Tours inwards 1974 had seen King Crimson's musical approach becoming louder as well as to a greater extent than brutal, an approach primarily driven past times bass purpose participant John Wetton as well as drummer Bill Bruford (guitarist as well as grouping leader Robert Fripp in i lawsuit compared their powerful playing to "a flight brick wall"). This had the consequence of drowning out the band's 4th member, violinist as well as occasional keyboard purpose participant David Cross, as well as led to tension inside the band. Deemed non rigid plenty equally a musical personality, Cross was ejected from King Crimson later on the cease of its tour inwards summertime 1974, reducing the grouping to the trio of Fripp, Wetton as well as Bruford. Having already begun to tape Red with Cross, King Crimson finished the album with the aid of quondam band-members Ian McDonald as well as Mel Collins.
While musically similar to its predecessor Starless as well as Bible Black, Red was produced rattling differently from previous King Crimson albums. For instance, piece the acoustic guitar features prominently inwards previous releases, on Red it is heard exactly for a few bars inwards "Fallen Angel". Also, dissimilar previous King Crimson albums, Red features extensive utilisation of guitar overdubs. Later albums lacked acoustic guitar solely as well as reverted to a minimum of overdubs (perhaps partly because every lineup of the band later on this included 2 guitarists).
During the recording process, Fripp decided to accept a "backseat" from the sessions' determination making. Although plans were considered to add together McDonald to the lineup in i lawsuit again for the side past times side tour, Fripp abruptly disbanded King Crimson on 24 September 1974, as well as the album was released the next calendar month with no accompanying tour.
The final hurrah of a grouping inwards its expiry throes, King Crimson's Red is peradventure the ill-fated 1972-74 lineup's masterpiece: a document of the band equally they actually were. Pressed for fourth dimension as well as at the climax of growing tension with the members, Red is the flare of brilliance earlier collapsing into the void, a grouping that would non play together in i lawsuit again for 7 years as well as were forever changed.
The five-man arsenal that comprised the grouping heard on Larks' Tongues In Aspic had dwindled downwards to the heart of vocalist/bassist John Wetton, drummer Bill Bruford, as well as atomic number 82 guitarist/ringleader Robert Fripp - mad percussionist Jamie Muir had left later on that album to bring together a Buddhist monastery, as well as strings virtuoso David Cross officially departed earlier the recording of the album but agreed to contribute what he could to the sessions. Stricken with 5 tunes to commit to tape as well as an entire LP to fill, the members of KC besieged alumni, old friends, as well as session musicians with requests of aid. Several fantabulous musicians brand invitee appearances on Red, although the lineup is non consistent: consequentially, the album has an unfinished, thrown-together feel. Still, this is the culmination of the outset era of Crimson: well-written vocal structures, costless jams, as well as instrumental virtuosity all play a purpose here.
Tracks Listing:
1. Red (6:20)
2. Fallen Angel (6:00)
3. One More Red Nightmare (7:04)
4. Providence (8:08) *
5. Starless (12:18)
Personnel:
Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron
John Wetton – bass, vocals, lyrics on "One More Red Nightmare" as well as "Starless"
Bill Bruford – drums, percussion
Former King Crimson personnel:
David Cross – violin on "Providence”
Mel Collins – soprano saxophone on "Starless"
Ian McDonald – alto saxophone on "One More Red Nightmare" as well as "Starless"
Additional personnel:
Mark Charig – cornet on "Fallen Angel",
Robin Miller – oboe on "Fallen Angel"
Uncredited instrumentalist – cello on "Red"[15]
Uncredited instrumentalist – cello on "Starless"
Richard Palmer-James – lyrics on "Fallen Angel" as well as "Starless"
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