KING CRIMSON-/ LIZARD \-SD 8278 STILL IN SHRINK

$

44

THIS GATEFOLD PROGRESSIVE MASTERPIECE IS A "MUTHA" OF AN ALBUM, DEBATEBLY AN OPUS. IN ALL HONESTY I THINK "PROG-ROCK" GAVE BIRTH TO PUNK.THIS WOULD BE A CLASSIC STUDY OF CAUSE AND EFFECT. I WILL LET YOU BE THE JUDGE OF THAT,SUFFICE IT TO SAY THIS IS THE ANTITHESIS OF DIY. I ONLY LISTENED TO THIS LP ONCE AS I WAS TO BUSY LISTENING TO Black Sabbath.

Lizard is arguably King Crimson's most jazz-inflected album, developing further in the direction suggested by the track "Cat Food" on In the Wake of Poseidon (also released as a single). The powerful opening track, "Cirkus", is perhaps the best-known track on the album, and begins with a hushed verse from Haskell before launching into a menacing theme played by Fripp on the mellotron. The song's verses then alternate with this signature theme, and the track boasts some of Fripp's most dextrous acoustic guitar playing alongside a soaring saxophone solo by Collins. With a lyric by Sinfield rich in circus imagery, the track builds up into a cacophonous climax.

The next two tracks, "Indoor Games" and "Happy Family", are offbeat and full of mischievous humour - the former with lyrics evoking various forms of hedonism and borrowing heavily from the guitar breakdown of Led Zeppelin's Dazed And Confused, and the latter with lyrics about the dissolution of the Beatles. The Beatles are represented in "Happy Family"'s lyrics as 'Judas' (Paul McCartney), 'Rufus' (Ringo Starr), 'Silas' (George Harrison), and 'Jonah' (John Lennon). Haskell's vocals are distorted on both "Indoor Games" and "Happy Family", and the two tracks are separated by the sound of Haskell laughing uncontrollably, as he tries unsuccessfully to sing the words 'hey ho'. His laughter, he later explained, was provoked by the fact that he thought these words ridiculous - which seems to be representative of his attitude towards Sinfield's lyrics in general.

"Lady of the Dancing Water" is a more tranquil piece, whose lyrics and instrumentation have a medieval feel, in the tradition of "Moonchild" on In the Court of the Crimson King and "Cadence and Cascade" on In the Wake of Poseidon. The track is most notable for Mel Collins' beautiful flute playing.

The album concludes with the bombastic title track, "Lizard", 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.

Lizard's opening section, "Prince Rupert Awakes", features Jon Anderson in his only ever contribution to a King Crimson recording. This section of the track alternates between sincere and ethereal verses, and a 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 subsequent 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 on cor anglais, which is then joined by a subdued vocal sung by Haskell. "Last Skirmish" is a lengthy section intended to simulate an epic and increasingly fraught battle; it culminates in ever more forceful repetitions of an ominous theme similar to the main theme of "Cirkus." "Prince Rupert's Lament" evokes the bloody aftermath of the battle, a funeral rhythm section providing the backdrop to Fripp's plaintive guitar part.

"Big Top" then concludes both the "Lizard" suite and the Lizard album as a whole. This section consists of distorted fairground music, echoing the album's carnivalesque opening track "Cirkus", faded in and out while it is simultaneously sped up.

By all accounts, Haskell and McCulloch had an unhappy experience recording Lizard, Haskell especially - a devotee of soul and Motown music - finding it difficult to connect with the material. Following the album's completion, Haskell left King Crimson during rehearsals for a prospective tour. During the next 19 years, he sought legal redress, because he believed that he had been cheated out of royalties owed to him for the album. Shortly after Haskell left the group, McCulloch did likewise. The press release drafted by Sinfield to promote Lizard wryly quoted Max Ehrmann's poem "Desiderata", which contains advice on how to chart a true course through confusion.

Collins, on the other hand, remained in King Crimson with Fripp for the recording of the group's next album, Islands. Haskell was replaced with Boz Burrell on bass guitar and vocals, while McCulloch was replaced with his sometime housemate Ian Wallace. The Islands line-up of the group would finally give some of the Lizard material a live airing, with "Cirkus" and "Lady of the Dancing Water" becoming part of King Crimson's touring repertoire. More recently, "Cirkus" has become part of the touring repertoire of the 21st Century Schizoid Band, whose members include Mel Collins.

VISUAL GRADING:

     AT RECORDMART-165 WE USE GOLDMINE (MAGAZINE) STANDARDS.ALBUMS ARE VIEWED UNDER THREE FORMS OF LIGHTING; NATURAL (DIRECT SUNLIGHT),FLORESCENT AND DIFFUSED LIGHT.RECORDS ARE INSPECTED FOR SCRATCHES, ABRASIONS, SLEEVE WEAR ,WARPING AND LUSTER.OUR GRADING IS CONSERVATIVE AS WE NEITHER WANT TO WASTE OUR TIME NOR DISAPPOINT YOU.SPECIFIC QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO THE STATE OF THE ALBUM ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED.WE DO NOT LISTEN TO THE RECORDS AND FOR THE MOST PART ,HAVE NOT SINCE THEY WERE ISSUED.

GRADING STANDARDS

Near Mint (NM or M-)

A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like. Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap. Near Mint is the highest price listed in all Goldmine price guides. Anything that exceeds this grade, in the opinion of both buyer and seller, is worth significantly more than the highest Goldmine book value.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Generally worth 50 percent of the Near Mint value. A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect one's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK". The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. In general, if not for a couple things wrong with it, this would be Near Mint. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG)

Generally worth 25 percent of Near Mint value. Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them. Goldmine price guides with more than one price will list Very Good as the lowest price. This, not the Near Mint price, should be your guide when determining how much a record is worth, as that is the price a dealer will normally pay you for a Near Mint record.

Good (G), Good Plus (G+)

Generally worth 10-15 percent of the Near Mint value. Good does not mean Bad! A record in Good or Good Plus condition can be put onto a turntable and will play through without skipping. But it will have significant surface noise and scratches and visible groove wear (on a styrene record, the groove will be starting to turn white). A cover or sleeve will have seam splits, especially at the bottom or on the spine. Tape, writing, ring wear or other defects will start to overwhelm the object. It is a common item, you'll probably find another copy in better shape eventually. Pass it up. But, if it's something you have been seeking for years, and the price is right, get it...but keep looking to upgrade.

Poor (P), Fair (F)

Generally worth 0-5 percent of the Near Mint price. The record is cracked, badly warped, and won't play through without skipping or repeating. The picture sleeve is water damaged, split on all three seams and heavily marred by wear and writing. The LP cover barely keeps the LP inside it. Inner sleeves are fully seam split, crinkled, and written upon. Except for impossibly rare records otherwise unattainable, records in this condition should be bought or sold for no more than a few cents each.

THIS RECORD

THIS RECORD/VINYL IS IN NM(-) SHAPE ,THE JACKET AND LINER ARE IN NM- SHAPE .LlINER ON THIS RECORD IS ORIGINAL ATLANTIC "FROM THE ATLANTIC CATALOG"LINER AND IS PRISTINE.SHRINK WRAP IS STILL INTACT(WITH ORIGINAL STICKER). I GRADE WITH THE MINUS BECAUSE I DO NOT LISTEN TO THE RECORDS BUT VISUALLY, THE LP APPEARS PRISTINE.

 HAPPY BIDDING

-NO SPINEWARE or RINGWARE

-NO SPLIT SEEMS

-LABEL IS INTACT AND CONTAINS NO MARKINGS OR WEAR WHATSOEVER

-NO MOLD OR GENERAL WATER DAMAGE

-NO SCUFFS OR MARRING OF VINYL

-NO BARCODE OR RIAA LABELING

THE RECORD WILL SHIP IN A STURDY CARDBOARD MAILER WITH FOAM PADDING SO AS TO ARRIVE IN THE SHAPE IT IS SHIPPED OUT IN.RECORD IS REMOVED FROM JACKET AS TO AVOID SEEM SPLITTING.

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Payment Must Be Received Within 7 Days After Auction Close

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SHIPPING

USA: I can send this LP to you by Media Mail for $4.00, 1st Class Mail for $5.00 or Priority Mail which will be calculated after the auction using your zip code. Most of my customers prefer Media Mail because it is very cheap. Please keep in mind that it's cheap because it is SLOW.

CANADA: If you are in Canada, I can send this LP to you by 1st Class Airmail for $7.00.

MEXICO: If you are in Mexico, I can send this LP to you by 1st Class Airmail for $11.00.

EVERYWHERE ELSE: Due to questionable customs problems in Italy we will no longer ship there. If you are not in the USA, Canada, or Mexico,  STANDARD INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING (AIR MAIL) IS $12.50 .I can send this LP to you by PRIORITY for $29.50. International customers please contact before  completion of transaction (ie: Invoice Sent) so as to discuss shipping requirements or requests. THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING IS FOR PROTECTION OF BUYER AND SELLER ALIKE. INSURANCE ,TRACKING AND CONFIRMATION ARE PROVIDED WITH THIS SERVICE. IN THE EVENT ITEM CLOSES FOR MORE THAN $150(USD) THERE IS AN AUTOMATIC SHIPPING REDUCTION OF 25%.