Talk Talk's Laughing Stock has a very haunting sense of finality to it, the atmosphere and vibes throughout the album gives me feelings I didn't know an album could give me. It's Spirit of Eden's moodier, darker and more abstract follow-up.
The real tragedy of Red was that when Fripp dissolved the band and the tour was cancelled, Bruford figured he'd never need the trash can crash cymbal, and it was again put in the trash. Little did he know that sound became the sound to have among many drummers after the album's release. Bruford said several cymbal makers tried to recreate the cymbal, which was just a regular crash cymbal that had been somewhat folded to fit in the trash can. But nothing quite captured to rattling pie pan sound of the original.
Different sized cymbals, different sized trashcans, even different degrees of bending/folding of the same cymbals into the same trashcan. Make it real scientific like. I would happily buy one of these cymbals and a stand just so I can give it a few One More Red Nightmare inspired whacks when the mood strikes.
they opened for the Who at Fillmore East for the whole week ---we went to 4 of the shows--Who fans generally were usually hard on opening acts but in this case the musicianship level was so advanced we sat quietly and listened until erupting in applause as they played the entire first album.
@@infowarriorone they were unknown to us at the time, i think we had the album, but once they started they were so sophisticated musically, ahead of their time
On the topic of Fripp and Daryl Hall’s musical relationship, there is an absolutely fantastic performance of this record’s title track from the Daryl’s House program where Robert sits in with Daryl’s band. Hall is playing an almost evil-honky-tonk piano part on the song, and Robert is having so much fun that he begins to smile and laugh out-loud at certain points. absolutely one to check out
@@josemaria8177 Ok but Fripp was entirely about revamping the rock song structure while Zappa went well beyond that in terms of composing nearly every kind of music. Still think Fripp was a genius though.
@@guillermomiyares5549 As with everything, there are different shades/levels of "great" and different ways to achieve that end. Miles was directly or indirectly involved in changes to jazz 6 or 7 times. Fripp did the same for rock. Zappa did not do that. Many, including myself, consider Miles the most important American musician of the 20th century. That's the kind of level I'm alluding to with Fripp.
I have for years been fascinated by FZ and Fripp/KC, how they are in some ways so similar and other ways polar opposites. They are clearly both control freaks and perfectionists, but in very different ways. They both were in total charge of the musicians they worked with: FZ very overtly in charge both in name and total charge of composition, while Fripp didn't put himself in the front even in name of the group and selected musicians to be significant collaborators in the music being written. (To the point where you can see how KC's music changes significantly as different people are in the band composing the music with him.) But when it comes to performing, this seems to invert. It seems to me that Fripp really expressed his control and perfectionism here, driving to have the material played exactly "right" except where there is explicit improvisation (which ends up being more like live composition by the band members). FZ, however, I feel like allowed much more freedom here. It is like he created the frame, and insisted on having musicians who could construct that frame perfectly accurately, but are so good that they can then put their personality on top of it. (What I think he would refer to as the "mustache".) He seemed to delight in seeing what musicians could bring to his material, surprising him and especially when they made him laugh. So each new band was an opportunity to re-interpret his existing songs. (And "Approximate" is probably the most overt expression of this.) That said, as far as comparing them... that seems kind-of pointless. At this level they both clearly had tremendous influence. I don't see how you make an arbitrary decision about one being more important than the other, except maybe to explain your personal preference.
This is one of your best episodes, your show gets better and better. I would love to see Vinyl Monday dive into more prog. Your analysis is great, don't let gatekeepers try to keep you away.
OK... I hadn't checked out your show before, and honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about your goofy delivery. I have to say, though, that you won me over. Particularly when you got to your personal critique of the Red album, you show that you really have a gift for description. The whole thing about the title track being all about ascension up until there's nowhere left to go and it breaks, is really a perfect way to describe it... Kudos!
Here I am .. again hanging on every word of a 20 something genius that is making me fall in love with records again ... Thank you Abigail.. you are the best thing on UA-cam
I kind of roll my eyes at twelve minute songs sometimes, but MY GOD does starless deserve every second of those twelve minutes. It’s so well constructed and builds so much suspense. IMO Starless absolutely carries that whole album, my favorite King Crimson song and possibly my favorite song period.
Thank you, YT algorithm! Typically, the easiest thing for me to click “not interested” or “don’t recommend” on are album review channels. They’re too often delivered with Comic Book Guy snobbery. But I absolutely couldn’t pass on a review of Red and this did not disappoint. You have the infectious enthusiasm that can only come from someone who knows what it’s like to love an album so much it hurts. Considering that Red is basically shards of glass and shrapnel in a cardboard sleeve, hurting is kinda the intent but I love it as well. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!
Abigale, you make album reviews fun, colorful, immensively informative - fantastic. Your KC quest is only half way through, their best period begins with Discipline.
I think “Starless” is one of the great songs period. One of the joys of Covid lockdown was seeing Robert Fripp get goofy and playful each week with his wife Toyah Wilcox as they covered songs you thought you would never see Fripp play! It was a delight to see an artist with such a severe demeanor and rigorous discipline be silly with his lady.
"Providence is the evil twin of Moonchild." Truer words have never been spoken! This was a superb review, Abby! I never dived into the misty mythology of this album and I was glad to hear it from you with the usual fantastic presentation style. Great video!
Really enjoyed your review. Red has been my fave album from the first time I heard it as a 14 yr old in 1979. Straless remains my all time fave track. I really enjoyed your descriptive journey through the audio experience of the album. I'm looking forward to picking up a 50th anniversary vinyl copy next week to add to my collection including my very prized UK first press on pink rim island label.
Awesome Job Abbey! I've been a huge fan of Red since I heard it aged 16 in 1979. Our little group of Prog Heads were the antithesis of contemporary cool, so it's with much vindication to see your beautiful description of this music. Bravo 👏🎉
Red has never been my favorite KC album, let alone from this lineup (Larks' Tongues my beloved), but with your unbridled enthusiasm I am so looking forward to relistening to this beast to honor its 50th anniversary! Also, uh, good luck escaping Fripp's clutches with all the music used here. You're gonna need it.
You did it Abby. You threw yourself into Red and came out alive, very alive. I've loved this record for 30 years, and it's a very special one for me. You did a great take on the album. Cheers
Brilliant review of a brilliant album. Love me some King Crimson! Crazy to learn that Fripp taught guitar in Virginia, the state in which I grew up. If only I had been born earlier!
They’ll be releasing a 50th anniversary edition on October the 6th- including remixes by Steven Wilson and David Singleton!- currently I own the Lark’s Tongues 50th anniversary, and I’m super excited to put my hands on the Red!
Great episode, Abigail. I didn’t realize Robert Fripp was going through an identity crisis. A guitar genius, however, and he seems like a really happy guy nowadays. John Wetton put his special stamp on this. He’s the reason this is my 2nd favorite KC album. RIP, Mr. Wetton. Bill Bruford is a great drummer. He’s not someone you want to cause frustration, however. You might not like the things he’ll say about you in an interview! Condolences to David Cross. Your contributions to Red would’ve been incredible. RIP, Ian McDonald. It was great to have you back. I don’t think it’s a bad cover but they’ve definitely had better covers like you said, Abigail. Here’s some dialogue I came up with between Wetton, Fripp and Bruford. Wetton: This record is great! Bruford: How do you figure, John? Fripp: Yeah, John, how DO you figure? Wetton: Abigail’s likeness right next to mine! Fripp: Now we know why he looks so happy! Bruford: Next to YOU, Robert, even I look happy! Wow, the album itself is hard to describe, though you did a great job. I’m sure the late great John Wetton would’ve like your duet with him. And I’m glad David Cross, though officially canned, did get his talents onto the album. Fallen Angel sounds like it could’ve been on a Beatles record! Starless is beautiful, haunting and melancholy.
Young Ms. Devoe... you continue to be the most entertaining, best researched, and spot-on music reviewer I've ever seen, read, or listened to. How do I know this? Sometimes you turn me on to albums I've long wondered about or never knew existed, but Crimson have been one of my favorite bands for over 40 years (about a year and a half before Discipline to be exact...), and Red has been one of my favorite albums for almost that long. I've read dozens of articles and interviews during that time, and you STILL came up with info and made points I had not heard or considered before! AND you made me laugh out loud while doing it! This is really next level music journalism. Thanks for all the knowledge and laughs!
What a truly outstanding musical experience. Everyone who claims to like music should listen to this, and it should be featured in school music classes.
Let's cut straight to the biscuits and talk about "Starless". This is a musical depiction of a paranoid outburst. It's 1970s cop movie chase music gone out of control. It's part Jewish folk jazz, part lounge and part metal but subjected to similar torture Malcolm McDowell was subjected to in A Clockwork Orange. In what must have been a musical version of East Germany, John Wetton was pushed to play better than he had ever played before or since. Bruford's silky jazz skills are put in the bin and instead he's been given an injection of monkey glands by Fripp. Ahh, Fripp...that curly haired, bespectacled little guy who sits on a stool to play electric guitar, the man with the gentle West Country accent...that is the most terrifying man in rock music. "Whatever it is that you did to earn yourself a place in King Crimson you will cease to do whilst you are a member of King Crimson". Is Starless better than 21st Century Schizoid Man? Hmmmm...I will never have the answer to that.
I adore Discipline; it was my first KC album... But I cannot imagine someone experiencing Discipline as an album-length journey in the manner of this review; it's a collection of quirky prog-pop songs.
Me, too! I do love me some Discipline. The first album is my favorite debut of all time and from 1969 but Discipline is certainly my favorite from that era/lineup. Literally a “crimson” album cover, no less
When I saw your episode about the debut of King Crimson, I thought: she should do Red. See if Starless makes her speechless or brings tears in her eyes, when the triumphant end piece plays, with immensely overdriven bass and all. Well, you did this episode very well. And you said something about the immense journey this band took from 1969 to 1974, well... Look at how far this trip has taken you in only a few years. Love your show! Ps, there's a special 50 year edition coming out, as a double album. With a brand new mix. Oh also on dvd and CD and stuff, but I am going to get me the double album.
Yea! Can't wait to watch this after work. Haven't played this in a long time because I totally wore out this, Larks Tongue, and Starless back in the 70s, but I bet it gets played this evening.
Thoroughly enjoyed your review on this masterpiece . This album just gets better with each listen , and I've been listening to it for decades . Starless is one of the greatest tracks ever recorded in my opinion . Keep your reviews coming .
Phew! As a 68 year old prog rocker who grew up with this, always loved Crimbo and this album, thanks for your insight, never quite thought of it as end of days, that has sorted out what I'm listening to today!! Also saw them 3 times in their 201x tours, Starless always end of first set, always exhausted at end of it! Many thanks!
The first time I heard Red I thought I was going crazy. I had only started getting involved with prog rock a few months earlier and never expected that it would have such a gigantic influence on me. Robert Fripp seems to be a very complicated person but I will be forever grateful to him. Personally, I think the album cover is pretty good which is why I bought it as a shirt. It represents the dark tone of the album very well. I read a very long time ago that Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is also a very big King Crimson fan. In my opinion, the song One More Red Nightmare in particular had a big influence on his later work.
Excellent description of mood's trasitions on "Starless"; really great description. One can perfectly see you felt the whole music, from its starting point to its very ending. Congrats!
Great review! Red became my favorite album in 1975 or 1976 when living four years in a college dorm in South Carolina. I’d heard In the Court of the Crimson King a year before and loved that one as well - so different! Interesting to hear the backstory - how crushing for John Wetton (R.I.P.) when Fripp broke up the band. I had Fripp sign a copy of Islands I bought in the summer of 1979 when he was giving a free Frippertronics tour at record stores in the U.S.A. in conjunction with the release of his first solo album. I remember asking him about King Crimson and Robert saying that the band would never form again and then we had the Discipline tour - another great line-up! just a few years later. Fantastic violin playing by David Cross - unfortunate that he was dropped from the band like that. I was happy that my son got to see King Crimson’s last tour (?) in Tokyo a few years back. Great band in all its various iterations. I’m looking forward to listening to more of your album reviews and revisiting albums from my youth.
Abby, wonderful job reviewing this album. I'm curious if you own or have listened to UK's 1978 self-titled debut album UK. Listening to your review and how much you appreciate John Wetton's vocals and Bill Burford's Drumming, and how much you enjoyed Red, I assure you, your socks will be blown off after listening to UK. Just picture this amazing line up of musicians, Bill Bruford, John Wetton, Alan Holdsworth, and Eddied Jobson. Many people consider this the quintessential prog album.
Not only did Fripp produce Hall's solo debut Sacred Songs - it, Peter Gabriel (his second, aka "Scratch""), and Robert's first solo record Exposure were supposed to be a trilogy. That didn't work out, but Hall sings on a couple Exposure tracks (You Burn Me Up I'm a Cigarette is aces) and Gabriel features a different version of Exposure's title track on Scratch.
1970s rock & soul Darryl Hall and John Oates was so much better than the '80s pop duo Hall & Oates. They were still good at what they did, and I like a fair few of their songs; but records like Abandoned Luncheonette are just way more interesting IMO.
Hi! I'm 63 and I knew Crimson's In the court... in 1976. My favorite prog band. Your reviews are clever and precise, but this episode...wow! A poem. Bravo!
'Providence' is a live improv. If I remember rightly the version on The Great Deceiver boxset, which is the original, has a longer and drawn out ending which, to my ears, is a lot less edgy and effective than the abrupt ending on Red. Anyway, Abigail, thanks for an excellent review. You're a natural performer. Well done!
Firstly, great video - love the level of research you've done and your humour and lyricism. Someone else has probably mentioned this but I don't want to spend the evening scrolling (!), so... Andy McCulloch didn't retire from music after KC's "Islands", he joined the superb prog outfit Greenslade as drummer on all their albums and tours (1972-76). Then he went off and did the yacht thing! 😊
Abby, you are a treasure! So engaging, honest, and you do your research! I have loved KC since In the Court, but Starless may be the most awe-inspiring track of all. I once asked Robert what his favorite KC album was, and he replied, "All of them." That was 1982.
I just want to say I’ve been following this channel (somewhat passively) for awhile and I just want to say I really love the work you do. Your work helped reignite a lot of the love I had for the classic rock era! I really appreciate how you don’t regurgitate the same tired trot out narratives behind these classic albums, in lieu of modern nuanced interesting takes. Keep up the good work!
Wasn't expecting this one so soon after the vinyl update but i'm glad you covered & enjoyed an album that helped get me through some tough times. I agree with the feeling of finality in the music, but always found it defiant in that finalty. Top work as always AD!
You mentioned the abrupt ending of "Providence". It's actually not the end of the jam. KC eventually put out The Great Deceiver, a collection of live recordings from '73-'74, the tours that produced much of "Starless and Bible Black" and "Red". On Disc 1 (and part of Disc 2) is the entirety of the Providence show, including an UNABRIDGED "Providence". It's really interesting to hear the improvs in context with the composed pieces. Also in the box set are two early, live versions of "Starless". It's an incredible document of where the band was at that time.
King Crimson was the first concert I ever went to without my parents. 1969. Chicago. With Iron Butterfly. Saw them on this last tour as well. Red is one of the heaviest albums I own. And I own a ton of Death Metal.
Of so many excellent VM episodes, this was brilliant. A sorrowfully overlooked album in it’s time, but the fact that it moves you so much 50 years on shows it’s worth, and your openness to it’s art. Thank you
Speaking of Bill Bruford, if you can locate a copy, he at one point jumped on the Ancient Astronauts bandwagon and recorded an album (with his band at the time Absolute Elsewhere) called In Search of Ancient Gods. As prog goes, it's an interesting novelty, good for background while you're doing stuff around the place without being super memorable. Lots of interesting guitar progression and space sounds that could almost have come right out of Star Trek. I picked it up in the late 70s, played it once or twice and promptly forgot about it. I know, not exactly a rave review
@TheProgCorner Hey there, Scot! Good to see you over here, man * long deep sniff * Red is your favorite KC album? Something made me think it was Larks Tongues but then the Red cover wouldn’t make a good graphic image to represent the channel LOL I agree that Red is one of their strongest efforts to date but it’s difficult for me to pick out a stand alone favorite. See you at The Prog Corner soon, PEACE
Thank christ that you got to this album.. Starless has always been one of my favorite musical experience of the perfect mix of suspense, terror, and beauty all wrapped up in one. It never pauses in the track when I listen to it because I DON'T DARE to. I have to hear from start to finish, and at good volume. It is a musical representation of a proper love making session. IMHO.
Red is my favorite king crimson album when i heard it for the first time it was the third king crimson album i heard after rediscovering the first album and hearing larks tounge red blew me away and the john wetton era became my favorite im going to see david kross next week in cleveland hes going to perform larks tounge, starless and red live great video abby ❤❤❤ keep it up
Dear Abigail: Interesting, I was listening to Red this past weekend for my music therapy. This album is brilliant-the lineup of Fripp, Wetton and Bruford is my favorite. This one has-to my ears anyway-a fairly dark atmosphere to it, possibly because of Fripp's doubts about the band. Wetton went on to Uriah Heep for 2 albums: Return to Fantasy and High and Mighty, then on to UK and Asia-remember them? Fripp has said some very good things about Daryl Hall calling him a very adventurous singer, however his label balked at him working with Fripp. Yours truly, John Wilding
Red was the 1st KC album I bought - that was a year or two after release. I worked back from that point & took extra joy in The Young Person's Guide. I find the band a solitary enjoyment because no-one I know seems willing to sit through a complete KC album, and most particularly the onslaught of the 1st n last discs. I enjoyed the joy in your review...thanks.
Amazing prose Abigail, I just loved your well composed comments; it befits such a monumental musical works. Excellent, excellent, excellent review. Thank you❤
Though I don’t agree about the cover. 😛 I like the font and I find Fripp’s menacing stare balanced by Wetton’s warm smile to be a good representation of the mood of the album. I got to see John Wetton sing “Starless” with UK in 2012, just a few years before he died, and witnessed the soundcheck. He plugged in his bass and immediately got THAT tone. It was amazing.
I was taking a film class back in the day and needed a soundtrack for my crappy student film. I selected "Providence" for the soundtrack. My film instructor was impressed with the piece of music. In my opinion, it was the sound track that got me the passing grade. Red is a fantastic album, period!
There's also a 1977 feature film from French master Alain Resnais (his first in English) called 'Providence'. Though I haven't seen it myself, the story deals with the imaginative world of a dying author, and the title makes allusion to horror writer H. P. Lovecraft's hometown. I wonder if there might a nod to King Crimson's track somewhere in there as well?
what’s your favorite last album? comment below!
Abbey Road is the only one that comes to mind
Talk Talk's Laughing Stock has a very haunting sense of finality to it, the atmosphere and vibes throughout the album gives me feelings I didn't know an album could give me.
It's Spirit of Eden's moodier, darker and more abstract follow-up.
1. Coming from reality -Rodriguez
2.Abbey Road -The Beatles
3.Brainwashed-George Harrison
4. Bridge over trouble waters -Simon and Garfunkel
In utero
One I like is G n R the Spaghetti Incident, an album of old punk covers released as a sort of kiss off after the massive Use your Illusion tour.
The real tragedy of Red was that when Fripp dissolved the band and the tour was cancelled, Bruford figured he'd never need the trash can crash cymbal, and it was again put in the trash. Little did he know that sound became the sound to have among many drummers after the album's release. Bruford said several cymbal makers tried to recreate the cymbal, which was just a regular crash cymbal that had been somewhat folded to fit in the trash can. But nothing quite captured to rattling pie pan sound of the original.
@@MyCrazyDogs32 we need one of these sound guys on youtube to bend a bunch of cymbals in different ways and see which shape sounds closest!!
Different sized cymbals, different sized trashcans, even different degrees of bending/folding of the same cymbals into the same trashcan. Make it real scientific like. I would happily buy one of these cymbals and a stand just so I can give it a few One More Red Nightmare inspired whacks when the mood strikes.
"It's got a groove but as soon as they find it they drop it again". That really made me laugh. It sums up King Crimson perfectly.
they opened for the Who at Fillmore East for the whole week ---we went to 4 of the shows--Who fans generally were usually hard on opening acts but in this case the musicianship level was so advanced we sat quietly and listened until erupting in applause as they played the entire first album.
Jimi Hendrix called them 'the greatest band on Earth'.
@@infowarriorone they were unknown to us at the time, i think we had the album, but once they started they were so sophisticated musically, ahead of their time
I ❤️KC!
I saw the who in Phoenix. John Mellencamp opened and got hit by a pint liquor bottle in the head halfway through the
1st song. Boy he was mad
@@paulmartinson875 john mellencamp opening for KC is so funny
"Everything you have read about King Crimson is true, it's an absolutely terrifying place." - Bill Bruford
I think there are more great quotes about and by King Crimson than any other band.
I was absolutely terrified by Red when I first heard the album.
@@ChromeDestiny btw, he said that with a big ironic grin on his face
The man. ❤
My favorite album by King crimson, love that dark atmosphere and sound. Great review
Starless and.... Bible black!!!!
On the topic of Fripp and Daryl Hall’s musical relationship, there is an absolutely fantastic performance of this record’s title track from the Daryl’s House program where Robert sits in with Daryl’s band. Hall is playing an almost evil-honky-tonk piano part on the song, and Robert is having so much fun that he begins to smile and laugh out-loud at certain points. absolutely one to check out
Thanks for the tip!
Yes, a fun run through but not particularly good. Much like most stuff on Darryl's House it ends up being about Dazza.
I just wtached it, they did a fantastic job, pay no attention to this imbecile, Ray Whatever-The-Frick-His-Name-Is.
PS: They did a better job on it than the other night, when I saw Belew, Levin and Vai do it.
@@TTM9691 that's an OUCH but I'm no Vai fan so good to hear.
Robert Fripp is the british answer to Frank Zappa both in amazing music and in the dedication of their fanbases
@@josemaria8177 Ok but Fripp was entirely about revamping the rock song structure while Zappa went well beyond that in terms of composing nearly every kind of music. Still think Fripp was a genius though.
Actually, Fripp is Britain's Miles Davis, who transcends Zappa by more than even I can express.
All three are great musical iconoclasts and innovators
@@guillermomiyares5549 As with everything, there are different shades/levels of "great" and different ways to achieve that end. Miles was directly or indirectly involved in changes to jazz 6 or 7 times. Fripp did the same for rock. Zappa did not do that. Many, including myself, consider Miles the most important American musician of the 20th century. That's the kind of level I'm alluding to with Fripp.
I have for years been fascinated by FZ and Fripp/KC, how they are in some ways so similar and other ways polar opposites. They are clearly both control freaks and perfectionists, but in very different ways. They both were in total charge of the musicians they worked with: FZ very overtly in charge both in name and total charge of composition, while Fripp didn't put himself in the front even in name of the group and selected musicians to be significant collaborators in the music being written. (To the point where you can see how KC's music changes significantly as different people are in the band composing the music with him.)
But when it comes to performing, this seems to invert. It seems to me that Fripp really expressed his control and perfectionism here, driving to have the material played exactly "right" except where there is explicit improvisation (which ends up being more like live composition by the band members). FZ, however, I feel like allowed much more freedom here. It is like he created the frame, and insisted on having musicians who could construct that frame perfectly accurately, but are so good that they can then put their personality on top of it. (What I think he would refer to as the "mustache".) He seemed to delight in seeing what musicians could bring to his material, surprising him and especially when they made him laugh. So each new band was an opportunity to re-interpret his existing songs. (And "Approximate" is probably the most overt expression of this.)
That said, as far as comparing them... that seems kind-of pointless. At this level they both clearly had tremendous influence. I don't see how you make an arbitrary decision about one being more important than the other, except maybe to explain your personal preference.
This is one of your best episodes, your show gets better and better. I would love to see Vinyl Monday dive into more prog. Your analysis is great, don't let gatekeepers try to keep you away.
I haven’t seen any gatekeeping in her comments, I hope she isn’t getting much of that crap!
Fripp said the Red cover reminded him of Grand Funk Railroad (probably the Closer to Home cover), and I don't know why, but I think that's hilarious.
@@troubadour723 lol
OK... I hadn't checked out your show before, and honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about your goofy delivery. I have to say, though, that you won me over. Particularly when you got to your personal critique of the Red album, you show that you really have a gift for description. The whole thing about the title track being all about ascension up until there's nowhere left to go and it breaks, is really a perfect way to describe it... Kudos!
YESSSSS I AM CURRENTLY FRIPPING OUT RIGHT NOW!! SOMEONE GET ME SOME CATFOOD!
LOL.
OUGHHHHHHHHHHHH I'M GROONING
"Cat food?.......Again?!"
😆😆😆
The fact that Fripp tried to reform Television just so he could be in the band is the greatest thing I've heard all day, Thanks!
very relatable honestly, who doesn’t want to be in television?
Here I am .. again hanging on every word of a 20 something genius that is making me fall in love with records again ... Thank you Abigail.. you are the best thing on UA-cam
Nice review! Red was my introduction to King Crimson. It changed the way I listen to music, and it changed my life. Truly amazing stuff. Thanks Abby!
I kind of roll my eyes at twelve minute songs sometimes, but MY GOD does starless deserve every second of those twelve minutes. It’s so well constructed and builds so much suspense. IMO Starless absolutely carries that whole album, my favorite King Crimson song and possibly my favorite song period.
Thank you, YT algorithm! Typically, the easiest thing for me to click “not interested” or “don’t recommend” on are album review channels. They’re too often delivered with Comic Book Guy snobbery. But I absolutely couldn’t pass on a review of Red and this did not disappoint. You have the infectious enthusiasm that can only come from someone who knows what it’s like to love an album so much it hurts. Considering that Red is basically shards of glass and shrapnel in a cardboard sleeve, hurting is kinda the intent but I love it as well.
I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!
Abigale, you make album reviews fun, colorful, immensively informative - fantastic. Your KC quest is only half way through, their best period begins with Discipline.
I think “Starless” is one of the great songs period. One of the joys of Covid lockdown was seeing Robert Fripp get goofy and playful each week with his wife Toyah Wilcox as they covered songs you thought you would never see Fripp play! It was a delight to see an artist with such a severe demeanor and rigorous discipline be silly with his lady.
Red is one of my favorite albums of all time. King Crimson fucking rules
"Providence is the evil twin of Moonchild."
Truer words have never been spoken!
This was a superb review, Abby! I never dived into the misty mythology of this album and I was glad to hear it from you with the usual fantastic presentation style. Great video!
Really enjoyed your review. Red has been my fave album from the first time I heard it as a 14 yr old in 1979. Straless remains my all time fave track. I really enjoyed your descriptive journey through the audio experience of the album. I'm looking forward to picking up a 50th anniversary vinyl copy next week to add to my collection including my very prized UK first press on pink rim island label.
Awesome Job Abbey! I've been a huge fan of Red since I heard it aged 16 in 1979. Our little group of Prog Heads were the antithesis of contemporary cool, so it's with much vindication to see your beautiful description of this music. Bravo 👏🎉
Red has never been my favorite KC album, let alone from this lineup (Larks' Tongues my beloved), but with your unbridled enthusiasm I am so looking forward to relistening to this beast to honor its 50th anniversary!
Also, uh, good luck escaping Fripp's clutches with all the music used here. You're gonna need it.
@@progrockdude2691 i had to cut back on samples BIG time already, here’s to hoping
You did it Abby. You threw yourself into Red and came out alive, very alive. I've loved this record for 30 years, and it's a very special one for me. You did a great take on the album. Cheers
That intro made me hurt my rib for laughing... Such a great video
Wow your writing is getting amazing. I almost enjoy your description of these songs as much as the music itself
Brilliant review of a brilliant album. Love me some King Crimson! Crazy to learn that Fripp taught guitar in Virginia, the state in which I grew up. If only I had been born earlier!
It was West Virginia, sorry!
They’ll be releasing a 50th anniversary edition on October the 6th- including remixes by Steven Wilson and David Singleton!- currently I own the Lark’s Tongues 50th anniversary, and I’m super excited to put my hands on the Red!
@@rafadocabelao3163 the 5.1 mix on the 40th anniversary edition is fantastic
Great episode, Abigail. I didn’t realize Robert Fripp was going through an identity crisis. A guitar genius, however, and he seems like a really happy guy nowadays. John Wetton put his special stamp on this. He’s the reason this is my 2nd favorite KC album. RIP, Mr. Wetton. Bill Bruford is a great drummer. He’s not someone you want to cause frustration, however. You might not like the things he’ll say about you in an interview! Condolences to David Cross. Your contributions to Red would’ve been incredible. RIP, Ian McDonald. It was great to have you back.
I don’t think it’s a bad cover but they’ve definitely had better covers like you said, Abigail. Here’s some dialogue I came up with between Wetton, Fripp and Bruford.
Wetton: This record is great!
Bruford: How do you figure, John?
Fripp: Yeah, John, how DO you figure?
Wetton: Abigail’s likeness right next to mine!
Fripp: Now we know why he looks so happy!
Bruford: Next to YOU, Robert, even I look happy!
Wow, the album itself is hard to describe, though you did a great job. I’m sure the late great John Wetton would’ve like your duet with him. And I’m glad David Cross, though officially canned, did get his talents onto the album. Fallen Angel sounds like it could’ve been on a Beatles record! Starless is beautiful, haunting and melancholy.
Another great show. Everyone listening to King Crimson tonight up 2000%
Young Ms. Devoe... you continue to be the most entertaining, best researched, and spot-on music reviewer I've ever seen, read, or listened to. How do I know this? Sometimes you turn me on to albums I've long wondered about or never knew existed, but Crimson have been one of my favorite bands for over 40 years (about a year and a half before Discipline to be exact...), and Red has been one of my favorite albums for almost that long. I've read dozens of articles and interviews during that time, and you STILL came up with info and made points I had not heard or considered before! AND you made me laugh out loud while doing it! This is really next level music journalism. Thanks for all the knowledge and laughs!
What a truly outstanding musical experience. Everyone who claims to like music should listen to this, and it should be featured in school music classes.
Let's cut straight to the biscuits and talk about "Starless". This is a musical depiction of a paranoid outburst. It's 1970s cop movie chase music gone out of control. It's part Jewish folk jazz, part lounge and part metal but subjected to similar torture Malcolm McDowell was subjected to in A Clockwork Orange. In what must have been a musical version of East Germany, John Wetton was pushed to play better than he had ever played before or since. Bruford's silky jazz skills are put in the bin and instead he's been given an injection of monkey glands by Fripp. Ahh, Fripp...that curly haired, bespectacled little guy who sits on a stool to play electric guitar, the man with the gentle West Country accent...that is the most terrifying man in rock music. "Whatever it is that you did to earn yourself a place in King Crimson you will cease to do whilst you are a member of King Crimson". Is Starless better than 21st Century Schizoid Man? Hmmmm...I will never have the answer to that.
Have you heard "Discipline" from 1981? If not, continue on when you get the chance.
What he said...
I adore Discipline; it was my first KC album... But I cannot imagine someone experiencing Discipline as an album-length journey in the manner of this review; it's a collection of quirky prog-pop songs.
Me, too! I do love me some Discipline. The first album is my favorite debut of all time and from 1969 but Discipline is certainly my favorite from that era/lineup. Literally a “crimson” album cover, no less
When I saw your episode about the debut of King Crimson, I thought: she should do Red. See if Starless makes her speechless or brings tears in her eyes, when the triumphant end piece plays, with immensely overdriven bass and all.
Well, you did this episode very well.
And you said something about the immense journey this band took from 1969 to 1974, well... Look at how far this trip has taken you in only a few years.
Love your show!
Ps, there's a special 50 year edition coming out, as a double album. With a brand new mix. Oh also on dvd and CD and stuff, but I am going to get me the double album.
"Starless" is wonderfully exhausting to listen to. The surround KC discs are very worthwhile, especially *Discipline.*
RIP John Wetton. Incredible talent.
!!! FINALLY! Red is one of my favorite King Crimson albums!
Yea! Can't wait to watch this after work. Haven't played this in a long time because I totally wore out this, Larks Tongue, and Starless back in the 70s, but I bet it gets played this evening.
Thoroughly enjoyed your review on this masterpiece . This album just gets better with each listen , and I've been listening to it for decades . Starless is one of the greatest tracks ever recorded in my opinion . Keep your reviews coming .
Phew! As a 68 year old prog rocker who grew up with this, always loved Crimbo and this album, thanks for your insight, never quite thought of it as end of days, that has sorted out what I'm listening to today!! Also saw them 3 times in their 201x tours, Starless always end of first set, always exhausted at end of it! Many thanks!
Very happy to see someone praise Weezer post Pinkerton
I've dabbled in your vids before, but this gets a click on subscribe.
The first time I heard Red
I thought I was going crazy.
I had only started getting involved with prog rock a few months earlier and never expected that it would have such a gigantic influence on me.
Robert Fripp seems to be a very complicated person but I will be forever grateful to him. Personally, I think the album cover is pretty good which is why I bought it as a shirt.
It represents the dark tone of the album very well.
I read a very long time ago that Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is also a very big King Crimson fan. In my opinion, the song One More Red Nightmare in particular had a big influence on his later work.
Excellent description of mood's trasitions on "Starless"; really great description. One can perfectly see you felt the whole music, from its starting point to its very ending. Congrats!
Lizard is also a beautiful album cover
It's a great album too! Albeit an aquired taste lol.
The title track RED is a real mind bender!!!
😵💫😵💫😵💫
My favourite favourite King Crimson albums are the ones with Wetton and Bruford.
Same here, I do like the debut, Lizard and the early 80's albums too though. What a band.
Wow, thank you for putting my isolated intense love of this album into ebullient enthusiastic "Amen-ing!"
Great review! Red became my favorite album in 1975 or 1976 when living four years in a college dorm in South Carolina. I’d heard In the Court of the Crimson King a year before and loved that one as well - so different! Interesting to hear the backstory - how crushing for John Wetton (R.I.P.) when Fripp broke up the band. I had Fripp sign a copy of Islands I bought in the summer of 1979 when he was giving a free Frippertronics tour at record stores in the U.S.A. in conjunction with the release of his first solo album. I remember asking him about King Crimson and Robert saying that the band would never form again and then we had the Discipline tour - another great line-up! just a few years later. Fantastic violin playing by David Cross - unfortunate that he was dropped from the band like that. I was happy that my son got to see King Crimson’s last tour (?) in Tokyo a few years back. Great band in all its various iterations. I’m looking forward to listening to more of your album reviews and revisiting albums from my youth.
David Cross is keeping the spirit of this lineup alive by touring the complete larks and bits of starless & Red with his own stuff at the moment.
Touring right now.
The last Yes album with Bill Buford is Close To The Edge. I think you would love that album, Abigail!
Abby, wonderful job reviewing this album. I'm curious if you own or have listened to UK's 1978 self-titled debut album UK. Listening to your review and how much you appreciate John Wetton's vocals and Bill Burford's Drumming, and how much you enjoyed Red, I assure you, your socks will be blown off after listening to UK. Just picture this amazing line up of musicians, Bill Bruford, John Wetton, Alan Holdsworth, and Eddied Jobson. Many people consider this the quintessential prog album.
Not only did Fripp produce Hall's solo debut Sacred Songs - it, Peter Gabriel (his second, aka "Scratch""), and Robert's first solo record Exposure were supposed to be a trilogy.
That didn't work out, but Hall sings on a couple Exposure tracks (You Burn Me Up I'm a Cigarette is aces) and Gabriel features a different version of Exposure's title track on Scratch.
I was never a Daryl Hall fan until Exposure. An unlikely pairing which yielded some great stuff.
1970s rock & soul Darryl Hall and John Oates was so much better than the '80s pop duo Hall & Oates. They were still good at what they did, and I like a fair few of their songs; but records like Abandoned Luncheonette are just way more interesting IMO.
Exposure also features Peter Gabriel on a Frippertronics-version of "Here Comes the Flood". 🙂
Fripp was very busy during 1979-1980, he even had The League of Gentlemen, which was a side project Abby didn't mention here
Masterpiece! Thanks for the video!
as a massive music nerd this is like a perfect thing to have in the background
Hi! I'm 63 and I knew Crimson's In the court... in 1976. My favorite prog band.
Your reviews are clever and precise, but this episode...wow! A poem. Bravo!
'Providence' is a live improv. If I remember rightly the version on The Great Deceiver boxset, which is the original, has a longer and drawn out ending which, to my ears, is a lot less edgy and effective than the abrupt ending on Red. Anyway, Abigail, thanks for an excellent review. You're a natural performer. Well done!
Great commentary. I enjoyed the shout out to Teiji Ito and Maya Deren too.
Amazing selection chosen - fantastic review!
Wonderful, Abby. One of my favorite albums and one of your best.
Firstly, great video - love the level of research you've done and your humour and lyricism. Someone else has probably mentioned this but I don't want to spend the evening scrolling (!), so... Andy McCulloch didn't retire from music after KC's "Islands", he joined the superb prog outfit Greenslade as drummer on all their albums and tours (1972-76). Then he went off and did the yacht thing! 😊
Abby, you are a treasure! So engaging, honest, and you do your research! I have loved KC since In the Court, but Starless may be the most awe-inspiring track of all. I once asked Robert what his favorite KC album was, and he replied, "All of them." That was 1982.
What a great episode for a great album.
I just want to say I’ve been following this channel (somewhat passively) for awhile and I just want to say I really love the work you do. Your work helped reignite a lot of the love I had for the classic rock era! I really appreciate how you don’t regurgitate the same tired trot out narratives behind these classic albums, in lieu of modern nuanced interesting takes. Keep up the good work!
Wasn't expecting this one so soon after the vinyl update but i'm glad you covered & enjoyed an album that helped get me through some tough times. I agree with the feeling of finality in the music, but always found it defiant in that finalty. Top work as always AD!
You mentioned the abrupt ending of "Providence". It's actually not the end of the jam. KC eventually put out The Great Deceiver, a collection of live recordings from '73-'74, the tours that produced much of "Starless and Bible Black" and "Red". On Disc 1 (and part of Disc 2) is the entirety of the Providence show, including an UNABRIDGED "Providence". It's really interesting to hear the improvs in context with the composed pieces. Also in the box set are two early, live versions of "Starless". It's an incredible document of where the band was at that time.
I quite like the Daryl Hall album that Fripp worked on. Sacred Songs-it’s a banger!
THANK YOU for this episode, Abigail. ❤❤
Baby's on fire, flying on a warm jet to Providence
Great review! One of my all time favorite albums.
King Crimson was the first concert I ever went to without my parents. 1969. Chicago. With Iron Butterfly. Saw them on this last tour as well. Red is one of the heaviest albums I own. And I own a ton of Death Metal.
Red mentioned !!!
loved this episode, kinda wish they did that tour thing for Red since '75 kinda was the peak of rock live performances, very cool !!
Of so many excellent VM episodes, this was brilliant. A sorrowfully overlooked album in it’s time, but the fact that it moves you so much 50 years on shows it’s worth, and your openness to it’s art. Thank you
Speaking of Bill Bruford, if you can locate a copy, he at one point jumped on the Ancient Astronauts bandwagon and recorded an album (with his band at the time Absolute Elsewhere) called In Search of Ancient Gods. As prog goes, it's an interesting novelty, good for background while you're doing stuff around the place without being super memorable. Lots of interesting guitar progression and space sounds that could almost have come right out of Star Trek. I picked it up in the late 70s, played it once or twice and promptly forgot about it. I know, not exactly a rave review
Tremendous! I especially enjoyed your very imaginative and verbally inventive response to the music in the latter part of the video. Thanks.
My eternal thanks for doing more Crimson 🙏😌❤️
2021 in Springfield, MA. I finally got to see King Crimson. It became the greatest concert I've ever seen.
Favorite Taylor Swift album? Red!!!
Favorite King Crimson album? Red!!!
wait... TAYLOR SWIFT COVERED CRIMSON?!!! Sweet... I'm in!
...yeah, I know... but it would be awesome...😏
So did Sammy Hagar
@TheProgCorner Hey there, Scot! Good to see you over here, man * long deep sniff * Red is your favorite KC album? Something made me think it was Larks Tongues but then the Red cover wouldn’t make a good graphic image to represent the channel LOL I agree that Red is one of their strongest efforts to date but it’s difficult for me to pick out a stand alone favorite. See you at The Prog Corner soon, PEACE
Thank christ that you got to this album.. Starless has always been one of my favorite musical experience of the perfect mix of suspense, terror, and beauty all wrapped up in one. It never pauses in the track when I listen to it because I DON'T DARE to. I have to hear from start to finish, and at good volume. It is a musical representation of a proper love making session. IMHO.
And, by the by, that may be your best outfit. There's something about it that feels natural, I don't know why.
What a wonderful review of a very dark album. Thank you!
20:46 ok but Philosophy of the World episode would go crazy
@@artbyisaiahmonteiro funny thing; Fripp mentioned that My Pal foto foto Is His favorite song. If he was joking that I don't know.
This album convinced me to play bass. Starless was an absolute masterpiece.
Brilliant review of one of the greatest albums of the 1970s. Thank you ☺️
Great review Abbie. More to you than just a pretty face ❤
Red is my favorite king crimson album when i heard it for the first time it was the third king crimson album i heard after rediscovering the first album and hearing larks tounge red blew me away and the john wetton era became my favorite im going to see david kross next week in cleveland hes going to perform larks tounge, starless and red live great video abby ❤❤❤ keep it up
Dear Abigail:
Interesting, I was listening to Red this past weekend for my music therapy.
This album is brilliant-the lineup of Fripp, Wetton and Bruford is my favorite.
This one has-to my ears anyway-a fairly dark atmosphere to it, possibly because of Fripp's doubts about the band.
Wetton went on to Uriah Heep for 2 albums: Return to Fantasy and High and Mighty, then on to UK and Asia-remember them?
Fripp has said some very good things about Daryl Hall calling him a very adventurous singer, however his label balked at him working with Fripp.
Yours truly,
John Wilding
King Crimson is my favorite band on a lot of days. Nice work.
"RED" is easily on my Top 10 albums of all time! THANK YOU SO MUCH, ABI!
that crimson history breakdown... fire... straight fire... you're a music nerd music nerd. definitely welcome here
Red was the 1st KC album I bought - that was a year or two after release. I worked back from that point & took extra joy in The Young Person's Guide. I find the band a solitary enjoyment because no-one I know seems willing to sit through a complete KC album, and most particularly the onslaught of the 1st n last discs. I enjoyed the joy in your review...thanks.
The thumbnail is 🎉 awesome!
I thought the same thing! Fantastic - and totally different - thumbnail! Not used to seeing no color on Abby!
Well reviewed, Abigail. There's nothing else to say, I think.
Amazing prose Abigail, I just loved your well composed comments; it befits such a monumental musical works. Excellent, excellent, excellent review. Thank you❤
Abbie, brilliant review. Takes me on the same emotional arc as the album. Now I must hear it again at paint-peeling volume. Take care ! Best VM yet.
Though I don’t agree about the cover. 😛 I like the font and I find Fripp’s menacing stare balanced by Wetton’s warm smile to be a good representation of the mood of the album.
I got to see John Wetton sing “Starless” with UK in 2012, just a few years before he died, and witnessed the soundcheck. He plugged in his bass and immediately got THAT tone. It was amazing.
Great review! Red and Larks are my favorite KC. I really love the Cross/Wetton/Bruford lineup . Red is so heavy and beautiful all at once.
I guess I should break down and get this one, I sadly have not had the pleasure, you make it sound like it must be heard right now!
The three albums from Lark's to Red are my all-time favourites of theirs. As much as I love their first album, those three were totally next level.
I was taking a film class back in the day and needed a soundtrack for my crappy student film. I selected "Providence" for the soundtrack. My film instructor was impressed with the piece of music. In my opinion, it was the sound track that got me the passing grade. Red is a fantastic album, period!
There's also a 1977 feature film from French master Alain Resnais (his first in English) called 'Providence'. Though I haven't seen it myself, the story deals with the imaginative world of a dying author, and the title makes allusion to horror writer H. P. Lovecraft's hometown. I wonder if there might a nod to King Crimson's track somewhere in there as well?