Listening to King Crimson Discipline on vinyl...

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by ifyouever, Aug 24, 2009.

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  1. ifyouever

    ifyouever Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    I'm listening to a NM EG pressing of Discipline, and it's blowing my mind. In a very good way. :)

    I've had this since I was a kid, and, given it's condition, clearly it didn't get much play in those days. Last night, as an experiment, I tugged out some records from the nether recesses of my collection and was thrilled to come up with this!

    It's fascinating to think about the intersection of Fripp, Eno and Talking Heads of the period. Stylistically, this record seems to be the culmination of so much of that. But beyond such thought experiment, the music itself is simply visceral and *brilliant*.

    Soundwise, I'm experiencing audiophile pleasure from the EG. How much am I missing by not having a British or Japanese pressing?

    More important, how many here love this great album as much as I am quickly growing to do?
     
    latheofheaven, kendo and Steve B like this.
  2. Runt

    Runt Senior Member

    Location:
    Motor City
    Love it. Thought you might like to check out my promo vinyl package. Also recommend the follow-ups Beat and Three Of A Perfect Pair if you're not familiar with those. :righton:
     

    Attached Files:

  3. zongo

    zongo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Great, great album. So unique and interesting. This and "In the Court" are probably my favorites of their catalog. Absolutely mind-blowing live shows at the time as well.

    Regarding your question about vinyl versions: I have the original American and a Japanese vinyl. The Japanese definitely sounds a bit more solid and "audiophile" - esque. Having said that, the American sounds pretty decent too. I'm not sure I would shell out any big bucks for the Japanese (I think I paid $5 for it many years ago).

    I've never heard any CD versions of it.
     
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  4. ifyouever

    ifyouever Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Thanks, that's beautiful!

    If you have an opportunity over the next couple days, would you mind giving me the deadwax numbers from your promo? I'd love to compare them with what I've got.
     
  5. Perisphere

    Perisphere Forum Resident

    You might find AT/GP in the dead wax of the American LP--it's a George Piros mastering job if so!
     
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  6. GowG

    GowG Forum Resident

    Location:
    Czech republic
    I remember when I first heard Discipline, copy from LP on 3&3/4ips reel to reel (though I can't recall if the tape was BASF or Maxell). Loved it from the beginning. Stick is interesting instrument. I refer to Discipline, Beat and Three of a Perfect Pair as "dance albums". Of course, they are not.
     
  7. Runt

    Runt Senior Member

    Location:
    Motor City
    I'll give it my best shot...

    Side 1:
    B-16126-S4 BSK1-3629-S4 @tep + SLM +++ ^912

    Side 2:
    B-16127-S1 BSK2-3629-S-1 @tep + SLM + ^912-X

    There's also a very tiny circular insignia before each number that I can't quite make out.
     
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  8. 93curr

    93curr Senior Member

    ? - The EG IS the British pressing (EGLP 49). Are you sure you don't mean the Warner Bros. edition? The original EG (which sounds pretty spectacular) had the Polydor logo on the bottom and a yellow label design.
     
  9. TomM

    TomM Forum Resident

    Side 2, late on a Friday night, amps cranked to 11 - musical nirvana. Those lads could play!
     
  10. John Buchanan

    John Buchanan I'm just a headphone kind of fellow. Stax Sigma

    I was never a fan of the trilogy's sound. Bill's drums, although dynamic, never sounded even close to real to me on these albums, although 3 Of A Perfect Pair was slightly better than the previous two. I actually thought something was seriously wrong with the cutting of Discipline when I first heard it (Polydor UK LP yellow label). The CDs never sounded much different IMHO. Compare this to either "Live At Cap D'Adge", "Absent Lovers" or "On Broadway" - all much better sound.
     
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  11. Taurus

    Taurus Senior Member

    Location:
    Houston, Texas
    Just guessing here, but maybe the band members were looking for a certain sound to match what was "in their heads", and so they intentionally altered the recording of the drums to achieve that goal?
     
  12. ifyouever

    ifyouever Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Sorry. Duly noted.

    My copy's got both the Warner Bros and the EG insignias on the label. May be, at least in part, a system-dependent experience, but I'm thrilled with the sound of what I've got.
     
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  13. ifyouever

    ifyouever Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    As for the drum sound, this was an '80's recording, right? :)

    Not that it sound like Missing Persons or anything... And other elements -- soundstage, transparency, imaging, etc. -- are absolutely extraordinary, IMO.
     
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  14. ifyouever

    ifyouever Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City
    Thanks a lot!
     
  15. 93curr

    93curr Senior Member

    Runt; is it just the way the record is lit, or does that promo LP NOT have any bands for the individual songs?

    'Cause it's weird if it don't - that ain't hardly radio-friendly.
     
  16. Guardian

    Guardian Forum Resident

    Location:
    NYC
    Am I the only one who isn't amazed by the sound quality on their vinyl copy? I got a Mint - copy and I was not floored by the sound quality. It was okay but not anything to get excited about....
     
  17. zongo

    zongo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Davis, CA
    Are you sure that wasn't the real sound of the drums? As I remember from seeing them live, it looked to me like a lot of the drums were actually synth trigger type things. They were arrayed all around him, and he would spin around playing zillions of things continuously.
     
  18. John Buchanan

    John Buchanan I'm just a headphone kind of fellow. Stax Sigma

    That is possible - they have never played live in Australia. However, the live albums sound completely different.
     
  19. davenav

    davenav High Plains Grifter

    Location:
    Louisville, KY USA
    The snare, cymbals, and percussion are real. The Kick and toms are electronic pads. Bruford was a big spokesman for the company that made them, I seem to recall. But nevertheless, that snare crack of his is not missing in action, IMO.

    I'm wondering if this was an early digital recording? And is this in the pipeline for a 5.1 mix?
     
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  20. John Buchanan

    John Buchanan I'm just a headphone kind of fellow. Stax Sigma

    The cymbals are what concerned me the most - they sound harsh and unnatural.
     
  21. davenav

    davenav High Plains Grifter

    Location:
    Louisville, KY USA
    Yes, this is what prompted my question about digital recording.
     
  22. Runt

    Runt Senior Member

    Location:
    Motor City
    Yep, it's got the normal track banding for individual songs. I actually haven't played it in many years. Will have to revisit and report back. There was also a promo copy of Beat complete with press booklet, photo, etc., which I stupidly passed up that day at the used record shop. :realmad:
     
  23. Parkertown

    Parkertown Tawny Port

    What do you mean about Talking Heads?

    (the fact that Adrian Belew's voice is similar to David Byrnes?)

    Listening to the domestic vinyl now, with deadwax similar to the posting earlier...sounds great...even the cymbals. :)
     
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  24. ifyouever

    ifyouever Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    New York City

    I just think that there was aesthetic cross-pollination going on amongst Eno, Fripp, Belew, and Byrne. Their respective musics and ideas were influencing one another.

    For example, listen to Remain in Light and then Discipline, back to back. Then listen to I Zimbra and Elephant Talk, back to back.
     
    latheofheaven likes this.
  25. jlc76

    jlc76 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austin, TX, U.S.A.
    Don't forget Phil Collins as well, he worked with both Fripp and Eno.
     
    Frosst likes this.
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