Lizard (2025 Elemental Mix by David Singleton) (Vinyl LP)

Lizard - King Crimson's third studio album and second recording of 1970, was, like its predecessor In the Wake of Poseidon, the product of a studio band. iI was also the first Crimson album for which Robert Fripp provided all of the music. Remarkably self-contained and sounding somewhat atypical for a King Crimson album - even by the standards of a band that rarely sounded similar from album to album, Lizard is an often overlooked and under-appreciated gem from their early years. Lizard featured a lighter, more delicate sound than the earlier albums - an approach perhaps necessitated by an extended instrumental lineup.

One of the highlights of the King Crimson 50th anniversary CD/Blu-Ray editions to date has been King Crimson producer David Singleton’s series of Elemental Mixes as he utilises the full spectrum of available studio sessions for each album to produce very different takes on the familiar songs and pieces.
 
This is especially true of Lizard where the ambition of the material, the much-expanded line-up of musicians - the background of many of them in the jazz rather than the rock world - and the number of takes recorded, resulted in a large amount of material to be considered for this album.
 
There was enough material for David to be able to mix and produce alternate takes for every piece from the original album.
 
As well as giving great insight into the recordings, the nature of Elemental Mixes allows for different takes from individual musicians to be included – sometimes alongside one another - in a way that would never be considered in the formulation of the original album.
 
David comments that “When I was working on the Elemental mixes, I jokingly described them as ‘Lizard for those who don’t like Lizard’. They were a complete revelation. Lizard is the one album which, in its initial incarnation, never quite convinced me. And yet these Elemental mixes, with their opportunity to look ‘under the hood’ of the album, revealed something fresh, wonderful and astonishing. So, if you are a King Crimson fan, who like me, has never quite taken Lizard to your heart, then these are essential listening. And hopefully equally fascinating to those who already love the album”.

All new 2025 Elemental Mix of King Crimson’s classic 1970 album by David Singleton. Alternative Cover to the standard version. Cut by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering. Presented on 200gram Super-Heavyweight Vinyl, manufactured at Vinyl Factory, London.

Tracklist:

1. Cirkus (Including: Entry Of The Chameleons)
2. Indoor Games 
3. Happy Family 
4. Lady Of The Dancing Water 
5. Lizard 
  Prince Rupert Awakes
  Bolero - The Peacock's Tale 
  Dawn Song 
  Last Skirmish 
  Prince Rupert's Lament
  Big Top