Earthbound: 30th Anniversary Edition [Live, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

King Crimson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1972
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Caroline
• ASIN: B00006ANZK
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #215,688 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man

2. Peoria

3. The Sailors Tale

4. Earthbound

5. Groon

Editorial Reviews

Originally released in 1972, Earthbound was King Crimson's first ever-live album recorded during what was, at the time, King Crimson's final tour. It features Kings Crimson's 1971 touring line-up of Robert Fripp, Boz Burrell, Mel Collins and Ian Wallace. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grooned, September 17, 2002

By 

Mark Champion "autumnfair" (San Antonio, TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Earthbound: 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

Not bad, really, at all, and it's nice to know Fripp has found his sense of irony. This particular incarnation of Crimson- -hand-picked by Fripp, of course- -had all but disbanded by the time the tour on which this was recorded had even begun. You can tell. Boz Burrell, Ian Wallace and Mel Collins were headed to join Alexis Korner shortly to record an album as Snape, so they had no worries (Fripp was outnumbered anyway). Most of these tracks were encores, and as the band was nonexistent- -that is, not any longer Fripp's- -the three decided to just have as good a time as possible to get through it all. It seems they succeeded. 'Schizoid Man' is about as intense as things can get (very), and on 'Peoria' and 'Earthbound' you can practically hear Fripp cringing as the rest of the band just says 'what the hey' and does their own thing whether he likes it or not: hence the funky, bluesy extended jams and Burrell's strutting lyrics to 'Peoria', which Fripp no doubt took personally as he guested in his own band. Very interesting. The dodgy sound and weird segues fit perfectly and lend a very appropriately scuzzy aura to the whole affair. Awesome. I like it, you might not.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE CLASSIC, September 6, 2002

By 

Kerry Leimer (Makawao, Hawaii United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Earthbound: 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

It's hard to imagine that there might be any reason to buy yet another live recording of "21st Century Schizoid Man", let alone another live Crimson album -- but believe me, this is it. For a band that has more live recordings than studio albums, that's saying a lot. "Earthbound" has that rare combination of raw power and finesse, precariously balanced and sustained for a head-long rush through some very demanding music. The performance and the sound leave you on edge from beginning to end.

Recorded during their 1972 U.S. tour, the "Earthbound" line-up is pretty much the same version of Crimson that gave us their finest early-period album, "Islands". The whole group plays with incredible authority -- Mel Collins' sax work is superb. "Sailor's Tale", the composition which to this point in the Crimson oeuvre features Fripp's most moving and compelling guitar work, comes brilliantly to life. And there's no complaining about Boz's bass and vocals, and Ian Wallace's work on percussion. And, as far as I know, this is the only place you'll hear the improvs "Peoria", and the title piece, "Earthbound". Long story short, anyone who loves Crimson, in any shape, needs to have this long-awaited CD reissue of the limited edition LP. In combination with the newly reissued "USA", King Crimson's live history is finally in full view, and in complete context -- Buy Now, with one click...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sound Quality STILL Disappointing, But Crimson Still Rocks, September 9, 2002

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Earthbound: 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

King Crimson's 1972 live album, "Earthbound," was the first ever live album from the band, documenting the one-time "Islands" line-up of Crimson (guitarist Robert Fripp, bassist/vocalist Boz Burrell, saxophonist Mel Collins, and drummer Ian Wallace) on their one-and-only tour. It had been out of print for many, many years on vinyl, and never released on CD until now.But "Earthbound" is a very notorious live Crimson album for one reason and one reason alone: it's sound quality is pretty shoddy (to say the least), as the live performances were simply recorded on cassette tape directly from the band's soundboard, making the possibility of a remix impossible. However, I think Crim-leader Robert Fripp has done the best remastering job that he could with this album, giving the sound, if nothing else, a good solid boost for the CD release. Is "Earthbound" a *great* live Crimson album? Sound wise, hell no. But *live performance* wise, I think it's darn good. "Earthbound" is just five tracks long, but no matter. The "Islands" King Crimson deliver a barnburning version of the band's signature tune, "21st Century Schizoid Man," as well as tearing through two other Crimson classics, "A Sailors Tale" & "Groon," with great relish. And there are two totally rockin', improvised jazz-rock jams included here, "Peoria" & the title track, that are only available on this album and nowhere else, and I love 'em both---I've never heard Crimson sound this *funky* before! Even with muddy sound quality, "Earthbound" proves that this version of King Crimson definitely rocked. Robert Fripp is, quite naturally, an electric-guitar god, as he delivers some more of his trademark Frippwork on the frets, Boz Burrell rolls out some great bass riffs and vocals (including some really groovy scat-singing on both of the jazz-rock jams), Mel Collins' horn work (and mellotron work on "Sailors Tale") is excellent, and Ian Wallace's drumming is totally sharp & slamming throughout, like a knife cutting through butter.I'd truly rate "Earthbound" 3.5 out of 5 stars, so it gets 4 out of 5 stars from me on the average curve. If you can get past the sound quality issue, then "Earthbound" will be a fine King Crimson album to add to your collection. Thank you, Robert Fripp, for finally putting it out on CD. :-)