Its funny how you come to things. Back as a Kid I saw a Canadian band called April Wine on Whistle Test doing this song. I liked it so much I bought their album which turned out to be unbelievably crap. However from this experience I learned that the song itself was by King Crimson. KC are much maligned prog rockers and I couldn't eat a whole one, but they are responsible for some of my favourite tracks and have introduced me to a myriad of different bands and styles through their associations and fluid line -ups. The obvious ones are Emerson Lake and Palmer (Greg Lake is the vocalist here) who have been a dirty word since 1976, but through these I heard Peter Gun for the first time (sampled by Basement Jaxx a few years back). KC and especially Robert Fripp are not a band to hang around long enough for you to settle into their sound, so its hard to love everything they have done, and its hard to recommend a way in to them, Islands is possibly the most accesible. This is probably why I like them. By 1972 Fripp was collaborating with Eno ( in Eno's most exciting period producing the extraordinary No Pussyfooting;) and Adrian Belew (This is turn turned me onto Talking Heads) from 1981s Discipline, one of the most unsung albums by the popular music press.
In the the Court of the Crimson King has its dodgy moments especially lyrically as do all KC albums but it is still an amazing album check it!
Great cover too.
footnote
KC drummer Bill Bruford produced a series of drum sample CDs which I have used regulary over the years.
One of my favorite bands
ReplyDelete