In 1969, King Crimson came from nowhere to take the music scene by storm with the release of their debut recording, 'In The Court Of The Crimson King.' With its startling 'screaming face' cover and the ground-breaking blend of rock, jazz, folk and classical influences, the album was an immediate Top Five hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The Who's Pete Townshend declared it "an uncanny masterpiece" and tracks like '21st Century Schizoid Man,' 'Epitaph' and 'In The Court Of The Crimson King,' not only came to define Prog Rock, but inspired a generation of bands such as Genesis and Yes.
While a new incarnation of King Crimson continues to tour, interest in the innovative work of the original 1969/early 70s line-up has continued to grow. And then, after more than three decades, four of the original King Crimson members reunited under the collective banner of The 21st Century Schizoid Band. Taking their name from the classic King Crimson track, this extraordinary combination featured original members Michael Giles (drums & percussion), brother Peter Giles (bass), Ian McDonald (sax, flute, keyboards), Mel Collins (alto / tenor, flute, keyboards) and Jakko M Jakszyk of guitar and lead vocals.
Following a short UK tour and 3 shows in Japan, Michael decided that live performance was not for him, but the others were committed to taking this further: playing more, adding new material and seeing where it could go. So, to maintain momentum, the band have recruited another former Crimson drummer Ian Wallace, at the suggestion of both Michael and Robert Fripp. The band commence rehearsals in late February 2003, for trips to Russia, Italy and Greece. With plans for more touring later in the year, featuring new Schizoid compositions and other long lost Crimson gems in the groups repertoire.
The resurgence of interest in all things Crimson continues to excite fans and critics alike. In 1997, a two CD box set, 'Epitaph' (containing rare live performances) confirmed King Crimson's reputation for being one of the most challenging live bands of the time, and in 1999, Virgin Records released a specially remastered 30th Anniversary Edition of 'In The Court Of The Crimson King,' ' In The Wake of Posiedon,' 'Lizard' and 'Islands' presenting these classic albums to a new generation of listeners. In 2002, Virgin Records re-issued the album 'McDonald And Giles,' recorded by the duo in 1970 following the break-up of the original Crimson lineup. They also released 'Earthbound' a live recording that features both Mel and Ian Wallace. Amazingly this release went to number 3 in the Japanese album charts.
The global appetite for the Schizoid Band's dynamic blend of challenging and genre-blurring music remains strong. In addition to more UK and Japanese dates, the group will be performing in Europe, the United States, as well as recording an album of new material in the next year!
21st Century Schizoid Band/Pictures of a City: Live in
New York ....import double CD $18.95temporarily unavailable, sorry
(excerpt from 'Starless')
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Double disc set documenting a US performance by former members and associates of one Mr. Robert Fripp, the 21st Century Schizoid Band were lensed at B.B. King's Blues Club in Times Square, New York City on 27th April 2004. The live sound was produced direct from the mixing desk and features both their early and late performances from that date. The personnel lineup includes Mel Collins, Ian Wallace, Jakko M. Jakszyk, Ian McDonald and Peter Giles. Performances include Pictures of a City, Catfood, Let There Be Light, Cirkus, Spend Us Three, Cadence and Cascade, Court of the Crimson King, Ladies of the Road, Catleys Ashes, Formentera Lady, Sailors Tale, I Talk to the Wind, Epitaph, 21st Century Schizoid Man and Starless.
The Crimson Jazz Trio/King Crimson Songbook Vol 1 ....import CD $16.99
(excerpt from 'Starless')
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Very, very few players have covered King Crimson repertoire and no-one of prominence (other than The Schizoid Band and Andrew Keeling’s orchestral arrangements) has attempted more than one or two pieces. There have been honourable renditions & representations but, until now, without significantly adding to my understanding of Crimson material. The CJ3 have respectfully & irreverently taken 8 Crimson classics, repositioned them in the musical spectrum, and delivered their first Songbook with superb musicianship in service to wit & invention. I have heard, as if for the first time, Schizoid, TOAPP, Catfood, Starless, Ladies Of The Road, I Talk To The Wind, Red & Matte Kudasai. Ian Wallace provides personal hotline & Crimson-juice authority to the Trio, although anyone unfamiliar with Ian's jazz passion & experience may be surprised by what is going on here. O for a shabby & smoke-free jazz club to sit back & savour The CJ3 in living sonic colour. O for someone to persuade Ian, Jody Nardone & Tim Landers to climb into the back of a van and travel.
21st Century Schizoid Band/Live In Japan ....import CD $16.99
Live in Japan - Official Bootleg Volume Two, recorded live in Tokyo on Nov 6th 2002, was available previously only on the band's recent tours of Europe and Japan. It features features former King Crimson members Ian McDonald, Michael Giles, Mel Collins, and Peter Giles, plus guitarist/vocalist Jakko Jakszyk. Featured tracks include Schizoid Intro, A Man A City, Catfood, Let There Be Light, Progress, Court of the Crimson King, Formentera Lady, Ladies of the Road, I Talk To The Wind, Epitaph, BirdMan, 21st Century Schizoid Man.
21st Century Schizoid Band/Live in Italy ....import CD $16.99
Available previously only on the band's recent tour of Europe and Japan, this CD features over an hour of music. Captured live in Italy in March of 2003, this documents the band's new era with drummer and former Crimson member Ian Wallace. As well as five Crimson tracks, this CD features a live rendition of the recent McDonald/Sinfield tune 'Let There Be Light' and the McDonald & Giles opus 'Birdman.' But there's another big bonus here - A BRAND NEW SCHIZOID PIECE (!) currently being performed live, but included here in its studio recorded demo form and featuring all the band. Original Bootleg Volume 1 was a peek at the band in the rehearsal studio prior to their first tour. Live in Italy presents them as an experienced and tight ensemble with plenty of road miles behind them and plenty of muscle in their performance!
King Crimson/Lizard ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Prince Rupert Awakes')
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30th Anniversary Edition - King Crimson's 3rd studio album and 2nd recording of 1970, was, like its predecessor In the Wake of Poseidon, the product of a studio band. It was also the 1st Crimson album for which Robert Fripp provided all of the music. An often overlooked and under-appreciated gem from their early years, Lizard featured a lighter, more delicate sound than the previous albums - an approach perhaps necessitated by an extended instrumental lineup. the expanded range of instruments allowed for intricately interwoven instrumental passages. Crimson was, as ever, seeking to expand athe vocabulary of rock music and Lizard was, in some ways, the band's most ambitious album to date. It remains a fascinating, intriguing album - an album only a band called King Crimson could make - even if it was a very different King Crimson to that which had gone before or would come after. It features a guest performance from Yes vocalist, Jon Anderson.
King Crimson/Islands ....CD $14.99
(excerpt from 'Sailor's Tale')
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30th Anniversary Edition - The linup that recorded Islands was the only incarnation of King Crimson to look towards rock's traditional blues origins for influence. The one studio album they left behind is, nonetheless, a fine example of the many disparate influences that informed the 1971 King Crimson. The album also marks the final appearance of Pete Sinfield as a member. For futures lineups, Robert Fripp would be the sole surviving founder member of King Crimson. At first glance - with a similarly extended lineup, pieces such as the opening Formentera Lady, Prelude and title track Islands, and the first appearance of stings, King Crimson's 4th studio album seemed likely to expand upon the nature of Lizard, the album that had preceded it in 1970. But the presences of a new rhythm section (Boz Burrell & Ian Wallace) and the fact that the core lineup was performing again as a live band, helped ensure Islands sounded, at least in part, more like the product of a gigging rock band than that of a purely studio based recording group.
King Crimson/Red ....CD $14.99
King Crimson/Red (mini-LP sleeve version) ....CD $16.99 (quantities
limited!)
(excerpt from 'Red')
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By the time King Crimson entered the studio in July 74, the band had spent the best part of two years on the road, recorded two albums along the way (Larks' Tongues In Aspic & Starless & Bible Black), & shed two band members en route (percussionist Jamie Muir left for a monastery, violin/mellotron player David Cross had left at the end of the US tour a week earlier). They had also built a reputation as one of the tightest, most powerful bands on the rock circuit. Recording as a trio in Olympic studios in London, with contributions from former members & friends on sax, violin, oboe & clarinet, the group produced the last Crimson studio album of the 70s & one of the decade's masterpieces - Red. Red emerged as a distillation of everything Crimson had been working towards live & in the studio between 72 and 74. In the thirty years since its release, Red has built an enviable, enduring reputation among fans & professional musicians alike – with bands from each succeeding decade citing it as an important influence.Please note that the mini-LP sleeve versions of this classic is still available while supplies last.
Fission Trip/Volume One ....import CD $16.99
(excerpt from 'Santa Maria')
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What happens when two versatile but virtually unknown Texas musicians blithely contact a respected alumnus of the legendary progressive rock band King Crimson and suggest recording an album together? Well, if you're Michael Clay and Ernie Myers of the highly regarded but obscure Dallas art-rock band Hands, and the Crim in question is drummer/producer/composer Ian Wallace, the answer is...Fission Trip. Indeed, like a Brothers Grimm story told in 7/4 time, keyboardist Clay and guitarist/vocalist Myers sufficiently impressed Wallace with their compositions, chops and a collective and goofy sense of humor - and in a longshot payoff of lottery-winner proportions, he invited them to Nashville to meet, jam and compare their respective material. It worked so well that the wry Scotsman had KC/21st CSB bandmate and woodwind brujo Mel Collins fly in from England and persuaded fellow Nashvillean and current KC frontman/twang bar-pyrotechnician Adrian Belew to add some solo guitar twists and turns to the mix. Local session bassist John Billings, so fluid he was handpicked by Victor Wooten to hold down bass chores in Wooten's estimable family band, rounded out the musicians. The result, Fission Trip - Volume One, produced by Wallace is a jarringly great amalgam of archival prog, witty pop, and buoyant fusion - as though Weather Report made toast from a loaf of Beatles bread and buttered it with Selling England by the Pound marmalade.
21st Century Schizoid Band/Live in Japan ....DVD-NTSC (region 0) $22.99
This has been out of print for a brief time, but is now back! Recorded live at Shinjuku Kouseinenkin Hall, Tokyo on 6 November 2002. This DVD features the Schizoid Band delivering a powerful performance with songs from the first four King Crimson albums plus songs from McDonald & Giles, Michael Giles' Progress and Ian McDonald's Drivers Eyes. The band features Michael Giles, Peter Giles, Ian McDonald, Mel Collins and Jakko M Jakszyk. Songs include Schizoid Intro, A Man A City, Catfood, Let There Be Light, Progress, Court of the Crimson King, Formentera Lady, Tomorrow's People, If I Was, Ladies of the Road, I Talk To The Wind, Epitaph, BirdMan, 21st Century Schizoid Man. Extra features include: individual band member interviews, the recording of the Official Bootleg Vol 1; debut performance at Canterbury Fayre festival, footage from Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. Sound in Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo.
Ian Wallace/Happiness with Minimal Side Effects ....CD $13.99
Judge a man by the company he keeps, so the saying goes. By those standards, the company Ian Wallace keeps would rank him among the most accomplished and highly regarded drummers of his time. The Englishman has toured and/or recorded with such notables as multi-instrumentalist David Lindley; guitarists Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Larry Coryell, Robert Fripp (as a member of King Crimson), Lonnie Mack, Peter Frampton, Robben Ford, Joe Walsh and Alvin Lee; keyboardists Warren Zevon, Eno, and Keith Emerson; and vocalists Roy Orbison, Jackson Browne, Jon Anderson (Yes), Stevie Nicks, Steve Marriott, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Did we mention that he toured with Procol Harum and recorded with the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys as well? Most recently, Wallace has been touring with 21st Century Schizoid Band, a group comprised of fellow former King Crimson members Mel Collins, Peter Giles and Ian McDonald and Level 42's Jakko Jaksyck to sold-out crowds across Europe. And now he releases his first solo album, Happiness with Minimal Side Effects featuring, among others, his fellow member of the 21st Century Schizoid Band, Ian McDonald, and current Crimson drummer, Pat Mastelotto.
Michael Giles/Progress ....import CD $21.98
Progress was recorded in 1978 and is a previously unreleased album written and performed by Michael Giles aided by an amazing collection of classic progressive rock & jazz 'names' including Geoffrey Richardson (Penguin Café Orchestra, Caravan), Jimmy Hastings(Caravan) and John Perry (Caravan, Quantum Jump), Dave McRae (Matching Mole), Peter Giles(King Crimson) and Ray Warleigh. Michael and Peter Giles with Robert Fripp formed Giles, Giles and Fripp, releasing The Cheerful Insanity Of. album in 1968. A previously unreleased album The Brondesbury Tapes was released on Voiceprint in 2001. They went on to form the amazing King Crimson in 1969 before splitting and Michael Giles recorded the great McDonald & Giles album with Ian McDonald for Island in 1970.
Giles, Giles and Fripp/The Brondesbury Tapes ....CD $13.99
The long-lost, heavy sequel to their Cheerful Insanity album and an important document of the origins of King Crimson. These unbelievably pristine "bedroom" recordings from 1968 are intricate like Crimson but also have a wicked pop sensibility. The only in-print recordings of this band. Their major label album is out of print!
Steve Hackett and Friends/Tokyo Tapes-Live in Japan
....DVD/NTSC $22.95
Steve Hackett/The Tokyo Tapes ....import VHS (NTSC format) $26.99
Steve Hackett/The Tokyo Tapes ....import VHS (PAL format) $26.99
This 100-minute DVD and VHS features the triumphant performance of Steve Hackett and his band playing a magical set in the heart of Japan. Hackett demonstrates his uplifting musical prowess by performing his emotion-building ballads with his orchestral rock & roll outfit - John Wetton, Ian MacDonald, Chester Thompson and Julian Colbeck. The setlist includes gems not only from the Steve Hackett repertoire, but also that of Genesis, King Crimson, John Wetton and Asia. The DVD edition also includes 18 minutes of rehearsal footage not available on the VHS release.
Steve Hackett/The Tokyo Tapes ....double import CD $17.99
This double CD was taken from Steve's recent performances in Japan. On this tour his band consisted of bassist/vocalist John Wetton of King Crimson, UK, Asia, etc., Ian McDonald, the original keyboardist/flutist/saxophonist for King Crimson, keyboardist Julian Colbeck who has peformed with ABWH, and drummer Chester Thompson who was part of Genesis' touring band for a number of years. These powerful performances are not to be missed! Songs performed include those of Steve Hackett, King Crimson, Genesis and Asia. The video is basically the whole Tokyo show from start to finish. The album is the whole show plus two previously unreleased studio recordings - instrumental tracks entitled "Firewall" & "The Dealer". The Camino release of Tokyo Tapes is now an enhanced CD that contains various multi-media materials including video clips from the Tokyo Tapes performance and 20 mp3's!
Jakko/Are My Ears On Wrong? ....import CD $15.99
The music on this album is comprised of selected tracks from two previously unreleased Jakko solo recordings. The first was made between 1983-85 for Stiff Records and the second 1986 - 87 for M.D.M. The rich and varied material includes guest performances from Davey Jones (Monkees), Mark Bedford (Madness), John Giblin (Simple Minds/Pete Gabriel), Lenny Henry and legendary bass player Danny Thompson.
Jakko/Mustard, Gas & Roses ....import CD $15.99
As the title might imply, some of the songs on this, Jakko's first solo album, are quite smooth and easy to listen to, while others may stretch your sensibilities somewhat. This is over 50 minutes of quality music, a collection from many collaborations, featuring the talents of such artists as B.J.Cole, Danny Thompson and Sam Brown.
Jakko/Mustard Gas & Roses & Are My Ears On Wrong? ....import double CD $15.99
Mustard Gas & Roses was Jakko's first solo album - it is easy to listen to in parts, while others may stretch your sensibilities somewhat. Over 50 mins of quality music this album also features the talents of B.J.Cole, Danny Thompson and Sam Brown. The music on Are My Ears On Wrong? is comprised of selected tracks from two previously unreleased solo recordings. The rich and varied material includes performances from Davey Jones (Monkees), Mark Bedford (Madness), John Giblin (Simple Minds/Pete Gabriel), Lenny Henry and legendary bass player Danny Thompson.
Jakko/The Radio Program - The Road to Ballina ....import CD $15.99
In a piece of original composition for Radio 3, guitarist and composer Jakko M Jakszyk traces a route through the tangled lines of his own inheritance. When broad casting in December '96 The Road To Ballina met with great critical acclaim in the National press and it has been chosen by the BBC as their 'Arts' entry for this years Sony Radio Awards.
Jakko w/t Jansen, Barbieri and Karn/Kingdom of Dust ....import CD $15.99
Jakko (ex Level 42) teams up with Steve Jansen, Richard Barbieri and Mick Karn all formerly of Japan, to produce this stunning mini album, with seventeen minutes of total eardrum pleasure it shouldn't be missed.
King Crimson/Epitaph ....double CD $21.99
The collected live recordings and rarities from the band that started it all for art-rock back in 1969. Includes the final performance by Fripp, Lake, McDonald, Giles and Sinfield at the Fillmore West in San Francisco plus studio sessions recorded at the BBC. Package includes a 64 page booklet.
King Crimson/In The Court Of The Crimson King (Original Master Edition) ....CD $14.99
This is the album that started it all with Ian McDonald, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Robert Fripp and Pete Sinfield. This is a true classic of progressive music and has influenced so many bands and musicians (a few of whom went through it's ranks). Now it has been re-mastered from the original master tapes which were only recently found!
King Crimson/In The Wake Of Poseidon - 30th Anniversary Edition (gem case) ....$14.99
The second album from rock icons King Crimson, this version contains two additional tracks from the last version which was remastered in 1999, including a different version of Cat Food and its original b-side, Groon.
King Crimson/In the Wake of Poseidon (mini-LP sleeve version) ....CD $16.99 (quantities limited!)
Special limited edition of the legendary English prog rock group's phenomenal second album in deluxe packaging. Digitally remastered by Robert Fripp himself using 24 bit technology plus HDCD encoding, they come in unique, limited edition, cardboard stock gatefold sleeve just as the original vinyl LP's with the original artwork & sleeve notes intact.
King Crimson/Ladies Of The Road ....double CD $16.99
Ladies Of The Road is a two-volume Special Edition of live performances during 1971-72 drawn from the archives of the King Crimson Collectors' Club. The first CD is a series of performances beginning with the play-in shows at the Zoom Club, Hamburg through to the final Earthbound tour of America. The second CD is a compilation of sax and guitar solos played during performances of 21st Century Schizoid Man throughout its life.
Alexis Korner & Snape/Accidently Born in New Orleans ....CD $15.98
Alexis Korner and King Crimson members Mel Collins, Ian Wallace and Boz Burrell came together as Alexis Korner & Snape and recorded this 1973 Warner Bros. release. Guests include Steve Marriott, Patto members Ollie Halsall and Mike Patto & Tim Hinkley. First time on CD, the album has been remastered from the original tapes. Water. 2004.
Ian McDonald/Drivers Eyes ....import CD $15.99
This is the debut solo release from Ian McDonald, one of the founding members of King Crimson and the main composer for the incredible Crimson debut, In the Court of the Crimson King. Guests on this album include Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Lou Gramm, Gary Brooker, John Waite, Mike Giles, Peter Frampton, a co-write with Pete Sinfield (the first since King Crimson and McDonald & Giles days). One track is purely a McDonald and Giles track.
Ian McDonald & Michael Giles/McDonald & Giles ....import CD $18.95
2002 HDCD remaster reissue of the King Crimson founders' 1971 collaboration. This was remastered by Ian McDonald himself from the master tapes. Includes a guest appearance from Steve Winwood.
Pip Pyle/7-Year Itch ....import CD $16.99
Intelligent, moving, jazz influenced, progressive rock performed by a stellar cast of musicians including amongst others and in addition to Pip himself is: Dave Stewart, Barbara Gaskin, Phil Miller, Jakko M Jaksyk, Richard Sinclair, John Greaves, Fred Thelonious Baker, Hugh Hopper, Paul Rogers, Didier Malherbe and Elton Dean. Pip Pyle has played drums with amongst others Gong, Hatfield and the North, National Health and In Cahoots and this album shows also what a great composer he is. Jakko sings on 'Chinese Whispers', 'Long On' and 'Shipwrecked' (up there in the 'Seven Sisters' class with great solos from Stewart and Jakko). These tracks are really as good as the work of the Hatfields and National Health.
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