Product Description

Adrian Belew ­ guitar & lead vocal
Robert Fripp ­ guitar
Tony Levin ­ bass, Stick & vocal
Bill Bruford ­ drums & percussion

Brand new DVD of King Crimson in the 1980's. Showcasing one of the defining live acts of the period. As Robert Fripp puts it "Records and live performance are two worlds. One is a love letter, the other a hot date. Crimson were always the band for a hot date."

These two concerts offer different and contrasting snapshots of the 80's Crimson: Live in Frejus, heavily featuring material from the album Beat and filmed on tour in Europe with Roxy Music; and Three of a Perfect Pair showcasing the band's triumphant 1984 Japanese performances.

Three Of A Perfect Pair - Live in Japan 1984

Track Listing:
Three Of A Perfect Pair
No Warning
Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part III
Thela Hun Ginjeet
Frame By Frame
Matte Kudasai
Industry
Dig Me
Indiscipline
Satori In Tangier
Man With An Open Heart
Waiting Man
Sleepless
Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part II
Elephant Talk
Heartbeat

The Noise - Live in Frejus 1982

Track Listing:
Waiting Man
Matte Kudasai
The Sheltering Sky
Neil And Jack And Me
Indiscipline
Heartbeat
Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part II

DVD Extras: Sleepless video - Tony's Road Photos - Discography

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45924 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-08-31
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Live, Dolby, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Neal and Jack and Me resurrects two stellar and long out-of-print King Crimson videos, Three of a Perfect Pair: Live in Japan 1984 and The Noise: Live in Frejus 1982, lacing them with a few tasty extras, including a video clip for "Sleepless." Crimson's 1980s lineup--Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford--is for many fans the quintessential incarnation of Fripp's still-evolving cast of virtuosic characters. In both shows, these artists embody all that's great in progressive music: instrumental prowess, yes, but also deft interplay, daring improvisation, and a synthesis of unique musical visions into something far greater than the considerable sum of its parts.

The Frejus show was filmed, while the Japan show was videotaped. Picture quality isn't great, but the DVD improves on the contrast and color vibrancy of the original releases. Likewise, sound quality is adequate: neither exemplary nor substandard. It's all about the music. Note: The version of Three of a Perfect Pair: Live in Japan 1984 included on this release is that of the 1991 reissue, which has a slightly different running order than the original 1984 release and omits the song "Discipline." --Michael Mikesell

Customer Reviews

See What You Missed! - Great DVD
I say "See What You Missed" because so many music lovers never got a taste of how great this band was during this incarnation. These guys were full of invention and taste. Robert Fripp (guitar) continued to steward the band into new, highly progressive territory and continued to bring his significant skills in composition to the table. Adrian Belew (guitar, vocals) was in his prime, like a mature Jimi Hendrix, a master player and an engaging frontman. Tony Levin (bass & stick) contributed perfectly tasteful bass parts and Bill Bruford (drums & percussion) was at his absolute best during this era, when he was experimenting with electronic drums. Bruford's parts are constantly tasty and add an element of anarchy and excitement to this intricate music.

"The Noise" from 1982 is a great filmed performance that shows the band at their best. The 1984 performance is crisper and contains more material, and is great also.

The music mixes sonic experimentation ala Hendrix in his prime with a framework influenced by African & Asian music as well as 20th Century minimalism (Glass, Reich). Perfectly. Great band, great DVD. They tended to make fans out of whoever saw them live and I would guess this DVD will make you a fan of this band if you aren't already.

All I can say is "WOW!"
When I first spotted this baby in the store I thought I was seeing things. I practically sprinted to the checkout and probably broke a few traffic laws racing home to play it. Neal and Jack and Me did not disappoint in any way, being a perfect video counterpart to the band's three fine early-80's albums. Virtually all of the high points from this lineup are here, with a few older KC classics cut from the concerts.

This sucker looks and sounds so good I can only wonder why it took two decades for it to be released, but I suppose better late than never. Getting to see these four talented musicians live and in action, during one of the most fruitful periods in the band's long career, is a very special treat.

Of the two almost complete concerts, the earlier set (a supporting slot recorded live in Frejus) is a bit rawer and more exploratory, while the later headlining set in Tokyo a bit slicker and more polished. In both cases, bandleader Robert Fripp as usual sits in the shadows, but you can enjoy watching Adrian Belew cheerfully abuse a series of Fenders while Tony Levin puts on a clinic on bass and stick. Then of course there's Bill Bruford, whose presence here is reason enough to buy this DVD. Don't miss Bruford and Belew's dual electronic drum segment on "Waiting Man!"

The bonus material includes a very cool video of "Sleepless." There are some noticeable flaws in the master tapes which is duly noted in the booklet but not on the outside of the packaging.

Four more talented musicians have never shared a stage together. This is an essential and priceless document of the early 80's Crimson and an absolute must-have for fans. Now, when is someone going to unearth a show from the mid-70's Wetton-Cross-Bruford lineup?

Two Views of Crimson Past
This DVD combines 2 different concerts of the '80s era King Crimson (both were available separately on VCR). First, from 1982, is "The Noise - Live in Frejus." The band we get here is a bit on the edge and even raw at times. The concert opens with "Waiting Man," featuring the tribal Simmons drum duo of Bruford/Belew. The DVD is worth the money for just this one track. The drums and Levin's Chapman Stick pound out the hypnotic rhythm while Fripp adds counter rhythms and counter melodies. "Matte Kudasai," "The Sheltering Sky," and "Heartbeat" show the softer side of Crimson with Belew delivering solid vocals. "Larks Tongues In Aspic Part II" finds the Crims tearing into the song, full of energy and aggression. The band is superb throughout.

The second concert is 1984's "Three Of A Perfect Pair - Live in Japan." Two years down the road finds the band less edgy and more sophisticated. Comparing tracks, like "Waiting Man," shows them to have matured as a band, but perhaps at the cost of losing their initial 'edge.' Belew has grown more confident in his singing and fronting the band, while Fripp appears more reticent. Outstanding tracks are an impassioned "Frame By Frame," a gentle "Matte Kudasai," and the industrial noise fest of "Industry."

Bonuses are Tony's road photos and the rarely seen Crimson video for "Sleepless." The video quality is generally excellent throughout, although there are some more grainy sequences and minor defects coming from the original source films/tapes. Despite these minor flaws, this is an excellent document of the '80s era Crimson and highly recommended.
© 2005 Michael Bettine