Lizard (Expanded Edition)

I think this is the strangest of the first four King Crimson albums. It is also the most jazzy, especially on the second half. My two favorite songs are Cirkus and Lady Of The Dancing Water.

Lizard is a very strange album in 70s Crimson. It starts off with "Cirkus" which is a dark, spooky song with incredible instrumentation. The Lizard suite features Yes vocalist Jon Anderson in the "Prince Rupert Awakes" section. The second half of the Lizard suite has a very haunting atmosphere to it very similar to "Cirkus". I would recommend this album.

Along with most of their work from the period of its founding in 1968 to 1974, Lizard stands out as a completely unique style and sound, unlike any other King Crimson project. This album showcases a heavier Jazz focus than some other works by KC, but still retains the same signature prog rock sound that is present in all of their other projects. I especially enjoy the little cameo of Jon Anderson from the band Yes on part of the title track, another one of my favorite bands. If you like any of King Crimson's early stuff, you'll definitely love this. Highly recommend it.

rock had so many ways to go in the 70's progressive stuff and fusion jazz and it went to what we now call classic rock which lost so much creativity

Good album.

Already a fan of the band and this album, this might be the eight time I'm purchasing this in yet another configuration since the early 80s and this is BY FAR the superior version. It sounds brand new. Not going to review the albums contents other than to say it's a high point of their early output and frankly I love everything they ever did. Robert Fripp is vastly underrated both as a guitarist and musical visionary even though he is revered he is even better still.

Completely unique. No one else sounds like King Crimson, and no other King Crimson sounds like Lizard. The title track alone contains several of my favorite moments in music. I can't speak to the added tracks in this version, but every song from the original stands out, yet fits well into the entire album. Personally, I'd suggest listening to it from beginning to end if you do. It's what I used to do as a kid, when I was supposed to be sleeping... The whole thing has a haunting otherness to it. It's rock with a much heavier dose of jazz and classical influences than usual, but even that description is reductive. And the lyrics. At the end of Indoor Games, the singer cracks up at the absurdity of what he's singing. I believe Fripp has been quoted as saying that King Crimson was less a band, and more a way of doing things. In that sense, Lizard may be the most Crimson of all their albums.

I am a long time Crimson fan. Lizard is one of my favorite albums of theirs. It is different from traditional albums and may not be everyone's cup of tea. Casual Crimson fans may not enjoy the 23 minute Lizard title track. But for me, I can't get enough. Lizard is a master piece. So deep and multi layered. I often pick up something new when I listen. It's like looking at a complex work of art. Jon Anderson from Yes on vocals! Nice. The guitar playing on Cirkus from Fripp is haunting and I just can't get enough of it. It draws you in. This album is more Jazz-rock. Peter Sinfield's lyrics paint a poetic picture through out. Happy Family, written about the Beatles breakup, great. Download this album, put the headphones on, and sit back and take the journey. I have owned it for years but am buying it again here so I can get the studio take of Cirkus. Can't wait to listen!

Robert Fripp – guitar, Mellotron, synthesizer, organ, devices Peter Sinfield – lyrics, VCS3, pictures Mel Collins – saxophone, flute Gordon Haskell – bass guitar, vocals Andy McCulloch – drums Additional musicians Keith Tippett – acoustic and electric pianos Robin Miller – oboe, cor anglais Mark Charig – cornet Nick Evans – trombone Jon Anderson – vocals (track 5) Other personnel Robin Thompson – engineering Geoff Workman – tapes