King Crimson – USA (1975)

A couple of quid in Harborough Market was the asking price for this 30th anniversary reissue (issued 27 years after in 2002!) of the mighty Crim's live album from 1975. Recorded in Asbury Park, NJ and Providence, RI during the band's USA tour, this was released following Fripp's disbandment of the group in early 1975.

Opening with an excerpt from Fripp's No Pussyfooting collaboration with Eno as the band take the stage, we kick off with a splendidly raucous version of Larks Tongues In Aspic. Lament follows, not particularly a favourite, a bit of a KC plodder, then Exiles, much more interesting, John Wetton's vocals and David Cross's violin standing out. Asbury Park is a guitar led instrumental, as far as I know never recorded for studio release, and it's a fine piece of Fripp soloing,, followed by the dirty sound of crowd favourite Easy Money. The original release concluded with 21st Century Schizoid Man, and it's a great rendition, even if Wetton doesn't quite nail it as Greg Lake did. I'm not sure if Eddie Jobson's overdubs on violin add to it, but it still sounds great.

This CD reissue contains two additional tracks. Fracture is a lengthy instrumental, heavily featuring Fripp's repeated climbing guitar themes, while there's a fantastic version of the lovely Starless, possibly John Wetton's greatest contribution to King Crimson, and the highpoint of Red, the band's final album before their late 1970s hiatus.

Link to album tracks

4* - as good a live 1970s KC album as you're likely to hear