The marvelous thing about Mister Stormy blowing the dust off the multi-tracks is that we get to hear a little of the processes involved in the recording of albums we know and love. It makes one consider how different the piece we think of as forever preserved in aural amber somehow made malleable and prone to radically altered outcomes had the decision made during the mixing been different. So this is an alternative reality version of Prince Rupert’s Lament from Lizard. Not only do we have a different guitar solo (there were four takes in total) but, as we can hear, there was another guitar accompanying the bass providing extra harmonic information and some mood-shifting colour. This is in keeping with Fripp’s approach during the making of an album, placing a kind of musical scaffolding in the early stages of building up a track, and then remove it all for the final unveiling of the finished piece.
This track is now available as part of Mr Stormy's next bumper collection. His fourth year of treasures from the murky, cavernous DGM archives, torch in hand, fedora upon his head is now available for download.
This track was one of Stormy's Monday selections. It is currently unavailable, but will be part of his next bumper collection. His fourth year of treasures from the murky, cavernous DGM archives, torch in hand, fedora upon his head is now available for download.
The marvelous thing about Mister Stormy blowing the dust off the multi-tracks is tha...
I just can't get enough of the additional guitar! It gives the piece a whole different colour. Even if I can see why it wasn't included on the album, like, the lead guitar is better off alone considering the drama of the previous sections, as a stand-alone piece I love this mix.
Written by Tim Gainer
Prince Rupert is Smiling
You can tell Fripp’s just getting warmed up on this take. It still doesn’t have the full ferocity of the final master but still sheds light on the Beast yet to emerge. BTW, I’m with the rest - I still consider Lizard to be a watershed work of musicianship; to hear these snippets from this album makes me want to hear the whole session.
Written by Hubert Van Calenbergh
Utterly beguiling
This piece certainly makes my day. Lizard has always been my favourite Crimson album and I only wish Mr Fripp would be willing to issue a Lizard box with all the bits and takes that didn’t end up on the final product - like the Beach Boys did with Pet Sounds. I’m probably not the only one here who thinks those first four albums are the best. I’m inordinately fond of the subsequent Starless period, mind, but I consider Lizard a crowning achievement. Thank you, and keep them c...
This piece certainly makes my day. Lizard has always been my favourite Crimson album and I only wish Mr Fripp would be willing to issue a Lizard box with all the bits and takes that didn’t end up on the final product - like the Beach Boys did with Pet Sounds. I’m probably not the only one here who thinks those first four albums are the best. I’m inordinately fond of the subsequent Starless period, mind, but I consider Lizard a crowning achievement. Thank you, and keep them coming!
Written by George Chacona
Another missing link
This is an absolute jewel. This solo, and the section where Jon Anderson sings over Keith Tippett’s glistening arpeggios have always been my favorite parts of the original Lizard.It is quite surprising this didn’t make it on the 40th Anniversary set, though I am building an ’Alternate Lizard’ with the Hot Tickles we have been given.Thanks for providing us with these sonic glimpses of incredible music.