Larks' 40th Anniversary Mothership - Christmas Thread!

[bondegezou]

So, I've been steadily listening through to the whole thing in order -- very interesting to do. I'm on the final live show, Portsmouth. A number of things spring to mind...

I tend to think of the 1972-4 band in terms of Wetton and Bruford, Red and that guitar/bass/drums power trio line-up, a fairly conventional instrumental set in rock, but this earlier band, with the addition of Cross and Muir, can sometimes offer a very different sound palette and something much less familiar in a rock context. Some of the best moments in the improvisations are with Cross and Muir to the fore. That said, the whole ensemble often weren't a very good improvising band! There's some good moments, sure, but a fair few misses too.

There's a little interview with Wetton at the end of one of the CDs and he talks about Richard Palmer-James as the lyricist. I'd always kinda assumed that Palmer-James was hanging out with the band, writing the lyrics as the music developed, but Wetton describes Palmer-James being in Germany and sending them lyrics. So, how did that work? Did Palmer-James just send words with no idea what music they would be put to (as Bernie Taupin often worked with Elton John)? Were Crimson sending Palmer-James demos so he had something to work to? What?

Henry

[Nearfest2]

I got this for Christmas as well. It's an amazing set. I've only listened to the BluRay 5.1 mix so far and it's stunning. I'm looking forward to the video content and all the live material.

[Rand Kelly]

Still waiting for mine to arrive.

[calyx]

There's a little interview with Wetton at the end of one of the CDs and he talks about Richard Palmer-James as the lyricist. I'd always kinda assumed that Palmer-James was hanging out with the band, writing the lyrics as the music developed, but Wetton describes Palmer-James being in Germany and sending them lyrics. So, how did that work? Did Palmer-James just send words with no idea what music they would be put to (as Bernie Taupin often worked with Elton John)? Were Crimson sending Palmer-James demos so he had something to work to? What?

Yes, Wetton sent Palmer-James work-in-progress demos with musical ideas and sometimes sketches of lyrics (e.g. "Starless"), and Palmer-James wrote back with finished lyrics. I'm not sure the rest of the band even met him until he visited them during, I think, the recording sessions for "Starless And Bible Black". There was more socialising when Palmer-James attended a couple of the shows on the German leg of the 1974 European tour. All this, I believe, is told in more detail in Sid Smith's KC biog and liners for relevant KCCC releases.

[spotprog]

My box set arrived well in advance of Christmas. I had originally scoffed at getting it but thanks to importcds.com for their $103-ish price, I couldn't resist. It was certainly a treat to finally open it up. Since then things have been busy so while I haven't perused the entire audio output, the DVD is amazing. Seeing the footage casts the album proper in such a different light. Not that it makes the album better. It makes the listener more informed about the entire vibe that went into the sessions. Looking forward to more adventures with this terrific box.

[Rand Kelly]

The Mothership has landed on Monday and I am listening to Zoom Zoom as I write. Even back then Fripp was doing the ....oom oom thing. Sound quality on disc 1 is quite respectable.

[polmico]

Well, the "Zoom Zoom" title was added later back when it was released as a KCCC. The untitled improv was played at the Zoom Club. Killer stuff anal nitpicking aside.

[Rand Kelly]

Well, the "Zoom Zoom" title was added later back when it was released as a KCCC. The untitled improv was played at the Zoom Club. Killer stuff anal nitpicking aside.

Thank you Polmico.

[Genesis23]

I got my copy at the week-end from Fame Music in Amsterdam. At 89 Euros I couldn't say no and I persuaded my wife that it would be a good birthday present. I plan to start with disc 1. (They still had 2 left on Sunday.)

[Rand Kelly]

I'm listening to Keep That One,Nick. from the Blu-Ray. WOW! Fripp is killing on the Thumb Piano. I am quite surprised he didn't find a way to get us Easy Money from The Midnight Special on video. NBC probably control that.

[Dave (in MA)]

I'm listening to Keep That One,Nick. from the Blu-Ray. WOW! Fripp is killing on the Thumb Piano.

Muir.

[wideopenears]

I got the two-disc DVD/CD edition, and have listened to most of it....and watched the vids, too. Really fun. That video version of LTIA was a bit...raw, compared to the recorded version--like they were still putting it together, I'm sure. Great to see footage of Muir, and the soloed Easy Money track is fun to hear. Definitely one of my all-time favorite albums, and the new edition just further cements that opinion.

[notallwhowander]

Watching the video was very informative. It struck me just how much room Muir was given in shaping the band's sound, and just how odd the band really was.