Was Pete Sinfield essential for King Crimson?

no

moshkito wrote: Hi, I'm a believer in the "magic" that makes things work ... and Pete helped in many ways, that helped his name as a writer, and deservedly so. Would it be different without him? Silly question, since it happened WITH him! We've got to give credit to the resulting response ... some of the albums ended up being very well liked and enjoyed. Time to concentrate on something else other than bizarre questions?

Edited by Sean Trane - November 15 2024 at 16:24

Yes. Sinfield was as essential as a lyricist to KC as Keith Reid was to Procol Harum and Betty Thatcher was to Renaissance.

Pete Sinfield supposedly misplaced the original recording of King Crimson's performance at the Fillmore East..which was a recording that had been recorded direct and had fine clarity..(surprisingly) but supposedly Sinfield somehow misplaced it at an airport in Morroco. If memory serves me right this incident was briefly discussed by Bob Fripp in the Young Person's Guide To King Crimson booklet which included with the album and I believe released in 76'.

In the 90s Michael Giles discovered a cassette tape of the Fillmore East performance. It turned out to be an audience tape and a good portion of the performance had been cut out...but it was interesting to hear. It was released in the late 90s along with a recording of the band's performance at the Fillmore West ( which imo was not up to par) and BBC tapes . The box set was titled Epitaph.

Robert Fripp had stated that the Fillmore East performance which was recorded...was the best performance of the 69' band. I seem to recall Fripp stating this in a few magazines and further giving clarification that Sinfield lost it. I'm sure a lot of fans would have enjoyed hearing the lost tape. Most or all live recordings of the 69' band are of horrible quality. If the Fillmore East tape had not been misplaced...historically we'd have good recording of a superb performance that I'm sure Steve Wilson could clean up.

Sinfield worked with McDonald and Giles on their album and had they stayed with King Crimson Birdman Suite could have been featured on the second King Crimson album. Although I like In The Wake Of Poseidon the way it is...other people dislike its similarities to In The Court Of The Crimson King. If McDonald and Giles had stayed they definitely would have added a different style to the band's writing. King Crimson's second album would have sounded different and perhaps more appealing to people who find Poseidon boring because it's a repeat of the Court.



Edited by Jacob Schoolcraft - March 09 2024 at 22:11

GUD77 wrote: He was definitely an amazing poet and had some really memorable lyrics. I dont remember all the songs he wrote at the top of my head but the work he put into KC and ELP combined is just sublime. Probably something like a 5th Beatle type situation and he should be remember for it

He was definitely an amazing poet and had some really memorable lyrics. I dont remember all the songs he wrote at the top of my head but the work he put into KC and ELP combined is just sublime. Probably something like a 5th Beatle type situation and he should be remember for it

Ensemble album pure and simple. Take out any of them and it falls apart.

Closer To Believing is my favourite GL song off that side of Works Volume One. I love the romantic imagery and use of choir. C'est La Vie was one the one that got trotted out most possibly so Emerson could play the Honher Accordian but ELP did play CTB on the massive Works tour when they still had the orchestra (eventually dropped for financial reasons). 

I'm a lyrics girl.  One of my top ten, all-time lyrics songs is Sinfield/Lake/ELP's "Hallowed Be Thy Name" off of Works Vol. I. 

Edited by omphaloskepsis - March 01 2024 at 15:20

Valdez1 wrote: Is Sinfield still with us BTW?  ...Peter?