Usa: 30th Anniversary Edition [Original recording remastered]

King Crimson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 16, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Discipline Us
• ASIN: B00064WSOG
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #90,325 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Walk on... No Pussyfooting

2. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Pt. II

3. Lament

4. Exiles

5. Asbury Park

6. Easy Money

7. 21st Century Schizoid Man

8. Fracture

9. Starless

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good then, even better now, August 6, 2009

By 

Friendlycard (Norfolk, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Usa: 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

"USA" is my second-favourite King Crimson album, after the towering genius that is "Red", and ahead of "In the Court of the Crimson King".

One of the interesting features of this (excellently remastered, HDCD-encoded) CD is that two tracks have been added that were not included on the original album - and I can't begin to understand why they were both excluded in the first place.

"Fracture", though an excellent track, might have been omitted on grounds of its length (11.20), but it's quintessential Crimson of the Fripp-Wetton-Bruford-Cross era, and a very welcome inclusion here.

But not even length can explain the omission of "Starless" which, for my money, is simply the best thing the band ever did. One hears various takes on this - that it was written for, but left out of, the album "Starless and Bible Black"; that Robert Fripp wasn't that keen on it; and that the success of the song on the US tour resulted in its inclusion on "Red", the last album by this incarnation of KC.

Whatever, the version here is excellent, and significantly different from the studio version, not least because we have David Cross on violin, who contributes significantly to the track. It's a nice alternative to the studio version - in either form, "Starless" is pure genius, and on its own worth the price of this CD.

After a very brief (0.35) introductory track - "Walk on....no pussyfooting", an Eno-Fripp composition - the listener cannot help but be inspired by the opening crescendoes of "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part II". This is heavy rock at its best, and showcases the tightness and cohesion of the band.

"Lament" is a lower-key track with some decent vocals by John Wetton. Vocals weren't Wetton's major role in Crimson - he was primarily a superb bass player - but, after he moved on to supergroup Asia and then a successful solo career, his voice seemed to get better and better. (To hear him at his best, try the solo album "Battle Lines", or the first Asia album).

"Exiles" is another track that exemplifies Crimson's ability to blend the powerful with the lyrical.

"Asbury Park", the only track that hadn't previously been released in studio form, is essentially a jam but, unlike many other bands, Crimson's jams always possessed direction and structure, so this is an enjoyable, atmosphere-filled listen.

"Easy Money" seems to have been a fixture in the band's playlist, and is a great, audience-energising track.

Last, on the original album, came "21st Century Schizoid Man". Well, it had to be on the play-list as a fan-pleaser, but it's the weakest track here, in my view. It hails from an earlier incarnation of Crimson, so was not ideally suited to the Fripp-Wetton-Bruford-Cross line-up. It's not a great performance, and Wetton's vocals seem heavily distorted. I'm not sure why this version was included, since Robert Fripp's archives included a far better version from the tour, and which can be found on disc 2 of "The Great Deceiver, vol 1".

And that's where the album ended - originally. Now, though, we have the excellent "Fracture" and the towering "Starless". That track fittingly ends the album - not even Crimson could improve on that.

If you like your music heavy but at the same time inspired and original, then you'll enjoy "USA" - and should also invest in "Red".

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing KC album..., October 16, 2007

By 

Zeus Lizard (Bridgeport, CT) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Usa: 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

This was the first album I converted to MP3 directly from vinyl...It still sounds great even with a few pops here and there, but now that it has been remastered, I can retire my old version. Asbury Park it the epitome of the power of this "Sick Jam" era of KC. Worth every penny.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wetton, Fripp, Bruford, Cross--Super lineup, super live album!, June 10, 2008

By 

Johnny Boy "The Record Collector" (Hockessin, DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Usa: 30th Anniversary Edition (Audio CD)

King Crimson has always been one of my all-time favorite bands. Not only are they original, but they have always had some of the finest musicians around that also starred or went on to star with several other groups.

Here, John Wetton (of Asia, Uriah Heep and U.K. fame) is the vocalist. King Crimson did have plenty of vocalists over the years, with the most notable ones being Wetton, Greg Lake (of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame) and Adrian Belew (of Frank Zappa fame).

But 1974's 'USA' record just rocks. Recorded in New Jersey and New England throughout 1973, this shows how well they could jam. David Cross would leave King Crimson after this release, and Wetton, former Yes drummer Bill Bruford and Robert Fripp, the founder, would become a trio.

If you enjoyed the 1969 studio version from 'In The Court Of The Crimson King' of '21st Century Schizoid Man,' you should love the version featured here. That's just as good, if not better than the studio version.

The final songs on the record, 'Fracture' and 'Starless' are jam sessions, virtually, the first one in particular. Bruford's drumming is superb, and Fripp is quite the virtuoso here. Cross plays some fine violin here as well.

Overall, buy this with 'Cirkus: The Young Persons Guide To King Crimson Live' and you have a pretty decent live collection of Crimson. The two paired together are great, with each one being a must own.

Highly recommended for any King Crimson or progressive rock fan. One of Crimson's best.

ENJOY!!!