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  Starless and Bible Fracture October 12, 2012
Written by jeffoaster
If you’re going through the reviews of this one, you’ll no doubt notice that this one has been around for awhile. Indeed, I bought it about five years ago myself. The big appeal for this concert is for the early version of Fracture, which has an extended middle section featuring parts of a different King Crimson tune that has achieved classic stature. So it’s good that they trimmed that portion out. Plus it seems to disrupt the flow of the song too (which could be simply a matter of me having heard the song tons and tons of times before hearing this version). Fracture is an interesting tune to follow the development. This version is relatively subdued. It seemed to get more intense the more it was performed, culminating in what almost sounded like a three way struggle between Wetton, Bruford and Fripp to see who could dominate more.
The rest of the concert is top notch as well. A storming version of LTiA which opens the show is a particular highlight. I can’t really say that I’m much a fan of the Music Box improv. There are some quirks with the setlist. There is no Dr. Diamond, which may have been put on the shelf for this tour since it wasn’t performed in the Oct 23 set either, and no Improv to lead into the Talking Drum.
Zen and the Art of Drum Machine Maintenance December 3, 2008
Written by DeVito
Bit of a delayed reaction here since this was my very first DGM Live download, back in March ’06. Almost 3 years later I still find it to be a very enjoyable listen. “Easy Money,” “Fracture,” and the improv are the highlights for me and have been included in several of my homemade “best of” compilations. (DGM didn’t title the improv, so I’ve christened it “The Inner Cool of the Cheesy Drum Machine.”) Some of the early reviewers complained about the audio quality, but this is a very listenable, clear and spacious audience tape with a nice atmosphere. Well worth repeated listenings. --Chris DeVito
Origin of the Arlington gig July 25, 2008
Written by desol81
This was a very popular and easily available boot in my college years(my roommate still has the vinyl). Wasn’t this from a King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcast? Perhaps memory fails me. But I do remember the "get on down" stage announcement. I also remember him saying, "I have heard requests that we should play louder....May I suggest instead that you might listen more attentively?" The more things change....
March 25, 2008
Written by DrQuuxum
Not bad for a bootleg. Mr. Bruford comes through loud and clear throughout. Even the ’trons sound good on Easy Money and Exiles. Messrs. Fripp & Wetton still sound a bit muddled at times, though, but the points they make are decent.
Wish I’d been there...too bad it was 4½ years before my birth.
1973 Arlington Texas May 11, 2007
Written by Typhoon
Absolutely intense. One of the best perfomances I have heard from any line up. David’s Viola/Violin is much more promenant than any other recording I have heard.
Breathtaking March 1, 2007
Written by paulwelsh
The sound quality-excellent, for what it is. If concerned, download the mp3 rather than the FLAC. The performance is intense. The guitar on Easy Money just about stiffs JW again, and am I really to believe that these boys are in their mid 20’s? No reservations at all- buy it.
Superb April 9, 2006
Written by Jonathan
This is an awesome concert. Yeah it’s a bootleg , but what you have here is , undoubtably , the best quality version of this concert available. Without the inclusion of such bootlegs gems like this are not available to be heard. IMO the sound quality is very listenable and the vibe of this concert is fantastic. Do not hesitate to purchase!
Tingle factor April 7, 2006
Written by discipline
For me, this recording definitely has the tingle factor, and I don’t care two hoots that the recording isn’t soundboard quality. Favourite tracks so far - yet another brilliant versionof ’Easy Money’ and ’Fracture’ hoisted me by the seat of my pants, and that’s only on the first disc of the set. A not-to-be- missed issue!!!!!!
King Crimson - October 6, 1973 - Arlington March 20, 2006
Written by gboland
I was so pleasesd to see this concert nominated for download, I’ve got a copy of the vinyl LP Senabular and it always was one of favourite bootlegs. The Improvised track (which I dubbed Senabular (not original I know)) was my favourite piece of improvisation from my bootleg collection. It really is a first rate concert, as always the RF Announcement is very amusing, typical English humour. Just a final note, I’d love to see the Udine concert available for download, whatever the quality and also Stonybrook from ’81which has some rare stuff on it. Cheers Gerard Boland
Excellent but for the sound March 19, 2006
Written by GregK1
Great performance, but the sound quality really does detract from the overall quality. It is hard to hear the bass at times. This is comparable to the Zoom club 2 disc KCCC set in that the band performance must be heard, however beware the low-fi sound quality. Why are there not soundboard-recorded shows from this band for all peformances? Weren’t they all recorded?
arlington, 6th 1973 March 19, 2006
Written by linusrobinson
This is the most impecable version of Larks’ to my knowledge.
One of their best March 18, 2006
Written by chris_henry
I had this as a vinyl bootleg years ago, and so glad to hear it again digital. To me I thought this was one of the best 73-74 era Crimso concerts available. Yes the sound quality isn’t the best. I don’t care.
John Wetton seems to heft the band on his shoulders throughout this gig, and with him as the base (pun, sorry), nothing the others play here seems anything less than excellent. Can you imagine having that guy in your band? Fripp could sneeze on stage and Wetton would find just the right riff to make it sound musical.
It’s damning that the sound quality isn’t better in the bass region. Wetton’s bassline in "Book of Saturdays" is miraculous. Listen for example to his beautiful mellow upper range line from 1:58 to 2:10 or so. It’s almost a guitar duet with Fripp, a la "Trio".
The improv here is interesting because of the 70’s era drum machine metronoming along. I assume it was added to replace Jamie. (Yes, Wetton’s accompaniment can even make a Texas drum machine seem thoughtful and subtle ;-)
David Cross had one of his best nights as a Crimson.
This IS the Real Crimson Deal March 15, 2006
Written by 5phil8
I don’t know if this is the same version of the Arlington performance that I sent to Mr. Smith, but I heavily flogged this concert to him in correspondence - sending both audio CD and FLAC versions to get his attention. And the reason?? The 10/6/73 performance is phenomenal, and the recording is excellent. Sure, it’s a boot but the sound is warm and full. This could be the best boot recording I’ve heard - particularly from 30 plus years ago. In my opinion, the sound quality is MUCH better than the Central Park ’74 show available through the KCCC. As for the performance, it is wonderful in the established repertoire and the improvs are spectacular. In my opinion, again. This performance is every bit the equal of the Concertgebouw ’73 released as The Nightwatch and I’d say even more powerful. And you get RF’s "happy hippies" announcement. Don’t hesitate, grab this one.
Of all the bootlegs posted, this is by far the best March 15, 2006
Written by Rhymes_With_Eloquent
I’m surprised at the questions on why this should be released. In case no one read the description, there is a bit in Fracture that has never been released. Plus there’s Improvs. I’m more interested in hearing these as you can learn more about the band this way. there’s already a multitude of releases from this era that are multi-track and will undoubtedly be more (I’ll be the first in line to buy it). With a hot tickle allowing people to know what to expect, just save your money if you’re not interested in somethign that isn’t perfect. The sound quality is excellent for what it is. Of all the bootlegs posted, this is by far the best. The absolute power of the band is evident. Larks 1 is a treat as always. A great performance and well worth the money.
part two of review March 15, 2006
Written by mikeh69
I also wanted to say that yes I like audience recordings to a point. The sound of this show is defintely very good. But audience recordings when it’s total muffled city or loud and arghhhhh or too distant or just low fidelity where you get ear fatigue in 5 minutes that’s when I may not listen to the particular recording that often. Also yeah the performance is intense and Im sure that’s mostly the reason for it’s release.
Scour the Bins! March 15, 2006
Written by acampo
The more soundboards available of this incarnation the better! For those of us fortunate to witness this combo in action this show is an excellent representation of the fall ’73 tour set list and will serve until the specific show one had attended is ’discovered’. Hoping to see some releases from fall 2001 KC tour in the near future.
Staggering Stuff March 15, 2006
Written by MikeDickson
A quite unbelievably good performance. Never mind the sound quality - the music quality will carry you through this without any problems at all. Wetton is on top form throughout. I’ve had this one on tape for years now, but I assume this recording must have been taken from another (better) source. Maybe we should have a unit of measurement on DGM Live for bootleg quality; maybe we could call it ’The Earthbound’.
And yes, ’jamming down the buttons’ is the way to go. Our latest has the effect of playing a Hammond rhythm box with four buttons jammed down and forcing a Mellotron out through a radio earpiece.
Great Performance! March 15, 2006
Written by mudfish55
While I appreciate and respect the comments and concerns of listeners who would prefer only produced soundboards of shows, I have found that there have personally been many wonderful musical experiences I have enjoyed throughout my life which I would have missed but for hearing them through a perhaps "less than ideal medium". This show is one of those. A thoroughly exciting show with an energy which comes through despite the limitiations of listening to an audience tape, albeit a very good one for the age and DGM post production. Good balance and clarity. "Fracture" is great listening for the ’new’ section, the improv is a monster, and the "Talking Drum/Larks II" is firery. All in all, a purchase I will not regret. Thanks. A fine choice for the winner of the Caption contest.
Soundboard Recordings, Please March 14, 2006
Written by nasmformyzombie
1973-74 Crimson recorded many (if not most) of its gigs via soundboard. Given the fact that there are dozens of unreleased gigs recorded in this manner---and that demand for product from this incarnation of the band is still high---why release a bootleg? Oh, I understand the historical significance of the last gig in Central Park in 1974 (poor quality audience tape released by the KC Club), but why release this gig? 1973-74 Crimson is one of my favorite groups of all time, but I for one refuse to indulge in this nonsense. I will not plunk down my hard earned cash for this. Robert, give us the REAL thing, please.
Going For Broke March 14, 2006
Written by mikeh69
Hi I was wondering are all the 1973 live soundboard and multitrack live recordings all used up. Those should be released first ( if theres any left) than you can profit off these cheap cassette tape recorders with built in microphone or microphone plugged in to cassette tape recorder from bootleggers. Also what about those incomplete multi track recordings off The Great Deceiver box set. I mean Penn State University June 29th 1974 soundboard complete?...Is Glasgow Apollo October 23rd 1973 complete?...Toronto Massey Hall June 24th 1974 complete?...Zurich Volkshaus November 15th 1973 complete? Help I keep buying downloads from DGMLIVE.COM ...IM GOING BROKE I CAN"T HELP MYSELF.....and guess what .... GENESISLIVE.COM ...IS NEXT ....OH NOOOOOOO AND THEN YESLIVE.COM....AND THEN ELPLIVE.COM....JETHROTULLLIVE.COM OH GOD HELP...MY CREDIT CARD ...although GENTLE GIANT HAS THEIR STUFF ALREADY AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON.....OK iM CALM NOW IM RELAXED ....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Flaming Hot Tickle March 14, 2006
Written by vrooom
This is not a review of the whole concert per se, but I had to say this about the Hot Tickle: "Whiskey Wow Wow!" Just when cynical old Darren thinks he’s heard it all, you go and do it again. I never realised they used a drum machine back in ’73. Cool!
Drum Machine March 14, 2006
Written by DGM Live
When asked about the drum machine on the improv, and possibly twitching at the memory of it all, Bill replied “Bloody hell--the drum machine. It never had a name--other than the drumbox--and no identifiable manufacturer. Of UK origin certainly, but I probably picked it up at a car boot sale. It would play you "waltz", "swing", "quickstep", and "latin" , all of which were awful. But if you jammed certain of these buttons down at the same time, you could get an approximation of something useable. Which is what I did. Whatever the technology did, it was never enough, and the musician always began to explore the things it didn’t do. Much more interesting. That applied to mellotrons, guitar synths, and spectacularly Simmons electronic drums, which were never designed to sound like Waiting Man. And which is why I got through drum-techs at the rate of about one a week.”
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