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King Crimson — Fallen Angel
Album: Red
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 488









Released: 1974
Length: 5:51
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Tears of joy at the birth of a brother
Never alone from that time
Sixteen Years through knife fights and danger
Strangely why his life not mine

West side skyline crying
Fallen angel dying
Risk a life to make a dime

Lifetimes spent on the streets of a city
Make us the people we are
Switchblade stings in one tenth of a moment
Better get back to the car

Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel

Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel

West side skyline
Crying for an angel dying
Life expiring in the city

Snow white side streets of cold New York City
Stained with his blood it all went wrong
Sick and tired blue wicked and wild
God only knows for how long

Fallen Angel
Fallen Angel
Comments (119)add comment
 0047 wrote:

6.5? Man. So wrong. That's a full 8 at least. And it sounds godlike to me.




I agree! I'll see your 8 & raise it to TEN!
 LowPhreak wrote:

That's kind of the idea with a song like this, for a reason.

Not everything is meant to be Katrina & The Waves' I'm Walking On Sunshine, you know?



Too funny & too true!  GREAT TUNE!!  Thanx RP!
 vandal wrote:

plods along with grim, dull, determination. . . 
 
 
That's kind of the idea with a song like this, for a reason.

Not everything is meant to be Katrina & The Waves' I'm Walking On Sunshine, you know?
Yes, the rating is really low, strange... 8.
6.5? Man. So wrong. That's a full 8 at least. And it sounds godlike to me.
Please make it stop.....  It hurts my ears .....{#Wall}

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  1 1 1
Wow...great choice! 
 
 Propayne wrote:
Bill - a band called "The Unthanks" do a stellar cover of "Starless" off of this album.

Please give that a spin. 
 
Upload it and see! 
Bill - a band called "The Unthanks" do a stellar cover of "Starless" off of this album.

Please give that a spin. 
 Nala wrote:
Talk, it's only talk
Arguments, agreements, advice, answers,
Articulate announcements
It's only talk

Talk, it's only talk
Babble, burble, banter, bicker bicker bicker
Brouhaha, boulderdash, ballyhoo
It's only talk
Back talk

Talk talk talk, it's only talk
Comments, cliches, commentary, controversy
Chatter, chit-chat, chit-chat, chit-chat,
Conversation, contradiction, criticism
It's only talk
Cheap talk

Talk, talk, it's only talk
Debates, discussions
These are words with a D this time
Dialogue, dualogue, diatribe,
Dissention, declamation
Double talk, double talk

Talk, talk, it's all talk
Too much talk
Small talk
Talk that trash
Expressions, editorials, expugnations, exclamations, enfadulations
It's all talk
Elephant talk, elephant talk, elephant talk

KC was way ahead of the blog. 
 
Man I love that album. I used to play Discipline and Remain In The Light back to back all the time cause I can't get enough of Mr. Belew.


reminds me how angst-ridden and dark the 80s were................... whoops 70s (I only heard KC in the 80s)
 techer2 wrote:
I hear a lot of Cake's style in this (minus the lyrics)....have not come across it before.
 

Have loved this tune for the last 10 years.  Would love to hear Cake cover it, I think they'd do an excellent arrangement.  The trumpet is what is most similar but Wetton's vocals here are also fairly similar to the singing style of the guy from Cake.  
 cc_rider wrote:
Dig.

Funny, I am making a set of windchimes for a current member of KC. I need to upload some of his stuff, lots of different collaborations.
 

cc_rider:  Are your windchimes similar to the Soleri wind bells? Just curious. Be unabashed and post a picture, please.  


Talk, it's only talk
Arguments, agreements, advice, answers,
Articulate announcements
It's only talk

Talk, it's only talk
Babble, burble, banter, bicker bicker bicker
Brouhaha, boulderdash, ballyhoo
It's only talk
Back talk

Talk talk talk, it's only talk
Comments, cliches, commentary, controversy
Chatter, chit-chat, chit-chat, chit-chat,
Conversation, contradiction, criticism
It's only talk
Cheap talk

Talk, talk, it's only talk
Debates, discussions
These are words with a D this time
Dialogue, dualogue, diatribe,
Dissention, declamation
Double talk, double talk

Talk, talk, it's all talk
Too much talk
Small talk
Talk that trash
Expressions, editorials, expugnations, exclamations, enfadulations
It's all talk
Elephant talk, elephant talk, elephant talk

KC was way ahead of the blog. 

I hear a lot of Cake's style in this (minus the lyrics)....have not come across it before.
 MinMan wrote:
 Decoy wrote:
sounds like 2-3 different songs playing at the same time...this makes my brain mad.
Such complexity and contradiction is intriguing to some listeners... not sure that your criticism represents any failing of this music.
 
That's what she said...while sitting on a set of bagpipes to play a calliope.

Actually, I like much of King Crimson's work.
I LOVE this level of thoughtful music... pleasing the soul.
 Decoy wrote:
sounds like 2-3 different songs playing at the same time...this makes my brain mad.
Such complexity and contradiction is intriguing to some listeners... not sure that your criticism represents any failing of this music.
 rubincw wrote:
just sounds like noise!
 
All sounds are noise.

I'm assuming though that what you mean is that it sounds like bad noise to your ears, which is fair enough. KC are not everyone's cup of proggy tea, for sure.

I'm a fan from some time back and I used to play this album to death. Not my favourite track on it (Starless or Red would take that crown) but Bruford bashes those drums like a good 'un and Fripp sets his guitar off like a roman candle to good effect, which pleases me no end.

I'm thinking.....7. 
Haven't heard this in ages.  Love it but really the vocals are pretty weak.
 Nadine wrote:
still a 10...
 
10  —> 13
Woooo....11th Grade. Dug this album the mostest.
Ick
still a 10...
AWESOME - great to hear some very classic KC!  One of their best albums for sure!
I think that was probably part of the plan. {#Angel}
sounds like 2-3 different songs playing at the same time...this makes my brain mad.
Great album.
this band is like a perpetual side project.
always sounds like less than the sum of the parts.
Love hearing some King Crimson. Good to know that I'm not the only one to revisit Red or Starless & Bible Black from some from old days. I remember being a pimply-faced 14 year old when some record club sent me the monthly offers, including the interesting cover of "In the Court of..." which got me started on KC. Owned their stuff for years after that (good and bad) but lost contact after the above two albums and a great concert featuring the same at Penn State in 1973 or 74. Thanks for enjoyable listen.
just sounds like noise!
Amazing. I've always liked KC but not kept up with their work (life's pressures, doh!) so I wasn't familiar with Fallen Angel... As someone else says here, it sounds so 'modern'! Brilliant stuff RP, NO ONE else dares to play this. 

I've picked up on soooo many artists that I would otherwise never have heard of through RP. 
I think it should be duly noted that nobody play King Crimson like RP does...Try and remember the last time you heard it anywhere else other than from your own collection...Kudos!
Dig.

Funny, I am making a set of windchimes for a current member of KC. I need to upload some of his stuff, lots of different collaborations.
 ianmoff wrote:

This.
 
Yes.
 Propayne wrote:
Very important album to me.

Helped me thru my teenage years for sure. 
 
This.
Very important album to me.

Helped me thru my teenage years for sure. 
Now this is one of the better songs EVER written.. A 10 in my book!! My Hats off to you Mr. Fripp and company!!
{#Drummer} {#Bananajam}{#Bananapiano} {#Clap}
 dmax wrote:

I appreciated that the Discipline team resurrected the KC concept (saw them live in Houston on the Discipline tour as well as a handful of other times later), but I found that, over time, Belew wasn't up to the challenge and diluted the sound. Much like losing Jamie Muir or Trey Gunn, KC would be better without latter-day Belew.
 

Comparing KC incarnations is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle.

I am thrilled that you like KC, I have interacted with Adrian Belew on and off for 32 years. I'm not likely to jump on the "he's not up to the challenge" bandwagon. I used to go to see him with Gaga at Shipley's in Cincinnati for $2.00  (Adidas in Heat-Yes, I am old) and we have talked on and off for years at various venues. He has always been a very charming and friendly man. I think Adrian energized Fripp and kept him engaged when he might have completely veered away from doing anything beyond Frippertronics just to amuse himself. Fripp is a rare bird and I think Adrian has been his touchstone for a long time. 

I appreciate your opinion though and am jazzed that you enjoy KC.

I have all of KC's albums (even the SW remasters, and I stand by my opinion that the Fripp, Belew, Bruford, Levin lineup is "MY" favorite.

It's just my opinion.

{#Cheers}

 dmax wrote:
Woohoo!

The trio that could shred wallpaper at 100 paces, according to Fripp. 
 
My favorite lineup of KC is the Discipline Crew-

Fripp
Adrian Belew
Tony Levin
Bill Bruford

But I have been a fan since I was a kid- The Court of the Crimson King, Epitaph...

All the KC albums have some amazing moments.

I just really admire Fripp's ability to draw fantastic talent in and then challenge the hell out of them.

He always picks musicians that he knows are up to the challenge.

I have endless admiration for the way he insists on conducting business.

Such a class act

We will never see his like again.

For anyone that doesn't know Fripp- I am sorry for your loss.. He REALLY changed the face of music.


Hey Deadwing!  {#Cheers}

 

I should probably buy this CD, eh?


{#Cheers}
 Mita wrote:
More King Crimson, please!
 
Yes. Extra please.

 timiambeing wrote:
Very rare I look for the fast forward button but this one really isn't my thing!!
 
Yes indeed, next track please — FFFFFFWD>>>>>>

 kaybee wrote:
The discordance in this irritates me yet I realize it is deliberate and it is an excellent piece.  I hope it can grow on me.
 
Yes, indeed, I am glad to say it has grown on me!


Love the Crimson......This?....not so much...
Good old Robert Fripp... {#Drummer}
Very rare I look for the fast forward button but this one really isn't my thing!!
More King Crimson, please!
The discordance in this irritates me yet I realize it is deliberate and it is an excellent piece.  I hope it can grow on me.
Wow. Wetton-era King Crimson. Nice!
 plaid wrote:
There's plenty of good King Crimson. So why play this?
 
I'm glad RP's done so, because this is the first King Crimson number I've positively liked. Indeed, before looking at the playlist, I honestly thought that this was a modern band I'd not heard of. Nifty percussion. 7 from the Nottingham jury.

OF COURSE WITH THIS ORRIBLE SOUND....!

MAKE IT STOP! Please...
Hurts my ears. Not that it's bad music, it literally hurts my ears! That guitar!
There's plenty of good King Crimson. So why play this?
More King Crimson please!
Some music demands to be listened to, such as this. Whether I can work with this demanding my attention is another matter.
Don't have this one ... and that will get fixed ASAP.  These guys pushed the limits of "progressive rock" waaaaay farther than others imagined possible.

This, fellow listeners, is CLASSIC rock.

God, this is gorgeous. Every incarnation of Crimson had their masterpiece. This plays well off of "Nightmare".


Awesome! One of my favorite prog albums and probably my fave Crim album. "Starless" rocks my socks, especially.
Wow.  Excellent.  I haven't heard this in years.  I wore out my vinyl version of this back in the day.  Thanks RP.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

One man's obnoxious, blaring cacophony is another man's sublime symphony.  ; )
Fripp, Wetton & Bruford; it doesn't get much better.

 
It does !  {#Whisper}..in 5.1 surround. {#Wink}
Exquisite!
nice work on the drums
Paradise, you are ROCKING tonight!!
 Stefen wrote:
Music only a music buff would like.

I’ll take that as a complement. Thank You.


Love it! {#Music}
 socalhol wrote:
Ouch!!  My ears are bleeding — what an obnoxious, blaring cacophony..... 
 
One man's obnoxious, blaring cacophony is another man's sublime symphony.  ; )
Fripp, Wetton & Bruford; it doesn't get much better.

Ouch!!  My ears are bleeding — what an obnoxious, blaring cacophony.....  {#Wall}
This whole album is incredible!
Dang! I just missed this and I haven't heard it in so long... {#Cry}
Music only a music buff would like.
 Rafter101 wrote:


Poor Steve. Try as he may, he will never BE King Crimson. Or Yes.
 
No, but he will be Porcupine Tree's frontman, and that puts him right up there in the same echelon!

 Rafter101 wrote:


Poor Steve. Try as he may, he will never BE King Crimson. Or Yes.
 
What kind of dumb ass comment is this?  

Yup.   {#Notworthy}


 RedGuitar wrote:
The first, Lizard, and Red have been remastered by Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree.  Surround sound versions, new mixes, and outtakes are included.
 
Yep, I love the run-through of this song without the vocals that Wilson included.
{#Daisy} Thanks, Bill!

One of my all-time favorite albums... of all-time!
 RedGuitar wrote:
The first, Lizard, and Red have been remastered by Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree.  Surround sound versions, new mixes, and outtakes are included.
 

Poor Steve. Try as he may, he will never BE King Crimson. Or Yes.
Wow, I don't think I've ever heard this. Good stuff.
Hokey, mokey, that's an amazing piece of music. You rarely hear anything that evolved.
The first, Lizard, and Red have been remastered by Steve Wilson of Porcupine Tree.  Surround sound versions, new mixes, and outtakes are included.

Directly from the Court of the Crimson King! Yeah! {#Drummer}

Ageless, dude ... Age-less!!


 BeyondZero wrote:
I am incredibly shocked and pleased to hear King Crimson on Radio Paradise. One of my favourite bands and this tune is one of my favourites. More Yes and Crimson please!
 
Interesting. In the 70s I liked them both, Yes even more than KC. But today?

Me thinks that Crimson aged very well, especially Red, Starless being a timeless masterpiece of music, not just prog rock.

Yes? Pales by comparision.

I am incredibly shocked and pleased to hear King Crimson on Radio Paradise. One of my favourite bands and this tune is one of my favourites. More Yes and Crimson please!
Let's pay homage to the group that brought us that SERIOUS nerd musik I love so much.  Without King Crimson and Yes, we wouldn't have Porcupine Tree, Zero 7 and all the other awesome modern prog groups here on RP.

 PeorgieTirebiter wrote:
Anything with the great drummer Bill Bruford is worth a listen. Still trying, after all these years, to decide whether I hate or love John Wetton, however.
 
Love Wetton's voice.

So many of the great rock "artists" went through this band, and lyrics by Peter Sinfield.  And so prolific for being "out there." 

Makes me shift into a much lower gear.

 rcurrier wrote:
Now we need to hear Starless, which I believe to be the peak of this period of Crimson.
 
Lark's Tongue!

nice remembering!!
 the_bink wrote:

We have monthly Vinyl Nights, they are a blast.

Congrats on the cup, you guys deserved it (more than the Wings).  One year, the Leafs will get it again.  I hope. 
 
I wouldn't mind that a bit.
I have a friend who's moved "down" here from Oshawa. BIG Leaf fan.

 the_bink wrote:

Agreed.
 
Me too. One of my favorite albums from these guys. "One More Red Nightmare" has been my ringtone for the past year and it always gets positive inquiries!
I thought I recognized John Wetton's voice.
 rcurrier wrote:

Now we need to hear Starless, which I believe to be the peak of this period of Crimson. 
 
Agreed.
 countyman wrote:

That's where all 540 of them are.  Been  there for 24 years now.
I hold "vinyl frontiers" weekly.  You should come over.
 
We have monthly Vinyl Nights, they are a blast.

Congrats on the cup, you guys deserved it (more than the Wings).  One year, the Leafs will get it again.  I hope. 
Excellent! Great lineup, with the excellent Mel Collins back on sax.

Now we need to hear Starless, which I believe to be the peak of this period of Crimson. 


 newwavegurly wrote:
Uh... what the hell was that cacophony of sound that just assailed my poor eardrums?
And what did my poor eardrums ever do to deserve it?
 
Unfortunately this is the worst cut on the album.  Great album tho'.
 PeorgieTirebiter wrote:

If they're in the attic, I'm afraid you might be in for a rude surprise.

 
That's where all 540 of them are.  Been  there for 24 years now.
I hold "vinyl frontiers" weekly.  You should come over.

 countyman wrote:
I'd better get to the attic and get the album and my stash and listen to both sides.
 
If they're in the attic, I'm afraid you might be in for a rude surprise.


Hugh !
I think this masterpiece is more than a prog song. there some more energy in it that preview some more experimental punk music in. Something that tells in '75 music is going away with less borders....
Anything with the great drummer Bill Bruford is worth a listen. Still trying, after all these years, to decide whether I hate or love John Wetton, however.
 newwavegurly wrote:
Uh... what the hell was that cacophony of sound that just assailed my poor eardrums?
And what did my poor eardrums ever do to deserve it?
 
Yah, ain't it great!!

Bravo, super bravo. C'est si rare d'entendre cet album qui est extraordinaire{#Motor}
Phenomenal!

Sometimes I think Bill has *exactly* the same collection of obscure and not-so-obscure progrock that I have.

Listen to Bruford fly on this one.

Thanks Bill ... and you too, Bill!
WOW  Haven't heard this one since high school (1975)

I'd better get to the attic and get the album and my stash and listen to both sides.

Uh... what the hell was that cacophony of sound that just assailed my poor eardrums?
And what did my poor eardrums ever do to deserve it?
I like some KC, especially In The Court Of, Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair.

Don't like this one, though.  At all.
Nice to hear another great King Crimson song here. We want more! :)
To me, it was the most exiting Crimson lineup.  Lark's Tongue, Starless and this one are really great.
Holy Crap! I can't believe I'm hearing this. Great tune that I haven't heard in ages. And one of THE BEST Crimson albums. Go Crimso!

Not to everyones' liking, but personally, I worship at the altar.
Sublime

Great tune from one of KC's best CDs
Never can have enough of the Crims. Any era.