MCDONALD & GILES

3.5 stars. Ian McDonald and Michael Giles leave KING CRIMSON after their iconic debut "In The Court Of The Crimson King". Citing the musical direction and the rigours of touring, suddenly Fripp had lost half of his band. He even offered to quit if they'd stay. Well Giles did stay on to play drums on KC's next album "In Wake Of The Poseidon" and then he was gone. Giles and Fripp had been playing together since 1967. And to make matters worse Greg Lake decides to leave as well and become part of ELP, but like Giles he also stays on for one last hurrah singing on that followup "In Wake Of Poseidon".

McDonald's departure was significant as he was the main composer on "In The Court..." plus he played horns, flute and keyboards. And especially the mellotron! Maybe this is why "In Wake Of Poseidon" just seems to be a cut and paste of "In The Court..." as there was so much disarray and uncertainty. Fripp would change that on the next album "Lizard" where he is the sole composer and a creative one at that. Taking the bull by the horns. By the way McDonald would be invited back to play on "Red", so whatever hard feeling there may have been were gone at this point.

So leaving KC was a calculated risk but with McDonald's composing skills and command of a lot of instruments they had an idea. KC's debut was so majestic and adventerous. Powerful and serious. This duo wanted a lighter hearted approach but still retaining that complexity. They wanted it to be more commercial and who better to emulate than THE BEATLES who had only disbanded a couple of years prior. So enter THE BEATLES-like vocals along with that orchestration they used to do with the brass and strings. And while the idea seems brilliant, the results weren't. No mellotron either.

Still, there's so much here I like, but at the same time those moments that recall the Fab Four are disappointing to my ears. This is very much a hit and miss affair. Steve Winwood adds some piano on the opener as well as organ. Michael's brother Peter adds bass, plus we get guest trombone on one track, then the conductor and arranger of all the orchestral stuff. Check out the track "Flight Of The Ibis" for that real THE BEATLES-like sound. But it's throughout. I was surprised at how much "Tomorrow's People- The Children Of Today" reminds me of Steve Hillage. The vocals I mean. Side two is a 21 plus minute suite called "Birdman". And it could have been so much better. Just a lot of trippy and relaxed music here, especially on "Birdman Flies!" and the closer "Birdman- The Reflection".

It was great to spend a week with this one despite it not being a keeper. Ian McDonald would later become a founding member of FOREIGNER. I understand that McDonald & Giles never played these tunes live.