THE GREAT DECEIVER: LIVE 1973 - 1974

4.5 stars. When this live box set was released back in 1992 it really was the Holy Grail for KING CRIMSON fans. Up until then it was about buying bootlegs or listening to the poor quality "USA" album (which has since been remastered and it sounds amazing). Fripp himself said that the reson for releasing such a large archive of live music in one recording was because of all the bootlegs floating about.In Japan alone there were 120 such bootlegs that Fripp knew of and the live period that was most popular was from 1973 & 1974.

Fripp also talks about how there aren't any recordings including "Red" that really capture the absolute power and ferociousness created by this lineup of Bruford, Wetton, Cross and Fripp.These days there are a number of live albums to choose from with this lineup including "The Collectible King Crimson : Volume 1", "USA" and "Nightwatch".

There are four discs to this set with an average of over 70 minutes per disc. Quite a few songs are repeated as we really get a pretty good chunk of material from six different concerts. I must say that the improvs are invaluable if you are as big a fan as I am of this band.You gotta love what the violin brings to a powerfuI section of music like with MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA or INDUKTI for examples and Cross is on fire at times. I mentioned the violin of Cross but of course each band member is a virtuoso including Bruford who never ceases to amaze me. Fripp is incredibly powerful at times and intricate at others.Yes he offers up some angular melodies too. Wetton on vocals but especially on bass with those deep powerful grooves adds so much depth. Can't forget the mellotron as they had two on stage during these concerts with Cross and Fripp taking up the honours.CRIMSON were a muscular beast here and also experimental but they could also play the most beautiful music. I won't bother talking about the almost 50 songs on here as they have to be heard to be believed. Just check this out or the other three live albums I mentioned earlier with this same lineup, and be prepared to be blown away.