King Crimson: Red [CD/DVD]

by King Crimson

Overview

King Crimson fell apart once more, seemingly for the last time, as David Cross walked away during the making of this album. It became Robert Fripp's last thoughts on this version of the band, a bit noisier overall but with some surprising sounds featured, mostly out of the group's past -- Mel Collins' and Ian McDonald's saxes, Marc Charig's cornet, and Robin Miller's oboe, thus providing a glimpse of what the 1972-era King Crimson might have sounded like handling the later group's repertoire (which nearly happened). Indeed, Charig's cornet gets just about the best showcase it ever had on a King Crimson album, and the truth is that few intact groups could have gotten an album as good as Red together. The fact that it was put together by a band in its death throes makes it all the more impressive an achievement. Indeed, Red does improve in some respects on certain aspects of the previous album -- including "Starless," a cousin to the prior album's title track -- and only the lower quality of the vocal compositions keeps this from being as strongly recommended as its two predecessors. [The 2009 reissue features the bonus tracks "Red," "Fallen Angel," and "Providence," as well as a DVD of bonus material.] ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/2009
Label:	Discipline Global Mobile / Discipline
UPC:	0633367400727
Rank:	52845

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Red
2. Fallen Angel
3. One More Red Nightmare
4. Providence
5. Starless
6. Red [Trio Version]
7. Fallen Angel [Trio Version]
8. Providence [Full Version]

Disc 2

9. Larks' Tongues in Aspic: Part II
10. The Night Watch
11. Lament
12. Starless

Album Credits

Performance Credits

King Crimson   Primary Artist
Marc Charig   Cornet
Bill Bruford   Drums,Percussion
John Wetton   Bass,Vocals,Voices
Robert Fripp   Guitar,Keyboards,Mellotron
Mel Collins   Saxophone,Sax (Soprano)
David Cross   Violin,Keyboards,Mellotron
Ian McDonald   Flute,Keyboards,Sax (Alto)
Robin Miller   Oboe,Wind

Technical Credits

Hugh O'Donnell   Design
Simon Heyworth   Remastering
Bill Bruford   Composer
King Crimson   Producer
David Singleton   Mixing
John Wetton   Composer
Robert Fripp   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Remastering
Richard Palmer-James   Composer
Steven Wilson   Mixing,Producer
Gered Mankowitz   Photography
George Chkiantz   Engineer
David Cross   Composer
Rod Thear   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Bruford   Composer
John Kosh   Artwork,Photography,Cover Design
Tony Arnold   Mixing,Remastering