Islands (King Crimson album)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (December 2007) |
| Islands | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by King Crimson | |||||
| Released | December, 1971 | ||||
| Recorded | October 1971 | ||||
| Genre | Progressive rock | ||||
| Length | 43:34 | ||||
| Label | Virgin Records | ||||
| Producer | Robert Fripp, Peter Sinfield | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
|
|||||
| King Crimson chronology | |||||
|
|||||
Islands is the fourth album by the British band King Crimson, released in 1971.
The last King Crimson studio album before the group's trilogy of Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red, it is also the last to feature the lyrics of Peter Sinfield and the last to feature the band's 'traditional' progressive sound.
The album was not particularly well received critically, although fans have suggested that the second side of the LP is much stronger than the first, which could have something to do with the poor reviews. [1] There are four tracks with lyrics on this album, and three of them concern women, one of them in a notoriously misogynistic way: "Ladies of the Road", about groupies, although fans have suggested that the song might be a joke.
- The original album cover was off-white with colored "islands", but was later replaced with a cover that depicts the Trifid Nebula.
- Robert Fripp taught Boz Burrell how to play bass so that he could perform the instrument as well as sing on the album. Burrell later became the bassist for the band Bad Company.
- The original LP cover did not display the name of the band nor the title
- "Formentera Lady" (Robert Fripp, Peter Sinfield) – 10:14
- "Sailor's Tale" (Fripp) – 7:21
- "The Letters" (Fripp, Sinfield) – 4:26
- "Ladies of the Road" (Fripp, Sinfield) – 5:28
- "Prelude: Song of the Gulls" (Fripp) – 4:14
- "Islands" (Fripp, Sinfield) – 11:51
- Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron, Peter's pedal harmonium & sundry implements
- Peter Sinfield - words, sounds and visions
- Boz Burrell – bass & lead vocals
- Mel Collins – saxophones & flutes
- Ian Wallace – drums
- Paulina Lucas – soprano (vocals)
- Keith Tippett – piano
- Robin Miller – oboe
- Mark Charig – cornet
- Harry Miller – double bass