King Crimson Live in Hyde Park
King Crimson Live in Hyde Park is a live album by the band King Crimson, released through the King Crimson Collectors' Club in September 2002.
| Live in Hyde Park, London | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Live album by | |
| Released | 2002 |
| Recorded | July 5, 1969; June 12, 1969; 15 March 1997 |
| Venue | Hyde Park, London |
| Genre | Progressive rock |
| Length | 39:55 (live performance) 62:02 (entire album) |
| Label | King Crimson Collectors' Club |
| Producer | David Singleton and Robert Fripp |
The album documents King Crimson's performance at the Hyde Park Festival of July 5, 1969, held in London, England. It has been estimated that half a million people attended this outdoor concert, which was headlined by the Rolling Stones. King Crimson were the opening act. Their setlist was cut for the occasion, and the last track was much shorter than usual. Nonetheless, the consensus was that their performance was a success, which significantly increased the band's reputation.
The CD also includes two bonus tracks. The first is a series of excerpts from a press conference, held by all five members of the original King Crimson along with the band's road management. This conference was recorded at the release of King Crimson's Epitaph box set, featuring four CDs of concert material by the original band. The conference was held at the InterContinental London hotel on March 15, 1997.
The second bonus track is an instrumental recording of "21st Century Schizoid Man", recorded at Morgan Studios in London on June 12, 1969. Guitarist Robert Fripp has acknowledged that his solo on this version is "dismal in extremis", though noting that it was intended only as a guide track (and was subsequently replaced by a "proper" solo).
The album was originally scheduled to be released in August 2000, but was held up by a dispute between members of the 1969 line-up of King Crimson. The liner notes include comments from Fripp, Ian McDonald, Michael Giles, Peter Sinfield and manager David Enthoven.
Track listing edit
All tracks written by Robert Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald and Peter Sinfield, unless otherwise indicated.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "21st Century Schizoid Man" | 6:35 |
| 2. | "The Court of the Crimson King" (McDonald, Sinfield) | 6:31 |
| 3. | "Get Thy Bearings" (Donovan, arr. by Fripp, Giles, Lake, McDonald) | 9:41 |
| 4. | "Epitaph" | 4:28 |
| 5. | "Mantra" | 3:04 |
| 6. | "Travel Weary Capricorn" | 5:37 |
| 7. | "Mars: The Bringer of War" (Gustav Holst, arr. Fripp, Giles, Lake, McDonald) | 3:59 |
| 8. | "Band reunion meeting" (Recorded on March 15, 1997 at InterContinental London hotel) | 15:19 |
| 9. | "21st Century Schizoid Man" (Instrumental version) | 6:48 |
Personnel edit
- Robert Fripp – guitar
- Greg Lake – bass guitar, vocals
- Ian McDonald – saxophone, flute, Mellotron, vocals
- Michael Giles – drums, percussion, vocals
- Peter Sinfield – lyrics and illumination
Production
- Produced by Robert Fripp and David Singleton.
- The original live concert was mixed by Peter Sinfield.
- Digital editing by Alex Mundy.