By the way: In the "Bolero" section of the track the first wind instrument that comes in is the cornet, followed by oboe and then English horn, before all wind instruments come in together.
Lizard!!!!! One of the best King Crimson albums ever!!!!!! From start to finish!! If this is the best song you have heard from KC, then this will be your favorite album for sure!!!
I was hoping you wouldn't learn in advance that Jon was singing, I wanted to see your jaw drop. It's brilliant music John's performance is fantastic - I always laugh that Jon was the first member of Yes to play with Crimson!
I love this record, probably my over-all favorite Crimson album, and the Bolero section is a big part of that.. Side 1 is AMAZING all the way through, as well.
I love seeing a forty minute video on a twenty minute song, because I knew you'd devote at least an equal measure of time to going back over it. Not to drag any other channel, but it does get a bit disappointing when others give just a 'wow' or 'that was good' and be done with it; I always appreciate how you give everything it's due. And this one's due quite a bit, a terrific song, I think especially the second and fourth movements could easily be in any modern orchestra's catalogue alongside Shostakovitch and Stravinsky. McCullough's incredibly tight and reserved drumming on "Bolero" and "Lament" is such a contrast to his virtuosity on "Battle", and Keith Tippet's piano, fusing jazz, baroque, romantic, and avant-garde, is a shining star throughout. Not to mention Fripp's beautiful jazz guitar in the first movement, and at the end he's definitively trying to put down any classicists who'd say electric guitar has no place in a symphony. If you're not familiar with Keith Tippett, whom I love, check out his heart-wrenching performance on KC's "Islands", one of their prettiest songs, to his own "Green and Orange Night Park", with Elton Dean of alto saxophone, and the absurd Centipede project, a 50-odd-piece progressive orchestra which Tippett and his wife Julie Driscoll headed and Fripp produced - part 2 in particular is slick.
Was lucky enough to see this played live a couple of years ago. Mind-blowing and really heavy with the 3 drummers. Def the greatest piece of live music I have ever witnessed:-)
I'm so glad you did this. I've been commenting on your other videos recommending this - my favourite Crimson album, which I fell in love with when it first came out as I was embarking on my teenage years. It got me interested in jazz and classical music. The piano playing by Keith Tippett - one of the greatest British jazz musicians, along with Marc Charig on cornet, and Nick Evans on trombone. You should try Tippett's masterpiece, Septober Energy from the same period, which Fripp produced and features just about everybody. The rest of Lizard is just wonderful, unspeakably great and so weirdly under-rated, as some of the sarcastic comments on my recommendations indicate. Thank you. I hope you have brought this masterpiece to a new and wider audience.
Indeed, Marc Charig and Nick Evans have been part of the Soft Machine 4 horns septet 1969, prior to the early 1970 live performances with Lyn Dobson and Elton Dean left in the horns section which were to become Facelift of THIRD. Great bw footage from French TV on UA-cam
First of all, I should have to turn in my "Prog Fan" card for not knowing about this album and this song! Good Lord, I was insufficiently educated on KC's discography, that's for sure! AND, I should have to give up my "Jazz Fan" card, as well, for not being aware of this masterpiece! I am completely mind-blown, and I need an emoji! Your reactions, both during the listen, and during your analysis, are just exactly the ones I was having! My mind was melted, as well!!! I am just overwhelmed at how good this piece is. No - not good - it's EPIC, as far as I'm concerned! Oh, my goodness! And, Justin, seeing your eyes and your expressions as you react, is a very intense experience for me tonight! I thought at a couple of points that you were tearing up! You KNOW I was! Your reaction to Jon doing this collab was just exactly my reaction!! I mean, COME ON! It just can't get much better!I really agreed with and loved everything you said in your analysis! I know I'm a broken record, but just when I think you could not surprise and impress me any more than you have, then you do this reaction. This video is permanent playlist for me! Wow! I need a drink and a cigarette.......and I don't drink or smoke!!! WHEW!
It is a wonderful feeling discovering music you didn't know about/haven't heard before, and then instantly falling in love with it. And thankfully there's no test to pass before you're allowed to listen to (any) music, the important thing is to keep exploring and see what's out there :) Happy listening!
LIZARD !! This is (IMHO) King Crimson at their finest. Using orchestral instruments, with possibly the best Mellotron backing ever. I love the medieval jazz/rock and the feel of controlled chaos. BUT this is more melodic than the later KC ever got. I do wish they had stayed there for at least one more album. Each of the songs on the album is depicted on the cover. For example, The Beatles appear around the letter 'i', as they are the subject of the song Happy Family. (right... they weren't too happy in 1970). Yeah, the lyrics don't really reveal that readily; it was decades before I learned about it. So much going on here! An easy example: 'Stake a Lizard by the throat' refers to St. George and the Dragon. You are quite rightly stunned by this... one listen just won't do. I told myself in 9th grade that I would always have a copy of this available. So far, promise kept. Rather than continue randomly, I can just say I was so happy to see you react to this one... I knew you would love it! Truly should be in the Prog Rock Hall of fame. Made me a Crimson fan even when they became unlistenable.
Today is a national holiday in Canada so the long song was a great surprise. I must admit I had some trepidation after the last KC song (iirc) but this was magnificent. Great song and review.
GREAT choice JP! I've always wondered why no one has reacted to this album. Now I know - it's been blocked! When I first listened to this album I was in college when we all spent a lot of time listening to records. Early King Crimson was always my very favorite: In The Court Of The Crimson King, In The Wake of Poseidon, and Lizard. As you say, John Anderson's vocals are unique. Bolero is wonderful. The Battle Of Glass Tears - what a title for a song! After reacting to Anthony Phillip's Geese & The Ghost and now King Crimson Lizard.... you have really struck gold!
I legit love you for doing this, and I'm thrilled that you seem to love this as much as I do! This song is an epic, but it differs from alot of other epics, both in mood and execution. The circus ending goes well with the mood of the entire album, so I would strongly encourage you to do the rest. It's a great trip for sure, and my absolute favourite Crimson album (I never skip a track). And Gordon Haskell had a great contribution to Crimsons discography, both as vocalist and bassist on Lizard (+ vocals on Cadence and Cascade). You've just made my entire day so thank you, hope you've had a great day too! :) Now I'll go back and listen to the album Lizard in its entirety.... See you on the other side!
When I was in seventh grade, my buddy, Steve, introduced me to Crimso's debut. From that point on, I've bought every album as they came out. 'Lizard' was the first (but not the last) album of theirs that I was slightly ambivalent about. We both loved side one, but when we flipped it over, we quickly became puzzled, confused, and ultimately bored. We were still seventh graders, and neither of us had a whole lot of musical experience beyond the charts, KC being our first prog exposure. We both enjoyed the first part, "Prince Rupert Awakes", but weren't quite sure who the female vocalist was at first (what did two thirteen year olds know?). But once the jazzier stuff started, we lost interest. Too avant-garde? Maybe. But my impression of this song as a whole is still colored by my juvenile reaction over fifty years ago. This is the first time I've listened to it in, probably, decades. While I can now APPRECIATE what the musicians are doing, I still haven't gotten past my youthful prejudice. I hope you give some of side one a listen. Time for lunch. Cheers!
You're not alone, Justin. I ❤❤❤ "LIZARD"! It truly is a prog masterpiece. You've now encountered the "evil side" of King Crimson. A lot of their early works up to when Fripp split the band up in 1974, were menacing. You can almost feel an evil undercurrent permeating throughout the music. And I mean that in the best possible sense. It wasn't only Mel Collins doing all the horns either. There were about 3-4 horn players as additional musicians on the first 4 King Crimson albums. And the beautiful solo at the beginning and ending of "Bolero" is an oboe, played by Robin Miller. The album isn't really a concept record but some of the songs are loosely tied together, e.g. "Cirkus" and "LIZARD", as well as "Indoor Games". I was totally obsessed with King Crimson in my late teens/early twenties, so I completely understand your reaction! 😁😎📯🎷🎺🎸🎻
Hello Justin, a long-time admirer from Italy. First of all, Thank You! Your reaction/discussion videos are PRICELESS and you're my n.1 choice in this panorama (the 🥈 is JamelAKAJamal). King Crimson an Talk Talk are probably my favourite bands ever (beyond Pink Floyd, I guess), even they're so far from each other. But they could meet in the land of “Islands”, the following Crimson work after Lizard. I'm not good with the short description, but... in one word, it's PROFOUND. You should listen to it, of course when you'll have the time. The title-track is one of the greatest journey in music that I know, for sure less longer and complex than Lizard, but maybe even higher, and deeper at the same time.
So glad you did this. These are two of my favorite creators of music on the planet, and I share your assessment of this wondrously beautiful classic for the ages. Enough can never be said about it. Sweetness and light is not the first thing you think of when thinking about King Crimson, but it is with Jon, who provided the heavenly contrast to the darkness that followed. I never had a clue about Prince Rupert's Drops...which is one reason I love your channel. You delight AND inform. Completely unrelated, did you know that Justin Hayward is also a David? :) Until next time, peace, love and top shelf music.
The song Cirkus is incredible, in just a little over six minutes it tells the story of the creation of the universe, evolution of man, and collapse of society, followed by the rebirth of society (the Cirkus). That is the tie in to the end of Lizard, which also tells of social unrest and a changing of the social order (return of the Cirkus).
Thank you so much for shearing this with us! Me, as you was stunned when i heard this track. I ‘m really fan of the 70’s KC, and this album is my favorite album from them! By the way.. Andy Mc Cullogh plys on Anthony Phillips wonderful Scottish Suite on Ant’s Private Parts Pieces 2 album! In my opinion one of the finest things he did!
This was a great reaction. We could see you genuinely loved this track . Don't apologise this is what we come to see. I love this song and the album. I think you will like it all to . Enjoy
We loved your reaction to this song. A few words about the album: 1) Robert Fripp actually does not like this album (which we don't understand; it is our favorite King Crimson album), so it is not surprising they don't played this at the concert you were at. 2) The pictures on the album cover are illustrations of the songs of the album. The "i" of "Crimson" is especially interesting. It is an illustration to the song "Happy Family". You see left to right Uncle Silas alias George Harrison, Brother Judas alias Paul McCartney, Nasty Jonah alias John Lennon (with his wife Yoko Ono as ghost out of the bottle) and Uncle Rufus alias Ringo Starr. That's because the song is about the breaking-up of the Beatles. There are many allusions to the Beatles in the lyrics of that song. 3) Andy McCulloch also was the drummer of Greenslade; you did a reaction to a song of them once. Pianist Keith Tippett was the leader of the progressive rock big-band Centipede that had about 50 members and made one double album called "Septober Energy". You also mentioned the names Elton Dean and Arthur Brown when talking about Tippett. Elton Dean was a member of Soft Machine. Arthur Brown is famous for his bands "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" and "Kingdom Come"; he also collaborated with German electronic musician Klaus Schulze, on some of Schulze's solo albums as well as in the band Richard Wahnfried. The first album of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown is definitely worth checking out; it is a concept album and includes his monster hit "Fire". 4) The "Bolero" part of the song is a bit reminiscent of a baroque fugue. Musically it is not based on the Cuban music but on the 18th century Spanish dance of that name (as "Abaddon's Bolero" by ELP too). The most famous bolero is a composition by Maurice Ravel which is simply named "Boléro".
FYI: Fripp must have reevaluated his opinion of Lizard, because the current band very often plays Cirkus, as well as a section of the Lizard Suite (including Dawn Song, Last Skirmishand Prince Rupert's Lament), and has also played the Bolero section a few times.
@@brumleyhall He has. Steven Wilson and Jakko’s love of the album helped him reevaluate the album and the music. Part of the issue, as I understand it, is that it was hard to separate the music from the process of making it, which was a challenge. Over the last few years as much as half the album has been performed live.
This is my first step to jazz. And jon.... Epic. When i was first met i was shocked. And how long i was waiting for such a reaction. From heart. From feelings.
The whole album has a very distinctive experimental mood, culminating in this wonderful side-long opus.Their most overtly jazziest interplay is here.Pianist Keith Tippett led an avantgard jazz band called Centipede at that time which included some of the musicians here, so there's a kind of crossover. It's a great album overall and a fantastic reaction Justin, many thanks.
It is a classic. I remember listening to this for Jon Anderson who didn't disappoint, but then being blown away by Mel Collins and the rest of the cast on this song.
How modern their music still is could easily be told by the fact, that their piece Circus was covered in our times at least twice (by 7 Weeks, for instance). Masterpieces never get out of style. Bravo!!!
"Court of the Crimson King", "In the Wake of Poseiden", and "Lizard" were King Crimson's first three albums. "In the Wake of Poseiden" resembles "Lizard" more than "Court". "Court" stands alone, "Wake" and Lizard" are kind of a natural pairing to my mind. Their fourth album "Islands" begins their transition to being the power rock band that culminated with "Red". "Islands" is a fabulous album. "Lark's Tongues in Aspic" follows and King Crimson gets HEAVY at that point. Blessings.
Out of their entire catalog this song is in my top 5 favourite KC songs as an album is alright another good song i recommend is CirKus which is just beautiful. Its a very jazzy record. This album, and the next album are very jazz based. Lizard reminds me of Romantic warrior sometimes.
Lizard is underrated, perhaps because of how "un-rock" it is - but the follow-up, Islands, is a stinker which I wouldn't recommend until you've heard all the rest of KC's work from that era and are desperate for more. It's not *all* bad, but "The Letters" and "Ladies of the Road" have to be in the running for the worst material ever recorded by a first-rank prog band.
The second in a trilogy of jazz-tinged rock by King Crimson! Secretly, this is my favorite song. This is the only King Crimson album where you can hear Jon's (Yes) vocals! The funny thing is that Jon Anderson(Yes) was related to King Crimson before Bill Bruford lol!
Justin, I love that you are diving in to Yes's extracurricular work and guest appearances. Jon is brilliant on this. Also, I just watched your reaction to Anne of Cleves by Wakeman, where you rightly raved about Alan White's incredible drumming. My question is, have you listened to Alan White's solo album "Ramshackled" yet? If not, I highly recommend the track "Spring - Song of Innocence". (Spoiler: Howe on guitar, Anderson on vocals!)
So exciting to see this today! Now you know why I had hyped it up when recommending it some time back. This was the first full studio album I bought when starting to get in to them. As you can imagine it blew me away. Some of the best avant-garde jazz, rock fusion ever. It's crazy, dissonant fun that hits the right parts of my brain. This song in particular with Jon, then Bolero and the battle of glass Tears ending with the dirge by Fripp gives goosebumps. Haskell has the most unique voice of the KC vocalists which also includes one track off Wake of Posieden. His experience was not a good one doing this album and I get the feeling from interviews of Fripp that their friendship suffered. Don't worry the ending is a generic coda. The rest of the album is separate from the Lizard suite. I do hope you give the rest a go and then hopefully Islands with it's Victorian feel as well. All so good
When I saw them live a few years ago in the introduction I'm sure I remember Fripp explained they asked Jim Moir (AKA Vic Reeves the British comedian) if he wanted to be part of the introduction to one of the shows. Apparently he agreed but only if he could sing Lizard. King Crimson said no, so that never happened. The Brits reading this who remember Vic's song Dizzy will be able to imagine how insane it would have been if they had agreed, but also something amazing the audience would never forget.
That was a great listen. Thought you might like this one. It's got some of your favourite sounds on it. Beautiful Melodic bass , mellotron and Jon's voice.
I can't hear King Crimson without remembering what your wife said about too many "noises":D all at once making her feel anxious. A big thank you to her again because now I try to be even more considerate when trying to introduce new people to prog. Ty!
I adore Lizard, might be my favorite piece from King Crimson. The whole acoustic jazz married to symphonic prog thing is unique in music. Kinda wish they left the circus music on the cutting room floor though. Just ending on Fripp's lonely guitar would have been perfect. And Fripp later came around on Lizard, when he heard Steve Wilson's mix, but maybe that was just marketing. Fun fact: there's a song in the Mobile Suit Gundam III movie that 100$ plagiarized from Prince Rupert Awakes. It's called Beginning by Daisuke Inoue. I love hearing King Crimson in my Gundam movie.
Strong agree on trashing the "Big Top" section, which does nothing but put a dumb slide whistle on the end of Fripp's beautiful guitar solo. Maybe it's just because I hate Pete Sinfield, but I suspect he's the reason for it, since it seems to be a callback to the lyrical concept of "Cirkus" more than anything to do with "Lizard" as a musical composition. In fact, I'll go a step further and say that it's *always* a bad idea to put anything that sounds like literal circus music on a rock album, and the adults in the room need to put a stop to this heinous and too-common practice.
This is the first Crimson album I bought and was for 10 years the only Crimson album I owned. I love Lizard, the song. It has real staying power. Even after 20 years I still love it.
King Crimson never made a bad record. Each are experimental in their own way, and each are totally different. I love the Crimson Kings. All line ups. ✌️❤️
Judging by the comments, Lizard is to King Crimson fans as Tales From Topographic Oceans is to Yes fans. BTW, I love them both. I'm glad you enjoyed it Justin.
I hadn't thought of that before, great point. When Justin reacted to TFTO I thought he might enjoy some bits but not that he would like the whole thing as much as he did. For me TFTO and Lizard are "in the right mood" albums, most of the time I love and listen to all the other KC and Yes albums, but for the two you mention I feel differently about at different times and need to be in the right mood before I put them on. Maybe Justin was in the right mood today, or maybe he always is.
Your absolutely right! Actually TFTO is my favourite Yes album and Lizard is my favourite KC album, so I guess I'm the odd one out here. Nice to know I'm not alone in my love for this album.
New song for me too. I am surprised, hiw did I miss this. I blame modern random way of listening music. Anyways, will need several listens. Thank you for this.
Thanks so much for the reaction...multiple listens are necessary. The drumming in the Bolero section is amazing in that it's an actual human keeping that rhythm going for so long. Keith Tippett is amazing throughout and he's got a solo album from 70 or 71 that has a long song on it that is great...I'll have to look up the name of the album and song. The whole Lizard album is quite odd but rewarding after several listens. The song "Happy Family" is literally about the Beatles breakup in the weirdest way possible. On the cover, one of the panels is them. Fripp was heavily influenced by Sgt. Peppers, as you will be able to tell once you hear all tracks.
Don't know if you've already done Cirkus (from the same album) but regardless of that, you should definitely check out the live version with Boz Burrell on vocals - it's fierce
Interesting to hear Jon appear in this song - some major personnel changes were taking place around 1970 for Yes and Genesis. And King Crimson lost their lead singer Greg Lake to ELP. Also departed from the group were McDonald and Giles - you should check out their 1970 album - progressive gold!
These were the days when they were willing to experiment, no doubt you liked the jazzier bits which normally I'm not into but here they're so well mixed with the rock and lighter moments it makes all the changes refreshing. They had a sense of humor as well. Their 1st album was great, their 2nd "In the Wake of Poseidon" was like a copy of that one, then came "Lizard" with the lineup change followed by "Islands" (also very good) before the rock trio of mid-seventies albums. In concert they do an 11 min. suite version of 'Lizard' paring it down to its essentials. When you get to the 3 track it's supposedly about the Beatles, see if you can figure out who is who Judas, Rufus, Silas and Jonah. Play along at home.
Please don’t shrug “Poseidon” off. Not to claim any credentials beyond avid listener, but it occurs to me the second album, while clearly patterned after the first, is a more cohesive work. The first album was stunning, but I find “Moonchild” unlistenable. The second album shows formulation of the musical “Patented Crimso” sound at its classic utmost, in the midst of personnel difficulties. I guess I got a trigger from the seeming dismissal of “”Poseidon” as a copy of the first album. Sometimes I think Crimso got their arm twisted by “21st Century Schizoid Man”. That song, to King Crimson fans, became anthemic.
Mom approved. What’s this dude talking about? Well, a great while back I had to gratefully move back with me mum and I set up my musical equipment in a nice windowed patio. There I painted and played my music sometimes rather loud. KC Lizard and Island were new 8tracks to me. One time, my Mom out the blue mentioned she thought the music was interesting. Well, we had a break in and all my 8tracks and equipment were taken, I later wrote a college paper on the theft. Scintillating. I really haven’t listened to Lizard since. Mom was right, very interesting. People seem very polarized, eh, whatever. Peace and patio Music
Sitting at breakfast one Sunday morning someone asked Robert what he thought was the best Crimson album and he responded, In the Court of the Crimson King and Discipline because they were completely fresh then another person said, What about Lizard? That's my favorite, and Robert did a kind of raised eyebrows side nod shrug in which I think he appreciated the person's enthusiasm, but didn't wholly agree. I on the other hand like its earthbound yet cosmic soundscapes traversing. Lizard feels both epic and intimate.
HOLY SHIT DUDE YES!!! Lizard is my FAVORITE king crimson album, seriously unique, and damn, it is amazing. Haskell's voice surprisingly fits this, and I haven't heard anything like it since it was made. EDIT: DUDE!! I literally thought halfway through you were so horribly annoyed at it, just phrasing 'no' at the camera, dude I thought you hated it. I'm so gladly surprised, though, jeez. I don't want to spoil any part of the future listening to you for this album, but if you review Cirkus sometimes later, that 'presence' of Haskell you talk about, right? Well, all I'm gonna say is you're in for a treat with that on Cirkus. Glad you got to this
Check out the trumpet at the start of the bolero… that is the flamenco moment. Actually, it may be a cornet, as opposed to trumpet. If you like Tippett, I recommend his lovely jazz album The Nine Dances of Patrick O’Gonogon.
I saw King Crimson shortly after the release of this album. Sadly they never played Lizard on that tour. They played a couple of the shorter tracks including Cirkus. Having said that the show was amazing and featured a version of The Devil's Triangle with strobe lights and projected flames (not real ones).
My favorite pieces of music by King Crimson, that are at least 8 minutes in length, are: Epitaph Starless 21st Century Schizoid Man (don't care that it's under 8 minutes, lol) 😎 In the Court of the Crimson King Larks Tongues in Aspic (all 4 parts) Providence (I know you didn't care for Providence, but I love it) 🙂 Lizard But here's the most interesting thing, Justin. Fripp hated this album, until Steve Wilson remixed it. From Wikipedia: "Robert Fripp has been very critical of the album, calling it "unlistenable" and lovers of it as "very strange". However, he has revised his opinion upon listening to Steven Wilson's new surround sound mix of the album for the 40th Anniversary reissue, proclaiming "For the first time I have heard the Music in the music."" I think it's quite a compliment to have Robert Fripp call me 'very strange', because I enjoy this weird and bizarre album, especially considering how weird and bizarre Robert Fripp has always been. I want to say to Robert, "So you hate the album that you made, and think those of us who like it are very strange. How very strange of you, Robert" 🙂 Course, when you hear the rest of the album, you might understand why he felt the way he did, lol 🤪😛😱
'Ambition' is the word that comes to mid listening to this - I have a copy but it's not the most listened to KC in my collection - remember that prog was still very young when this was made and the result is a little like 'throw a bunch of stuff at the record and see what sticks'. I like a lot of it but some of it isn't very good and other parts don't really belong with what went before. I admire the ambition but I'd love them to have rethought and remade this a few months later.
G'day Justin and fellow followers. Took me a few days to get to this. Help me out, Community! I know I read a recent quote from Jon Anderson discussing his vocals on Prince Rupert Awakes, but I can't find it. Hopefully, someone with better Google-fu can. In it, Jon says he was adding his own interpretive style to the vocal, and apparently Fripp or a producer came over to him and pointedly asked him to sing it "straight, as written." Which I personally find amazing, as KC is kind of known for improvisation. Can you imagine what Anderson could have brought to the track if he had been allowed his artistic vision for it?
You may be looking for this interview I found: www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/yes_frontman_shares_opinion_on_king_crimson_recalls_how_robert_fripp_treated_him_during_collaboration.html?fbclid=IwAR1i4UQhYmDjeEz31O1M3t_odwgjve9NISnF5d0rvpKrWh78M6xED7vlDVg
A propos bolero. You should try Ravel's Bolero which is the piece that is the prototype of Bolero's (btw, Zappa also has also a Bolero on one of his albums).
Well, I ll tell you guys my experience with this. The first two KC albums I got were Lizard and Islands. Only afterwards I got their debut. I loved them a lot. Specifically about "Lizard " (the song) you can't quite tell it's a catchy song: it doesn't properly have a chorus. Instead, it goes slowly developing into the big top (that's right). The bolero part - by the way, how can you never listened to the Ravel's Bolero?? That's impossible. Not sure what's the relation to the Cuban / Afro-American style (maybe none) but what we can say is the it goes slowly upwards ending at the big top (that's what those boleros do). But - here's the strange thing - when I found myself remembering KC songs, repeatedly in my head and it doesn't let go, is this Lizard bolero. Look, it's not catchy as, say, Epitaph or the last debut album song, or Ladies on the Road, or that kind of more normal song type. Second thing, and on top of that, the instrumental part of this song, Lizard, you can follow by its bass: he carries you away and never brings you back again. That's what I'm saying when it won't leave my memory when singing it to myself. Second, I was saying, how can you find yourself singing, as well, the instrumental section of "Moonchild"? How can it be possible? It's only sounds, disconnected and not a song... (and since I haven't comment on Heaven and Hell video), the same goes with the Beaubourg album. If Vangelis reached his popularity it was certainly because his catchy and wonderful and simple Melodies. But... what is that? What I'm trying to say is that with these three examples the artists had reached something. You don't know what it is, but you you fell strangely good with it. You don't know what it is, and perhaps it explains this reaction. The fact that this is Justin best reaction so far (from the videos I saw) it must mean something. (perhaps... It's a Hell of a song, yeah!!)
OH MAN! This album was and still is the bible of what was musicaly my universe around '74. It had that selective quality that only some in the gang could dig, the others just yamned to it. Look at the cover; It discribes the moods for every pieces. I spended hour and days coming back to it, searching for secret codes hiding behind images of pain, joy and death. Look closely you'll recognize familliar things that talk about music. A bible even more.
One of my favorite King Crimson pieces for sure, although as usual I wish Pete Sinfield hadn't been allowed in the room when the lyrics were being written. Keith Tippett did great work with King Crimson in this era. I haven't heard a ton of his other work, but his album from the following year, "Dedicated to You, but You Weren't Listening" is a really strong jazz-rock LP.
"Overall, the album is unlistenable. Our remastering shows just how unlistenable. I am unable to recommend that anyone part with their hard-earned pay for this one, unless they want to take it to parties and play it at unwelcome guests. There are some Lizard lovers, I know. They must be very strange." ~ ROBERT FRIPP
Haha, but they hated Islands too and that may be my favourite. Overall, the album does feel quite middling to me, but the title track really punches through, especially the 'bolero' and 'battle' sections.
Most musicians don't like to go back and listen to their released work.....too many mistakes? Unintended consequences? While unfamiliar with the whole album, I find nothing objectionable to this track (side). It seems to have a lot of the 'Crimson' sound and great extended passages with that chord structure that I think of with Crimson. Haunting. (I'm lovin' it a lot more than I thought I would) But then what does Robert Fripp know anyway?
He's come to embrace it since the Steve Wilson remix. But Fripp always loved the Bolero. A healing melody. The album caused bitter divisions between the players and I think the awful experience made appreciating the finished work difficult.
@@blackcatcentralmusic Fripp seems to attract excellent musicians, but his approach doesn't seem to attract compatible personalities. Creative types can complete unintentionally or have personality traits that rub each other the wrong way. It seems Fripp has a history of conflict in his musical groups. I am no authority and pretty ignorant, but that is what it appears to me. Sometimes tension helps create a better result. Certainly 'The Court' album was an artistic success, but the combo broke apart. It makes the few other groups with long term compatibility all the more remarkable. The Beatles, Rush and Genesis come to mind. 'The Lamb' album (Genesis) was created under extreme duress, but the result to my mind is the best music of the 20th century. The miracle of great Chemistry and extreme Pressure results in the most enduring creations, true diamonds. (a tired analogy, but apt)
About one question you've made: I don't think it's exactly a concept album in the sense that Rush or Yes or Genesis or etc. made them. I see it more as just a bunch of songs that happen to exist in the particular world suggested by the general soundscapes of the album, which is reinforced by the tone of the lyrics and the artwork. Earphones, sleeve lyrics to read and pictures and drawings of respectable size to look at. Immersive, to use a modern word
This is my first listening to the original version of Lizard. It's kind of raw or wild compared to Steven Wilson's new surround sound mix of the album for the 40th Anniversary reissue in my opinion. I actually like the latter version better, apparently so does Mr. Fripp.
You've got to admire his discipline and single-mindedness even if it means fewer people hear their music. Seems to me he's cutting off his nose to spite his face. Relax, Bob, you'll get more out of life.
Great song on a great and underrated album. Don’t forget to complete red eith the studio version of starless. The review you did for this song was a live version from 2019. I think the original studio version is far superior.
This is doubtless a great piece in a very good album but, quality issues apart, I don't think it is a "real" King Crimson album in the sense that it is not a "band" album as other KC works are. I will now explain myself. The name "King Crimson was kept for stategical and contractual reasons but this is really a Fripp& Sinfield album with a lot of help from their friends from Centipede, a British jazz-rock big band commanded by pianist Keith Tippet ( he also plays in the album just before this one, In the wake of Poseidon, and the next one, Islands). Fripp appears in some Centipede records of the time as well. That's mostly where the brass section comes from, besides Mel Collins with the flute and sax. Unlike other Crimson records it was written and conceived by Fripp and Sinfield alone, it was not a collective effort except for the improvised jazzy parts that nevertheless happen over rigidly written material. In terms of craft and musicality is as good as anything you want to compare it to but in terms of the evolution of the band ( if they could be called a band at that moment) is sort of a dead end. I'm not even sure if they toured with this material, but I'm positive that they didn't have the means to bring all this people on the road and make a live presentation even vaguely ressemblant to what we hear on record. Anyway, the next album Islands brought some closure to the first stylistic cycle of KC and then Brufford, Wetton etc came in and they certainly became a band again and left us with an incredible legacy of three seminal albums (Lark's tongues in aspic, Starless and Bible black, Red)before wrapping it up and saying goodbye in 1974
My friend and I used to call this the Tangerine Taco. The album as the whole. Because what do you do with a Tangerine Taco? You eat it I guess? But then what? And how do you explain it? You just eat it. Maybe add some habanero.
I love this album, but it certainly divides Crimson fans. Gordon Haskell did his best work outside of Crimson. Just listen to his wonderful solo albums and the big hit, "How Wonderful You Are". Keith Tippett married Julie Driscoll (of Brian Auger and the Trinity). He made several great avant garde jazz recordings. Fripp produced "Centipede - Septober Energy". I especially like "Dedicated to You but you Weren't Listening". Canterbury musicians appear on these records. His playing is fantastic on "Lizard". Fripp has come to embrace "Lizard" since the Steve Wilson 5.1 mix. It's an album that needed 5.1 to breathe... so many parts. Even before the 5.1 mix Fripp loved the Bolero section. Jon's singing on "Prince Rupert Awakes" is beautiful. At the time Steve Howe had not joined Yes and Yes themselves were considering asking Fripp to join. There is a great web site analyzing all of Pete Sinfield's lyrics. Well worth exploring. Andy McCullough joined Greenslade.
This is music completely unlike anything from 21st century 'popular/rock' music. The key thing for me is not that it is 'progressive rock', more that it is ambitious music, and with some of the most ambitious music from bands and artists in the quarter century 'golden age' of invention, innovation and creativity in popular music (1955-1980), there is a timelessness to the music. It is as if the ambition and creativity (though not always rewarded with commercial success) has been rewarded by being without time and place. It is as fresh to the first time listener after fifty years as it is to the listener putting the vinyl copy on the turntable in 1971. I first heard Lizard as a 16 year old in 1984. It was unlike anything I'd heard (I was familiar with the first two Crimson albums by this point) and was a difficult album to take in and appreciate. But there was/is something about this particular Crimson album that stands out in its ambition and difficult birth which is a musical creation unique in the Crimson back catalogue (the following album Islands has a similar feel, while having some beautiful moments and melodies, arguably feels a tad predictable). Lizard has such ambition, beauty, arrogance and invention that it is hard to comprehend it was recorded by a band that had already fallen apart, in a few days, just five months after the release of In The Wake Of Poseidon. It's a beautiful album. It's an entirely different energy from an entirely different place that can render it as almost alien to younger listeners. That rock musicians were trying ambitious works such as Lizard after two albums into their year and a half recording career is unimaginable to musicians raised on Tool releasing an album every ten years. Lizard is work of art unto itself. There it is, and there it waits for listeners to find its timeless place and placeless time. To be taken away, and to never come back the same.
Some people (e.g., me!) get out the original (on CD, LP, whatever) and cue it up to play along with the video, watching JP's reaction to the various musical things happening along the way. It's great fun! And no need to go anywhere else, adding to the viewing minutes on JP's channel.
I made a post a few months ago asking how viewers would prefer my videos that got blocked. The majority voted just to mute the song and upload it here for them to line it up themselves 🙂 of course its always on Patreon as well
Nice piece but kind of meandering and even a bit sappy/frilly in parts. There isnt anything new or exciting in the writing - Fripp was finding his way as a composer and would eventually find it with the '73 Larks band where he really pushed the envelope and created something new
Wow, lots to take in. 1st impression, overall didn't love it. Though many bits/sections to like, it was all too fragmented. Of the various sections, loved the horns/woodwind throughout. Fave part, the jazzy instrumental section following Andersons vocal. Of the sung sections, didn't enjoy either of those. The other, more progy/rocky instrumental section wasn't bad, if a little stilted. Then later, the guitar part, pretty good too. From bolero to circus, quite the odd mix.
Well - except by VdGG/PH albums. Thick As a Brick, A couple of Floyd albums, Close to The Edge, PFM and Le Orme and Banco have two albums better, Marillion has two, Genesis also has a couple better - then - I'd slot the first three KC albums. They definitely are fantastic.
"Lizard" the title track bores me to death. I never liked this overlong, emphatic and convoluted piece where the voice of Jon Anderson does not match the sound and style of this composition which oscillates between jazz and classical. Anyway, apart from "Cirkus" (which is more in the vein of the band's first two albums) I don't like the rest of the album as well.
By the way: In the "Bolero" section of the track the first wind instrument that comes in is the cornet, followed by oboe and then English horn, before all wind instruments come in together.
Lizard!!!!! One of the best King Crimson albums ever!!!!!! From start to finish!! If this is the best song you have heard from KC, then this will be your favorite album for sure!!!
1st one here, gave an instant like. This is one of my favorite KC albums from the early years. Very eclectic.
I was hoping you wouldn't learn in advance that Jon was singing, I wanted to see your jaw drop. It's brilliant music John's performance is fantastic - I always laugh that Jon was the first member of Yes to play with Crimson!
Interesting that Anderson was the first member of Yes to come over. Had to look to see when Bruford came and went. Great minds think alike?
I love this record, probably my over-all favorite Crimson album, and the Bolero section is a big part of that.. Side 1 is AMAZING all the way through, as well.
I love seeing a forty minute video on a twenty minute song, because I knew you'd devote at least an equal measure of time to going back over it. Not to drag any other channel, but it does get a bit disappointing when others give just a 'wow' or 'that was good' and be done with it; I always appreciate how you give everything it's due. And this one's due quite a bit, a terrific song, I think especially the second and fourth movements could easily be in any modern orchestra's catalogue alongside Shostakovitch and Stravinsky. McCullough's incredibly tight and reserved drumming on "Bolero" and "Lament" is such a contrast to his virtuosity on "Battle", and Keith Tippet's piano, fusing jazz, baroque, romantic, and avant-garde, is a shining star throughout. Not to mention Fripp's beautiful jazz guitar in the first movement, and at the end he's definitively trying to put down any classicists who'd say electric guitar has no place in a symphony.
If you're not familiar with Keith Tippett, whom I love, check out his heart-wrenching performance on KC's "Islands", one of their prettiest songs, to his own "Green and Orange Night Park", with Elton Dean of alto saxophone, and the absurd Centipede project, a 50-odd-piece progressive orchestra which Tippett and his wife Julie Driscoll headed and Fripp produced - part 2 in particular is slick.
Thank you Michael, sometimes I think I just talk too much😂
Was lucky enough to see this played live a couple of years ago. Mind-blowing and really heavy with the 3 drummers. Def the greatest piece of live music I have ever witnessed:-)
I'm so glad you did this. I've been commenting on your other videos recommending this - my favourite Crimson album, which I fell in love with when it first came out as I was embarking on my teenage years. It got me interested in jazz and classical music. The piano playing by Keith Tippett - one of the greatest British jazz musicians, along with Marc Charig on cornet, and Nick Evans on trombone. You should try Tippett's masterpiece, Septober Energy from the same period, which Fripp produced and features just about everybody. The rest of Lizard is just wonderful, unspeakably great and so weirdly under-rated, as some of the sarcastic comments on my recommendations indicate. Thank you. I hope you have brought this masterpiece to a new and wider audience.
Indeed, Marc Charig and Nick Evans have been part of the Soft Machine 4 horns septet 1969, prior to the early 1970 live performances with Lyn Dobson and Elton Dean left in the horns section which were to become Facelift of THIRD.
Great bw footage from French TV on UA-cam
First of all, I should have to turn in my "Prog Fan" card for not knowing about this album and this song! Good Lord, I was insufficiently educated on KC's discography, that's for sure!
AND, I should have to give up my "Jazz Fan" card, as well, for not being aware of this masterpiece!
I am completely mind-blown, and I need an emoji! Your reactions, both during the listen, and during your analysis, are just exactly the ones I was having! My mind was melted, as well!!!
I am just overwhelmed at how good this piece is. No - not good - it's EPIC, as far as I'm concerned! Oh, my goodness!
And, Justin, seeing your eyes and your expressions as you react, is a very intense experience for me tonight! I thought at a couple of points that you were tearing up! You KNOW I was!
Your reaction to Jon doing this collab was just exactly my reaction!! I mean, COME ON! It just can't get much better!I really agreed with and loved everything you said in your analysis!
I know I'm a broken record, but just when I think you could not surprise and impress me any more than you have, then you do this reaction. This video is permanent playlist for me!
Wow! I need a drink and a cigarette.......and I don't drink or smoke!!!
WHEW!
It is a wonderful feeling discovering music you didn't know about/haven't heard before, and then instantly falling in love with it. And thankfully there's no test to pass before you're allowed to listen to (any) music, the important thing is to keep exploring and see what's out there :) Happy listening!
Keep your cards, we can all listen and learn together! :D Thank you as always MissAstor; this one hits in a big way
@@progqueen6219 Yes, Ma'am! Experiencing great music, and SHARING it with someone who "gets it", is one of life's greatest joys!
LIZARD !! This is (IMHO) King Crimson at their finest. Using orchestral instruments, with possibly the best Mellotron backing ever. I love the medieval jazz/rock and the feel of controlled chaos. BUT this is more melodic than the later KC ever got. I do wish they had stayed there for at least one more album.
Each of the songs on the album is depicted on the cover. For example, The Beatles appear around the letter 'i', as they are the subject of the song Happy Family. (right... they weren't too happy in 1970). Yeah, the lyrics don't really reveal that readily; it was decades before I learned about it.
So much going on here!
An easy example: 'Stake a Lizard by the throat' refers to St. George and the Dragon.
You are quite rightly stunned by this... one listen just won't do. I told myself in 9th grade that I would always have a copy of this available. So far, promise kept. Rather than continue randomly, I can just say I was so happy to see you react to this one... I knew you would love it! Truly should be in the Prog Rock Hall of fame. Made me a Crimson fan even when they became unlistenable.
Today is a national holiday in Canada so the long song was a great surprise. I must admit I had some trepidation after the last KC song (iirc) but this was magnificent.
Great song and review.
GREAT choice JP! I've always wondered why no one has reacted to this album. Now I know - it's been blocked! When I first listened to this album I was in college when we all spent a lot of time listening to records. Early King Crimson was always my very favorite: In The Court Of The Crimson King, In The Wake of Poseidon, and Lizard. As you say, John Anderson's vocals are unique. Bolero is wonderful. The Battle Of Glass Tears - what a title for a song! After reacting to Anthony Phillip's Geese & The Ghost and now King Crimson Lizard.... you have really struck gold!
I legit love you for doing this, and I'm thrilled that you seem to love this as much as I do!
This song is an epic, but it differs from alot of other epics, both in mood and execution. The circus ending goes well with the mood of the entire album, so I would strongly encourage you to do the rest. It's a great trip for sure, and my absolute favourite Crimson album (I never skip a track). And Gordon Haskell had a great contribution to Crimsons discography, both as vocalist and bassist on Lizard (+ vocals on Cadence and Cascade).
You've just made my entire day so thank you, hope you've had a great day too! :) Now I'll go back and listen to the album Lizard in its entirety.... See you on the other side!
Thank you Queen! This was a great piece of music! Really really enjoyed it :D
When I was in seventh grade, my buddy, Steve, introduced me to Crimso's debut. From that point on, I've bought every album as they came out. 'Lizard' was the first (but not the last) album of theirs that I was slightly ambivalent about. We both loved side one, but when we flipped it over, we quickly became puzzled, confused, and ultimately bored. We were still seventh graders, and neither of us had a whole lot of musical experience beyond the charts, KC being our first prog exposure. We both enjoyed the first part, "Prince Rupert Awakes", but weren't quite sure who the female vocalist was at first (what did two thirteen year olds know?). But once the jazzier stuff started, we lost interest. Too avant-garde? Maybe. But my impression of this song as a whole is still colored by my juvenile reaction over fifty years ago. This is the first time I've listened to it in, probably, decades. While I can now APPRECIATE what the musicians are doing, I still haven't gotten past my youthful prejudice.
I hope you give some of side one a listen.
Time for lunch. Cheers!
You're not alone, Justin. I ❤❤❤ "LIZARD"! It truly is a prog masterpiece. You've now encountered the "evil side" of King Crimson. A lot of their early works up to when Fripp split the band up in 1974, were menacing. You can almost feel an evil undercurrent permeating throughout the music. And I mean that in the best possible sense. It wasn't only Mel Collins doing all the horns either. There were about 3-4 horn players as additional musicians on the first 4 King Crimson albums. And the beautiful solo at the beginning and ending of "Bolero" is an oboe, played by Robin Miller. The album isn't really a concept record but some of the songs are loosely tied together, e.g. "Cirkus" and "LIZARD", as well as "Indoor Games". I was totally obsessed with King Crimson in my late teens/early twenties, so I completely understand your reaction! 😁😎📯🎷🎺🎸🎻
Hello Justin, a long-time admirer from Italy. First of all, Thank You! Your reaction/discussion videos are PRICELESS and you're my n.1 choice in this panorama (the 🥈 is JamelAKAJamal).
King Crimson an Talk Talk are probably my favourite bands ever (beyond Pink Floyd, I guess), even they're so far from each other. But they could meet in the land of “Islands”, the following Crimson work after Lizard. I'm not good with the short description, but... in one word, it's PROFOUND. You should listen to it, of course when you'll have the time. The title-track is one of the greatest journey in music that I know, for sure less longer and complex than Lizard, but maybe even higher, and deeper at the same time.
Thank you so much rk! Definitely planning more KC after we finish Lizard, who knows where to :D
So glad you did this. These are two of my favorite creators of music on the planet, and I share your assessment of this wondrously beautiful classic for the ages. Enough can never be said about it. Sweetness and light is not the first thing you think of when thinking about King Crimson, but it is with Jon, who provided the heavenly contrast to the darkness that followed. I never had a clue about Prince Rupert's Drops...which is one reason I love your channel. You delight AND inform. Completely unrelated, did you know that Justin Hayward is also a David? :) Until next time, peace, love and top shelf music.
Outstanding track, very satisfying review.
I'm with you on this one... :)
The song Cirkus is incredible, in just a little over six minutes it tells the story of the creation of the universe, evolution of man, and collapse of society, followed by the rebirth of society (the Cirkus). That is the tie in to the end of Lizard, which also tells of social unrest and a changing of the social order (return of the Cirkus).
Thank you so much for shearing this with us!
Me, as you was stunned when i heard this track. I ‘m really fan of the 70’s KC, and this album is my favorite album from them! By the way.. Andy Mc Cullogh plys on Anthony Phillips wonderful Scottish Suite on Ant’s Private Parts Pieces 2 album! In my opinion one of the finest things he did!
This was a great reaction. We could see you genuinely loved this track . Don't apologise this is what we come to see. I love this song and the album. I think you will like it all to . Enjoy
Thank you so much Skunk :)
It's not often the music and the cover go so well together. One of mine top ten albums of all times.
We loved your reaction to this song. A few words about the album:
1) Robert Fripp actually does not like this album (which we don't understand; it is our favorite King Crimson album), so it is not surprising they don't played this at the concert you were at.
2) The pictures on the album cover are illustrations of the songs of the album. The "i" of "Crimson" is especially interesting. It is an illustration to the song "Happy Family". You see left to right Uncle Silas alias George Harrison, Brother Judas alias Paul McCartney, Nasty Jonah alias John Lennon (with his wife Yoko Ono as ghost out of the bottle) and Uncle Rufus alias Ringo Starr. That's because the song is about the breaking-up of the Beatles. There are many allusions to the Beatles in the lyrics of that song.
3) Andy McCulloch also was the drummer of Greenslade; you did a reaction to a song of them once. Pianist Keith Tippett was the leader of the progressive rock big-band Centipede that had about 50 members and made one double album called "Septober Energy". You also mentioned the names Elton Dean and Arthur Brown when talking about Tippett. Elton Dean was a member of Soft Machine. Arthur Brown is famous for his bands "The Crazy World of Arthur Brown" and "Kingdom Come"; he also collaborated with German electronic musician Klaus Schulze, on some of Schulze's solo albums as well as in the band Richard Wahnfried. The first album of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown is definitely worth checking out; it is a concept album and includes his monster hit "Fire".
4) The "Bolero" part of the song is a bit reminiscent of a baroque fugue. Musically it is not based on the Cuban music but on the 18th century Spanish dance of that name (as "Abaddon's Bolero" by ELP too). The most famous bolero is a composition by Maurice Ravel which is simply named "Boléro".
FYI: Fripp must have reevaluated his opinion of Lizard, because the current band very often plays Cirkus, as well as a section of the Lizard Suite (including Dawn Song, Last Skirmishand Prince Rupert's Lament), and has also played the Bolero section a few times.
@@brumleyhall He has. Steven Wilson and Jakko’s love of the album helped him reevaluate the album and the music. Part of the issue, as I understand it, is that it was hard to separate the music from the process of making it, which was a challenge. Over the last few years as much as half the album has been performed live.
This is my first step to jazz. And jon.... Epic. When i was first met i was shocked. And how long i was waiting for such a reaction. From heart. From feelings.
Ty so much Jarek!
The whole album has a very distinctive experimental mood, culminating in this wonderful side-long opus.Their most overtly jazziest interplay is here.Pianist Keith Tippett led an avantgard jazz band called Centipede at that time which included some of the musicians here, so there's a kind of crossover. It's a great album overall and a fantastic reaction Justin, many thanks.
It is a classic. I remember listening to this for Jon Anderson who didn't disappoint, but then being blown away by Mel Collins and the rest of the cast on this song.
How modern their music still is could easily be told by the fact, that their piece Circus was covered in our times at least twice (by 7 Weeks, for instance). Masterpieces never get out of style. Bravo!!!
Beautiful, beautifully produced and presented. Great reaction! That was fantastic, big thanks.
Ty Will!
"Court of the Crimson King", "In the Wake of Poseiden", and "Lizard" were King Crimson's first three albums. "In the Wake of Poseiden" resembles "Lizard" more than "Court". "Court" stands alone, "Wake" and Lizard" are kind of a natural pairing to my mind. Their fourth album "Islands" begins their transition to being the power rock band that culminated with "Red". "Islands" is a fabulous album. "Lark's Tongues in Aspic" follows and King Crimson gets HEAVY at that point.
Blessings.
Pete Sinfield wrote the lyrics. Among his previous credits are Karn Evil 9, the whole of the Court of the Crimson King album.
Out of their entire catalog this song is in my top 5 favourite KC songs as an album is alright another good song i recommend is CirKus which is just beautiful. Its a very jazzy record. This album, and the next album are very jazz based. Lizard reminds me of Romantic warrior sometimes.
Lizard is underrated, perhaps because of how "un-rock" it is - but the follow-up, Islands, is a stinker which I wouldn't recommend until you've heard all the rest of KC's work from that era and are desperate for more. It's not *all* bad, but "The Letters" and "Ladies of the Road" have to be in the running for the worst material ever recorded by a first-rank prog band.
@@sylvanm4216 i personally disagree. I love Islands. Not my personal favorite, but still a good album. Gotta love the sax on ladies on the road
@sylvanm4216 really what a load of crap 🙄
Catching a lizard outside would be WAY above and beyond!:D Did they play Fracture when you saw them? You are on a roll! Keep up the good work!
The second in a trilogy of jazz-tinged rock by King Crimson!
Secretly, this is my favorite song.
This is the only King Crimson album where you can hear Jon's (Yes) vocals!
The funny thing is that Jon Anderson(Yes) was related to King Crimson before Bill Bruford lol!
Wow. They just dipped into an extended jazz section. I love it.
Justin, I love that you are diving in to Yes's extracurricular work and guest appearances. Jon is brilliant on this.
Also, I just watched your reaction to Anne of Cleves by Wakeman, where you rightly raved about Alan White's incredible drumming.
My question is, have you listened to Alan White's solo album "Ramshackled" yet? If not, I highly recommend the track "Spring - Song of Innocence". (Spoiler: Howe on guitar, Anderson on vocals!)
Great reaction. One of the piecey of music I exactly know where and how I heard it first time, some 35 years ago.
So exciting to see this today! Now you know why I had hyped it up when recommending it some time back. This was the first full studio album I bought when starting to get in to them. As you can imagine it blew me away. Some of the best avant-garde jazz, rock fusion ever. It's crazy, dissonant fun that hits the right parts of my brain.
This song in particular with Jon, then Bolero and the battle of glass Tears ending with the dirge by Fripp gives goosebumps.
Haskell has the most unique voice of the KC vocalists which also includes one track off Wake of Posieden. His experience was not a good one doing this album and I get the feeling from interviews of Fripp that their friendship suffered.
Don't worry the ending is a generic coda. The rest of the album is separate from the Lizard suite. I do hope you give the rest a go and then hopefully Islands with it's Victorian feel as well. All so good
I love it. Also one of my favourite KC songs. I really love what they did between COFTCK and Red much more than what they did in the 80s.
When I saw them live a few years ago in the introduction I'm sure I remember Fripp explained they asked Jim Moir (AKA Vic Reeves the British comedian) if he wanted to be part of the introduction to one of the shows. Apparently he agreed but only if he could sing Lizard. King Crimson said no, so that never happened. The Brits reading this who remember Vic's song Dizzy will be able to imagine how insane it would have been if they had agreed, but also something amazing the audience would never forget.
That was a great listen. Thought you might like this one. It's got some of your favourite sounds on it. Beautiful Melodic bass , mellotron and Jon's voice.
All I need for a good time :D
I can't hear King Crimson without remembering what your wife said about too many "noises":D all at once making her feel anxious. A big thank you to her again because now I try to be even more considerate when trying to introduce new people to prog. Ty!
Haha, yeah its definitely not for her😅
My favorite Crimson album. There is so much to listen to and enjoy.
I adore Lizard, might be my favorite piece from King Crimson. The whole acoustic jazz married to symphonic prog thing is unique in music. Kinda wish they left the circus music on the cutting room floor though. Just ending on Fripp's lonely guitar would have been perfect. And Fripp later came around on Lizard, when he heard Steve Wilson's mix, but maybe that was just marketing.
Fun fact: there's a song in the Mobile Suit Gundam III movie that 100$ plagiarized from Prince Rupert Awakes. It's called Beginning by Daisuke Inoue. I love hearing King Crimson in my Gundam movie.
Strong agree on trashing the "Big Top" section, which does nothing but put a dumb slide whistle on the end of Fripp's beautiful guitar solo. Maybe it's just because I hate Pete Sinfield, but I suspect he's the reason for it, since it seems to be a callback to the lyrical concept of "Cirkus" more than anything to do with "Lizard" as a musical composition.
In fact, I'll go a step further and say that it's *always* a bad idea to put anything that sounds like literal circus music on a rock album, and the adults in the room need to put a stop to this heinous and too-common practice.
@@sylvanm4216 thankfully there are no adults in King Crimson.
This is the first Crimson album I bought and was for 10 years the only Crimson album I owned. I love Lizard, the song. It has real staying power. Even after 20 years I still love it.
King Crimson never made a bad record. Each are experimental in their own way, and each are totally different. I love the Crimson Kings. All line ups. ✌️❤️
Judging by the comments, Lizard is to King Crimson fans as Tales From Topographic Oceans is to Yes fans.
BTW, I love them both.
I'm glad you enjoyed it Justin.
I hadn't thought of that before, great point. When Justin reacted to TFTO I thought he might enjoy some bits but not that he would like the whole thing as much as he did. For me TFTO and Lizard are "in the right mood" albums, most of the time I love and listen to all the other KC and Yes albums, but for the two you mention I feel differently about at different times and need to be in the right mood before I put them on.
Maybe Justin was in the right mood today, or maybe he always is.
Your absolutely right! Actually TFTO is my favourite Yes album and Lizard is my favourite KC album, so I guess I'm the odd one out here. Nice to know I'm not alone in my love for this album.
New song for me too. I am surprised, hiw did I miss this. I blame modern random way of listening music.
Anyways, will need several listens.
Thank you for this.
Happy listening!
Thanks so much for the reaction...multiple listens are necessary. The drumming in the Bolero section is amazing in that it's an actual human keeping that rhythm going for so long. Keith Tippett is amazing throughout and he's got a solo album from 70 or 71 that has a long song on it that is great...I'll have to look up the name of the album and song. The whole Lizard album is quite odd but rewarding after several listens. The song "Happy Family" is literally about the Beatles breakup in the weirdest way possible. On the cover, one of the panels is them. Fripp was heavily influenced by Sgt. Peppers, as you will be able to tell once you hear all tracks.
Don't know if you've already done Cirkus (from the same album) but regardless of that, you should definitely check out the live version with Boz Burrell on vocals - it's fierce
Interesting to hear Jon appear in this song - some major personnel changes were taking place around 1970 for Yes and Genesis. And King Crimson lost their lead singer Greg Lake to ELP. Also departed from the group were McDonald and Giles - you should check out their 1970 album - progressive gold!
That first letter you talk about on the cover from illuminated manuscripts is called an enlarged magiscule and the doodles around them marginalia.
Learn something new! Ty Jim
Took me a long time to appreciate Lizard. Now I love it. And Jon Anderson too?!?!
My favorite Crimson album. It never ages.
These were the days when they were willing to experiment, no doubt you liked the jazzier bits which normally I'm not into but here they're so well mixed with the rock and lighter moments it makes all the changes refreshing. They had a sense of humor as well. Their 1st album was great, their 2nd "In the Wake of Poseidon" was like a copy of that one, then came "Lizard" with the lineup change followed by "Islands" (also very good) before the rock trio of mid-seventies albums. In concert they do an 11 min. suite version of 'Lizard' paring it down to its essentials.
When you get to the 3 track it's supposedly about the Beatles, see if you can figure out who is who Judas, Rufus, Silas and Jonah. Play along at home.
This isnt really that experimental at all - its psuedo classical with some "sketches of spain" thrown in and is all very safe sounding to be honest
Please don’t shrug “Poseidon” off.
Not to claim any credentials beyond avid listener, but it occurs to me the second album, while clearly patterned after the first, is a more cohesive work. The first album was stunning, but I find “Moonchild” unlistenable. The second album shows formulation of the musical “Patented Crimso” sound at its classic utmost, in the midst of personnel difficulties.
I guess I got a trigger from the seeming dismissal of “”Poseidon” as a copy of the first album. Sometimes I think Crimso got their arm twisted by “21st Century Schizoid Man”. That song, to King Crimson fans, became anthemic.
Mom approved. What’s this dude talking about? Well, a great while back I had to gratefully move back with me mum and I set up my musical equipment in a nice windowed patio. There I painted and played my music sometimes rather loud. KC Lizard and Island were new 8tracks to me. One time, my Mom out the blue mentioned she thought the music was interesting. Well, we had a break in and all my 8tracks and equipment were taken, I later wrote a college paper on the theft. Scintillating.
I really haven’t listened to Lizard since. Mom was right, very interesting.
People seem very polarized, eh, whatever.
Peace and patio Music
Sitting at breakfast one Sunday morning someone asked Robert what he thought was the best Crimson album and he responded, In the Court of the Crimson King and Discipline because they were completely fresh then another person said, What about Lizard? That's my favorite, and Robert did a kind of raised eyebrows side nod shrug in which I think he appreciated the person's enthusiasm, but didn't wholly agree. I on the other hand like its earthbound yet cosmic soundscapes traversing. Lizard feels both epic and intimate.
Robert was right
HOLY SHIT DUDE YES!!! Lizard is my FAVORITE king crimson album, seriously unique, and damn, it is amazing. Haskell's voice surprisingly fits this, and I haven't heard anything like it since it was made.
EDIT: DUDE!! I literally thought halfway through you were so horribly annoyed at it, just phrasing 'no' at the camera, dude I thought you hated it. I'm so gladly surprised, though, jeez.
I don't want to spoil any part of the future listening to you for this album, but if you review Cirkus sometimes later, that 'presence' of Haskell you talk about, right? Well, all I'm gonna say is you're in for a treat with that on Cirkus. Glad you got to this
Haha ty Bucc! It was a lot to take in, but I enjoyed everything it gave me😁
Check out the trumpet at the start of the bolero… that is the flamenco moment. Actually, it may be a cornet, as opposed to trumpet. If you like Tippett, I recommend his lovely jazz album The Nine Dances of Patrick O’Gonogon.
It's been awhile since I've heard this. I can't recall Fripp doing the backwards attack guitar prior to this.
I saw King Crimson shortly after the release of this album. Sadly they never played Lizard on that tour. They played a couple of the shorter tracks including Cirkus. Having said that the show was amazing and featured a version of The Devil's Triangle with strobe lights and projected flames (not real ones).
One of my favorite pieces of music. Also, Genesis bought King Crimson's Mellotron.
Massive masterpiece
My favorite pieces of music by King Crimson, that are at least 8 minutes in length, are:
Epitaph
Starless
21st Century Schizoid Man (don't care that it's under 8 minutes, lol) 😎
In the Court of the Crimson King
Larks Tongues in Aspic (all 4 parts)
Providence (I know you didn't care for Providence, but I love it) 🙂
Lizard
But here's the most interesting thing, Justin. Fripp hated this album, until Steve Wilson remixed it.
From Wikipedia: "Robert Fripp has been very critical of the album, calling it "unlistenable" and lovers of it as "very strange". However, he has revised his opinion upon listening to Steven Wilson's new surround sound mix of the album for the 40th Anniversary reissue, proclaiming "For the first time I have heard the Music in the music.""
I think it's quite a compliment to have Robert Fripp call me 'very strange', because I enjoy this weird and bizarre album, especially considering how weird and bizarre Robert Fripp has always been.
I want to say to Robert, "So you hate the album that you made, and think those of us who like it are very strange. How very strange of you, Robert" 🙂
Course, when you hear the rest of the album, you might understand why he felt the way he did, lol 🤪😛😱
Indoor games became my favorite after many listenings.
One of my fav songs by them. top 5
the beatles are on the cover. and there's a song about them on the album, but surely someone else already said that
'Ambition' is the word that comes to mid listening to this - I have a copy but it's not the most listened to KC in my collection - remember that prog was still very young when this was made and the result is a little like 'throw a bunch of stuff at the record and see what sticks'. I like a lot of it but some of it isn't very good and other parts don't really belong with what went before. I admire the ambition but I'd love them to have rethought and remade this a few months later.
Ambition indeed!
I hope you hear the abridged version from Live In Chicago or Meltdown. With three drummers, it is OFF THE CHAIN.
It's about time that you did some GONG and I think 'Est-ce Je Suis' from Camembert Electrique would be a good starting place.
He did some Gong like a week ago; Radio Gnome Invisible.
@@progqueen6219 excellent!
the opening to Bolero is the best
G'day Justin and fellow followers. Took me a few days to get to this.
Help me out, Community! I know I read a recent quote from Jon Anderson discussing his vocals on Prince Rupert Awakes, but I can't find it. Hopefully, someone with better Google-fu can.
In it, Jon says he was adding his own interpretive style to the vocal, and apparently Fripp or a producer came over to him and pointedly asked him to sing it "straight, as written." Which I personally find amazing, as KC is kind of known for improvisation. Can you imagine what Anderson could have brought to the track if he had been allowed his artistic vision for it?
You may be looking for this interview I found: www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/yes_frontman_shares_opinion_on_king_crimson_recalls_how_robert_fripp_treated_him_during_collaboration.html?fbclid=IwAR1i4UQhYmDjeEz31O1M3t_odwgjve9NISnF5d0rvpKrWh78M6xED7vlDVg
@@JustJP
I thought I had read it, but yeah. I had listened to the interview.
One of the best sides of any record anywhere..
A propos bolero. You should try Ravel's Bolero which is the piece that is the prototype of Bolero's (btw, Zappa also has also a Bolero on one of his albums).
Great video of it: ua-cam.com/video/Y2hiDYE5Qdw/v-deo.html
Well, I ll tell you guys my experience with this. The first two KC albums I got were Lizard and Islands. Only afterwards I got their debut. I loved them a lot. Specifically about "Lizard " (the song) you can't quite tell it's a catchy song: it doesn't properly have a chorus. Instead, it goes slowly developing into the big top (that's right).
The bolero part - by the way, how can you never listened to the Ravel's Bolero?? That's impossible. Not sure what's the relation to the Cuban / Afro-American style (maybe none) but what we can say is the it goes slowly upwards ending at the big top (that's what those boleros do).
But - here's the strange thing - when I found myself remembering KC songs, repeatedly in my head and it doesn't let go, is this Lizard bolero. Look, it's not catchy as, say, Epitaph or the last debut album song, or Ladies on the Road, or that kind of more normal song type.
Second thing, and on top of that, the instrumental part of this song, Lizard, you can follow by its bass: he carries you away and never brings you back again. That's what I'm saying when it won't leave my memory when singing it to myself.
Second, I was saying, how can you find yourself singing, as well, the instrumental section of "Moonchild"? How can it be possible? It's only sounds, disconnected and not a song...
(and since I haven't comment on Heaven and Hell video), the same goes with the Beaubourg album. If Vangelis reached his popularity it was certainly because his catchy and wonderful and simple Melodies. But... what is that?
What I'm trying to say is that with these three examples the artists had reached something. You don't know what it is, but you you fell strangely good with it. You don't know what it is, and perhaps it explains this reaction.
The fact that this is Justin best reaction so far (from the videos I saw) it must mean something.
(perhaps... It's a Hell of a song, yeah!!)
OH MAN! This album was and still is the bible of what was musicaly my universe around '74. It had that selective quality that only some in the gang could dig, the others just yamned to it. Look at the cover; It discribes the moods for every pieces. I spended hour and days coming back to it, searching for secret codes hiding behind images of pain, joy and death. Look closely you'll recognize familliar things that talk about music. A bible even more.
One of my favorite King Crimson pieces for sure, although as usual I wish Pete Sinfield hadn't been allowed in the room when the lyrics were being written. Keith Tippett did great work with King Crimson in this era. I haven't heard a ton of his other work, but his album from the following year, "Dedicated to You, but You Weren't Listening" is a really strong jazz-rock LP.
Seeing you move around for 20+ minutes in silence was rather humorous.
😂
"Overall, the album is unlistenable. Our remastering shows just how unlistenable. I am unable to recommend that anyone part with their hard-earned pay for this one, unless they want to take it to parties and play it at unwelcome guests. There are some Lizard lovers, I know. They must be very strange." ~ ROBERT FRIPP
I love it by the way 😇
Haha, but they hated Islands too and that may be my favourite. Overall, the album does feel quite middling to me, but the title track really punches through, especially the 'bolero' and 'battle' sections.
Most musicians don't like to go back and listen to their released work.....too many mistakes? Unintended consequences? While unfamiliar with the whole album, I find nothing objectionable to this track (side). It seems to have a lot of the 'Crimson' sound and great extended passages with that chord structure that I think of with Crimson. Haunting.
(I'm lovin' it a lot more than I thought I would) But then what does Robert Fripp know anyway?
He's come to embrace it since the Steve Wilson remix. But Fripp always loved the Bolero. A healing melody. The album caused bitter divisions between the players and I think the awful experience made appreciating the finished work difficult.
@@blackcatcentralmusic Fripp seems to attract excellent musicians, but his approach doesn't seem to attract compatible personalities. Creative types can complete unintentionally or have personality traits that rub each other the wrong way. It seems Fripp has a history of conflict in his musical groups. I am no authority and pretty ignorant, but that is what it appears to me. Sometimes tension helps create a better result. Certainly 'The Court' album was an artistic success, but the combo broke apart. It makes the few other groups with long term compatibility all the more remarkable. The Beatles, Rush and Genesis come to mind. 'The Lamb' album (Genesis) was created under extreme duress, but the result to my mind is the best music of the 20th century.
The miracle of great Chemistry and extreme Pressure results in the most enduring creations, true diamonds. (a tired analogy, but apt)
About one question you've made:
I don't think it's exactly a concept album in the sense that Rush or Yes or Genesis or etc. made them.
I see it more as just a bunch of songs that happen to exist in the particular world suggested by the general soundscapes of the album, which is reinforced by the tone of the lyrics and the artwork. Earphones, sleeve lyrics to read and pictures and drawings of respectable size to look at.
Immersive, to use a modern word
This is my first listening to the original version of Lizard. It's kind of raw or wild compared to Steven Wilson's new surround sound mix of the album for the 40th Anniversary reissue in my opinion. I actually like the latter version better, apparently so does Mr. Fripp.
THANK YOUU
Anytime!
Cirkus and Cat Food are my favorites, what a band...
Good luck posting a King Crimson song without it getting blocked. Robert Fripp is relentless in protecting his copyrights.
Fripp died a long time ago, his spirit haunts youtube where if he detects kc for a split second your videos getting fucked
You've got to admire his discipline and single-mindedness even if it means fewer people hear their music. Seems to me he's cutting off his nose to spite his face. Relax, Bob, you'll get more out of life.
Great song on a great and underrated album.
Don’t forget to complete red eith the studio version of starless. The review you did for this song was a live version from 2019. I think the original studio version is far superior.
This is doubtless a great piece in a very good album but, quality issues apart, I don't think it is a "real" King Crimson album in the sense that it is not a "band" album as other KC works are. I will now explain myself. The name "King Crimson was kept for stategical and contractual reasons but this is really a Fripp& Sinfield album with a lot of help from their friends from Centipede, a British jazz-rock big band commanded by pianist Keith Tippet ( he also plays in the album just before this one, In the wake of Poseidon, and the next one, Islands). Fripp appears in some Centipede records of the time as well. That's mostly where the brass section comes from, besides Mel Collins with the flute and sax. Unlike other Crimson records it was written and conceived by Fripp and Sinfield alone, it was not a collective effort except for the improvised jazzy parts that nevertheless happen over rigidly written material.
In terms of craft and musicality is as good as anything you want to compare it to but in terms of the evolution of the band ( if they could be called a band at that moment) is sort of a dead end. I'm not even sure if they toured with this material, but I'm positive that they didn't have the means to bring all this people on the road and make a live presentation even vaguely ressemblant to what we hear on record.
Anyway, the next album Islands brought some closure to the first stylistic cycle of KC and then Brufford, Wetton etc came in and they certainly became a band again and left us with an incredible legacy of three seminal albums (Lark's tongues in aspic, Starless and Bible black, Red)before wrapping it up and saying goodbye in 1974
My friend and I used to call this the Tangerine Taco. The album as the whole. Because what do you do with a Tangerine Taco? You eat it I guess? But then what? And how do you explain it? You just eat it. Maybe add some habanero.
LOL!! Now I have some funny imagery in my mind
Marillion - She chameleon
Previouly much maligned ... now becoming appreciated .. Love it, myself .. :-)
I love this album, but it certainly divides Crimson fans. Gordon Haskell did his best work outside of Crimson. Just listen to his wonderful solo albums and the big hit, "How Wonderful You Are".
Keith Tippett married Julie Driscoll (of Brian Auger and the Trinity). He made several great avant garde jazz recordings. Fripp produced "Centipede - Septober Energy". I especially like "Dedicated to You but you Weren't Listening". Canterbury musicians appear on these records. His playing is fantastic on "Lizard".
Fripp has come to embrace "Lizard" since the Steve Wilson 5.1 mix. It's an album that needed 5.1 to breathe... so many parts. Even before the 5.1 mix Fripp loved the Bolero section.
Jon's singing on "Prince Rupert Awakes" is beautiful. At the time Steve Howe had not joined Yes and Yes themselves were considering asking Fripp to join.
There is a great web site analyzing all of Pete Sinfield's lyrics. Well worth exploring.
Andy McCullough joined Greenslade.
It's alright but it's no Whodunnit? 😎 PS you've heard Andrew McCulloch in Greenslade.
😅
Will you listen to the album version of Starless to finish off red? Its far superior to the live one you did.
Perhaps. I've heard the studio version on my own, so we'll see :)
This is music completely unlike anything from 21st century 'popular/rock' music. The key thing for me is not that it is 'progressive rock', more that it is ambitious music, and with some of the most ambitious music from bands and artists in the quarter century 'golden age' of invention, innovation and creativity in popular music (1955-1980), there is a timelessness to the music. It is as if the ambition and creativity (though not always rewarded with commercial success) has been rewarded by being without time and place. It is as fresh to the first time listener after fifty years as it is to the listener putting the vinyl copy on the turntable in 1971.
I first heard Lizard as a 16 year old in 1984. It was unlike anything I'd heard (I was familiar with the first two Crimson albums by this point) and was a difficult album to take in and appreciate. But there was/is something about this particular Crimson album that stands out in its ambition and difficult birth which is a musical creation unique in the Crimson back catalogue (the following album Islands has a similar feel, while having some beautiful moments and melodies, arguably feels a tad predictable). Lizard has such ambition, beauty, arrogance and invention that it is hard to comprehend it was recorded by a band that had already fallen apart, in a few days, just five months after the release of In The Wake Of Poseidon.
It's a beautiful album. It's an entirely different energy from an entirely different place that can render it as almost alien to younger listeners. That rock musicians were trying ambitious works such as Lizard after two albums into their year and a half recording career is unimaginable to musicians raised on Tool releasing an album every ten years.
Lizard is work of art unto itself. There it is, and there it waits for listeners to find its timeless place and placeless time. To be taken away, and to never come back the same.
House on the hill by audience
Considering its KC, blockage was expected. Why upload the 46 min video, versus just a quick "go to patreon" announcement?
Some people (e.g., me!) get out the original (on CD, LP, whatever) and cue it up to play along with the video, watching JP's reaction to the various musical things happening along the way. It's great fun! And no need to go anywhere else, adding to the viewing minutes on JP's channel.
I made a post a few months ago asking how viewers would prefer my videos that got blocked. The majority voted just to mute the song and upload it here for them to line it up themselves 🙂 of course its always on Patreon as well
@@JustJP I'll accept that answer.
Robert Fripp has always been an idiot about blocking his music so that new people don't find out about King Crimson.
Nice piece but kind of meandering and even a bit sappy/frilly in parts. There isnt anything new or exciting in the writing - Fripp was finding his way as a composer and would eventually find it with the '73 Larks band where he really pushed the envelope and created something new
Wow, lots to take in. 1st impression, overall didn't love it. Though many bits/sections to like, it was all too fragmented. Of the various sections, loved the horns/woodwind throughout. Fave part, the jazzy instrumental section following Andersons vocal. Of the sung sections, didn't enjoy either of those. The other, more progy/rocky instrumental section wasn't bad, if a little stilted. Then later, the guitar part, pretty good too. From bolero to circus, quite the odd mix.
The first 3 albums by King Crimson have not been surpassed in 50 years, by anyone or anybody.
Well - except by VdGG/PH albums. Thick As a Brick, A couple of Floyd albums, Close to The Edge, PFM and Le Orme and Banco have two albums better, Marillion has two, Genesis also has a couple better - then - I'd slot the first three KC albums. They definitely are fantastic.
Almost music. The 1940s are asking for their jazz and ballero sounds back, please.
"Lizard" the title track bores me to death. I never liked this overlong, emphatic and convoluted piece where the voice of Jon Anderson does not match the sound and style of this composition which oscillates between jazz and classical. Anyway, apart from "Cirkus" (which is more in the vein of the band's first two albums) I don't like the rest of the album as well.