Our Album Of The Month for July, “USA” by King Crimson, was originally released in 1975 and captures the raw, unfiltered energy of the band’s 1974 American tour, offering a compelling snapshot of their peak progressive rock prowess. It was recorded on June 28th 1974 at one of the final stops on the tour, The Casino, Asbury Park in New Jersey. 50 years later to the day, the full concert has been reissued on limited edition 200g blue sparkle coloured vinyl.

The album begins with the ethereal segue of “Walk On: No Pussyfooting” before launching into the sonic assault of “Larks Tongues In Aspic Part II”, a powerful piece, which sets the tone for the rest of the album with its intricate guitar work and complex rhythms. We then shift gears into “Lament”, its hauntingly beautiful melody and evocative lyrics, vocalised brilliantly by Wetton, contrasting with the more aggressive instrumental sections. The next track, “Exiles” was my personal standout, featuring a stunning violin performance by David Cross matched with more haunting lyrics from Wetton. The song builds gradually, weaving together layers of sound that climax in a powerful, emotional crescendo. The following track, “Asbury Park” is an improvisational tour de force, showcasing the band’s ability to create spontaneous, complex music. The track ebbs and flows, with each member contributing to the evolving landscape. We are then launched into the fan favourite “Easy Money”, Wetton’s chunky bass lines and Fripp’s razor-sharp guitar riffs weaving in and out of each other with a melancholy and yearning appropriate to the trackname. An oddly idiosyncratic performance of the incomparable “21st Century Schizoid Man” follows, before the album is rounded out with the 10+ minute epics of “Fracture” and “Starless”. The latter containing an, understandably, healthy ovation from the grateful audience.

The production on “USA” beautifully captures the live atmosphere, along with some rough edges typical of the times. Problems with the original tapes meant that Cross’s violin sections had to be overdubbed for the original album release. These were painstakingly restored in the ’90s with better technology, and are included in this definitive 2013 mix of the album by Fripp, David Singleton and Tony Arnold, which, along with significantly improving the sound quality, allows listeners to appreciate the intricate details of the performance.

Cross, ultimately frustrated with constantly being drowned out by Wetton and Bruford, would withdraw and be voted out of the band following this tour. The band as it was would only last until the autumn of the same year before going on hiatus, with “USA” being released, almost as an epitaph to this lineup, the following year, 1975.

“USA” is a must-listen for any King Crimson fan or progressive rock enthusiast and the 1972 – 1974 King Crimson line-ups are now revered by critics and fans alike as one of the key bands of the era. While the album may not be as polished as some of their studio work, its raw energy and the brilliance of the musicianship make it a standout live recording.

Originally issued on vinyl in 2018 as part of the second King Crimson vinyl series boxed sets and only briefly available as a standalone set from that box, this vinyl reissue is much sought after by King Crimson fans and presents the 2013 mix of the concert by Robert Fripp, David Singleton & Tony Arnold. Only 3000 copies of this 2LP release on 200 gram blue sparkle coloured vinyl are available worldwide.

Jamie