THE ESSENTIAL KING CRIMSON: FRAME BY FRAME

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I managed to loan this compilation box from the local library, and I was interested to see how Fripp wanted to present his material for the audiences during early nineties.

The first CD of four has their 1969-1971 material on it, and their legendary first recording has been transferred here quite nicely, having all of it's material except the ten minutes sound wall of the "Moonchild" track. The next albums are presented quite shortly, and sadly there's much of interesting material missing.

Disc two presents in my opinion their most interesting line-up with JOHN WETTON and DAVID CROSS. The sound of re-mastered music is beautiful, and there's a good selection of songs here, but sadly "Larks' Tongues in Aspic part 1", "Fracture" and "Starless" have been abridged, which means they have been edited to shorter versions. This is truly a shame! I think it would have been better solution to select fewer tracks than giving several torsos.

Third disc has material from their TONY LEVIN and ADRIAN BELEW era albums from the early 80's, and this CD works most dynamically of all of four CDs. The essential tracks are present unedited, and there's a nice "barber shop" song as a bonus feature at the end of the disc.

The fourth CD has the live material on it. "Get Thy Bearings" is a nice cover song (from Donovan, I think?), and their version of Holst's "Mars" is interesting and legendary act, but maybe bit boring. "The Talking Drum" is a bit weird selection, as it is usually used as a lead to "Larks' Tongues in Aspic part 2" which is not there, but there's a version of "21st Century Schizoid Man" behind it! I'm not very satisfied with Robert's trend of altering his past works... Luckily there's "Asbury Park", which should interest the fans of the 72-74 line-up, as it is their full-improvised jam from the stage. The 80's songs are also OK, especially the version of "Indiscipline" is awesome". There's also a small but funny misspelling in the album track times considering this disc, as "The Talking Drum" is marked to last nearly thirty minutes!

There's also a very neat booklet included in the box, which has old paper articles about the band, an essay by Fripp, their gig lists and neat pictures which are animated when you flip the papers (?!). If you are not familiar with the material of KING CRIMSON's 69-84 albums, this could be a decent introduction to them if you can lend this or get it with a moderate price. Maybe this isn't so "essential" in quality as it's title suggests, but a better one in the family of the compilations of this band.

A GORGEOUS COLLECTION - slightly marred by a few perversities.

I simply adore anthologies of all kinds, and when this one came out in the early nineties it seemed like a godsend. No need to buy all the separate KC albums you remembered from the 70s and 80s! All the essential stuff in a beautifully designed box! I still think FRAME BY FRAME is the most enjoyable Crimso compilation that ever appeared. Some people might complain it has now been superseded by the so-called 21ST CENTURY GUIDES, but those are either too mammoth-like (TWO four-disc sets!) or too small in scope (the "condensed" version). No folks, if you want the best of classic Crimson on four solid CDs, FRAME BY FRAME is the one to go for. The only drawback is that it doesn't take you beyond 1984.

Just look at the track listing! Most of the legendary debut album and the equally legendary 1981 rebirth is included. The second half of the first CD offers a great selection from the early seventies ("Catfood" and "Groon" are there, as well as the utterly beautiful "Bolero" and the seven best minutes of "The Sailor's Tale"). The second disc provides you with the best possible 70- minute selection from LARKS' TONGUES, STARLESS AND BIBLE BLACK and RED. The six best tunes from BEAT and THREE OF A PERFECT will be found on CD 3. It's true that a few of the longer tunes have been slightly abbreviated, but in my view this only makes them stronger.

Now for the perversities. "Cadence and Cascade" has been remixed with a new vocal by Adrian Belew - but before you start shouting "Fire!", please note that it sounds virtually identical to the original version. The final disc is entirely devoted to live performances, but while the tracks by the 1973-1974 and the 1980s bands are superb, I see no redeeming features in the tunes from 1969 ("Get thy Bearings", "Travel Weary Capricorn" and "Mars") which sound utterly boring. "The Talking Drum" does not segue into "Larks Tongues pt. 2", as it ought to. I must admit hardly ever play the live disc, especially since I bought two of Crimso's greatest REAL live albums, USA and ABSENT LOVERS. But don't let this put you off. FRAME BY FRAME is worth it for the studio material alone.

FRAME BY FRAME also dates from the good old days when four CDs were nicely packaged next to each other (not on top of each other) in an LP-size box. The FRAME BY FRAME box actually won a well-deserved prize for its excellent design. The 64-page booklet (also LP-sized) is simply ravishing. Not only does it include a wide range of photos (many of them large), it also provides you with an extensive selection of press reviews KC received throughout the years, both good and bad. As with the earlier YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO KING CRIMSON, Robert Fripp has done his utmost to represent his band's legacy (as it stood in 1991) in the best possible way.

This boxset is a MUST for Crimson-heads even if you have all albums of King Crimson, you should not miss this compilation. This applies also to those who are new to the band also, because it really contains essential material in the band's history. My chief reason to buy a box set is usually to get to know better the band - from the booklet provided - so that I know the background, the situations or the life dynamics of the band on albums they had made. I really love this compilation and it has become a precious collection altogether with The Great Deceiver - the live concerts boxset. I purchased "Frame By Frame" boxset in 1996 - it's already twelve years with me and it's really still in its mint condition. Because I like the packaging, I put the box (empty) on the wall and put the four CDs in my CD shelf. The great thing about the package, in addition to its deluxe box, is the large size booklet containing all narratives and photographs throughout the band's history.

Informative and Comprehensive Boxset

This boxset covers the band's history from its embryonic stage in 1969 until 1984. In terms of music direction, it covers both pre and post Belew (vocal, guitar) era. As you might have known that since Discipline album (1981) King Crimson changed its course dramatically from symphonic, mellotron-drenched type of music into those with a bit of new wave music due to largely the swept of punk music at the end of 70s and early 80s. The booklet and band's family tree are really great and it's a great joy reading them.

Disc 1 covers 1969-1971 era which starts with a track that inspired heavy metal bands in the world: "21st Century Schizoid Man (7:20) from the debut album that has been considered by most people as the birth of progressive rock genre (Classic Rock magazine, October 2008 issue). (Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald, Peter Sinfield) - 7:20. The next four tracks were taken from the same album. With five tracks featured here, it's basically the whole debut album tracks were featured in here, with the exception of abridged version of Moonchild. For newbie, this is great because the complete version of Moonchild is too long in silent part at the end.

The next track Peace: A Theme (1:16) was taken from the album "In the Wake of Poseidon" (1970) followed with great singles "Cat Food (2:45) and Groon (3:31). Cadence and Cascade (4:10) was taken from "In the Wake of Poseidon" (1970) but with a change of vocal from Gordon Haskell to Adrian Belew. It's good also to feature the abridged version of Sailor's Tale (7:27) from the album "Islands" (1971) followed with Ladies of the Road which combines mellow and hard drive music nicely, from the same album. Disc 1 ends with one track from Lizard (1970) album: "Lizard (Part II: Bolero - The Peacock's Tale) (6:45).

Disc 2 covers the band's era of 1972-1974. It starts with a great track with heavy metal riffs "Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part I) (10:53). I like this track especially on parts where the rough guitar riffs meet with dazzling drumwork by Bill Bruford. It's really great, especially when it's combined with David Cross' violin. Book of Saturday (2:53) is a track of my favorite followed by another great track Easy Money (7:55). Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part II) (7:09) concludes the "Larks' Tongues in Aspic" (1973) album. The next album "Starless and Bible Black" was represented by three tracks: "The Night Watch (4:40), The Great Deceiver (4:03), and Fracture (6:57). The next four tracks "Starless (4:38), Red (6:17), Fallen Angel (5:59), and One More Red Nightmare (7:09) from the album Red (1974) conclude disc 2.

Disc 3 covers the period of 1981-1984 and it represents the critical milestone for the band as the music shifted dramatically when Discipline (1981) was released and Adrian Belew joined the band as lead vocal and guitar player. Most people would be shocked with this third CD as the music is totally different with previous two discs. Disc 4 is basically live recordings from their performances in 1969 until 1984.

Overall, I am really delighted with this boxset and I consider this as a masterpiece compilation. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW