Islands (King Crimson album)

Islands
Studio album by King Crimson
Released	3 December 1971
Recorded	October 1971
Studio	Command, London
Genre	Progressive rock[1]; jazz fusion[2][3];
Length	43:49
Label	Island; Atlantic;
Producer	King Crimson
King Crimson chronology
King Crimson studio chronology
Peter Sinfield chronology

Islands is the fourth studio album by English band King Crimson, released in December 1971 on the record label Island. Islands would be the last King Crimson studio album before the group's trilogy of Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red. It is also the last album to feature the lyrics of founding member Peter Sinfield.

The album received a mixed response from critics.

Content

The harmonic basis for the tune "The Letters" is derived from the Giles, Giles and Fripp song "Why Don't You Just Drop In", available on The Brondesbury Tapes compilation.[4] The bridge section is also taken from the King Crimson version of the song, performed by the original line-up, titled simply "Drop In" and later released on the live-album Epitaph.

The original basis for the song "Prelude: Song of the Gulls" is derived from the Giles, Giles and Fripp song "Suite No. 1".[4]

The first vinyl release of the album features a hidden track. At the end of side two there is a recording of studio chatter followed by Fripp saying, among other things, "...What we're going to do, umm... do it twice more, once with the oboe, once without it, and then... we finish." This was included on the initial CD release but was accidentally left off the first pressings of the 1989 Definitive Edition CD remaster. It was restored on all subsequent reissues, and has been used as "walk on" music for all shows starting in 2014.

Album cover

The original United Kingdom and European cover depicts the Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius and displays neither the name of the band nor the title. The original United States and Canadian album cover (as released by Atlantic) was a Peter Sinfield painting of off-white with coloured "islands". This was used as an internal gatefold sleeve in the UK. When the King Crimson catalogue was re-issued by EG, they standardised on the "Trifid Nebula" cover worldwide.

Release

Released on 3 December 1971, Islands reached number 30 in the UK Albums Chart.[5]

The album was re-released in 2010 as the fifth release in King Crimson's 40th Anniversary series, featuring new stereo and 5.1 surround mixes (by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp), Sid Smith sleeve notes and copious extra tracks and alternative versions. The CD presents a complete stereo remix by Steven Wilson and Robert Fripp alongside a group of additional tracks representing a near complete alternative album of studio takes, run-throughs and mixes. The DVD-A presents a complete 5.1 surround sound mix by Steven Wilson, a hi-res stereo version of the 2010 mix, a hi-res stereo version of the original album mix taken from the 30th anniversary master source and almost 90 minutes of additional material, the vast majority of it previously unreleased, including many studio takes mixed from the original recording sessions specifically for this release. The material covers everything from early rehearsals of "Pictures of a City" (one of the final new songs performed by the 1969 lineup) to the previously unheard "A Peacemaking Stint Unrolls" (showcasing early ideas and elements that would appear in fully realised form on later KC albums), a fragment of Fripp playing the tune of "Islands" on a mellotron, a live "Sailor's Tale" from the Zoom Club and much more.[6][7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
All About Jazz	[8]
AllMusic	[4]
Christgau's Record Guide	C[9]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[10]
The Great Rock Discography	7/10[11]
Mojo	[12]
MusicHound	[13]
Rolling Stone	mixed[14]
Sputnikmusic	[15]

In its contemporary review, AllMusic called it "the weakest Crimson studio album from their first era" that "is only a real disappointment in relation to the extraordinarily high quality of the group's earlier efforts."[4]

Track listing

All songs written by Robert Fripp, all lyrics written by Peter Sinfield.

Side A
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Formentera Lady"	10:18
2.	"Sailor's Tale" (instrumental)	7:29
3.	"The Letters"	4:28

Side B
No.	Title	Length
4.	"Ladies of the Road"	5:31
5.	"Prelude: Song of the Gulls" (instrumental)	4:14
6.	"Islands"	9:15
7.	Untitled (hidden track, begins one minute after Islands ends)	1:36

2010 40th Anniversary edition

Disc one - CD - Original Album - 2010 Mix etc
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Formentera Lady" (2010 Stereo Mix)	10:17
2.	"Sailor's Tale" (2010 Stereo Mix)	7:35
3.	"The Letters" (2010 Stereo Mix)	4:29
4.	"Ladies of the Road" (2010 Stereo Mix)	5:34
5.	"Prelude: Song of the Gulls" (2010 Stereo Mix)	4:17
6.	"Islands" (2010 Stereo Mix)	12:02
7.	"Islands" (Bonus Tracks - studio run through with oboe prominent)	2:02
8.	"Formentera Lady" (Bonus Tracks - Take 2)	2:23
9.	"Sailor's Tale" (Bonus Tracks - Alternate mix/edit) (Fripp)	3:37
10.	"A Peacemaking Stint Unrolls" (Bonus Tracks - Previously unreleased) (Fripp)	3:55
11.	"The Letters" (Bonus Tracks - Rehearsal/outtake)	2:43
12.	"Ladies of the Road" (Bonus Tracks - Robert Fripp & David Singleton remix)	5:43

Disc two - DVD-A (various mixes and bonuses)
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Formentera Lady" (Original Album 5.1 Remix)	10:17
2.	"Sailor's Tale" (Original Album 5.1 Remix)	7:35
3.	"The Letters" (Original Album 5.1 Remix)	4:29
4.	"Ladies of the Road" (Original Album 5.1 Remix)	5:34
5.	"Prelude: Song of the Gulls" (Original Album 5.1 Remix)	4:17
6.	"Islands" (Original Album 5.1 Remix)	12:02
7.	"Formentera Lady" (2010 Stereo Mix)	10:17
8.	"Sailor's Tale" (2010 Stereo Mix)	7:35
9.	"The Letters" (2010 Stereo Mix)	4:29
10.	"Ladies of the Road" (2010 Stereo Mix)	5:34
11.	"Prelude: Song of the Gulls" (2010 Stereo Mix)	4:17
12.	"Islands" (2010 Stereo Mix)	12:02
13.	"Formentera Lady" (Original Master Edition 2004)	10:17
14.	"Sailor's Tale" (Original Master Edition 2004)	7:35
15.	"The Letters" (Original Master Edition 2004)	4:29
16.	"Ladies of the Road" (Original Master Edition 2004)	5:34
17.	"Prelude: Song of the Gulls" (Original Master Edition 2004)	4:17
18.	"Islands" (Original Master Edition 2004)	12:02
19.	"Formentera Lady" (Islands: The Alternate Album - Take 2)	2:23
20.	"Sailor's Tale" (Islands: The Alternate Album - Alternate Mix/Edit)	3:37
21.	"The Letters" (Islands: The Alternate Album - Rehearsal/Outtake)	2:43
22.	"Ladies of the Road" (Islands: The Alternate Album - Rough Mix)
23.	"A Peacemaking Stint Unrolls" (Islands: The Alternate Album - Previously Unreleased)	3:55
24.	"Islands" (Islands: The Alternate Album - Studio Run Through With Oboe Prominent)	2:02
25.	"Pictures of a City" (Routes To Islands - Islands Lineup Rehearsal)
26.	"Sailor's Tale" (Routes To Islands - Islands Lineup Rehearsal) (Fripp)
27.	"Islands" (Routes To Islands - Fragment: Robert Fripp Reference Cassette - Mellotron on Vibes Setting)
28.	"Formentera Lady" (Routes To Islands - Rough Mix)
29.	"Sailor's Tale" (Routes To Islands - Rough Mix) (Fripp)
30.	"Drop In" (Routes To Islands - Early Rehearsal by Islands Lineup) (Fripp, Michael Giles, Greg Lake, Ian McDonald)
31.	"The Letters" (Routes To Islands - Live at Plymouth)
32.	"Sailor's Tale" (Routes To Islands - Live at the Zoom Club)
33.	"Ladies of the Road" (Additional Tracks: Assorted Ladies - Robert Fripp & David Singleton remix)
34.	"Ladies of the Road" (Additional Tracks: Assorted Ladies - Take 5)
35.	"Formentera Lady" (Additional Tracks: Assorted Ladies - Take 1)
36.	"Formentera Lady" (Additional Tracks: Assorted Ladies - Take 3)
37.	"Formentera Lady" (Additional Tracks: Assorted Ladies - Take 4)

Charts

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[16]	49

Personnel

King Crimson

Robert Fripp – guitar, mellotron, harmonium (6), sundry implements, production
Peter Sinfield – lyrics, sounds and visions, cover design and painting, production
Mel Collins – saxophones, flute, bass flute (6), backing vocals, production
Ian Wallace – drums, percussion, backing vocals, production
Boz – bass, lead vocals, choreography, production

Additional personnel

Paulina Lucas – soprano vocals (1)
Keith Tippett – piano
Robin Miller – oboe
Mark Charig – cornet
Harry Miller – double bass (1, 6)
Wilf Gibson - violin (1), string orchestra leader (5, 6) (uncredited)[17]
Uncredited musicians – strings (2, 5, 6)
Andy Hendrikson – recording, engineering
Tony Arnold – mastering
Vick & Mike – equipment
Robert Ellis – photography

2009 40th Anniversary Series re-issue personnel

Steven Wilson – mixing, production, compilation and coordination input and suggestions
Simon Heyworth (Super Audio Mastering) – stereo file preparation, 5.1 mastering
Claire Bidwell (Opus Productions) – DVD design and layout
Neil Wilkes (Opus Productions) – DVD authoring and assembly
Jon Urban, Bob Romano, Bob Squires, Patrick Cleasby, Tim McDonnell & Chris Gerhard – DVD QC testing
Kevin Vanbergen (FX Copyroom) – multitrack tape restoration and transfers
Alex R. Mundy – DGM tape archiving
Hugh O'Donnell – package art and design
Declan Colgan (DGM) – compilation, coordination
Sid Smith – liner notes, compilation and coordination input and suggestions
John Kimber – US vinyl record sleeve scan

References

Holm-Hudson, Kevin (2013). Progressive Rock Reconsidered. Routledge. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-13571-022-4.
Holmes, Thom (1985). Electronic and experimental music. Scribner's. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-68418-395-4. By the time Islands was released, the group had shifted from the sophomoric karma that characterized their earlier records to a more artsy attempt at jazz fusion.
Sodomsky, Sam (20 June 2019). "Where to Start With King Crimson, Prog's Most Inventive Band". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
Eder, B. (2011). "Islands – King Crimson | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
"King Crimson | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
"40th Anniversary Edition Information". Archived from the original on 3 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
"King Crimson – Islands". Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
John Kelman (4 October 2010). "King Crimson: Islands (40th Anniversary Series)". All About Jazz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: K". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 28 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
Martin C. Strong (1998). The Great Rock Discography (1st ed.). Canongate Books. ISBN 978-0-86241-827-4.
Mike Barnes. "The Crown Jewels". Mojo. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
Gary Graff, ed. (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (1st ed.). London: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-7876-1037-1.
Bangs, L. (2011). "King Crimson: Islands : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2011.
Aaron W. (5 May 2013). Sputnikmusic https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/56645/King-Crimson-Islands/. Retrieved 31 July 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 167. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
"King Crimson - Formentera Lady (Instrumental Edit)". YouTube. 2 November 2020. Although his work on the album is uncredited, Wilf [...] was the leader for the small string orchestra that appeared on Prelude Of The Gulls.

External links

Islands at Discogs (list of releases)

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[1] Holm-Hudson, Kevin (2013). Progressive Rock Reconsidered. Routledge. p. 215. ISBN 978-1-13571-022-4.

[2] Holmes, Thom (1985). Electronic and experimental music. Scribner's. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-68418-395-4. By the time Islands was released, the group had shifted from the sophomoric karma that characterized their earlier records to a more artsy attempt at jazz fusion.

[3] Sodomsky, Sam (20 June 2019). "Where to Start With King Crimson, Prog's Most Inventive Band". Pitchfork. Retrieved 29 June 2019.

[AllMusic-4] Eder, B. (2011). "Islands – King Crimson | AllMusic". allmusic.com. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

[5] "King Crimson | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 August 2016.

[6] "40th Anniversary Edition Information". Archived from the original on 3 August 2010. Retrieved 30 July 2010.

[7] "King Crimson – Islands". Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2010.

[8] John Kelman (4 October 2010). "King Crimson: Islands (40th Anniversary Series)". All About Jazz. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

[CG-9] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: K". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 28 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[10] Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.

[11] Martin C. Strong (1998). The Great Rock Discography (1st ed.). Canongate Books. ISBN 978-0-86241-827-4.

[12] Mike Barnes. "The Crown Jewels". Mojo. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

[13] Gary Graff, ed. (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide (1st ed.). London: Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-7876-1037-1.

[14] Bangs, L. (2011). "King Crimson: Islands : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 25 July 2011.

[15] Aaron W. (5 May 2013). Sputnikmusic https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/56645/King-Crimson-Islands/. Retrieved 31 July 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)

[aus-16] Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 167. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[17] "King Crimson - Formentera Lady (Instrumental Edit)". YouTube. 2 November 2020. Although his work on the album is uncredited, Wilf [...] was the leader for the small string orchestra that appeared on Prelude Of The Gulls.