Larks' Tongue 50 Years Ago Today

[Pauly 4001]

Larks' Tongues is 50

The debut album by the new lineup of King Crimson released Larks' Tongues In Aspic on this day 50 years ago.
It proved to be a great group of musicians who were especially powerful live.
I was buying their albums in jr high and high school as they were released and recall fondly a picnic on my parents roof with friends listening to the Starless And Bible Black album.
What's your relationship to Larks' Tongues and the great lineup of musicians who made it?
I almost described it as the greatest lineup which it would be except for the original lineup for In The Court Of The Crimson King

 

[bholder]

I can't vote. The best KC album, in my opinion, as a fan since 1969, tends to be whichever one I've been listening to lately. Yes, Lark's Tongue is justifiably legendary. But so are COTK, Red, Discipline, and so on.

 

[Michedelic]

I will forever kick myself for missing that line-up(well, without Muir)as they came through town with Gentle Giant opening; I hadn’t heard anything off the album, had written off the Islands/Earthbound band, and didn’t know of the latest edition. Made up for it in later years, in fact had two separate(and hilarious)conversations with ol’ Bob, and talked to Wetton at an in-store for UK. But Red is still my main jam.

 

[Michedelic]

Larks' Tongues is 50

The debut album by the new lineup of King Crimson released Larks' Tongues In Aspic on this day 50 years ago.
It proved to be a great group of musicians who were especially powerful live.
I was buying their albums in jr high and high school as they were released and recall fondly a picnic on my parents roof with friends listening to the Starless And Bible Black album.
What's your relationship to Larks' Tongues and the great lineup of musicians who made it?
I almost described it as the greatest lineup which it would be except for the original lineup for In The Court Of The Crimson King

That bit in the story where Bruford answers the door holding a carrot…that’s an omen, right?

 

[The Owl]

Incredible album and a very much needed change of direction for them. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first, but it grew on me in short order.

 

[Low Down Brown]

I can't vote. The best KC album, in my opinion, as a fan since 1969, tends to be whichever one I've been listening to lately. Yes, Lark's Tongue is justifiably legendary. But so are COTK, Red, Discipline, and so on.

Though I haven't been listening to them since '69, I pretty much share the same sentiment. I love the John Wetton years just as much as the Tony Levin/Trey Gunn era. I mean....King Crimson...enough said.

 

[brianrost]

My all time favorite KC album. I still pull it out for a listen every month or two, guess I've heard it about 2000 times by now

 

[Lo-E]

Choosing a “best” Crim lineup is a little like choosing a “best” Zappa lineup. It hurts my brain a little.

 

[N4860]

Red is probably my favourite album of theirs, but, I can't discredit the contributions of Tony Levin and also Adrian Belew. Big fan of both of them too and they contributed a lot to their progression of the band. Big fan of Bruford too, but I think I like Gavin Harrison more.

 

[Patrice B]

Larks' Tongues is 50

The debut album by the new lineup of King Crimson released Larks' Tongues In Aspic on this day 50 years ago.
It proved to be a great group of musicians who were especially powerful live.
I was buying their albums in jr high and high school as they were released and recall fondly a picnic on my parents roof with friends listening to the Starless And Bible Black album.
What's your relationship to Larks' Tongues and the great lineup of musicians who made it?
I almost described it as the greatest lineup which it would be except for the original lineup for In The Court Of The Crimson King

Great year isn’t it? Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, KC Lark’s Tongue in Aspic, Gentle Giant In A Glass House, Genesis Selling England by the Pound, Renaissance Ashes are burning, Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells. Guess what? I just turned 50 this year! It’s a good vintage!

 

[brianrost]

I remember that one of the hi-fi magazines of the time, probably Stereo Review, gave out awards for best recordings every year. While the actual music was important, the recording quality was what mattered most.

In 1974, they were considering 1973 releases, including LTIA. The album only got an honorary mention because the staffers couldn't agree whether it was a very distorted recording of clean instruments or a very clear recording of distorted instruments

 

[Patrice B]

I have a soft spot in my heart for In the Court and Red.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Discipline and the accompanying show I witnessed touching the stage dead center in front at Atlanta ‘s Agora on 11-13-81 was one of the musical performance highlights of my life.

I love most things Crim & Agree LTIA is one of the best. Also note LTIA Part 2 was the encore @ that Atlanta show.

 

[Pauly 4001]

Discipline and the accompanying show I witnessed touching the stage dead center in front at Atlanta ‘s Agora on 11-13-81 was one of the musical performance highlights of my life.

I love most things Crim & Agree LTIA is one of the best. Also note LTIA Part 2 was the encore @ that Atlanta show.

I've seen the Discipline, Beat, Three Of A Perfect Pair tours and a couple Thrak iterations live as well as both versions of UK.
My oldest brother started blasting In The Court Of the Crimson King through the house late at night shortly after it was released and I've been a rabid fan ever since then.

 

[pbass2]

I saw the tour that was the USA live album. Renaissance opened. I also saw the first UK tour, with Holdsworth and Jobson. Wetton was amazing on every level.

 

[Adagietto]

I saw the tour that was the USA live album. Renaissance opened. I also saw the first UK tour, with Holdsworth and Jobson. Wetton was amazing on every level.

I also saw that first UK tour, in Chicago. I was in college and living with three prog-rock freaks. UK was on the FM and in rotation at the house.

Back to KC, I had In the Court on 8-track when it came out — still one of my faves. Lake went on to ELP, McDonald went on to Foreigner, and Wetton went on to Asia — bands I care little for. OTOH, I liked Belew in Zappa's band, and saw them live in '77. I've tried to like to Belew-era of KC, I really have.

 

[WG Plum]

Red is my #1, LTIA is second only by a short and curly.

 

[pbass2]

Larks' Tongues is 50

I almost described it as the greatest lineup which it would be except for the original lineup for In The Court Of The Crimson King

I would indeed call it the greatest lineup, hands-down. Love the others for different reasons, but for this 70's prog kid, nothing else comes close.

 

[Passinwind]

Larks' Tongues is 50

The debut album by the new lineup of King Crimson released Larks' Tongues In Aspic on this day 50 years ago.
It proved to be a great group of musicians who were especially powerful live.
I was buying their albums in jr high and high school as they were released and recall fondly a picnic on my parents roof with friends listening to the Starless And Bible Black album.
What's your relationship to Larks' Tongues and the great lineup of musicians who made it?
I almost described it as the greatest lineup which it would be except for the original lineup for In The Court Of The Crimson King

I saw the Massey Hall, Toronto date on that tour, Disciplne and Beat shows in a club, and Three of a Perfect Pair after I moved to the west coast. All great, but Discipline probably hit me the hardest at the time and for me that would be the defintive KC lineup. But hey, why compare that way?

 

[MrB64]

I also don't think there was a best ever KC lineup. They were all great, doing different things. I do, however, have a special place in my heart for this one. So many good times listening to those albums.