Good live albums from King Crimson?
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Recommendations/Featured albums
Forum Description: Make or seek recommendations and discuss specific prog albums
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58774
Printed Date: August 16 2025 at 00:19
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Topic: Good live albums from King Crimson?
Posted By: Eastvillage
Subject: Good live albums from King Crimson?
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 15:47
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Hey, I have been very much into King Crimso for a year or so, and now I want to get some live album with them (for I guess it's necesary with a band like them). When I looked in their catalouge, I saw there was a lot of live albums, and many seem similar so I have some problems to choose.
I am especially into the first and second King Crimson eras (the symphonic and the hard rock if you know what I mean), but I can find their most noodling and improvised (Moonchild-styled) songs on starless and bible black a little bit too much sometimes. The two mayor problems I have with selecting an album is: 1. The live acts are much focusing on their rescent work because of the differences between the current and the passed line ups. That means that it's very hard to get somekind of summerising live act, with both schizoid man, epitaph, larks tongues, starless, red... yeah, you know what I mean. Are there ANY live record which have songs from both the symphonic and hardrock era? 2. I would like to begin with a normal sized cd/double cd with various tracks, not a mastodont box with 10 cds and 10 different versions of each tracks, bu tit seems like there are most of this kind in the catalouge, can it really be so exciting and variating to hear epitaph from three different recordings? I would be very pleased if someone has a good advice to me about what I should choose :) |
Replies:
Posted By: Progosopher
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 16:33
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Of the two I have, Crimson USA and Absent Lovers, both are really good, but the latter is excellent. You don't seem to like the 80s incarnation of the band, so you probably wouldn't like it. The former was orginally released as a single lp from the Wetton era, so there's isn't an overwhelming abundance of tracks. Check out the listings on the site - there's lots of live Crimson from various periods, and not all are those monstrous mastodons you're avoiding. I don't like to giant sets either. I have the reissue of Three of a Perfect Pair, and there are four versions of Sleepless. ------------- The world of sound is certainly capable of infinite variety and, were our sense developed, of infinite extensions. -- George Santayana, "The Sense of Beauty" |
Posted By: Eastvillage
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 16:33
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do I have too big requirements? :( hehe then skip those and just name a damn good record...
 thanks for advice, I think the 80s Crimson still are OK, it wouldn't harm with one of those songs or two, but I consentrate on their earlier stuff right know, which I found somewhat better |
Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 16:41
| USA is a good one and has fairly little improvisation on it. If you want to hear the early songs, Epitaph Vol. 1&2 is pretty much the only choice. I don't think there's a live album with songs from both eras. |
Posted By: Eastvillage
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 16:48
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ok :/
then I have to buy one album from each era I guess and the question is:
epitaph vol.1&2 or epitaph vol.3&4? USA or The Night Watch? Of course I am also looking on the songs within and I know what I like, but with live albums there are several other aspects I dont know about, like sound quallity, how agressive the band are on especially this cd and so on... if u get what I mean :) |
Posted By: MovingPictures07
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 16:48
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Absent Lovers is stunning. The ProjeKcts are also incredibly underrated, but that's all new improv material. ------------- 
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Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:16
Epitaph 1&2 are sold as a set, so you have to get them both. As far as I remember most of the performances are great, but the sound quality isn't very good. As for The Night Watch and USA, if you don't care for the improvs I'd recommend USA. The remaster has great versions of Fracture and Starless as a bonus. You can't go wrong with The Night Watch either though. |
Eastvillage wrote:Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:19
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I have always loved "Earthbound", but I know I am pretty alone with that. The sound quality is noit so good, but that has never been of special interest to me and is certainly not a criterion to judge an album by, unless the sound quality is so poor that you can hardly hear anything (which is not the case with "Earthbound").
-------------  BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:20
Epitaph vol. 1&2 I'd say, I think I remember it being a lot better sounding. The other one is far more difficult... I'd say USA, just for the stunning version of Exiles. The Night Watch is absolutely brilliant as well. The Great Deceiver was recently re-released as two 2CD sets, you could give that a try as well. I haven't really listened to it very much yet so I can't really recommend. If you're into Improv Crimso, then you perhaps should just buy both of them, there's a lot of improv stuff on that set.
------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA! 
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Posted By: Eastvillage
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:25
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oops, meant that it stands between epitaph vol1&2 and epitaph vol3&4^^, I change that...
BladFriede: Maybe, I am one of the few who thinks Islands is one of their best albums, but thatthing with the sound quallity.... depends on how bad it is. Have you heard the bonus tracks from Van der Graaf Generators remaster of Godbluff? Cuz is this the case, I cant stand them |
Posted By: BaldFriede
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:29
I like the bonus tracks on "Godbluff" and don't have problems with the sound quality there. The sound quality of "Earthbound" is better though. ------------- BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:29
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Night Watch |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:33
| I second The Night Watch, though I think the ultimate Wetton/Bruford-era KC live album is the four-CD set The Great Deceiver - worth every cent of its price. Absent Lovers is also stunning (as Alex pointed out), but you have to be into the Eighties lineup in order to really appreciate it. |
Posted By: maups2
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:43
| night watch |
Posted By: Eastvillage
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 17:58
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Think I pick Epitaph vol.1&2 just for "A Man A City", as long as vol3&4 doesnt have better sound quallity.
A pity that Night**tch (album) lacks Starless however... : P On the other hand, we have book of saturday and the night**tch (song)... Really a hard choice this one...
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Posted By: KingCrimson250
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 18:03
I actually agree. Schizoid Man was meant to be done with awful sound quality. It thrives on it |
Posted By: Bitterblogger
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 18:15
| Try Cirkus, which spans their history through Bruford. |
Posted By: JROCHA
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 18:42
| The Collectable King Crimson Vol 1and Live Bootlegs from Argentina |
Posted By: rosenbach
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 20:43
| Epitaph vol 1&2. |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 20:46
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if you really get into live KC, I believe there's a whole subculture of fan club releases you can sometimes find |
Posted By: moebius
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 22:02
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Definitly try The Night Watch. Its double, it has killer versions of the best 70īs songs of King Crimson and is one concert, unlike Epithaph or The Great Deceiver (compilations). For you to know, there is no Red live versions of 70īs KC lineup, because the band splitted after the Red album. You will only find a live version of Starless in USA remastered. The Night Watch is the best 70īs KC live album by far. Absent Lovers is the best live album by KC ever, try it even if you donīt like the 80īs lineup. After buying those albums you should try Elektrik, an incredibly underrated live album by KC. This one may be my favourite. Good luck.
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Posted By: WalterDigsTunes
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 22:08
A great way to start your live KC collection. Also, The Collectable King Crimson Vol 3 is a bit like the Argentina one, with a few differences: 1. The double trio had been around for two years and was a much tighter unit. 2. It has 21st Century Schizoid Man! 3. A very odd and very, very fast Frame by Frame |
Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 22:22
Respectfully disagree. I expect the sound quality of any live (or other) album to be decent. I don't expect pristine sound, but Earthbound I can't "hear". I myself have made better recordings -- sound-wise -- on a four-track cassette. I would expect at least that from KC.
USA is a step up, and The Night**tch is excellent. ------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: June 15 2009 at 22:35
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Ah, good thread! I have been having similar questions. However, as a slightly side note, I am looking for The Projekcts and can't find it anywhere as a reasonably priced new package, only a few good deals on amazon. Is it out of print already?
------------- 
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Posted By: fuxi
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 03:54
Exactly so! I should add I first discovered KC through USA. I was expecting something chirpy like YESSONGS. Boy, did I get a shock. Still love USA, though. Especially with those highly generous bonus tracks in the latest re-release. |
Posted By: Eastvillage
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 04:09
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After what I have read on different sites and this forum by now, it seems like The Great Deceiver vol1&2 has the best collections of songs, and also a great sound, so I think I try that one. Not that good that its just a collection and not a whole consert, but I don't now have important that are if you get the best collections of songs played live plus a good sound quallity... Then we have the material from early King Crimson, which I am a little bit more unsure now...I think I am going to pick the first volumes of Epitaph, but isn't "ladies of the road" kind of good too? And maybe I should purchase an album by Schizoid band, they play many of those old songs with modern sound. But when I listened to them at youtube, I thought it sounded a little bit tamed so I don't know, maybe I just pick epitaph...
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Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 04:22
It's brilliant  Mel Collins is on fire, I especially adore the version of Pictures of the City. And the all too short Court of the Crimson King.------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA!
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Posted By: mrcozdude
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 04:59
I've just brought ladies of the road for Ģ2:99 from hmv.Great price but it says the tracklisting is as followed:
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/cozfunkel/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Pekka
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 05:26
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^Weird. This is the correct list: Disc 1: (58:54) 1. Pictures of a City (8:46) 2. The Letters (4:42) 3. Formentera Lady (abridged) (6:40) 4. The Sailors Tale (5:42) 5. Cirkus (7:57) 6. Groon (6:51) 7. Get Thy Bearings (8:32) 8. 21st Century Schizoid Man (8:57) 9. In the Court of the Crimson King (0:47) Disc 2: (53:49) 1-11. Schizoid Men (solos) edit: Here's the answer: http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=glm-ftcotim - http://www.progreviews.com/reviews/display.php?rev=glm-ftcotim So they've just messed it up.
------------- http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=42652" rel="nofollow - It's on PA!
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Posted By: mrcozdude
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 05:31
Thats a mighty fine set list! Looking forward to receiving this through the post. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/cozfunkel/" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 08:26
My copy of USA was the victim of a freak accident... One of a pair of totally worthless CD towers I had bought a couple of years ago in Rome collapsed (not for the first time), and the unfortunate CD hit the sharp edge of a metal and glass table, shattering into three parts  . Thank heavens it's not a particularly rare album to find ! |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: June 16 2009 at 13:40
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I have been listening to Cirkus quite a bit lately - I think it is the ideal place to discover KC live.
------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 10:56
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This thread has done damage to my finances. After some looking and thinking and pausing between purchases... I now have The Great Deceiver, The ProjeKcts, and Absent Lovers. Well, the latter aren't here yet, but dangit if this wasn't a mildly expensive but exhilarating run! King Crimson live is one of the few live acts I actually care to get a CD from--let alone, well, ten.
-------------
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Posted By: Agemo
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 13:35
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Another great '74 live set (apart from Great Deveiver, The Night Watch and USA) is the collectable King Crimson Volume 1 ( http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=13493 - http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=13493 ). One cd is actually the USA concert, theo other is Live in Mainz (with the rare, but great Dr. Diamond). Both have great sound and it is reasonably priced. ------------- Dona Nobis Pacem |
Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 13:38
We have got this one too, and it's worth getting indeed. I am planning to get as many KC live albums as I can... I love the band, and they have always been a great live act. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: June 24 2009 at 13:53
I see Absent Lovers is Ģ2.99 too. I'm very tempted. Which one do you think? ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Agemo
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 12:28
I am not planning to get you into a financial crisis...but have you seen the downloads of KC live shows that are available on http://www.dgmlive.com - www.dgmlive.com ? They cost $9.95 for mp3 or $12.95 for flac. I got some myself and there are incredible shows, like Glasgow 1973, Brescia 1974, Pforzheim 1974. But of course also from other periods. ------------- Dona Nobis Pacem |
Posted By: Alberto Muņoz
Date Posted: June 25 2009 at 21:02
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Epitaph 3 and 4 only sell via mail as far as i concerned.
Try this:
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=9596 - http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=9596
and this
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=9569 - http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=9569 -------------  |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 07:33
I'm listening to Absent Friends now. Rather excelent actually! ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 08:27
I just got Absent Lovers, and I'd have to say, it's so much better than Absent Friends.  But really, it is a great album, and likely one I would have skipped over without the recommendations of this thread. It really, absolutely opens up much of the stale 80s stuff. I mean, I liked it okay, I liked Discipline a lot and Sleepless is a neat song, but that's about as far as I got. I sold back Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair, and Absent Lovers more than fills in the gaps. A very good choice economically and musically. The band is on fire throughout! -------------
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Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 08:32
Oops! My Bad!  Yes of course...Absent Friends...d'oh..did it again! Absent Lovers. And I agree with what you say. Great find, that shows the 80's Crims on top form. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: LiquidEternity
Date Posted: July 01 2009 at 08:51
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I just can't pass up opportunities like that, you see. Sorry. And yeah, I've always loved Frame by Frame, but the live versions is miles beyond the studio one! And they're so incredibly precise, even live! Blows my mind every time. -------------
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