Starless and Bible Black
Encyclopedia
Starless and Bible Black is an album
released by the British progressive rock band King Crimson
in 1974. Most of the vocal pieces on the album are satires and commentaries on the sleaziness and materialism of society. A notable exception to this lyrical theme is "The Night Watch."
faggot
", a reference to a vegetarian "meatball"; this is often mistaken for a gay reference due to the well known derogatory meaning "faggot" has (the author himself has stated he meant the meatballs, and the gay connotation didn't occur to him until later).
The most serene track is an instrumental piece for violin, bass guitar and mellotron
flute entitled "Trio". Even though there are no drums on the piece, drummer Bill Bruford received a composition co-credit because the piece was improvised live in concert and Bruford's decision not to add any percussion was seen by the rest of the band as a crucial choice.
The album art is by painter Tom Phillips
. The enigmatic phrase "this night wounds time", which appears on the back cover, is a quotation from Phillips's signature work, the "treated novel" A Humument
(p. 222).
Several songs from the album were recorded live in concert, with applause edited out. The only songs recorded entirely in the studio were the first two tracks, "The Great Deceiver" and "Lament". "We'll Let You Know" was an improvisational piece recorded in Glasgow
. "The Mincer" was another improv, recorded in Zürich
and overdubbed with Wetton's vocals in the studio. "Trio", "Fracture", and "Starless and Bible Black" were recorded at the Concertgebouw
in Amsterdam
, as was the introduction to "The Night Watch" (the remainder was recorded in the studio). The complete Amsterdam Concertgebouw concert was released by the band in 1997 as The Night Watch
.
The lyrics were composed by Richard Palmer-James
, byname of former Supertramp
guitarist Richard Palmer (who left that band after its first, self-titled album). Only four tracks on this album have lyrics. "The Great Deceiver" refers to The Devil and is an ironic commentary on commercialism and is the only lyric written with Fripp http://www.elephant-talk.com/wiki/Interview_with_Richard_Palmer-James_in_Tylko_Rock. "Lament" is about fame. "The Night Watch" is a short essay on Rembrandt's painting of the same name
, describing the painting as an observer sees it and attempting to understand the subjects.
The phrase "Starless and Bible Black" is a quotation from the poet Dylan Thomas
's play, Under Milk Wood
. The band's next album, Red
, contains a song called simply "Starless", though quite different from that in the eponymous album. Confusingly, the song "Starless" actually contains the phrase "Starless and Bible Black", whereas "Starless and Bible Black" is an improvised instrumental. The title track is actually an edit of the original Amsterdam improvisation, which apparently ran longer than the album's 9 minute version. The liner notes for The Night Watch Live in Amsterdam Compact Disc indicate that it was edited "due to the constraints of vinyl". One can surmise that the track contains an edit toward the end, but not AT the exact end, just prior to the entire band slamming the downbeat in a violin climax flourish. Audiences have noticed that the track could have been edited to accentuate the downbeat. Additionally, Cross switches from the Mellotron (flute setting) to electric violin in a too-short interval of time. One note of the Mellotron leads directly into the violin flourish, not enough time to switch instruments.
The album's final track, "Fracture", is a strictly composed instrumental, similar in both style and melodic phrasing to "Larks' Tongues in Aspic Pt. 2". Robert Fripp has stated on several occasions that "Fracture" is the most difficult guitar piece he has ever played. The speed and complexity of the piece often gives the impression that several guitarists are playing, even though it is only Fripp.
The Japanese band Acid Mothers Temple
recorded an album entitled Starless And Bible Black Sabbath
in 2006 as a double homage to King Crimson and Black Sabbath
.
with
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
released by the British progressive rock band King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
in 1974. Most of the vocal pieces on the album are satires and commentaries on the sleaziness and materialism of society. A notable exception to this lyrical theme is "The Night Watch."
Overview
The album begins with "The Great Deceiver", which marries a powerful, almost punishing riff to some of King Crimson's most acerbic lyrics, beginning with "Health foodHealth food
The term health food is generally used to describe foods that are considered to be beneficial to health, beyond a normal healthy diet required for human nutrition. However, the term is not precisely defined by national regulatory agencies such as the U.S...
faggot
Faggot (food)
Faggots are a traditional dish in the UK, especially South and Mid Wales and the Midlands of England. It is made from meat off-cuts and offal, especially pork. A faggot is traditionally made from pig's heart, liver and fatty belly meat or bacon minced together, with herbs added for flavouring and...
", a reference to a vegetarian "meatball"; this is often mistaken for a gay reference due to the well known derogatory meaning "faggot" has (the author himself has stated he meant the meatballs, and the gay connotation didn't occur to him until later).
The most serene track is an instrumental piece for violin, bass guitar and mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
flute entitled "Trio". Even though there are no drums on the piece, drummer Bill Bruford received a composition co-credit because the piece was improvised live in concert and Bruford's decision not to add any percussion was seen by the rest of the band as a crucial choice.
The album art is by painter Tom Phillips
Tom Phillips (artist)
Tom Phillips CBE R.A. is an English artist. He was born in London, where he continues to work. He is a painter, printmaker and collagist.-Life:...
. The enigmatic phrase "this night wounds time", which appears on the back cover, is a quotation from Phillips's signature work, the "treated novel" A Humument
A Humument
A Humument: A treated Victorian novel is an altered book by British artist Tom Phillips, first published in 1970. It is a piece of art created over W H Mallock's 1892 novel A Human Document whose title results from the partial deletion of the original title: A Human document.Phillips drew, painted,...
(p. 222).
Several songs from the album were recorded live in concert, with applause edited out. The only songs recorded entirely in the studio were the first two tracks, "The Great Deceiver" and "Lament". "We'll Let You Know" was an improvisational piece recorded in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. "The Mincer" was another improv, recorded in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and overdubbed with Wetton's vocals in the studio. "Trio", "Fracture", and "Starless and Bible Black" were recorded at the Concertgebouw
Concertgebouw
The Concertgebouw is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Dutch term "concertgebouw" literally translates into English as "concert building"...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, as was the introduction to "The Night Watch" (the remainder was recorded in the studio). The complete Amsterdam Concertgebouw concert was released by the band in 1997 as The Night Watch
The Night Watch (album)
The Night Watch is a live album by the English rock band King Crimson, released in 1997.This album contains an important performance in King Crimson's career, being the source of the improvisations "Trio" and "Starless and Bible Black", the Fripp instrumental "Fracture" and the intro to the song...
.
The lyrics were composed by Richard Palmer-James
Richard Palmer-James
Richard Jeffrey Charles Palmer-James was lyricist for the progressive rock group King Crimson in the early 1970s....
, byname of former Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
guitarist Richard Palmer (who left that band after its first, self-titled album). Only four tracks on this album have lyrics. "The Great Deceiver" refers to The Devil and is an ironic commentary on commercialism and is the only lyric written with Fripp http://www.elephant-talk.com/wiki/Interview_with_Richard_Palmer-James_in_Tylko_Rock. "Lament" is about fame. "The Night Watch" is a short essay on Rembrandt's painting of the same name
Night Watch (painting)
Night Watch or The Night Watch or The Shooting Company of Frans Banning Cocq is the common name of one of the most famous works by Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn....
, describing the painting as an observer sees it and attempting to understand the subjects.
The phrase "Starless and Bible Black" is a quotation from the poet Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
's play, Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, adapted later as a stage play. A movie version, Under Milk Wood directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released during 1972....
. The band's next album, Red
Red (King Crimson album)
Red is a 1974 album by progressive rock group King Crimson.It was their last studio recording of the 1970s and the last before the lead member Robert Fripp temporarily disbanded the group....
, contains a song called simply "Starless", though quite different from that in the eponymous album. Confusingly, the song "Starless" actually contains the phrase "Starless and Bible Black", whereas "Starless and Bible Black" is an improvised instrumental. The title track is actually an edit of the original Amsterdam improvisation, which apparently ran longer than the album's 9 minute version. The liner notes for The Night Watch Live in Amsterdam Compact Disc indicate that it was edited "due to the constraints of vinyl". One can surmise that the track contains an edit toward the end, but not AT the exact end, just prior to the entire band slamming the downbeat in a violin climax flourish. Audiences have noticed that the track could have been edited to accentuate the downbeat. Additionally, Cross switches from the Mellotron (flute setting) to electric violin in a too-short interval of time. One note of the Mellotron leads directly into the violin flourish, not enough time to switch instruments.
The album's final track, "Fracture", is a strictly composed instrumental, similar in both style and melodic phrasing to "Larks' Tongues in Aspic Pt. 2". Robert Fripp has stated on several occasions that "Fracture" is the most difficult guitar piece he has ever played. The speed and complexity of the piece often gives the impression that several guitarists are playing, even though it is only Fripp.
The Japanese band Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.O. is a Japanese psychedelic band, the core of which formed in 1995. The band is led by guitarist Kawabata Makoto and early in their career featured many musicians, but by 2004 the line-up had coalesced with only a few core members and frequent guest...
recorded an album entitled Starless And Bible Black Sabbath
Starless and Bible Black Sabbath
Starless And Bible Black Sabbath is an album and song by the Japanese group The Acid Mothers Temple and the Cosmic Inferno. The albums title refers to the album Starless and Bible Black by King Crimson and a self-titled album by Black Sabbath, the album cover also is very similar to the Black...
in 2006 as a double homage to King Crimson and Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
.
Side one
- "The Great Deceiver" (John WettonJohn WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
, Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
, Richard Palmer-JamesRichard Palmer-JamesRichard Jeffrey Charles Palmer-James was lyricist for the progressive rock group King Crimson in the early 1970s....
) – 4:02 - "Lament" (Fripp, Wetton, Palmer-James) – 4:00
- "We'll Let You Know" (David CrossDavid Cross (musician)David Cross is an electric violinist born in Turnchapel near Plymouth, England, best known for playing with progressive rock band King Crimson during the 1970s...
, Fripp, Wetton, William BrufordBill BrufordWilliam Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
) – 3:46 - "The Night Watch" (Fripp, Wetton, Palmer-James) – 4:37
- "TrioTrio (song)"Trio" is an improvisation by the British progressive rock band King Crimson. It was released on their sixth studio album, Starless and Bible Black.The piece was recorded live at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, on November 23 1973...
" (Cross, Fripp, Wetton, Bruford) – 5:41 - "The Mincer" (Cross, Fripp, Wetton, Bruford, Palmer-James) – 4:10
Side two
- "Starless and Bible Black" (Cross, Fripp, Wetton, Bruford) – 9:11
- "Fracture" (Fripp) – 11:14
Personnel
- Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
– guitar, mellotron, devices, electric piano - John WettonJohn WettonJohn Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
– bass, vocals - Bill BrufordBill BrufordWilliam Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
– drums, percussion - David CrossDavid Cross (musician)David Cross is an electric violinist born in Turnchapel near Plymouth, England, best known for playing with progressive rock band King Crimson during the 1970s...
– violin, viola, mellotron, electric piano
with
- Richard Palmer-JamesRichard Palmer-JamesRichard Jeffrey Charles Palmer-James was lyricist for the progressive rock group King Crimson in the early 1970s....
- lyrics
- George ChkiantzGeorge ChkiantzGeorge Chkiantz is a recording engineer based in London who has been responsible for the engineering on a number of well-known albums, many of which are considered classics, owing in part to the high quality of the recordings....
– engineer - Peter Henderson – assistant engineer
- Tom PhillipsTom Phillips (artist)Tom Phillips CBE R.A. is an English artist. He was born in London, where he continues to work. He is a painter, printmaker and collagist.-Life:...
– cover design - "Equipment by Chris and Tex"
On Popular Culture
- The track "Great Deceiver (Long Mix)" on the album Spiral HoneySpiral HoneySpiral Honey is a studio album by the Japanese noise musician, Merzbow.This album was remixed by Jim O'Rourke on the 1996 remix album Scumtron....
by the japanese noise musician MerzbowMerzbowis the main recording name of the Japanese noise musician , born in 1956. Since 1979 he has released in excess of 350 recordings.The name "Merzbow" comes from German artist Kurt Schwitters' artwork, "Merzbau”. This was chosen to reflect Akita's dada influence and junk art aesthetic...
features the ending chords of the track "Great Deceiver"