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King Crimson – Lizard (23:22)

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“Lizard” is the longest composed (as distinct from improvised) piece ever recorded by King Crimson. This piece is divided into several sections and even subsections, with a narrative running through its entirety, about a prince who takes part in an epic battle. The track’s grandiloquence verges on (self-) parody.

Lizard’s opening section, “Prince Rupert Awakes”, features Jon Anderson (from Yes) in his only ever contribution to a King Crimson recording. This section of the track alternates between sincere and ethereal verses, and an amusingly folksy chorus accompanied by handclaps. The two styles are then combined in a rousing, worldless chorale, that segues into the track’s next section, “Bolero”.

“Bolero” provides a showcase for the talents of supporting musicians Tippett, Miller, Charig, and Evans. Playing over McCulloch’s bolero-like drum part, they are given the space to develop progressively more jazzy solos around a central theme. When this section of “Lizard” was excerpted from the whole, for inclusion on the compilation Frame by Frame: The Essential King Crimson, Gordon Haskell’s bass guitar was replaced with a part recorded by the later King Crimson bassist Tony Levin.

As “Bolero” comes to a halt, it is followed by “Dawn Song”, the first of three subsections that comprise “The Battle of Glass Tears”. “Dawn Song” opens with an ominous theme led by Robin Miller, which is then joined by a subdued vocal sung by Haskell. The next subsection of “The Battle of Glass Tears”, “Last Skirmish”, is arguably the instrumental high point of the Lizard album.
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  • SpiritOfYetaxa

    Ooh Jon Anderson

    yesterday evening

  • donttakemybeer

    chorando lágrimas de sangue

    last month

  • julben

    Prince Rupert Awakes is really just amazing. King Crimson and Jon Anderson should've done more stuff together.

    last month

  • SmellyStuff

    This took a while to grow on me but holy shit when it finally did.

    February 2012

  • nikonas

    Can anyone recommend me anything similar to this?I really want to listen to more of those chaotic improvisations! Send me a PM if u know anything please .

    January 2012

  • CamelStrez

    The beginning with Jon Anderson is just great. Hell, the whole song is just great.

    January 2012

  • BlackLodgeDwarf

    King Crimson and Jon Anderson together = Too much epicness for me too handle.

    December 2011

  • Ozymandias90

    I think this song alone eclipses any of the songs in ITCOTCK. Anyone else?

    November 2011

  • mouritsdebeer

    I wish the lyrics were "burn a bridge and burn a bowl".

    October 2011

  • BrianRomeo

    8 - 9 minutes in = mindfuck [2]

    July 2011

  • ineedmoretool

    Maybe my favorite KC's song [3]

    July 2011

  • radyokafa_

    j. anderson and king crimson. yes!

    May 2011

  • moonmadness-

    Indeed be a very difficult track, can not do any band cover.

    April 2011

  • Ek90

    Maybe my favorite KC's song [2]

    March 2011

  • JDarling69

    Lizard bones become the clay.. And there a swan is born.

    March 2011

  • Vlad__canard

    It never gets old. Real masterpiece. [2] Maybe my favorite KC's song

    March 2011

  • HeadShoteR

    It never gets old. Real masterpiece.

    February 2011

  • DavidBG16

    MAS TER PIECE

    February 2011

  • Huge_Cohones

    What an epic masterpiece

    January 2011

  • bobgreen623

    That would drive me nuts too Smekermann, unless of course it was a remixing approved by Fripp! I like being made to jump by that sudden increase in volume (btw, don't want to split hairs, but isn't it an oboe?), then again I love the whole damn thing, especially the instrumental section as it becomes more and more jazzy, and the spooky guitar solo towards the end, and more. I love the whole album really

    December 2010
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