Customer Reviews

God Save the King

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Damn, this is irritating. Here we have a big chunk of one album, and two snips from another. None of these add up to anything of the magnitude of the originals. The first two tracks are from the "God Save the King/Under Heavy Manners" album (or dual EP?), and while some might not be upset about missing two of the Frippertronics backdrop tracks, I personally find the loss of "The Zero of the Signified" to be very major, as that piece contains something of the seed of the rebirth of King Crimson in the early 80s. The other part of said seed was embodied in "The League of Gentlemen", from which the last several tracks here are taken. But on that album, there's a clear arc of development that goes throughout the release and which can easily be heard by listening to the course of musical (and subcontextual) development as the recording progresses. Chopping it up, as done here, is really ill-advised, I feel. And the short-shrift done to "GStK/UHM" is all but criminal. Would be rated one star only, except for the fact that what music that does remain here is, of course, excellent quality. Avoid, seek out the originals instead.

While using the same cover art as the original "League of Gentlemen" LP, it can be a bit deceptive when you actually realize what is on here. The original album had a lot of philosophical spoken interludes by J.G. Bennett. I would imagine that the copyright on that material ran out, when Fripp went to release the CD version. Or, he found it pretentious, and wanted an album that just represented songs. Whichever, whatever. If you can find the LP, do buy it though, because it's fun to hear the collage theme running through the peice. The two tracks that were added to the original "L.O.G." Lp, are great nevertheless. Again, I would guess that Fripp wanted to compliment the material on the "League" album, by including the song that David Byrne sang, and the other outtake from "God Save the Queen". What I simply CAN NOT COMPREHEND, is why Fripp would not use the extra length of a CD, and simply add more of the "God Save the Queen" songs. It's especially odd songs were cut from "L.O.G.". That great LP should have fully represented its original songs. (Again, since there are outtakes of music by "The Lemon Kittens" on "Minor Man", Fripp might not have been able to obtain the copyright, or was going to be charged too much for its use.) Other of Fripp's LPs from this era, like "The Lady or the Tiger", which he recorded with his wife Toyah, and the 2 LPs with Andy Summers, has simply been deleted. (Odd for someone who, until recently, had his own record company.) Fripp did release a CD of LIVE L.O.G. music a few years back, perhaps as an apology for his chopping job on this minor masterpiece. Or more likely, just Fripp's delight in representing his live sound. Overall, we have to respect Fripp's intelligence, and musical choices, even when he revises his past efforts. This is not a CD which would disappoint any Fripp fan, unless you only liked his 70's "Art Rock" period. Here is Fripp as NEW WAVE ROCKER, hanging out with members past and present of Talking Heads, XTC, and the B-52s. The pedigree of preformers alone demands one's attention, if you liked that era of music. Plus, had this musical experiment not occurred, Fripp might not have partnered with the GUITAR GOD of new wave, Adrian Belew, and DISCIPLINE might not have been recorded. So, what might Fripp say about this chopped up product of two great LPs? "Be Happy with What you Have to be Happy With."

This is not one album, or the either. This is half of one, half of another. "God Save the King" is a blend of Frippertronic (ambient looped guitar) and vocal Discotronic (funky, disco-esque music) with David Byrne. The "League of Gentlemen" album was a mix of a punk/pop quartet that Fripp had in the late 70's-early 80's before reforming King Crimson. The latter had a blend of songs, concrete sounds (samples of a woman talking, possibly a girlfriend, along with J.G. Bennett the late philosophic mind/disciple of Gurdjeff).

Both of these albums have been butchered in two and released as one. To the best of my knowledge, neither has seen a proper release on CD. In fact, Fripp's album "Exposure" was likewise heavily edited and chopped up for some unknown reason sometime in the 80's. If you don't mind hearing two incomplete albums jammed together, check this out. The songs are good, there is no doubt about that. However, you will need to look for older casettes and even vinyl if you want the full experience. Robert Fripp has released everything he's ever plucked out on his guitar to disc, so why not these recordings?

The original versions of both League of Gentlemen and God Save the King/Under Heavy Manners are superior to this release. I especially miss the League's complete album format.

That said, this period of time for Robert Fripp was a defining moment. The original League of Gentlemen is the most astounding piece of "Rock" music ever produced. It elevated rock music to the heights of intellectual excellence never befor or since achieved. And you can shake your butt crazy dancing to it!

Only the Gang of Four came close to what this record accomplished. A reinvention of rock and roll. A landmark.

I am dissipointed that not all of it is presented here, and that Fripp and the rest of the league did not record more music.

The guitar work on God Save the King is exhilerating, and yes.. more than a little bit scary.

BUY IT... and then seek out the originals.

Reading the earlier reviews, it seems a little info might help:

This is a CD version of an album released in 1985; that album was a compilation / remake of some of Fripp's output 1980-81. As noted by others, the LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN had several entertaining snippets of conversation in addition to the music. That was in 1981. None were included here.

Previous to that was Fripp's album of Discotronics, UNDER HEAVY MANNERS. This is represented by the track entitled "God Save the King", but this song doesn't exactly appear there. What does appear there is a backing track called "God Save the Queen", which has no solo. You see, UHM was an album of the backing tracks which Fripp would use in concert to solo over. So the track entitled "God Save the King" is "God Save the Queen" PLUS a solo.

-- But there's more: "Queen" is only the first, danceable part of "King"; the droning second half is another track from UHM (called something like "Red Score Zero"; I've forgotten exactly). Evidently what Mr Fripp did was this: edit "God Save the Queen" and "Red etc" into a single track, record a blistering solo over the whole, and add other tracks from UNDER HEAVY MANNERS and THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN to fill out the rest of the album.

If this sounds a bit skimpy as a new offering, then you understand how I felt in the record store back in 1985, considering this latest Frippish commercial offering; I would in essence be buying just one song -- of which only the solo was actually new.

I debated, and rattled my coins; it seemed rather dear for the price. But the review I'd read still rang in my ears, unforgotten even today: "... a solo so blistering, he must have worn a welding mask and played with an asbestos pick..." I finally walked up to the register; I had to hear if it was true.

It was. Consequently, I've never regretted buying GOD SAVE THE KING, despite its meager stock of unique material.

Also, I do recommend THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMEN -- not just for the taped conversational comments, but because I don't think the songs included here were necessarily the best ("Minor Man" is especially missed). Even if they were, the mixes are not the same here; the original album hard-panned the guitar and keyboards, where GSTK finds both more centered. Both mixes have their value :-)

Well, here we have the controversial fruits of Fripp's editing his own back catalog. He scraps half of "God Save the Queen / Under Heavy Manners" and half of "League of Gentelmen" to make this compilation album. I never heard the original versions of those albums, so I don't really know what all the fuss is about, but I'm going to add my opinion to the fray anyway:

First of all, "GStQ/UHM" contained a large amount of solo Frippertronics, the same kind of stuff that is found in "Let the Power Fall". Fripp probably thinks that this large amount of Frippertronics was somewhat redundant, and I imagine that's why he edited "GStQ/UHM". (It's too bad that he doesn't think the same way about his soundcapes series...)

Second, one has to admit that even though the "League of Gentlemen" stuff is good, it pales in comparison to the Discotronic pieces. After "God Save the Queen" and the Byrne piece, "HG Wells" and "Cognitive Dissonance" are a little boring. I suppose Fripp could have put the Discotronics AFTER the League material. Oh well.

But the real thing to remember is that this is the way we have it, and griping is not going to help. If you REALLY cannot live without the deleted pieces, find a vynil copy or a bootleg. For the rest of us, what we have is some pretty good material, showcasing some important steps in Fripp's career. The guitar solo in "God Save the King", for example, qoutes Fripp's fantastic "Heavenly Music" style, while also foreshadowing his ricky-ticky minimalism from "Discipline". And the League pieces? Plain old fun to dance to. A good record overall, I think.

A critical late 70s/early 80s New York period release and a remarkable achievement. In front of a relatively straightforward, danceable beat, Fripp and organist Barry Andrews produce a dazzling contrapuntal swirl which rewards close listening. In this music you will hear the foundations for much of King Crimson's Discipline release, and essentially the musical direction in which Fripp wanted to continue in the 80s. This direction was frustrated by countervailing tendencies of other musicians. Also on this CD we have a rare example of Fripp lyrics, here 'sung' by David Byrne. There is also a brief episode of Frippertronics. You won't find much of the wailing guitar god heroics here, but I wonder how many guitarists could play 'Inductive Resonance' or 'Trap' at that tempo?

Okay, this CD version has been out for a long time now, so I suggest it's time to reissue the CD as it originally existed.

This album is a combination of two albums, done in different times and different styles. It is quite frustrating.

League of Gentlemen finds Bob Fripp heading a lean mean dance band, with some flashy geetar music. It is a great side-trip on a career that has placed him in the role of pretentious guitar god (not without some merit). I like the stripped down no-nonsense Mr. Fripp here - it shows what he can really do.

The other half is a kinda lackluster extended jam album with David Byrne making a guest appearance. It lacks the punch or cleverness of his bandmates TomTom Club which came out around the same time. Yes I know it benefits from the additional layer of solos that the original release didn't have, but the point is that someone should never feel ripped off when buying a new CD, and I can remember feeling very ripped off.

Fortunately I have the vinyl for both of the albums that this release is derived from.

--hal

Well, I'm giving this CD 5 stars because I think you should buy it...

That said, yes this is not the original League of Gentlemen recording. A couple of pieces have been replaced with God Save the King and Under Heavy Manners which are from another recording. However that's no reason to avoid it. Both of the tracks which have been added are good - God Save the King is excellent. The rest of the material from League of Gentlemen is FANTASTIC! In my opinion it's some of Fripp's most focused music, a series of etudes for plectrum (as he would say - pick to the rest of us) guitar which may make your hair stand on end if you play the instrument - and may make you bop around your living room in any event. Full of pungent sounds, pointilistic note clusters playful rhythms and something else that starts with 'p'.

He writes dissonances that would have put a smile on Stravinsky's face, he plays a LesPaul, he's a little scary - scary in a GOOD way. In a world where people worship Joe Satriani we should all give thanks for the existence of Robert...

By the way the rhythm section provides a fine back up and Barry Andrews' (ex XTC) keyboard playing complements Fripp beautifully. (and vice versa - credit where credit is due)

BUY IT!!!

....But I'll always miss those musique concrete bits from the original - with the juxtapositions of air raid siren and a woman laughing her way to orgasmic bliss....

I am a huge fan of Mr. Fripp and had the League of Gentlemen on vinyl when it was first released. I was fooled into thinking ( It IS the same cover ) that this was that release in it's entirety. The two songs I remember, and liked best, did not make it onto this compilation. Though still entertaining, I suffer an acute longing to hear Sara Lee whine her coke-whore story to me and it just isn't here. Drat..