King Crimson – Frame By Frame (The Essential King Crimson)
King Crimson were an English-based progressive rock band formed in 1968. One of the pioneers of the progressive rock genre. The first official rehearsal of the band was on January 13, 1969. The first line-up comprised guitarist Robert Fripp, lyricist and lighting man Peter Sinfield (who “invented” the name of the band), composer and multi-instrumentalist Ian McDonald, bassist and vocalist Greg Lake, and drummer Michael Giles. Over the years there were many personnel changes, band break ups and reformations.
Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson is a 4-CD retrospective box set by the band King Crimson, released in 1991.
With its varying short-lived phases, King Crimson is well suited to the box set treatment, and overall, Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson doesn't disappoint. At four discs, it's perhaps a little hefty to serve as a comprehensive introduction for newcomers, even though it could work very well in that context; in the end, the box is more of a close-to-definitive package for fans who fall somewhere in between the realms of casual and devoted. The first three discs do an excellent job of summarizing King Crimson's extremely distinct prime-period lineups: the first disc concentrates on the often jazzy symphonic rock of 1969-1971 (including almost the entirety of In the Court of the Crimson King), the second covers the heavy, experimental soundscapes of 1973-1974, and the third features the off-kilter, new wave-influenced prog pop of 1981-1984. The fourth disc is a career-spanning sampler of live Crimson, and although the varying sound quality and musical styles make it a less cohesive listen than the other discs, it does give an excellent idea of the various lineups' extraordinary performing range. Bandleader/compiler Robert Fripp's selections are sometimes skewed toward particular albums, and devotees may cringe at the fact that some of the longer songs have been edited for time, but, in fact, all of this makes for a better, tighter listen; it's difficult to argue with what is here, and the edits often chop out less interesting sections of the pieces. Additionally, the remastering job and the liner notes are both excellent. So, in spite of its minor flaws, Frame by Frame is really everything one could want from a basic King Crimson box set.
King Crimson - Frame By Frame (The Essential King Crimson)
Label: Virgin – KC BOX 1, Virgin – 354 338, Virgin – CAROL 1595-2
Format:Box Set
4 x CD, Compilation, Remastered
Country: UK, Europe & US
Released: Oct 22, 1991
Genre: Rock
Style: Art Rock, Avantgarde, Prog Rock
Track List:
1969 - 71
1-1 21st Century Schizoid Man 7:20
1-2 I Talk To The Wind 6:05
1-3 Epitaph 8:44
1-4 Moonchild 2:26
1-5 In The Court Of The Crimson King 9:25
1-6 Peace - A Theme 1:16
1-7 Cat Food 2:45
1-8 Groon 3:31
1-9 Cadence And Cascade (Re-mix)
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – David Singleton, Tony Arnold
Vocals [Remixed With Vocal] – Adrian Belew
4:10
1-10 The Sailor's Tale (Abridged) 7:27
1-11 Ladies Of The Road 5:31
1-12a Bolero (Re-mix)
Bass [Remixed With Bass] – Tony Levin
Engineer [Remix Engineer] – David Singleton, Tony Arnold
6:45
1-12b Coda 1:36
1972 - 4
2-1 Larks' Tongues In Aspic: Part One (Abridged) 10:53
2-2 Book Of Saturday 2:53
2-3 Easy Money 7:55
2-4 Larks' Tongues In Aspic: Part Two 7:09
2-5 The Night Watch 4:40
2-6 The Great Deceiver 4:03
2-7 Fracture (Abridged) 6:57
2-8 Starless (Abridged) 4:38
2-9 Red 6:17
2-10 Fallen Angel 5:59
2-11 One More Red Nightmare 7:09
1981 - 4
3-1 Elephant Talk 4:42
3-2 Frame By Frame 5:08
3-3 Matte Kudasai 3:48
3-4 Thela Hun Ginjeet 6:26
3-5 Heartbeat 3:54
3-6 Waiting Man 4:22
3-7 Neurotica 4:48
3-8 Requiem 6:36
3-9 Three Of A Perfect Pair 4:11
3-10 Sleepless 5:22
3-11 Discipline 5:05
3-12 The Sheltering Sky 8:16
3-13 The King Crimson Barber Shop
Engineer – Brad Davis
Tenor Vocals, Bass Vocals, Baritone Vocals, Lead Vocals – Tony Levin
1:31
Live 1969 - 84
4-1 Get Thy Bearings 9:33
4-2 Travel Weary Capricorn 4:30
4-3 Mars 8:42
4-4 The Talking Drum 8:29
4-5 21st Century Schizoid Man 9:20
4-6 Asbury Park
Mixed By [Re-mixed] – David Singleton, Robert Fripp, Tony Arnold
6:50
4-7 Larks' Tongues In Aspic: Part Three (Excerpt) 2:42
4-8 Sartori In Tangiers 4:13
4-9 Indiscipline 7:02
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Virgin Records Ltd.
Copyright © – Virgin Records Ltd.
Copyright © – Virgin EG Records Ltd.
Produced At – Wessex Sound Studios
Engineered At – The Courthouse Studio
Recorded At – Command Studios
Recorded At – Air Studios
Recorded At – Olympic Studios
Recorded At – Island Studios
Recorded At – The Plumpton Festival
Recorded At – Fillmore West
Recorded At – Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
Recorded At – The Casino, Asbury Park
Recorded At – Le Spectrum
Recorded At – Amphithéâtre Les Arênes De Fréjus, France
Mixed At – The Courthouse Studio
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – F-6058
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – F-6059
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – F-6060
Glass Mastered At – Sonopress – F-6061
Pressed By – Sonopress
Marketed By – Caroline Records, Inc.
Distributed By – Caroline Records, Inc.
Published By – E.G. Music Ltd.
Alto Saxophone – Ian McDonald (tracks: 2-8 to 2-11)
Art Direction – Bill Smith (19)
Backing Vocals – Mel Collins (tracks: 1-10, 1-11)
Bass Guitar – Greg Lake (tracks: 4-1 to 4-3), John Wetton (tracks: 4-6), Peter Giles (tracks: 1-6 to 1-9), Tony Levin (tracks: 4-7)
Bass Guitar, Chapman Stick, Vocals – Tony Levin (tracks: 3-1 to 3-12)
Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals – Boz Burrell (tracks: 1-10, 1-11), Greg Lake (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5)
Bass Guitar, Vocals – John Wetton (tracks: 2-1 to 2-11, 4-4, 4-5)
Chapman Stick – Tony Levin (tracks: 4-8, 4-9)
Cor Anglais – Robin Miller (tracks: 1-12)
Cornet – Mark Charig (tracks: 1-12, 2-8 to 2-11)
Drums – Adrian Belew (tracks: 4-8), Bill Bruford (tracks: 2-1 to 2-4, 4-4 to 4-6), Michael Giles (tracks: 1-6 to 1-9, 4-1 to 4-3)
Drums [Electric, Acoustic] – Bill Bruford (tracks: 4-7 to 4-9)
Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals – Ian Wallace (tracks: 1-10, 1-11)
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Michael Giles (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5)
Electronics [Devices] – Robert Fripp (tracks: 3-1 to 3-12)
Engineer – Andy Hendrikson* (tracks: 1-10, 1-11), David Singleton, George Chkiantz (tracks: 2-5 to 2-11), Nick Ryan (tracks: 2-1 to 2-4), Robin Thompson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5, 1-12)
Engineer [Sound Reconstruction] – David Singleton (tracks: 4-1 to 4-3), Robert Fripp (tracks: 4-1 to 4-3), Tony Arnold (tracks: 4-1 to 4-3)
Flute – Mel Collins (tracks: 1-6 to 1-9)
Flute, Saxophone, Mellotron – Ian McDonald (tracks: 4-1 to 4-3)
Guitar – Adrian Belew (tracks: 4-7), Robert Fripp (tracks: 1-1 to 1-11, 2-1 to 2-11, 3-1 to 3-12, 4-1 to 4-9)
Guitar, Lead Vocals – Adrian Belew (tracks: 3-1 to 3-12, 4-9)
Keyboards – Robert Fripp (tracks: 2-5 to 2-11)
Mastered By, Engineer, Technician [Technical Advisor] – Tony Arnold
Mastered By, Executive Producer – Robert Fripp
Mellotron – Robert Fripp (tracks: 1-10 to 1-12, 2-1 to 2-4, 4-4, 4-5)
Mixed By – David Singleton (tracks: 3-13, 4-8, 4-9), Robert Fripp (tracks: 3-13, 4-8, 4-9), Tony Arnold (tracks: 3-13, 4-8, 4-9)
Mixed By [Live Mixing] – Peter Sinfield (tracks: 4-1, 4-2)
Oboe – Robin Miller (tracks: 1-12, 2-8 to 2-11)
Other [King Crimson Family Tree] – Hideyo Itoh
Percussion [Percussives] – Bill Bruford (tracks: 2-5 to 2-11)
Percussion, Instruments [Allsorts] – Jamie Muir (tracks: 2-1 to 2-4)
Photography By – The Douglas Brothers
Piano – Keith Tippett (tracks: 1-6 to 1-9, 1-12)
Producer – King Crimson (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5, 1-10, 1-11, 2-1 to 2-11, 3-1 to 3-4, 3-9 to 3-12), Peter Sinfield (tracks: 1-6 to 1-9, 1-12), Robert Fripp (tracks: 1-6 to 1-9, 1-12)
Producer, Engineer – Rhett Davies (tracks: 3-1 to 3-12)
Saxophone – Mel Collins (tracks: 1-10 to 1-12)
Snare [Snare Drum] – Andy McCullough (tracks: 1-12)
Trombone – Nick Evans (tracks: 1-12)
Violin, Keyboards – David Cross (tracks: 4-4 to 4-6)
Violin, Viola, Keyboards – David Cross (tracks: 2-5 to 2-7)
Violin, Viola, Mellotron – David Cross (tracks: 2-1 to 2-4)
Vocals – Greg Lake (tracks: 1-7, 4-1), Michael Giles (tracks: 4-2)
Woodwind, Keyboards, Mellotron, Vocals – Ian McDonald (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5)
Words By, Other [Illumination] – Peter Sinfield (tracks: 1-1 to 1-5)
Words By, Other [Sounds & Visions] – Peter Sinfield (tracks: 1-10, 1-11)
Square 12” box with 4 CDs on individual jewel-cases with 4 page booklet each. Included are “In The Wake Of King Crimson" (a complete King Crimson family tree researched and drawn by Hideyo Itoh, December 1989), and a full-colour 64-page booklet.
Cat# information on back side of box:
UK: KC BOX 1
EUROPE: 354 338
US: CAROL 1595-2
Back side of box and booklet back sides:
This compilation Ⓟ & Ⓒ 1991 Virgin E'G Records Ltd.
All tracks are Definitive Edition re-masters (1989) by Robert Fripp & Tony Arnold, or Definitive Edition Enhanced (1991) by Robert Fripp & Tony Arnold with David Singleton, engineer.
CD1: 1969-71
• 1-1 to 1-5 taken from “In The Court Of The Crimson King” (1969). Produced at Wessex Sound Studios, London.
• 1-6 to 1-9 taken from “In The Wake Of Poseidon” (1970). 1-9 remixed with vocal by Adrian Belew, at the Courthouse, Cranborne, Dorset (1991). 1-7 and 1-8 were released as a single. An alternative mix of 1-7 appears on the album.
• 1-10, 1-11 taken from “Islands” (1971). Recorded at Command Studios, Piccadilly, London.
• 1-12a taken from “Lizard” (1970). Recorded at Wessex Studios. Remixed with bass by Tony Levin at the Courthouse, Cranborne, Dorset (June 1991).
• 1-12b is a hidden track; it was omitted from The Definitive Edition re-mastering of “Islands” (the CD was released in Japan and the US in 1989) through an engineer’s error.
CD2: 1972-74
• 2-1 to 2-4 taken from “Larks’ Tongues In Aspic” (1973). Recorded in January and February at Command Studios, London.
• 2-5 to 2-7 taken from “Starless And Bible Black” (1974). Half of the album, including 2-7 and parts of 2-5 was recorded live at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw on November 23rd, 1973.
• 2-8 to 2-11 taken from “Red” (1974). Recorded at Olympic Sound Studios, London.
CD3: 1981-84
• 3-1 to 3-4, 3-11, 3-12 taken from “Discipline” (1981). Recorded at Island Studios, Basing Street, London.
• 3-5 to 3-8 taken from “Beat” (1982).
• 3-9, 3-10 taken from “Three Of A Perfect Pair” (1983).
• 3-13 was recorded in 1983 and mixed at the Courthouse, July 1991 (previously unreleased).
CD4: Live 1969-84
• 4-1, 4-2 recorded live at Plumpton Festival, England (August 9th, 1969). Sound reconstruction at the Courthouse, July 1991.
• 4-3 recorded live at Fillmore West, San Francisco (December 10th, 1969). Sound reconstruction at the Courthouse, July 1991.
• 4-4, 4-5 recorded live at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw on November 23rd, 1973. Mixed at the Courthouse, July 1991.
• 4-6 recorded at The Casino, Asbury Park on June 28th, 1974 by The Record Plant, NYC. Originally released in “USA” (1975). Re-mixed at the Courthouse, July 1991.
• 4-7 recorded live at Le Spectrum, Montreal on July 11th, 1984 and the Tokyo Kani Hoken Hall, April 28th, 1984.
• 4-8 recorded live at the second show, Le Spectrum, Montreal on July 11th, 1984. Mixed at the Courthouse, July 1991.
• 4-9 recorded live at The Arena, Frejus on August 27th, 1982. Mixed at the Courthouse, July 1991.
Track times for CD4 are listed erroneously on the booklet. Correct times are shown; furthermore, King Crimson didn't play the Fillmore West on December 10 1969; they played it from December 11 to December 14.