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Larks’ Tongues in Aspic
Studio album by King Crimson
Released	March 23, 1973
Recorded	January-February 1973 at Command Studios, London, engineered by Nick Ryan.
Genre	Progressive rock; Experimental rock; Hard rock
Length	46:37
Label	Island Records; Atlantic Records; Polydor Records; E.G. Records; Virgin Records
Producer	King Crimson
Professional reviews
	Allmusic link; Robert Christgau (B-) link;
King Crimson chronology

Larks' Tongues in Aspic is a 1973 album by the British progressive rock group King Crimson. This album is the debut of King Crimson's third incarnation, and features original member and guitarist Robert Fripp and new members John Wetton (vocals, bass), David Cross (violin, mellotron), Jamie Muir (percussion), and Bill Bruford (drums), as well as lyricist Richard Palmer-James. The album sees the band incorporate into its sound violin and also various exotic percussion instruments, including sheet metal and mbiras. It was the first King Crimson record to demonstrate Fripp’s dominant compositional vision (without either the template of Ian McDonald's songwriting and arrangements or the influence of Sinfield’s elaborate conceptual lyrics and references) and in that sense was the first King Crimson record to escape from the shadow of the debut album.

The album opens with a long experimental instrumental piece titled "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One." After that there are three vocal pieces, "Book of Saturday", "Exiles" and "Easy Money." These are followed by two more instrumentals, "The Talking Drum" and "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two." The instrumental pieces on this album have strong jazz fusion influences, and portions have an almost heavy metal feel. The angry, angular mood of this album is largely credited to the influence of Béla Bartók.[1] Also clearly evident is the influence of Miles Davis controversial 1972 album On the Corner.

The album spawned the concert staple "Exiles", whose mellotron introduction has been adapted from an instrumental piece called "Mantra" the band's original line up performed throughout 1969. At that time, as well as in late 1972, the melody was played by Fripp on guitar.

In the Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, the album came #22 in its list of "40 Cosmic Rock Albums". ^[1]

[edit] Track listing

Side one

"Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One" (D. Cross/R. Fripp/J. Wetton/B. Bruford/J. Muir) – 13:36
"Book of Saturday" (R. Fripp/J. Wetton/R. Palmer-James) – 2:49
"Exiles" (D. Cross/R. Fripp/R. Palmer-James) – 7:40

Side two

"Easy Money" (R. Fripp/J. Wetton/R. Palmer-James) – 7:54
"The Talking Drum" (D. Cross/R. Fripp/J. Wetton/B. Bruford/J. Muir) – 7:26
"Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two" (R. Fripp) – 7:12

[edit] Personnel

Robert Fripp - guitar, mellotron, devices, electric piano
John Wetton - bass, lead vocals, acoustic piano
Bill Bruford - drums
David Cross - violin, viola, mellotron, flute, electric piano
Jamie Muir - percussion

with

Richard Palmer-James - lyrics

[edit] References

^ Q Classic: Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, 2005.

[0] Q Classic: Pink Floyd & The Story of Prog Rock, 2005.

[1]