Lizard (album)
| Lizard | ||||
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| King Crimson's studio album | ||||
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Publication |
1970 |
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| Label (s) | Island Records | |||
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Format (s) |
LP, CD, DVD-Audio |
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Title (number) |
5 |
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running time |
42 min 35 s |
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| occupation |
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Robert Fripp, Peter Sinfield |
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Lizard is the third studio album by the progressive rock band King Crimson . It was released on Island Records in December 1970 .
History of origin
After the previous album In the Wake of Poseidon , Greg Lake , who founded ELP together with Carl Palmer and Keith Emerson , and the brothers Michael and Peter Giles got out, replacing Gordon Haskell , who can already be heard on In the Wake of Poseidon , and Andy McCulloch brought into the band. This line-up was short-lived as Haskell couldn't get used to the band's experimental style and left them shortly after the end of the recordings.
style
Compared to the first two albums, Lizard is significantly more influenced by jazz rock . The increased use of acoustic instruments creates a surreal atmosphere on the album .
In the title track, which lasts more than 20 minutes, the free jazz improvisations typical of later King Crimson albums can be heard as well as influences from bolero and circus music ( Big Top ).
reception
Lizard is often referred to as one of the best, but also one of the most difficult to access King Crimson albums. Bruce Eder wrote in the Allmusic Guide :
"At the time of its release, some critics praised Lizard for finally breaking with the formula and structure that shaped the two preceding albums, but overall it's an acquired taste."
"At the time of its release, some reviews praised Lizard for finally breaking with the structure of the previous two albums, but overall it's [more] something for the connoisseur."
Robert Fripp himself later called Lizard an "inaudible" album:
“Overall, the album is unlistable. Our remastering shows just how unlistable. 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. "
“Overall, the album is inaudible. Our remastering just shows how inaudible. I don't recommend that anyone pay for this [album] with their hard earned cash unless to take it to parties and audition for unwelcome guests. There are some “Lizard” lovers out there, I know. They must be very strange. "
Track list
- Circus including Entry of the Chameleons - 6:28
- Indoor Games - 5:41
- Happy Family - 4:16
- Lady of the Dancing Water - 2:44
- Lizard
a. Prince Rupert Awakes - 4:36
b. Bolero - The Peacock's Tale - 6:39
c. The Battle of Glass Tears - 10:58
d. Big Top - 1:13
40th Anniversary Edition
- In 2009, as part of the 40th Anniversary Series, a box with an audio CD and a DVD-Audio was released . The audio CD contains the tracks in a revised stereo mix and the three bonus tracks Lady Of The Dancing Water (alternate take) , Bolero (from Frame by Frame) and Circus (studio run throught with guide vocal from original sessions) . The audio DVD contains all the tracks on the audio CD in high-resolution stereo format MLP Lossless Stereo (24/96) or PCM Stereo 2.0 and in multi-channel format DTS 5.1 or MLP Lossless 5.1 Surround. In addition, the DVD contains an original mix of the album. Steven Wilson is responsible for all stereo and multichannel rework .
Individual evidence
Web links
- Reviews of Lizard on the baby blue pages
- Lizard at Allmusic (English)