THE COLLECTABLE KING CRIMSON - VOL. 1 (LIVE IN MAINZ, 1974 + LIVE IN ASBURY PARK, 1974)

Another 70s era live experience! Just when you thought there was no more to write about the 70s era of KC, this hits the market. However, this one has alot to offer. Two sets, one in Mainz and the other in Asbury Park (with most of the tracks seemingly the same from the USA album), and its all top notch King Crimson. As par with this group, the musicians seem on a whole other level with their ability to play and astound, even though many of the songs are on countless other albums. I'll being with Live In Mainz, 1974:

An awesome set (my favorite of the two) where the improvs and unreleased (at least in a more accessable package) Dr. Diamond steal the show. First off Dr. Diamond, a schizofrenic, paranoid rocker. Wetton does a great job on vocals, and Mr. Bruford is great on drums. I consider this to be a lost gem of the band (being as far as I know, its only other release was on The Great Deciever live box set). A must hear for Crimsonheads! The improvs and numerous and great. Starting off with a maelstrom that is The Savage. One of my favorite improvs KC has made (and they made alot). Violent, loud, and expertly crafted. Following that comes Arabica. Probably my least favorite from the album, but still alot to offer. The one thing I enjoy from the improvs, is that it keeps the album sounding fresh, especially in this case being there are so many. The next one up is Atria, starting soft but building up quite nicely. Fripp lays down some awesome lines and Bruford is again worth mentioning on this track as he does a stellar job matching Fripp's madness. The final improv is Trio, a track known of the album Starless And Bible Black, but its nice to have on here as well. Aside from the improvs, a faboulous rendition of Exiles and Easy Money, top off this album beautifully. On to disc two:

Live In Asbury Park, NJ 1974. Very reminiscent of the live album USA (and i believe reading that most of the tracks for that album were taken from this concert, if the track Asbury Park wasn't enough of a giveaway). However, there are a few diferences. First off, the entire track of the improv Asbury Park is present here, which is much appreicated. Often called Crimsons best improv, and with good reason. Also, there is a longer verison of Easy Money, which is also quite good. Even if you own USA, having LIAP is a must, even if its just for these two tracks. However, fine reditions of Starless, Fracture, and 21st century...can also be found here.

All in all, this is a must for Crimsonheads. Also, if you don't already own USA this is a much better purchase (as I feel this leaves USA obselete). Sometimes the songs repitition is a little much (case in point Lament, a good song but a little much twice). A very solid overview of 70s Crimson, with great improvs to boot. 4.5 stars.

These two live concerts are my favourite live discs from KING CRIMSON. The lineup of Fripp, Wetton, Bruford and Cross playing live is almost a religious experience. I still can't get over the sheer power and heaviness demonstrated by this band. If you've heard the song "Level Five" from "Power To Believe" you'll have a pretty good idea of what i'm talking about. Bands like ANEKDOTEN and TOOL and their heavy rhythm section come to mind, but especially ANEKDOTEN because the mellotron storms that wreak havoc throughout these two concerts. Both Fripp and Cross play mellotron. I'm going to review the first disc only which was from a concert in Mainz, Germany March 30th 1974. Some three months later we get the other live disc here from Asbury, New Jersey recorded June 28th 1974. So the same lineup and even four of the tracks are the same. The one from Asbury is one and the same as the "USA" live album, at least it is if you have the 30th anniversary edition with the bonus tracks. I have already reviewed that one.

They did four improvs during this concert in Germany and we get one right off the top with "The Savage". It opens with deep bass sounds from Wetton as Fripp plays these angular melodies. Violin comes in.It starts to get more intense as Bruford pounds away. It blends into "Dr.Diamond" as these sounds continue until the song kicks in before a minute. Vocals are theatrical at times as Wetton puts on a vocal show here and still adds some huge bass lines. Angular guitar before 3 minutes with fat bass and drums. It settles with vocals and violin after 4 minutes. The second improv is "Arabia" with the growly bass and other sounds that come and go. "Exiles" eventually kicks in with violin, bass and light drums as John comes in vocally. The mellotron is flowing until we get a storm after 2 1/2 minutes. The guitar sounds so good. Majestic mellotron after 5 minutes as the bass throbs. Nice. Here comes Fripp ! "The third improv is "Astria" as different sounds come and go. This is dark and the intensity rises and falls. The guitar is screaming 5 1/2 minutes in. It blends into "Night Watch". Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in with violin.The mellotron a minute later sounds so majestic. Guitar 3 minutes in is angular as mellotron continues.

"Starless" opens with mellotron and percussion as violin comes and goes. Vocals 1 1/2 minutes in. At 4 1/2 minutes it sounds like it's quiet, too quiet.Something is lurking in the dark. It starts getting closer until Fripp is absolutely ripping it up 7 1/2 minutes in. My God ! Cross comes in on his violin shredding 9 minutes in. Check out freaking Bruford ! An all out assault after 10 minutes. Pure emotion to end it as mellotron storms in. Huge applause from the crowd including me. "Lament" opens with reserved vocals as mellotron joins in. Huge bass when the vocals stop. It kicks in around 2 minutes. It's ANEKDOTEN-like 3 minutes in (haha). "The final improv is called "Trio". Mellotron throughout and guitar and violin take part too. "Easy Money" is heavy to open with mellotron. Vocals join in as it settles. It gets heavy duty again. Just a killer sound. The bass, drums and mellotron are beyond words here.

It's an album like this that confirms why KING CRIMSON is synonymous with Progressive music.

The Fripp Wetton Bruford Cross lineup of King Crimson is my favorite Crimson group, and by the ratings here, I'm not alone in that opinion. Not only that, this band was one of the high points in the history of progressive rock. Truly adventurous, exciting and completely unconventional, King Crimson, when the band could stay together, was always pushing the boundaries of rock music.

This album is made up of two of the King Crimson Collectors Club releases (originally too pricy for my budget), both taken from 1974 concerts. The first, recorded in Mainz, Germany, is decent quality, taken from a 2 track stereo soundboard mix. The noteworthy tracks are, as usual, the improvs, and a rare recording of Dr. Diamond, good, but marred by Wetton fumbling over the lyrics.

The second album is the Asbury Park gig, which was used for most of the tracks from the USA live album, and later expanded CD. The tracks are even longer here, with the improv, Asbury Parl running almost twelve minutes. The sound quality on this disk is great.

It's just too bad that this band wasn't around longer, and able to build a larger song selection.

In an earlier review I praised the 1974 USA live album as pure 5star Crimson bliss. This album represented the pinnacle of Wetton-era King Crimson for me in the best possible format: live in concert! However, I didn't know yet of the existence of this expanded version called "The Collectable King Crimson Vol I" until I found it in our public library. Good to know some of our tax money is well spent!

The 1974 Asbury Park concert, which I've discussed in my USA review in full detail already, has seen two great improvements, the first is to have the original running order restored so that the concert flows more naturally then the USA re-issue. Now since this isn't something any mp3 playlist couldn't restore, the main upgrade is to have the concert in its unabbreviated form. To have the Asbury Park improvisation in its entity is a treat, the second half which was cut from USA is every bit as good as the first half. Also Easy Money comes in a much extended format.

On top of that, we get another 1974 concert. There are some overlaps with the Asbury playlist, but you shouldn't miss out on Dr Diamond or any of the 4 improvisations that the band played on that evening. Wetton shines not only on bass but also on the vocals, the persistent touring with Crimson had greatly improved his somewhat strained vocals of the 1973 studio albums. The improvisations are excellent, far removed from the jamming of usual rock improvisations. Instead there's a high level of instrumental interaction that constructs adventurous progressions, just as in the best of fusion. Especially Improv: Atria is very captivating.

There are many Crimson live albums documenting this era so this collectible series might look like a bit of overkill, but I'd say we may praise ourselves very lucky to have so many great quality recordings from this period. They represent so much better what King Crimson was about then the concurrent studio albums. This CD is the best possible value for money, 8£/10$ on Amazon. What's keeping you?