Masonic Temple

“Hang about,” says Robert to the boisterous and lively crowd in Detroit who insist on shouting out requests during his announcement on this decent sounding audience recording. “These kind suggestions are very well received but it’s rude for me to talk over you. So perhaps you should be quiet?”

The improv initially revolves around a searching solo from Robert around which other elements from the band accrue. As the pace picks up, Wetton adds a descending run which, several months later form the spine of Trio. Here, however, it’s the foundation for some mid-tempo rocking out upon which the band pours various rhapsodic runs. Then that rarest thing. A Bill Bruford drum solo. There aren’t too many times in the Crimson setlist where this occurs and though brief it’s a stand-out moment as he breaks into a super fast shuffle and the band rejoin and blast into the still as yet unnamed Guts On My Side riff. This is turbo-charged Crim at its best.

The short improv that emerges out of Book Of Saturday features a gorgeously melancholic solo from David Cross. It’s a moment of true beauty and in some ways the hidden gem of this performance. As the darker inclinations of the band take over, we are pitched into the setup for the simmering menace of Talking Drum and a truly scorching LTIA. How do they top that? Well, that would be Schizoid Man's job of course.