Larks’ Tongues in Aspic
Studio album by King Crimson
Released 23 March 1973
Recorded January–February 1973, Command Studios, London
Genre Progressive rock, Experimental rock
Length 46:37
Label Island Records, Atlantic Records, Polydor Records, E.G. Records, Virgin Records
Producer King Crimson
Professional reviews
* Allmusic 4.5/5 stars link
* Robert Christgau (B-) link
Larks' Tongues in Aspic is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock group King Crimson, originally released in 1973. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation, and features original member and guitarist Robert Fripp and new members John Wetton (vocals, bass), David Cross (violin, mellotron), Jamie Muir (percussion), and Bill Bruford (drums), as well as lyricist Richard Palmer-James. Bruford had just left his previous band, Yes before they embarked on their "Close To The Edge" tour with Alan White filling in. Bruford felt that he had done all he could with Yes at this point and thought the more jazz oriented King Crimson would be a more expansive outlet. The album sees the band incorporate into its sound violin and also various exotic percussion instruments, including sheet metal and mbiras.
The album opens with a long experimental instrumental piece titled "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One." After that there are three vocal pieces, "Book of Saturday", "Exiles" and "Easy Money." These are followed by two more instrumentals, "The Talking Drum" and "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two." The instrumental pieces on this album have strong jazz fusion influences, and portions have an almost heavy metal feel.
The album spawned the concert staple "Exiles", whose mellotron introduction had been adapted from an instrumental piece called "Mantra" the band's original line up performed throughout 1969. At that time, as well as in late 1972, the melody was played by Fripp on guitar.
In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, the album came #22 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums".
Track Listing
Side One
1. "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One" (David Cross, Robert Fripp, John Wetton, Bill Bruford, Jamie Muir) – 13:36
2. "Book of Saturday" (Fripp, Wetton, Richard Palmer-James) – 2:49
3. "Exiles" (Cross, Fripp, Palmer-James) – 7:40
Side Two
4. "Easy Money" (Fripp, Wetton, Palmer-James) – 7:54
5. "The Talking Drum" (Cross, Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Muir) – 7:26
6. "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two" (Fripp) – 7:12
Personnel
* Robert Fripp - guitars, mellotron, devices, electric piano
* John Wetton - bass, lead vocals, acoustic piano
* Bill Bruford - drums
* David Cross - violin, viola, mellotron, flute, electric piano
* Jamie Muir - percussion
with
* Richard Palmer-James - lyrics
* Nick Ryan - engineering