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King Crimson: Lizard

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Virgin Records
Released: 1970.10.01
Time:
 42:38
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Robert Fripp, Peter Sinfield
Rating: ***....... (3/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.king-crimson.com
Appears with: Robert Fripp, Tony Levin
Purchase date: 2001.12.12
Price in €: 10,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Cirkus [incl. Entry of the Chameleons] (Fripp/Sinfield) - 6:28
[2] Indoor Games (Fripp/Sinfield) - 5:41
[3] Happy Family (Fripp/Sinfield) - 4:16
[4] Lady of the Dancing Water (Fripp/Sinfield) - 2:44
[5] Lizard (Fripp/Sinfield) - 23:12
     Prince Rupert Awakes
     Bolero - The Peacocks Tale
     The Battle of Glass Tears
     Big Top

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


ROBERT FRIPP - Guitar, Keyboards, Mellotron, Remastering
KEITH TIPPETT - Piano, Keyboards, Electric Piano
GORDON HASKELL - Bass, Vocals
JON ANDERSON - Vocals
MARC CHARIG - Cornet
ROBIN MILLER - Oboe, Cor Anglais
MEL COLLINS - Flute, Saxophone
NICK EVANS - Trombone
ANDY MCCULLOCH - Drums
OBIN MILLER - Wind

ROBBIN THOMPSON - Engineer
ROBIN THOMPSON - Engineer
TONY ARNOLD - Remastering

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


1970 LP Atlantic 8278
1995 CD EG EGCD-4
1995 CS EG EGMC-4
2001 CD Virgin 848947
2001 CD Plan 9/Caroline 1504
2000 CD Caroline 1504



Lizard is very consciously jazz-oriented — the influence of Miles Davis (particularly Sketches of Spain) being especially prominent — and very progressive, even compared with the two preceding albums. The pieces are longer and have extensive developmental sections, reminiscent of classical music, and the lyrics are more ornate, while the subject matter is more exotic and rarified — epic, Ragnarok-like battles between good and evil that run cyclically. The doom-laden mood of the first two albums is just as strong, except that the music is prettier; the only thing missing is a sense of humor. Jon Anderson of Yes guests on one key number, "Prince Rupert Awakes" (which vocalist/bassist Gordon Haskell never completed), and the album is stronger for his presence. At the time of its release, some critics praised Lizard for finally breaking with the formula and structure that shaped the two preceding albums, but overall it's an acquired taste.

Bruce Eder, All-Music Guide, © 1992 - 2001 AEC One Stop Group, Inc.



Das dritte King-Crimson-Album Lizard spielten Gitarrist Robert Fripp und Texter Pete Sinfield 1970 in komplett neuer Besetzung und auf gleich drei der in Mode gekommenen Mellotrons ein. Neben Fripp bediente der Flötist und Saxofonist Mel Collins ebenso eines wie Sänger und Bassist Gordon Haskett. Und sogar ein VCS 3-Synthesizer kam zum Einsatz. Andy McCullough saß am Schlagzeug, der Yes-Sänger Jon Anderson trat beim elegischen "Prince Rupert Awakes" auf. Entsprechend orchestral klang das musikalische Ergebnis. Die Dynamik zwischen zarten Akustik-Folkpassagen und bombastischem Jazzrock zu dadaistischen Texten ist gerade auf dem ersten Stück "Cirkus" stark vom britischen Trio The Cream beeinflusst. Improvisatorische Elemente wie Saxofon und spanische Gitarre setzen sich vom konzertanten Stil ab, bringen auch Komik mit ins Spiel, wie der amüsante Bläser-Dialog auf "Indoor Games", das im Gesang mit Beatles-Harmonien aufwartet. Das jazzige "Happy Family" mit atonalen Piano-Spielereien endet als Kinderlied, wesentlich subtiler hingegen das klassische Flötenstück "Lady Of The Dancing Water". Die alten Zeitungsberichte über King Crimson im Booklet liefern gute Zusatzinformationen.

Ingeborg Schober, Amazon.de



An epic

First off, you people who say that this is King Crimson's worst album are mistaken. You couldn't be more wrong. It is one of their best, up there with 'In the Court of the Crimson King', Discipline', and 'Lark Tounges in Aspic'. Now I shall procede with my reveiw, and stop bashing those with no taste.

Cirkus-Is a haunting, and lyrically enchanting song. This song really likes to be a little frightening, with it's mood changes and all. I'd have to say that King Crimson is among the best at moo changing songs (The best, of course, being Queen). There is also an absolutely beutiful jazz takeover towards the 2 minute marker, this then quickly changes back to a a haunting nigh symphonic ballad.

Indoor games- Is my favorite song on the album. I know that the die-hard KC fans are cursing me, my family, and the grave which I shall soon rest in if they have their way, but this is absolutely fantastic. The Jazz tones, wonderful singing, and fitting folk guitar strums all make one gratifying, and perfect song. Don't get me wrong I am a huge fan of KC, and my obligitory favorite is "In The Court Of The Crimson King", but one cannot surpass the musical greatness that is reached on this song. The only KC songs i can think of that surpass this are 'ITCOTKC' and '21st Century Schitzoid Man'. Let us not forget they 'Hey ho' and maniac laughing at the end.

Happy Family-I like it, but it does sound like he swallowed an aphrodisiac. Deffinately frantic, almost like Captain Beefheart.

Lady Of The Dancing Water-Is absolutely beutiful, and my only regret is that it is not longer. The singing and flute playing are timeless gems of perfection. I have to say, that it soothes me when I listen to it. Perfect relaxing song, like 'I Talk To The Wind'. Another reason why this album is one of their best.

Lizard (and all its kin)- It is a little too long, but is deffinatley an epic. Like Pink Floyd's 'Atom Heart Mother'and 'Echoes', it is a twenty three minute epic. Like many of the greatest songs of the seventies, this tells a fantastic story of prince Rupert and the oncoming war. A wonderful listen if you have the time. This caps of the list of wonderful music that makes "LIZARD" a must-have for any KC fan, or anyone who likes music in general.

I'd like to take a breif moment to talk about the album cover, booklette, and unique LP-like packaging. The album cover and artwork are magnificent, and some of the best ever. The booklette is really a scrapbook of interesting tidbits about KC and the album (nicely done). Now we come to my favorite part, the LP packaging. This is really neat. I'm only thirteen (Suprised?), but I really wish I had a record player, and a collection of LP's like my mother. This is probably as close as I am going to get. My father has some LP's but they're all Elvis (I hate him so much), so I know that they actualy looked like that (with the black paper CD holder that slips into the Cardboard case etc.).

So I leave you with these words, "Buy it!" Even if it was $100 it would be a must buy. Do not pass this one up. You'll be sorry if you do.

Also if you like KC you'll probably like Captain Beefheart, I really recomend 'Trout Mask Replica', it's the greatest album ever recorded by the greatest band ever. Thank you for reading my review.

A music fan from Nashville, TN USA , December 2, 2001
 

 L y r i c s


CIRKUS (INCLUDING ENTRY OF THE CHAMELEONS)

Night: her sable dome scattered with diamonds,
Fused my dust from a light year,
Squeezed me to her breast, sowed me with carbon,
Strung my warp across time
Gave me each a horse, sunrise and graveyard,
Told me only I was her;
Bid me face the east closed me in questions
Built the sky for my dawn . . .

Cleaned my feet of mud, followed the empty
Zebra ride to the Cirkus,
Past a painted cage, spoke to the paybox
Glove which wrote on my tongue-
Pushed me down a slide to the arena,
Megaphonium fanfare.
In his cloak of words strode the ringmaster
Bid me join the parade . . .

"Worship!" cried the clown, "I am a T.I.
Making bandsmen go clockwork,
See the slinky seal Cirkus policeman;
Bareback ladies have fish."
Strongmen by his feet, plate-spinning statesman,
Acrobatically juggling-
Bids his tamers go quiet the tumblers
Lest the mirror stop turning . . .

Elephants forgot, force-fed on stale chalk,
Ate the floors of their cages.
Strongmen lost their hair, paybox collapsed and
Lions sharpened their teeth.
Gloves raced round the ring, stallions stampeded
Pandemonium seesaw . . .
I ran for the door, ringmasters shouted,
"All the fun of the Cirkus!"


INDOOR GAMES

Indoor fireworks amuse your kitchen staff
Dusting plastic garlic plants
They snigger in the draught
When you ride through the parlour
Wearing nothing but your armour-
Playing.

One string puppet shows amuse
Your sycophantic friends
Who cheer your rancid recipes
In fear they might offend,
Whilst you loaf on your sofa
Sporting falsies and a toga-
Playing,.

Your mean teetotum spins arouse your seventh wife
Who pats her sixty little skins
And reinsures your life,
Whilst you sulk in your sauna
'Cos you lost your jigsaw corner-
Playing,.

Each afternoon you train baboons to sing
Or swim in purple perspex water wings.
Come Saturday jump hopper, chelsea brigade,
High bender-trender it's all.

No ball bagatelle incites
Your children to conspire,
They slide across your frying pan
And fertilize your fire;
Still you and Jones go madder
Broken bones-broken ladder-
Hey Ho . . .


HAPPY FAMILY

Happy family, one hand clap, four went by and none come back.
Brother Judas, ash and sack, swallowed aphrodisiac.
Rufus, Silas, Jonah too sang, "We'll blow our own canoes,"
Poked a finger in the zoo, punctured all the ballyhoo

Whipped the world and beat the clock, wound up with their share of stock.
Silver Rolls from golden rock, shaken by a knock, knock, knock.
Happy family, wave that grin, what goes round must surely spin;
Cheesecake, mousetrap, Grip-Pipe-Thynne cried out, "We're not Rin Tin Tin."

Uncle Rufus grew his nose, threw away his circus clothes
Cousin Silas grew a beard, drew another flask of weird
Nasty Jonah grew a wife, Judas drew his pruning knife.
Happy family one hand clap, four went on but none came back

Happy family, pale applause, each to his revolving doors.
Silas searching, Rufus neat, Jonah caustic, Jude so sweet.
Let their sergeant mirror spin if we lose the barbers win;
Happy family one hand clap, four went on but none came back


LADY OF THE DANCING WATER

Grass in your hair stretched like a lion in the sun
Restlessly turned moistened your mouth with your tongue.
Pouring my wine in your eyes caged mine glowing
Touching your face my fingers strayed knowing.
I called you lady of the dancing water.

Blown autumn leaves shed to the fire where you laid me
Burn slow to ash just as my days now seem to be
I feel you still always your eyes glowing
Remembered hours salt, earth and flowers flowing
Farewell my lady of the dancing water.

LIZARD

a. Prince Rupert Awakes


Farewell the temple master's bells
His kiosk and his black worm seed
Courtship solely of his word
With Eden guaranteed.
For now Prince Rupert's tears of glass
Make saffron sabbath eyelids bleed
Scar the sacred tablet of wax
On which thes feed.

Wake your reason's hollow vote
Wear your blizzard season coat
Burn a bridge and burn a boat
Stake a by the throat.

Go Polonius or kneel
The reapers name their harvest dawn
All your tarnished devil's spoons
Will rust beneath our corn.
Now bears Prince Rupert's garden roam
Across his rain tree shaded lawn
Lizard bones become the clay-
And there a Swan is born

Wake your reasons' hollow vote
Wear your blizzard season coat
Burn a bridge and burn a boat
Stake a by the throat.

Gone soon Piepowder's moss-weed court
Round which upholstereds sold
Visions to their leaden flock
Of rainbows' ends and gold.
Now tales Prince Rupert's peacock brings
Of walls and trumpets thousand fold
Prophets chained for burning masks
And reels of dream unrolled . . .


b. Bolero - the Peacock's Tale

(Instrumental)


c. The Battle of Glass Tears

Night enfolds her cloak of holes
Around the river meadow.
Old moon-light stalks by broken ploughs
Hides spokeless wheels in shadow.
Sentries lean on thorn wood spears
Blow on their hands, stare eastwards.

Burnt with dream and taut with fear
Dawn's misty shawl upon them.
Three hills apart great armies stir
Spit oat and curse as day breaks.
Forming lines of horse and steel
By even yards march forward.


d. Big Top

(Instrumental)

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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