussion, Drums, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals
with
- John Billings / Bass
- Clive Gregson / Guitar
- Pat Mastelotto / Drums
- Ian McDonald / Flute
- Michael Rhodes / Bass
- Kenny Vaughan / Electric Guitar

Track List:
01. Too Much Dogma
02. Castaway
03. I Can’t Breathe
04. Bad Boy
05. Captain Of Industry
06. The Spotlight
07. Pilgrim’s Progress

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Ian McDonald, Ian Wallace, Pat Mastelotto

Peter Sinfield – Still (1973) (@256)

28 Aug 2008

6 comments

Thanks to Bilek for the contribution.

(Review from progarchives.com)

It’s interesting to listen what kind of result comes from the musical vision of King Crimson’s court lyricist without the guidance of Robert Fripp. The album features the typical Peter Sinfield elements like poetical lyrics and often a cynical undertone.

Almost everybody who played with King Crimson is on this album. However, only on one track- ‘The Night People’- does the album sound all that much like King Crimson, and even then, it’s the jazzier 1971 period that produced albums like ‘Lizard’ and ‘Islands’. It fits in with tracks like ‘Formentera Lady’ and ‘Indoor Games’ well enough, with Sinfield’s stream of consciousness words fitting the jazziness fairly well.

The rest of the album arguably, and somewhat surprisingly, owes more to the pastoral splendour of a band like Barclay James Harvest. These are dreamy with a wonderful harmony of acoustic guitar, flute, strings and the warm voice from Sinfield. His high, thin, reedy voice may put off some listeners but others will probably find it fitting and original. ‘Envelopes Of Yesterday’, with its treated guitar work and spaced-out atmosphere, edges towards Pink Floyd’s ‘Echoes’!

This edition also has two bonus tracks as well: the opener “Can You Forgive A Fool” which is very much pastoral and features some pleasant keys. The second one “Hanging Fire” is a candid and folk acoustic song.

Line-up:
- Peter Sinfield / vocals, guitar, synthesizer
with
- Chris Pyne / trombone
- Stanley Roderick / trumpet
- W.G. Snuffy Walden / guitar
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Tim Hinckley / piano
- Brian Flowers / synthesizer
- Don Honeywill / saxophone
- Keith Christmas / guitar
- Greg Lake / guitar, vocals
- Robin Miller / wind, cor Anglais
- Greg Bowen / trumpet
- Richard Brunton / guitar
- Boz Burrell / bass
- Brian Cole / guitar
- Mel Collins / celeste, flute, saxophone, wind, brass
- Steve Dolan / bass
- Don Honeywell / saxophone
- Phil Jump / Glockenspiel, keyboards, organ, piano, synthesizer
- John Wetton / drums, bass, percussion
- Keith Tippett / bass, piano

Track List:
01. The Song of the Sea Goat (6:08)
02. Under the Sky (4:24)
03. Will It Be You (2:42)
04. Wholefood Boogie (3:40)
05. Still (4:45)
06. Envelopes of Yesterday (6:19)
07. The Piper (2:51)
08. A House of Hopes and Dreams (3:57)
09. The Night People (7:56)
10. Can You Forgive A Fool? (Bonus) (4:21)
11. Hanging Fire (Bonus) (3:04)

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Boz Burrell, Greg Lake, Ian Wallace, John Wetton, Mel Collins, Peter Sinfield

King Crimson – KCCC30 Live in Brighton (1971) (@256)

12 Aug 2008

2 comments

(Review from progarchives.com)

Music is great, it’s just one brilliant King Crimson concert more. But the whole problem is sound quality, which makes this album not very listenable.

There are two rare live tracks : “Islands” sounds good, even if not as perfect as in studio version. “Letters” is played and especially sung very impressing.

Line-up:
* Boz Burrell – bass, lead vocals
* Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron
* Mel Collins – saxes, flute, mellotron
* Ian Wallace – drums, vocals
* Peter Sinfield – words, sounds & visions

Track List:
CD1
01. Cirkus – 11:02
02. Pictures Of A City – 11:04
03. Formentara Lady – 7:14
04. The Sailor’s Tale – 5:30
05. The Letters – 8:05
06. Islands – 7:00
CD2
01. Ladies Of The Road – 6:52
02. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 24:55
03. Groon – 12:00
04. Mars – 10:11

Links in comments.

Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Peter Sinfield, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – KCCC23 Live in Orlando (1972) (@256)

04 Aug 2008

7 comments

(Review from progarchives.com)

Recorded on February 27, 1972 at the Kemp Coliseum; this performance took place one day after the Jacksonville concert. The sound quality of this (double) album is much better than the Jacksonville album and the playing is more inspired.

This incarnation is said to be more of a jam band and that may be true. That doesn’t mean however that they didn’t make some interesting, challenging music. Because they did. The jamming side is at its best in the jazzy rendition of Schizoid Man and in Earthbound. But this version of the band was also capable of more structured music, as in Cirkus.

Line-up:
* Boz Burrell – bass, lead vocals
* Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron
* Mel Collins – saxes, flute, mellotron
* Ian Wallace – drums, vocals

Track List:
CD1
01. Pictures Of A City – 10:12
02. Formentera Lady – 8:24
03. The Sailors Tale – 6:57
04. Cirkus – 9:20
05. Ladies Of The Road – 6:07
CD2
01. Groon – 16:09
02. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 11:05
03. Earthbound – 6:31
04. Cadence And Cascade – 4:24

Links in comments.

Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – KCCC18 Live in Detroit (1971) (@256)

30 Jul 2008

2 comments

“Live in Detroit” was recorded at East Town Theatre, November 13, 1971.

Line-up:
- Boz Burrell / bass, lead vocals
- Mel Collins / flute, saxophone, mellotron
- Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
- Ian Wallace / drums, vocals
- Peter Sinfield / words, sound & visions

Track List:
CD1
01. Pictures of A City – 9:02
02. Formentera Lady – 9:08
03. Sailor’s Tale – 5:59
04. Cirkus – 9:14
05. Ladies of the Road – 7:54
06. Groon – 17:49
CD2
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 13:21
02. Mars – 13:22
03. In the Court of the Crimson King – 3:31
04. Lady of the Dancing Water – 2:25

Links in comments.

Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Peter Sinfield, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – KCCC14 Live at Plymouth GuildHall (1971) (@256)

26 Jul 2008

Thanks to Bragi Taliesin for the contribution.

(Review from wikipedia)

Live at Plymouth Guildhall is a double live album, recorded at the Guildhall in Plymouth, UK on May 11, 1971. This concert was the fifth ever live performance by the Islands version of King Crimson. The CD release was adapted from the original soundboard tape, mixed by Peter Sinfield. An audience bootleg was added to repair the missing introduction to “Get Thy Bearings”.

“21st Century Schizoid Man” is sung by Boz with this line-up and his distorted voice sounds really demonic. It is surprising that a song like “Cirkus” (from Lizard) is performed on stage — it’s really tremendous that they would manage to re-create it on-stage, not losing it’s power, mystery and all the rest… Biggest surprise here is an early (pre-”Islands”) 15-minutes long version of “Sailor’s tale”, very different from the later one. We also have “Lady of the dancing water” and “Get thy bearings” (which is in fact rather an improvisation, with a slight hint to “get thy bearings”). Later on they delated “Get Thy Bearings” and played “Groon” instead. But in fact both are very free-form improves.

Line-up:
* Boz Burrell – Bass, Lead Vocals
* Mel Collins – Flute, Sax, Mellotron
* Robert Fripp – Guitar, Mellotron
* Ian Wallace – Drums, Vocals
* Peter Sinfield – Words, Sounds & Visions

Track List:
CD1
01. Cirkus – 10:08
02. Pictures of a City – 8:53
03. Sailor’s Tale – 15:32
04. The Letters – 4:48
05. Lady of the Dancing Water – 2:52
06. Cadence and Cascade – 4:24
CD2
01. Get Thy Bearings – 13:24
02. The Court of the Crimson King – 8:09
03. Ladies of the Road – 9:05
04. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 8:58
05. Mars – 9:12

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Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Peter Sinfield, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – KCCC09 Denver Live at Summit Studios (1972) (@256)

21 Jul 2008

(Review from progarchives.com)

You can always rely on King Crimson to challenge your expectations, even in a 30-year old archive recording from arguably the least popular line-up of the band. If you only know this Crimson from their somewhat austere 1971 album “Islands”, prepare to have your eyes and ears belatedly opened, and better late than never.

At this point in the band’s history the signature King Crimson spirit of “energy, intensity, and eclecticism” had been all but reduced to just the eclecticism. But this live-in-the-station radio broadcast, recorded in Colorado during their final U.S. tour, offers a candid and surprisingly playful portrait of a group supposedly in disarray, and as a welcome bonus it sounds a heck of a lot better than the sub-bootleg concert tapes on the posthumous “Earthbound” album.

Forget everything you might have read about this being an unhappy quartet of mismatched talents, split by creative frictions: this set captures them in peak form and high spirits. Evidence of the informal nature of the gig can be heard in some of the goofy but affectionate banter between songs, including (in “My Hobby”) Ian Wallace doing his best Mr. Gumby impersonation, for an audience not yet acquainted with Monty Python (this from a drummer, keep in mind, who according to band biographer Sid Smith once performed for the goggle-eyed comedian Marty Feldman, while dressed as a duck).

Elsewhere the band’s enthusiasm (yes, even from the normally taciturn Fripp) must have been contagious, as more than half of their performance here was clearly unscheduled. The original four-song set opens with a tight, swinging variation of “Pictures of a City” (miles removed from the “21st Century Schizoid Man” similarity on the “Wake of Poseidon” album), and was meant to conclude with “Schizoid Man” itself, here in a more circumspect version played at a somewhat lachrymose pace, no doubt to accommodate the rookie bass guitarist.

But just as the studio host begins his closing acknowledgements and thanks, an irrepressible Ian Wallace starts a spontaneous drumbeat and the band kicks into another impromptu jam. “…Looks like we’re gonna get an encore”, drawls the DJ, and not for the last time that evening. There are at least two more false endings before the true final number: a long freeform arrangement of the Leon Thomas / Pharaoh Sanders composition “The Creator Has a Master Plan”.

The variable mix of this track suggests it might have actually been a pre-show microphone check. After 15 minutes the whole thing finally unravels (with unaccountable tape splices spoiling the continuity), but not before another surprise, when the upbeat melody suddenly breaks into a filthy blues riff, inspiring even Fripp to throw his guitar (all too briefly) into some unlikely sonic contortions.

The unexpected and wholly American blues-funk flavor of this line-up still doesn’t sit well with doctrinaire Crimheads, and was never quite to Fripp’s own taste either. The guitarist himself is often the odd man out here, but it’s fascinating to hear him beginning to move away from the jazzier sound of earlier King Crimson albums toward the harder, more aggressive style soon to reach fruition only a few short months later with the “Larks Tongues” crew.

Some tantalizing hints of that uncompromising musical future are already evident. At the end of the “Summit Going On” improv you’ll recognize what would become the opening motif to “Night Watch” and the guitarist can later be heard test-driving some of the white-lightning riffs of “Larks Tongues In Aspic, Part One”, almost daring the rest of the band to follow him.

Some of this show would later appear on the haphazard “Ladies of the Road” collection, but the entire set, warts and all, might go a long way toward rehabilitating the undervalued reputation of this Crimson. For diehard fans in particular, this album fills in the blanks of an only half-sketched and long neglected chapter in the ongoing King Crimson biography.

Line-up:
* Robert Fripp – Guitar, Mellotron
* Mel Collins – Sax, Flute, Mellotron
* Boz Burrell – Bass Guitar, Lead Vocal
* Ian Wallace – Drums, Backing Vocal

Track List:
01. Pictures of a City – 9:38
02. Cadence and Cascade – 4:46
03. Groon – 13:49
04. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 10:10
05. Improv: Summit Going On – 11:39
06. My Hobby – 1:31
07. Sailor’s Tale – 6:52
08. The Creator Has a Master Plan – 15:26

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Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – KCCC02 Live at Jacksonville (1972) (@256)

15 Jul 2008

This concert was recorded at the Baseball Park, Jacksonville, Florida, USA, February 26, 1972.

Line-up:
* Robert Fripp / guitar, mellotron
* Boz Burrell / bass guitar, vocals
* Mel Collins / saxophone, flute, mellotron
* Ian Wallace / drums, vocals

Track List:
01. Pictures Of A City – 9:46
02. Cirkus – 9:08
03. Ladies Of The Road – 6:39
04. Formentera Lady – 10:21
05. The Sailor’s Tale – 14:05
06. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 10:28

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Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – Ladies of the Road (Live 1971-72) (@256)

27 Jun 2008

8 comments

(Review from progarchives.com)

While not perfect, this release offers a very correct-sounding of the “Island” album line-up of King Crimson.

Unsurprisingly, the track listing is mostly axed towards Island with touches into the first albums but rather sparsely. One of the biggest disappointments with this album is that the debut title track is only a 45 sec bluesy spoof, but a rare (and quite different than single or previous live version) of Groon makes this interesting.

The second disc is rather a curiosity of sorts but reserved for crimsonic monarchy absolutist since it has some 11 parts of Schizoid Man, mostly improvised parts. Interesting to a point, but rarely up for a regular spin in your deck unless you are a 21st Century Psychotic Man.

Line-up:
- Boz Burrell / bass & vocals
- Mel Collins / saxes, flute & mellotron
- Robert Fripp / guitar & mellotron
- Ian Wallace / drums
- Peter Sinfield / FOH sound & VCS3 on Volume One

Track List:
CD1
01. Pictures of a City – 8:46
02. The Letters – 4:42
03. Formentera Lady [Abridged] – 6:41
04. The Sailors Tale – 5:43
05. Cirkus – 7:58
06. Groon – 6:52
07. Get Thy Bearings – 8:33
08. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 8:57
09. In the Court of the Crimson King – 0:48
CD2
01. Schizoid Men I – 1:44
02. Schizoid Men II – 4:46
03. Schizoid Men III – 3:12
04. Schizoid Men IV – 5:15
05. Schizoid Men V – 6:22
06. Schizoid Men VI – 3:56
07. Schizoid Men VII – 5:13
08. Schizoid Men VIII – 3:18
09. Schizoid Men IX – 5:01
10. Schizoid Men X – 3:23
11. Schizoid Men XI – 11:42

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Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Peter Sinfield, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – Earthbound (Live 1972) (@256)

12 Jun 2008

(Review from progarchives.com, progreviews.com)

The recording quality of King Crimson’s first live album is little better than that of a bootleg with distortion aplenty, indeed, the sleeve notes actually state that the recordings were captured on a stereo cassette! To be fair, the cassette recorder was plugged into the mixer (sound board), this is not a microphone recording.

Looking through the mist, we find five tracks in total. An 11 minute rendition of “21st century schizoid man” kicks things off, the substantial lengthening of the song being due to improvisations on guitar by Robert Fripp, and sax by Mel Collins. It comes off in many ways more gloriously snaggle-toothed and mind-melting than ever.

As is clearly evident in listening to “21st Century Schizoid Man” and “Sailors Tale”; Fripp, Collins, and Wallace as a unit were none the want for instrumental earthshaking. The title track really doesn’t sound that far off from Miles Davis from the Black Beauty or Live-Evil era, the bass line at one point virtually duplicating that of his “It’s About That Time.”

The album shines an interesting flashlight on this short-lived line-up, with some of the material on here standing entirely at odds from anything any other line-up in King Crimson ever tackled. The general folklore about this line-up pursued a path devoted to more down-to-earth jamming of the blues-funk variety.

Though it has some locatable charms for the interested, the album stands very much alone in the Crimson canon.

Line-up:
- Robert Fripp / guitar
- Boz Burrell / bass, vocals
- Mel Collins / alto, baritone & tenor, saxophones, mellotron
- Ian Wallace / drums

Track List:
01. 21st Century Schizoid Man – 11:38
02. Peoria – 7:22
03. The Sailor’s Tale – 4:49
04. Earthbound – 6:14
05. Groon – 15:32

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Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace, King Crimson, Live, Mel Collins, Robert Fripp

King Crimson – Islands (1971) (@256)

23 Sep 2007