The album was re-released in 2010 as the fifth release in King Crimson's 40th Anniversary series, featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp, Sid Smith sleeve notes and extra tracks and alternative versions. The DVD-A presents a 5.1 surround sound mix by Wilson, a hi-res stereo version of the 2010 mix, a hi-res stereo version of the original album mix taken from the 30th anniversary master source and previously unreleased material, including studio takes mixed from the original recording sessions.[7][8]
The fifth release in King Crimson's 40th Anniversary series featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes (by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp), Sid Smith sleeve notes and copious extra tracks and alternative versions. The CD presents a complete stereo remix by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp alongside a group of additional tracks representing a near complete alternative album of studio takes, run-throughs and mixes. The DVD-A presents a complete 5.1 surround sound mix by Steven Wilson, a hi-res stereo version of the 2010 mix, a hi-res stereo version of the original album mix taken from the 30th anniversary master source and almost 90 minutes of additional material, the vast majority of it previously unreleased, including many studio takes mixed from the original recording sessions specifically for this release. The material covers everything from early rehearsals of "Pictures of a City" (one of the final new songs performed by the 1969 lineup) to the previously unheard "A Peacemaking Stint Unrolls" (showcasing early ideas and elements that would appear in fully realised form on later KC albums), a fragment of Fripp playing the tune of "Islands" on a mellotron, a blistering live "Sailor's Tale" from the Zoom Club and much more.[5][6]
King Crimson Islands 1971 {40th Anniversary Series, 2010} CD DVD A
Sea Of Tranquility website: Ahhh, King Crimson's Earthbound, the much maligned 1972 live album that celebrated the interesting yet doomed tour of the Islands album and brief line-up of the band that included Robert Fripp (guitar, Mellotron), Boz Burrell (vocals, bass), Mel Collins (sax, flute, Mellotron, keyboards), and Ian Wallace. Panned by Fripp, their record label, critics, and fans alike when it was originally released, time has proven to heal all wounds, as Earthbound is now seen in better light all these decades later. Containing a raw, rough sound quality, Earthbound is basically an official 'live bootleg', but with this 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition, Fripp & company have done their best to clean the album up as much as possible, but the real selling point is the inclusion of a ton of bonus material making this the live album it always should have been. Regardless of whether or not the Islands era band was the weakest incarnation of Crimson or not (that statement is certainly viable), it can also be said that any King Crimson line-up has plenty of merit, as this one does for its jazzy leanings. Boz Burrell is easily the weakest link, his spotty vocals and sub-par bass skills (it's been said that Fripp taught him how to play bass before they actually recorded the album and went out on tour) don't add much to the proceedings, but Fripp is in fine form here, as are Collins and Wallace, all three combining for the nucleus of a red hot jazz combo with rock firepower. Included on the expanded Earthbound set are a plethora of extended improvisations and jams, such as "Groon", "Peoria", and lengthy versions of "21st Century Schizoid Man" (quite savage here actually), "Pictures of a City", the lovely "Circus", and of course, the essential "The Sailor's Tale", complete with dazzling Fripp guitar work and mounds of Mellotron. A new stereo mix of the Summit Studio Sessions, also recorded on the 1972 US tour, which feature a few nuggets not on the Earthbound set, including a lush "Cadence and Cascade" (Boz sounds better singing the mellower tracks by far), and epic blues/jazz/rock jams "Summit Going On" and "The Creator Has A Master Plan (Including Summit & Something Else)", are a great addition to this anniversary edition. Considering that the original Earthbound album contained only five tracks, you get a lot of extras here for your money. Though the Islands line-up of King Crimson were only together a short period of time and basically split after the tour was complete (Fripp would then unleash arguably the greatest version of King Crimson to the public!), it remains a curious oddity in the history of this legendary progressive rock act. This remains a great document of that time in the bands career.
And finally... For those not in the know, King Crimson are an English progressive rock band formed in London in 1968.In fact, King Crimson have been influential both on the early 1970s progressive rock movement and numerous contemporary artists.Indeed, the band has undergone numerous formations throughout its history of which 21 musicians have been members; since October 2017 it has consisted of Robert Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk, Tony Levin, Mel Collins, Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison, Jeremy Stacey and Bill Rieflin.Nowadays, Fripp is the only consistent member of the group and is considered the band's leader and driving force and with the band having earned a large cult following, they were ranked No. 87 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.The just released Earthbound is the twelfth release in the acclaimed King Crimson 40th anniversary series. The CD features an expanded 12 track version of the original five track album with the DVD featuring the 12 track expanded album in 24/96 hi-res stereo audio plus the Summit Studios performance in a new stereo mix and in quadraphonic.As all their devoted fans will already know, this is the only surviving multi-track performance from the 1972 tour. Furthermore, the DVD features the album length "Schizoid Men" sequence of edits of 21st Century Schizoid Men taken from the Ladies of The Road live album.As for the album itself, this live recording known as Earthbound was released in 1972 as a budget record shortly after the line-up that recorded it had broken up. As aforementioned, 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". It also contains two improvised tracks with scat vocals from Boz Burrell.So, just what did we think of Earthbound the first time of hearing it? Well, to me, it was King Crimson let loose, uncontrolled for want of a better word. A wall of sound is put up time after time here, allowing them to forsake their previous outings where a more finessed sound was their core. still an album for the ages, believe it or not.A transfer of the original vinyl album completes the audio selections and this release is also presented as a digipak format in a slipcase with new sleeve notes by King Crimson biographer Sid Smith along with rare photos and archive material.As aforementioned, Earthbound: 40th Anniversary Edition continues the highly collectable King Crimson series, and in some great style, as hearing these songs again, in such luxurious quality, is like Heaven on a stick for this prog fan.
0 copiesAlbum DescriptionAvailable in: Islands is the fourth studio album by King Crimson. The album was released in 1971.The last King Crimson studio album before the group's trilogy of Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red, it is also the last to feature the lyrics of Peter Sinfield and the last to feature the band's 'traditional' progressive and symphonic sound.The album received mixed reviews. There are four tracks with lyrics on this album, and three of them concern women. One of them, "Ladies of the Road", has been criticised for perceived misogyny.The original United Kingdom and European cover depicts the Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius and displays neither the name of the band nor the title. The original United States and Canadian album cover (as released by Atlantic Records) was a Peter Sinfield painting of off-white with coloured "islands". This was used as an internal gatefold sleeve in the UK. When the King Crimson catalogue was re-issued by EG, they standardised on the "Trifid Nebula" cover world-wide.The fifth release in King Crimson's 40th Anniversary series featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes (by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp), Sid Smith sleeve notes and copious extra tracks and alternate versions. The CD presents a complete stereo remix by Steven Wilson & Robert Fripp alongside a group of additional tracks representing a near complete alternate album of studio takes, run-throughs and mixes. The DVD-A presents a complete 5.1 surround sound mix by Steven Wilson, a hi-res stereo version of the 2010 mix, a hi-res stereo version of the original album mix taken from the 30th anniversary master source and almost 90 minutes of additional material, the vast majority of it previously unreleased, including many studio takes mixed from the original recording sessions specifically for this release. The material covers everything from early rehearsals of Pictures of a City (one of the final new songs performed by the 1969 lineup) to the previously unheard A Peacemaking Stint Unrolls (showcasing early ideas & elements that would appear in fully realised form on later KC albums), a fragment of Fripp playing the tune of Islands on a mellotron, a blistering live Sailor's Tale from the Zoom Club & much more. User Album ReviewNone...External Album ReviewsNone... User Comments No comments yet... Status unlocked 2ff7e9595c
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