Penn State University University Park United States

Though this particular line-up were edging closer to oblivion, listening to this full show 30 years after the event, the energy levels are astounding.[endtease] In his journal from the time RF described the show as "Tired. Lifeless. Lacklustre” Maybe Fripp’s estimation of the gig was informed by his recovering from mild food poisoning, the cumulative effect of prunes and a boil in his ear!

It seems nobody was happy this particular night. Sound engineer George Chkaintz had trouble with the sound in the recording truck, roadie Tex is frightened to turn down Wetton’s amp despite the discreet urgings of other members of the band and crew, Fripp is giving tour manager Dik Frasier grief,and the promoter isn’t best pleased because the band haven’t done an encore!

Despite all of this, the concert isn’t anywhere near as bad as Fripp and others judged it at the time. LTIA rips and roars like an angry beast, and the exquisite lead lines during Exiles compensate for the liberties taken with some of ithe timing. Fracture is a major event with Wetton and Bruford seemingly in a deathmatch race to see who can reach the end of the song first. Thankfully Fripp and Cross manage to keep up with them! The improvs are robust in character and prove that even with all of the problems and politics in the band, Crimso hit escape velocity: the second one in particular gives a gently-inclined Cross a chance to move out from under the overbearing rhythm section. Oh, and did I mention that Starless is a must-have belter?

Mixed directly from the multitracks, with the exception of those improvs, having been previously pressed into active service on The Great Deceiver box set, this is the first time the entire concert has been made available.
TRACK
TIME
01
Walk On
01:56
02
Larks' Tongues In Aspic Pt II
06:26
03
Lament
05:03
04
Exiles
07:22
05
Improv: Is There Life Out There?
14:14
06
Easy Money
02:22
07
Improv: Its For You But Not For Us
07:37
08
Fracture
10:54
09
Starless
15:44
Written by Joe Myers
I was at the Penn State show
This show was my first KC event and it was great. I have the answer for Jordon Clifford's question about the short Easy Money. John Kirk posted that the opening act was Gino Vanelli I don't remember who opened but I do remember the crowd that stayed didn't fill Rec Hall. There were disruptive people who weren't patient with the improv's. When you listen to this release ( I have the disc from Road to Red) you will notice that while Robert addressed the crowd he asked "Is There Life Out There?" wh...
Written by Martin Ingram
Starless...
My word, the version of Starless here is astonishing! This on its own makes this a must-have.
Written by Cary Krosinsky
what a recording
don't hesitate to pick this one up, a fantastic recording, all musicians crystal clear, and high quality versions of songs - Bruford's drumming is amazing on this one, worth a shout on this actually as well - get it!
Written by Frank Hadlich
BB drumming
The most unsettling disturbing drumming from BB recognized so far - a drummer’s pleasure, but yet a little bit hard for the bandmates to accompany.
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